Everton Independent Research Data
Aston Villa 1, Everton 1 (D,Post)
Apr 3 2007
by Nick Smith at Villa Park
DEFENDER Joleon Lescott’s self-confessed love of Aston Villa quickly turned to loathing last night as Everton failed to forge their way back into the top six. The defender, of course, won’t be bothered one bit this morning by the fact that the fans he stood alongside on the Villa Park terraces turned on him 15 minutes into the crucial Premiership encounter. After all, he had just met Mikel Arteta’s far post free-kick and headed in his first Premiership goal to mark a dream first appearance at the stadium he grew up in. Lescott has never matured more since he left Midlands neighbours Wolves last summer and his relentless development into a top-class top-flight stopper continues to gather a pace. But his and Everton’s night was spoiled seven minutes from the end when Lescott, again pressed into left-back duty, let his man Gabriel Agbonlahor evade him and deny Everton two precious points on the road to Europe. It was this failure to hang onto the lead afforded by Lescott’s strike that ultimately leaves them a point behind, instead of a point ahead, of Tottenham in the race for sixth place. And their inability to build on their initial superiority sums up the season as a whole – the derby win back in September is still the only time they have completed a back-to-back sequence of league wins. In fact, the most consistent aspect of Everton’s season has probably been the constant disruption to their preparations, and getting the three points they needed to return to the top six last night wasn’t helped by another enforced line-up change. David Moyes’s midfield was robbed of the ball-playing skills of Manuel Fernandes, the Portuguese youngster sidelined by a thigh strain. Being forced into this one change from the side that beat Arsenal a fortnight ago, meant Moyes had to tactically re-shuffle his pack. Tony Hibbert came in at right-back to push captain Phil Neville further up into midfield alongside Lee Carsley to give Everton a somewhat more cautious look than many might have wished for in their pursuit of that much-needed victory. But they still had Arteta’s magical right foot to call on and in the 15th minute he waved the wand to set up Lescott’s opening goal. The Spaniard whipped in a free-kick from the left with his right foot and although it evaded the heads of his team-mates, the Villa defenders were also unable to make a connection. This proved fatal for them as the ball bounced up perfectly for Lescott to loop his header in and stun his boyhood stamping ground of the Holt end into silence. Last night’s inhabitants then impolitely enquired who Lescott was but, in truth, no Premiership supporter – let alone a bitter Brummie – can be in any doubt about his identity given the impact he has made in his debut top-flight campaign. But it wasn’t just from set-pieces that Everton were looking dangerous and after a muted opening, having a goal in the bag clearly lifted the team’s confidence. Arteta buzzed about on the left, while the seemingly endless energy of Andrew Johnson and James Vaughan ran their opponents into the ground. And the security of the Carsley-Neville axis behind them merely encouraged those more potent attacking weapons to hunt down a second. Everton felt they should have had a chance to double their lead when Villa defender Olof Mellberg seemed to take Johnson’s legs from under him but referee Howard Webb did not agree. Vaughan almost doubled the lead with a swerving shot that brushed the post while Joseph Yobo could well have joined his fellow defender on the scoresheet when he rose unchallenged but headed wide. Even Neville decided to join him when Arteta teed him up on the edge of the area but he also rifled just off target. It has to be said, however, that Everton were also aided by an Aston Villa side unchanged from their previous hosting of a Merseyside club two weeks ago – not only in personnel but in lack of ideas and direction. They threatened briefly midway through the first half when Stiliyan Petrov’s long-ranger forced Howard into a sprawling save. A minute later Ashley Young pounced on a long ball but drove it wide. But there was too much of an over reliance on John Carew, who did manage to force Tim Howard into one routine save when he was finally allowed a rare swing at the ball by the excellent Yobo (surely Bill Kenwright has already got his ideal Joseph?). While Everton had European points to play for it was worth remembering that their hosts had still to secure Premiership survival. They simply couldn’t allow the lack of urgency that plagued both the goalless draw with Liverpool and last night’s opening 45 minutes if they are to achieve it. And it was Carew who set about the task with the most enthusiasm as Everton emerged looking vulnerable for the first time in the game. The preservation of their narrow lead was down to Howard’s alertness and agility, as he timed his movements perfectly to keep out two Carew efforts in as many minutes. It was a spell of anxiety for Everton that reflected the determination of Martin O’Neill – who replaced Gavin McCann with Patrik Berger during the break – to turn the pressure up. Carsley tried to relieve it when he almost became the second Midlander to find the net as Sorensen scrambled across to hold onto his drive. Then the Dane was called into action again as he was forced to beat away Johnson’s stinging shot. After 20 minutes of being pushed further back in the second period, Everton had seemed to not only weather the storm but looked keen to ride off into the sunset with a clinching second. The journey was put on hold as the home side replied with more pressure, which was stemmed by three timely interventions from Alan Stubbs. He deflected Gareth Barry’s drive wide, then lunged at Shaun Maloney’s searching cross to nod it behind before scooping the ball into the grateful hands of Howard as Agbonlahor was poised in front of an open goal. It would have been unthinkable if Stubbs hadn’t been there on those occasions as much as it would were he not at Goodison for one more year next season.
The veteran and his defensive colleagues also deserved praise for refusing to allow Villa to create any kind of sustained panic. But unfortunately they were powerless to prevent Agbonlahor following up his own pass and after Carew was again denied by Howard, gleefully sweeping in the rebound.
ASTON VILLA: Sorensen, Bardsley, Mellberg, Cahill, Bouma, Agbonlahor, Petrov, McCann (Berger 46), Barry, Carew, Young (Maloney 41). Subs: Taylor, Davis, Hughes.
BOOKINGS: McCann, Mellberg, Agbonlahor.
EVERTON: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Osman, Carsley, Neville, Arteta, Johnson, Vaughan. Subs: Wright, Naysmith, Beattie, Nuno Valente, Anichebe.
BOOKINGS: Vaughan, Arteta, Lescott.
REFEREE: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
ATT: 36,407.
Lescott: I wanted a winner
Apr 3 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
JOLEON LESCOTT cut a frustrated figure today despite helping satisfy David Moyes’ demands for him to start getting on the scoresheet. Lescott has been one of his side’s most consistent performers this season but that has not stopped the Blues boss from reminding the 24-year-old his contribution going forward left a lot to be desired.
The former Wolves defender had promised to break his duck before the end of the season and duly obliged with a 14th-minute header against his boyhood club, Aston Villa last night. It was his first goal since August 2005, but was not enough to secure an important victory. “The gaffer has been on at me for a while,” said Lescott after the whistle. “To be fair, though, I would have been disappointed if I hadn’t got one. I had had a few chances before last night and really I should have done better with them.
“It would have been the first season that I had played without scoring.” Until Gabriel Agbonlahor popped up with an 82nd-minute equaliser, it looked as if Everton’s defensive efforts would be rewarded. Lescott caught the eye at left-back but Alan Stubbs, Joseph Yobo and Tim Howard all played a part, while Tony Hibbert showed no signs of rustiness on his first start for two months. But the defender was quick to point out that it was a team effort. “It’s always nice to do well in your position,” said Lescott. “Defensively we are quite strong, but it‘s not just down to us at the back. Against Arsenal, James Vaughan and AJ worked hard for us and it was the same last night. “It is a team effort. If anyone gets behind us, we have got Tim Howard making saves for us.” Moyes will give his squad an easy couple of days before stepping up preparations for Friday night’s televised game with Fulham at Goodison Park.
Meanwhile, long-term injury victim James McFadden may be considered for a run out in the reserves against Newcastle tonight.
Moyes rap as penalty is denied
Apr 3 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES recently compiled a video dossier of penalties that Everton have not been awarded this season – and he feels his side were denied another blatant one last night. Referees’ chief Keith Hackett told Moyes that eight of the 10 incidents he highlighted should have been spot kicks and one can only wonder what he will have made of the challenge from Olof Mellberg that sent Andrew Johnson sprawling at Villa Park. Moyes claimed that had they tangled outside the box, match official Howard Webb would have penalised the Villa defender. But he was left frustrated that Everton’s appeals were waved away, when they were leading one-nil. “It’s another one for the collection, isn’t it?” he said. “It was an old fashioned centre-half’s tackle from behind and if it had happened on the half-way line it would have been a free-kick. I thought it was a stonewall penalty.” While he complained about that, Moyes had no arguments that the game finished 1-1 after Gabriel Agbonlahor cancelled out Joleon Lescott’s header. But he was full of praise for the way James Vaughan performed once again. “Our first half was very good and the second was a case of defending well and carrying a bit of luck,” he said. “I actually thought we’d got through the worst of it and could have nicked a second goal, but it wasn’t to be. I think possibly in the end it was a fair result. “Vaughan and Andy Johnson were a handful all night. James started to tire near the end and we thought about making a change, but we thought he had a goal in him. “With a bit more composure at the right moments he might have got one.” Skipper Phil Neville, meanwhile, bemoaned the fact that Everton did not make their first half superiority count. But he was quick to praise Villa for the way they made life uncomfortable in the second half. “We needed the second goal to kill the game,” said Neville. “We knew they would come out firing in the second half because you could tell the fans weren’t happy with what they saw in the first half. “For 20 minutes they put us under immense pressure.”
Everton Res 2, Newcastle Res 1
Apr 4 2007
Liverpool Daily Post
JAMES McFADDEN made a goalscoring return to the Everton line-up as he netted both goals in the Reserves’ victory over Newcastle United at the Halton Stadium. The Scottish international was making his first appearance in a blue shirt since breaking a metatarsal earlier this season and he was involved for the whole of the 90 minutes, hitting the woodwork after just eight minutes. Everton suffered an early setback when the visitors took the lead on 15 minutes, Andrew Carroll making up for a miss minutes earlier, finishing past Richard Wright. McFadden got Everton back on level terms nine minutes into the second half, pouncing on Peter Ramage’s back pass and slotting the ball past Forster in the Newcastle goal. McFadden hit the winner after Anderson De Silva’s initial shot was spilled by Forster. Alessandro Pistone was also back in the line-up but was replaced after 65 minutes by Shaun Densmore, but there didn’t seem to be any cause for concern.
EVERTON: Wright, Pistone (Densmore 65), Valente, Irving, Kearney, de Silva, Morrison(Phelan 76), Vidarsson, McFadden, Agard (Spencer 68), Connor: Subs: Ruddy, Harpur.
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Forster, Gate, Edgar, Bertram, Ramage,H untigton, Doninger (Donaldson 85), Godsmark, Troisi (Marwood 64), Patterson: Subs: Cave, Shanks,Francis .
Faddy back for Blues
Apr 4 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES is ready to pitch James McFadden back into Everton’s squad for the crucial Easter period after his sparkling return from injury. The Scotland international scored twice, hit the bar and, most importantly, got a full 90 minutes under his belt in the reserves’ 2-1 win over Newcastle last night, having been sidelined since the middle of January with a broken metatarsal. McFadden was given a clean bill of health today after reporting back to Bellefield and is likely to be considered for a place on the bench when Everton tackle Fulham on Friday evening. “He did well and we’re pleased to see him up and running again because we want to get him back among the squad,” Moyes said today. “The 90 minutes last night will have done him the world of good. “We do not have to put pressure on him to bring him straight back into the starting line-up as we are not desperate at the moment but his versatility means he will be a useful as he gives us options up front and on the wing. “We are delighted he managed to get a full game as his match fitness won’t be anywhere near what it should be. “We can now start to think about having him around the squad for the big games we have got coming up on Friday and Monday.” Everton will move into fifth place if they beat Fulham and set themselves up for a rousing end to the season and skipper Phil Neville feels his side have the 4-1 home defeat to Blackburn in the FA Cup to ‘thank’ for providing the impetus by their good run. “We didn’t want the season to fizzle out after the cup defeat,” said Neville. “We looked at the fixtures then and saw there were only two games in March, loads of free time and we thought it could be a real dreary run in. “It was that fear and the determination between the manager and players that we didn’t want that to happen. “The two games in March have set us up nicely, brought a freshness back into the team that we needed for the next seven games in April. “We are defending well and solid and we need to keep that going because we need to build from a solid foundation. “The squad is light but with the determination we are showing, we should be okay.”
Blues’ legend fined £600 for flouting drive ban
Apr 4 2007 by Homa Khaleeli, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON legend and former England player Gary Stevens has been caught flouting a driving ban in a car with no insurance. The 43-year-old, who also played for Tranmere Rovers, was ordered to pay almost £700 and given eight penalty points.
The former right back, who lives in a luxury flat in Chapel View, Eastham, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and was fined £400 at a court in Birkenhead.
Stevens, whose full name is Michael Gary Stevens, also admitted driving without insurance and was fined £200. He was ordered to pay court costs of £65.
The penalty points will be transferred to his licence when the ban expires.
Stevens made his debut for Everton in 1982 and was an integral part of the great 80s Everton team that won two league titles, an FA Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup. In 1985 he played for England for the first time and made the squad for the 1986 World Cup, playing in all of the games as England reached the quarter finals.
He also played in the 1990 World Cup in Italy. In 1988 he moved to Glasgow Rangers for £1.25m and, under manager Graeme Souness, his first season ended with a Scottish Premier Division title. Stevens stayed with Rangers until 1994 when he returned to Merseyside to see out his career with Tranmere Rovers. He retired in 1998 and became a coach at Chester City and later worked as a physiotherapist.
Everton fans later named him as the right back in the club's all-time greatest XI in a poll on the club's website. Stevens was approached by the ECHO but declined to comment.
The jury
Apr 5 2007
What effect will the draw at Villa Park have on Everton's chances of European qualification?
Liverpool Echo MONDAY'S game against Aston Villa was definitely a case of points dropped. In particular, there was another cast iron penalty which was missed by the referee, even though he must have had a better view of the incident than the Sky cameras. It was a typical game of two halves. I thought that once we had weathered the storm, we were going to take all three points. Maybe we need the injections of fresh legs up front to help put them on the back foot again. I do think tomorrow night's game against Fulham at Goodison will be even more important now. We have got to collect three points if we are to realistically stay in the mix for sixth spot. With Everton playing before the others play on Saturday, it well put us in the ascendancy, particularly as most of the teams around us all have tough games. STEVE SHONE, Wallasey IT'S always disappointing to lose a late goal, but I think the point at Villa could be crucial. According to my own sad calculations, that point could see us finish on 57 points. Based on projections of the most likely outcomes of fixtures involving ourselves and those of our UEFA Cup rivals, (from Bolton to Blackburn) 57 points will see us home in seventh place. So, providing Man United and Chelsea make the cup final, we're okay, and even if they don't, we'll go into the Inter-Toto. In its new format, I'd actually welcome this competition, bringing as it should a winnable tie in the middle of summer. As for Monday's match, there were certainly more positives than negatives.We badly missed Fernandes, Alan Stubbs gives hope to old dogs everywhere and, although Osman isn't good enough, one point just might be. Of course, if we slip up against Fulham, I'll be back to trawling through the fixture list. GEOFF HARRISON, West Derby. WHEN the final whistle blows at Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season we will then know how important the two points dropped on Monday night will be. A fantastic display in the first half should have resulted in more goals. Mikel Arteta should have added to his tally for the campaign with apenalty, but then again, if your name is Andy Johnson and you are being pole-axed in the box you don't get them. One of the best referees in Europe denies us a certain goal -now where have I heard that before! Only a win against Fulham tomorrow will do to keep our European dreams alive. I would also like to praise one of Everton's unsung heroes this season. Lee Carsley has played more minutes than any other player and has put everything into his blue shirt. With his spirit rubbing off on other players, we will have to start looking for our passports soon. TONY SCOTT, Walton DESPITE a second half spent primarily on the back foot at Villa Park, it still felt like two points dropped. A decent first half performance merited more than a one goal lead, and this was in no small measure due to referee Howard Webb. Andy Johnson was again denied a penalty as yet another obvious foul went unpunished. The immediate response of his team mates suggested even they did not expect it be given, although maybe if they reacted furiously like the favoured members of the 'big four' they might get lucky. Nevertheless there was satisfaction in a number of performances, particularly those of James Vaughan and Mikel Arteta, and there is an opportunity to put the pressure right back on Bolton and Spurs when we play Fulham tomorrow. Given their league position and away record, three points are a must if Europe is to be achieved. Hopefully the return of Fernandes to relieve the creative burden on Arteta should ensure a win and a move into the top five. DAVID SPOWART Wavertree
FULL TIME: Everton 4 - 1 Fulham
Apr 6 2007
IF this is how Everton plan on ending the season, their supporters would be advised to start searching for their passports. An outstanding display against a shellshocked Fulham moved the Goodison outfit temporarily into fifth place, the perfect manner in which to start what David Moyes believes could prove a pivotal Easter period in the race for UEFA Cup qualification. It was Everton’s biggest league triumph since thrashing Aston Villa by the same scoreline in March 2006, and the first time this season they had come from behind to win a game. After Carlos Bocanegra had headed Fulham into a shock lead, Lee Carsley and Alan Stubbs ended their lengthy goal droughts while young striking duo James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe underlined their potential by both finding the target. While Moyes is eager to ease the pressure on his players, skipper Phil Neville regarded this fixture as a must-win given the psychological advantage that could be gained in moving into fifth place before main challengers Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur kicked a ball. Certainly, the statistics all had pointed to a home victory. Fulham had lost on their previous 13 league visits to Goodison, a run stretching back 46 years, and their notoriously appalling Premiership away record had seen themwin just two of 34 games on their travels. No wonder only 236 hardy Cottagers made the trip north. Just one league triumph since Christmas before last night left Fulham hovering dangerously above drop zone, and there for the taking by an Everton side brimming with confidence and self-belief. Moyes’s men duly obliged with a display that suggested they won’t fall away over the closing stages of the season, as has been too often the case in recent years. With Manuel Fernandes having failed to recover from his thigh problem, Everton were unchanged from the team that started the draw at Villa Park on Monday night while James McFadden returned as substitute after being sidelined since mid-January with a broken metatarsal. Young reserve goalkeeper John Ruddy earned a surprise elevation on the bench with Richard Wright jarring his knee during the warm-up. Fulham, who salvaged a 1-1 home draw with Portsmouth in their last outing, made two changes with their line-up containing former Everton trio Simon Davies, Brian McBride and Tomasz Radzinski - the latter jeered by the home crowd while the others were warmly welcomed back. However, the Goodison faithful were silenced midway through the half when Fulham forged into a shock lead. Pantomime villain Radzinski wriggled free to fire a shot that deflected behind off Stubbs, and from the resultantDavies corner from the left, a criminally unmarked Bocanegra headed beyond Tim Howard. The goal had been coming. Despite an early Arteta strike that was too hot for Antti Niemi to hold, Everton had been surprisingly lacklustre during the opening quarter with Fulham showing the greater attacking spark. But having had the temerity to take the lead, Fulham were soon blown away by three goals in 20 minutes, a devastating Everton spell conjured primarily by the talismanic Arteta. Joleon Lescott had been partly to blame for allowing Bocanegra to remain unattended for the Fulham goal, but made amends three minutes later when, after a good combination between Arteta and Neville, the left-back slipped a low cross for the sliding Carsley to sidefoot home from 10 yards. That the Republic of Ireland midfielder was on hand to score his first goal since May 2005 - and his first at Goodison since his derby winner in December 2004 - was testament to the tenacity and bravery of which the Everton support are becoming more appreciative. Carsley had earlier been forced to leave the field for five minutes for treatment on a nasty gash sustained when inadvertently heading the back of McBride’s head, the Everton man returning with a snazzy bandage wrapped around his shiny pate. The home side then moved deservedly ahead on 33 minutes. After Michael Brown felled Arteta on the touchline, the Spaniard dusted himself down and curled in a perfect free-kick for Stubbs to rise above Bocanegra and head in for his first Everton goal since January 2005. With Fulham rocking, Arteta headed a Johnson cross wide and Vaughan struck the post when stretching at the far post to meet another low, probing Lescott cross. But the youngster wasn’t to be denied when, in the final minute of the half, Johnson worked diligently to keep the ball in play and feed possession back to Arteta, who crossed from the right for Vaughan to strike a volley on the turn that Niemi couldn’t keep out. Fulham needed something soon after the restart and McBride was within inches of delivering on 54 minutes with a header from Liam Rosenior’s cross that dropped narrowly wide. Rosenior was again the architect with a free-kick header wastefully over by the unmarked Zat Knight as the visitors threatened to make a game of it. With the game stretched, Niemi tipped over a Johnson header from another Arteta set-piece delivery with Fulham’s defence all over the place, then parried an angled drive by Vaughan. The youngster again ran himself into the ground to earn a standing ovation when replaced by Anichebe, who put the icing on the cake with a powerful finish after Arteta - who else? - had tormented the Fulham defence oncemore.
Moyes warns: Don’t blow it
Apr 5 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES today urged his Everton squad to make up for past failings and finish the season with a flourish. Though the Blues have made significant strides under Moyes, the way they have been unable to rouse themselves in the final weeks in recent years has given cause for concern and it is something of which the manager is acutely aware. With seven games of the current campaign still to play and the prospect of European football dangling tantalisingly in front of them, there is no better time than the present for Everton to buck an infuriating trend. That is why Moyes, who was pleased with Everton’s performance at Villa Park on Monday evening, has challenged his players to maintain the consistency they have shown since Christmas through to May 13 – starting tomorrow night against Fulham. “I don’t think too many people would have complained about taking four points from games against Arsenal at home and Aston Villa away if you were offered it beforehand,” said Moyes, whose side have only lost two of their last 13 Premiership fixtures. “We have got another two difficult games coming up now and I’d hope we get a similar total, if not more over Easter. I thought we played well against Aston Villa and we go into the game against Fulham full of confidence. “The one thing we want to do is keep this good run going for as long as we can. I am conscious that we haven’t finished too strongly in recent years but that is in the past. It’s going to be tough mentally on the run-in but we are ready for the challenge.” Everton have never been beaten at Goodison Park by Fulham and will be looking to avenge a frustrating defeat at Craven Cottage last November, but Moyes is aware that one man in the visiting ranks will be desperate for an away victory. Little went right for Simon Davies during the 18 months he spent on Merseyside and he joined Fulham during the last transfer window after making 53 appearances for the Blues and scoring one goal. Moyes, however, has no axe to grind with the Wales international and while the move may have been right for all parties, he was as frustrated as Davies that things didn’t work out for him at Goodison.
Let’s make our class count - Howard
Apr 5 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
TIM HOWARD has urged Everton to make class count as they look to get their European charge back on track against Fulham tomorrow evening.
Though the Blues came away from Monday night’s tussle with Aston Villa with a respectable point, there was a feeling in the dressing room afterwards that things could and should have been much better. Gabriel Agbonlahor’s late equaliser prevented Everton from climbing back into the automatic UEFA Cup places, but victory over an erratic Fulham side will be enough to send David Moyes’ side shooting back into fifth spot. That, Howard feels, would provide the squad with a huge psychological boost ahead of the all-important Easter Monday clash at Bolton, a game the former Manchester United star feels it is vital to get something from. He recognises, however, there is no margin for error on the run-in and hopes the lessons of conceding at the death in games against Tottenham and Villa have been heeded. If so, Howard is confident the Blues will ease past Fulham. “We played well enough to win but we’ve dropped points late on in a couple of games now,” said Howard, who cost £3m when turning his loan deal into a more permanent arrangement in February. “Tottenham and Villa are the obvious examples. “But, at the end of the day, we were on the road, it was a difficult Monday night game, so we have got to look at it as a point gained. We are in position where we are fighting for Europe and that means we can’t afford to be coming away from games empty. “The worse case from now has got to be one point. We have got to be able to dig things out. We go back home now and if we get three points against Fulham, we can really start to put pressure on people. But we’ll reserve judgement until after we’ve played. “I just think with the quality that we have here, we need to impose our will. We have got ourselves into a good position and must make sure that there is a difference in class. Hopefully we can bag a few goals and keep it tight.” That’s something Everton have done for most of the season. Only Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool have a better goals against column than the Blues and Howard has played a major role in that by keeping 13 clean sheets. The United States international, however, feels that is down to the protection from the men directly in front of him, despite the back four being chopped and changed on numerous occasions. But with Tony Hibbert now back after a long lay-off and Nuno Valente ready to return, Moyes will have the luxury of being able to pick a settled back four on the run-in to boost Everton’s hopes of qualifying for Europe. “The big thing I have noticed is that there is always continuity in performances,” said Howard. “We started the season with Gary or Nuno at left-back. Then the rest of the defence was made up of Joleon, Joseph and Phil. “But then Stubbsy comes in and we don’t seem to lose a beat. A lot of teams chop and change and lose their cohesion. Yet it doesn’t seem to matter who we play at the back because we just keep ticking over. That’s the biggest thing. “The defensive record hasn’t escaped us. Guys are getting their blocks in, kicking balls away on the line and throwing their bodies in the way. It doesn’t go unnoticed. We take pride in it and we need to keep it going as there’s a few games left.”
The shared vision was in truth just so short-sighted
Apr 5 2007 Sports View by John Thompson, Liverpool Echo
THE shared stadium issue was officially declared dead this week. And it is the right result for both our big clubs. But the moods over Goodison and Anfield remain in some contrast – and understandably so. At Liverpool it’s been a dream week on and off the pitch. Monday’s announcement that work on a new Anfield stadium will start in the next few weeks has come as more than a relief to Reds fans. They can be reassured by several factors. Firstly, that new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have, with chief executive Rick Parry and their advisers, conducted a thorough review of the existing plans and produced their own ideas, which, make no mistake, smack of real ambition and understanding. Secondly, Liverpool’s political leaders are clearly doing all they can to help realise the vision of the club and it’s new American custodians. City leader Warren Bradley may be a big Evertonian and a man who took plenty of flak recently suggesting Hicks and Gillett may yet have wanted a shared stadium. But his statement acknowledging a ’world-class stadium, fit for a world-class club and a word-class city, is now a real prospect’ was music to the ears of Kopites. It also did him real credit. If he’s changed his view, been persuaded to, or just publicly accepted an inevitable reality, then good for him. The club he loves, though, faces a more uncertain period now, with fans anxious to hear just what he and the council can do to offer alternative sites to Knowsley – and just what is being considered regarding a move to Kirkby. It isn’t being proposed yet – not formally anyway – just explored. And until then Blues must wait and trust in men like Keith Wyness and Bill Kenwright to attend to their concerns. There are fans like the Keep Everton in Our City campaign who believe going outside the city boundary isa huge mistake, however good the Kirkby deal might be. They deserve respect because they care so deeply.
But that heartfelt principle merits much more debate and it is one probably best had in full after any Knowsley plan is tabled, rather than before it. For all the uncertainty though about Everton’s future, the fact that sharing is off the agenda is undoubtedly good news for Blues too. The majority of fans of both clubs did not want to share. And their instincts were right. Because Everton and Liverpool are quite simply major British football clubs with enough tradition and history of success, which, along with their current large and passionate fan bases, mean they are more than capable of sustaining and developing their own homes and unique identities. Certain politicians and civil servants may have ‘decided’ some time back that a shared stadium was to be part of Liverpool’s future as a regenerated city. But if that’s so they were being unambitious, unrealistic and unfair to an area where the game means so much to so many people. For all its economic and other benefits, sharing a stadium would ultimately have amounted to a dilution of football on Merseyside. And that would have been unforgivable. So Liverpool now know where they are going. And Everton don’t – yet. But the fact that our two Premierhsip clubs are not sharing a set of keys to one new home means common sense has thankfully prevailed.
Ex-Blue Tony tries creative cooking
Apr 5 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
FOOTBALL and high class cuisine don’t often go hand in hand and Insider wouldn’t be caught dead with the prawn sandwich brigade. But former Everton favourite Tony Grant intends to break the pie-eating tradition. After 309 appearances for nine different clubs, Grant is now ready to hang up his boots and move into the restaurant business. He has just opened Kozi in Rainhill, where he hopes the vision and the creativity he showed in the hurly burly of Premiership midfields can be put to good use in the cut throat restaurant business. “I’ve seen the Kitchen Nightmares programmes and I won’t be going down that road,” he smiles. “I want to make this the best restaurant in the region. “I’ve always enjoyed my food, not that people would believe it looking at the size of me! And during my career I was always fortunate enough to eat at the best restaurants. So I decided to try and find one of my own in Rainhill, where I’ve lived for seven years. “It’s traditional food with a modern twist – hence the name Kozi. It’s a cosy place so it suits its name, but it’s also very contemporary.” Joe Royle once described Tony as having “more natural talent than David Beckham” but injuries and a change of manager saw him moved on to Manchester City for £450,000 in 1999.
Everton 4, Fulham 1 (D,Post)
Apr 7 2007
HAVING been guilty of hitting the wall in recent seasons, Everton are now jumping the hurdles on their way to Europe. Few who witnessed this demolition of a shell-shocked Fulham could argue David Moyes’s side are now playing with the spring in their step required to make that final leap into the top six. Certainly, if this is how Everton plan on ending the campaign, their supporters would be advised to start searching for their passports. The move into fifth place may end up being only temporary for now, with Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur both in action today, but UEFA Cup qualification will be a certainty if Moyes’s side can maintain this form. Monday’s trip to the Reebok should hold no fears.While Fulham now face the prospect of a nerve-shredding scrap against relegation in their final six games, the future looks much brighter for an Everton side that have now lost just twice in 14 Premiership outings. That fact was underlined by 18-year-old striking duo James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe both finding the target as Everton racked up their biggest league triumph since thrashing Aston Villa by the same scoreline in March last year. Vaughan’s youthful exuberance has added renewed vigour to Everton’s forward play, his manager admitting the striker is playing without fear or pressure, factors that have undone the Goodison outfit during the closing stages of too many seasons under Moyes. Last night was also the first time this season Everton had come from behind to win a game, as veterans Lee Carsley and Alan Stubbs ended their respective lengthy goal droughts. Clearly, Everton aren’t as reliant on Andrew Johnson’s goals as some people might believe. To think Carlos Bocanegra had the temerity to head Fulham into a lead the visitors deserved following a surprisingly lacklustre opening quarter from Moyes’s men. That was soon forgotten, however, when the Cottagers were blown away by three goals in a devastating 20-minute spell conjured primarily by the talismanic Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard was once again the game’s stellar performer, featuring in the build-up of all four goals with his perceptive distribution and accurate set-piece delivery. But, as is becoming more and more regular, he wasn’t alone in impressing. From front to back, individuals excelled, Joleon Lescott in particular revelling down the left flank and supplementing the attack with a constant supply of fine crosses. Fulham’s refusal to sit back made for an engrossing, entertaining spectacle, and Chris Coleman’s side at least deserve credit for their positive approach to the game. However, it ultimately played into Everton’s hands. Skipper Phil Neville regarded this fixture as a must-win given the psychological advantage that could be gained in moving up to fifth place before Bolton and Tottenham had kicked a ball. Certainly, the statistics had all pointed to a home victory. Fulham had lost on their last 13 league visits to Goodison, a run stretching back 46 years, and their appalling Premiership away record had seen them win just two of their previous 34 games on their travels. No wonder only 236 hardy Cottagers made the trip to Merseyside, where their team has amazingly still yet to score a league win. With Manuel Fernandes having failed to recover from his thigh problem, Everton were unchanged from the team that drew at Aston Villa on Monday night, the fit-again James McFadden returning as substitute after being sidelined since mid-January with a broken metatarsal. Young reserve goalkeeper John Ruddy earned a surprise elevation on the bench after Richard Wright jarred his knee during the warm-up. Fulham, who salvaged a 1-1 home draw with Portsmouth in their last outing, made two changes with their line-up containing former Everton trio Simon Davies, Brian McBride and Tomasz Radzinski – the latter jeered by an unforgiving home crowd. However, the Goodison faithful were silenced midway through the half when Fulham forged into the lead. Pantomime villain Radzinski wriggled free to fire a shot that deflected behind off Stubbs, and from the resultant Davies corner from the left, a criminally unmarked Bocanegra headed beyond Tim Howard. The goal had been coming. Despite an early Arteta strike that was too hot for Antti Niemi to hold, Everton had been well off the pace during the opening quarter with Fulham showing the greater attacking spark. Cue the whirlwind. Lescott had been partly to blame for allowing Bocanegra to remain unattended for the Fulham goal, but made amends three minutes later when, after a good combination between Arteta and Neville, the left-back slipped a low cross for the sliding Carsley to sidefoot home from 10 yards. That the Republic of Ireland midfielder was on hand to score his first goal since May 2005 – and his first at Goodison since his derby winner in December 2004 – was testament to the tenacity and bravery of which the Everton support are becoming more appreciative. Carsley had earlier been forced to leave the field for five minutes for treatment on a nasty gash sustained when inadvertently heading the back of McBride’s head, the Everton man returning with a snazzy bandage wrapped around his shiny pate. But it was Fulham left feeling dizzy as the home side deservedly moved ahead on 33 minutes. After Michael Brown felled Arteta on the touchline, the Spaniard dusted himself down and curled in an inch- perfect free-kick for Stubbs to rise above Bocanegra and head in for his first Everton goal since January 2005. With Fulham rocking, Arteta headed a Johnson cross wide and Vaughan struck the post when stretching at the far post to meet another low, probing Lescott cross. But the youngster wasn’t to be denied when, in the final minute of the half, Johnson worked diligently to keep the ball in play and feed possession back to Arteta, who crossed from the right for Vaughan to strike a fine volley on the turn that Niemi couldn’t keep out. Fulham needed something soon after the restart and McBride was within inches of delivering on 54 minutes with a header from Liam Rosenior’s cross that dropped narrowly wide. Wayne Routledge was then the architect with a free-kick headed wastefully over by the unmarked Zat Knight as the visitors threatened to make a game of it.With the game stretched, Niemi tipped over a Johnson header from another Arteta set-piece delivery with Fulham’s defence all over the place, then parried an angled drive by Vaughan. The youngster again ran himself into the ground to earn a standing ovation when he was replaced by Anichebe, who put the icing on the cake with a powerful finish after Arteta – who else? – had tormented the Fulham defence once more. A very good Friday indeed for Everton.
EVERTON (4-4-2): Howard; Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott; Osman, Neville, Carsley, Arteta (Naysmith 82); Johnson (Beattie 82), Vaughan (Anichebe 78). Subs: Ruddy, McFadden.
FULHAM (4-4-2):Niemi; Volz, Knight, Bocanegra, Rosenior; Routledge, Smertin, Brown, Davies; Radzinski (John 61 (Helguson 72)), McBride. Subs: Lastuvka, Christanaval, Dempsey, Helguson.
REFEREE: Dermot Gallagher.
ATT: 35,612.
Everton 4, Fulham 1 (Echo)
Apr 7 2007
Liverpool Echo
WHILE many will spend this bank holiday weekend hunting for Easter eggs, the only thing Evertonians will be rummaging around for is their passports. Having seen their heroes crush Fulham last night with a display of ruthless finishing, this proved to be more than just a Good Friday for everyone of a Blue persuasion, it was a cracker.
Though their stay in fifth spot might prove to be short lived, Everton, who are running into devastating form as the race for Europe intensifies, could not have done any more to put the pressure on Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham. With the fourth best defensive record in the Premiership and goals being spread liberally around – Everton have had 13 different individual scorers – it is becoming increasingly difficult not to see David Moyes and his players competing in Europe next season. Goals from Lee Carsley, Alan Stubbs, James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe have increased expectations that the end to this campaign could be memorable.Fulham rarely experience anything other than heartache in this part of town – they have lost their last 13 league visits – and it only took Everton seven minutes to show that they would be in for another uncomfortable evening. Spinning away from his marker on the left, Mikel Arteta chased a bouncing ball but, unfortunately, the Spaniard’s meaty volley was straight at Antti Niemi who turned it for a corner. That should have been the signal for Everton to launch an onslaught against a side who have won only two of their last 34 away fixtures in the Premiership, especially with the carrot of European football dangling enticingly in front of them. For some reason, though, the tempo slackened and Fulham were able to get a foothold in the match. Everton only had themselves to blame when falling behind to a Carlos Bocanegra header with a quarter of the game gone. The warning signs had been there when Tomasz Radzinski had fired in a shot that forced Stubbs to take drastic action but another former Blue – Simon Davies – fired the resulting corner onto the head of the unmarked Bocanegra. Fortunately for Moyes and his players, Fulham’s lead proved shortlived. In the game’s first move of real quality, the ball sped between Arteta, Phil Neville and Andy Johnson before Joleon Lescott crossed for Carsley to slide in. It was a hardly a surprise to see this most popular player mobbed. The last time he scored at Goodison, Carsley ended up on the bottom of a mass of bodies, having scored in a Merseyside derby. The celebrations were not quite as extravagant on this occasion but the fact that every outfield player rushed towards him spoke volumes. Some players would have used a nasty gash above their left eye as a chance to head for the sanctuary of the dug out but not Carsley; he has been on the pitch for all bar 37 minutes and his leg would need to be hanging off for him to be substituted. His critics in the stand say all he does is pass the ball sideways and takes the pace out of attacks but it is no coincidence that Everton look an infinitely more robust ensemble with him around. It will be a major surprise, then, if he is not awarded a new deal. The same can also be said of Everton’s second scorer of the evening. ‘Prolific’ would never be away of describing Stubbs but he could not have picked a better moment to get back amongst the goals - it was his first in Blue since January 2005. Only time will tell how significant his towering header from Arteta’s pinpoint free kick proves to be, but it gave Everton the impetus to go on and wrap up the points before half-time. At times, some of the football they played was outstanding. Prompted by Arteta, Everton tore into the visitors; Vaughan smacked the post after being picked out magnificently by Lescott. Johnson forced Niemi into drastic action. Carsley might have doubled his tally. It came as no surprise when Vaughan got the goal his efforts deserved, drilling in from eight yards after Arteta - who else? - picked him out with a fine cross following good work by Johnson. Just as against Arsenal and Aston Villa, the youngest player ever to score for the Blues refused to stop running, never giving Bocanegra and Zat Knight a moment’s peace. The standing ovation he received when replaced by Victor Anichebe was richly-deserved. The crowd need not have bothered to sit back down. Within 60 seconds, Vaughan’s best mate got in on the act with a excellent finish from 16 yards, having started the move himself. No need to tell you who supplied the final ball. So everyone headed home happy but, churlish as it may seem, this was not the perfect performance. True, the finishing was majestic yet there were aspects of Everton’s play that left Moyes shaking his head on the touchline. Add into the equation the calibre of the opponents whom they were facing and it would be premature to start shouting too loudly. As a message of intent, nevertheless, it could not have been better. Clearly, the next test can’t come quick enough.
EVERTON (4-4-2): Howard; Hibbert, Stubbs, Yobo, Lescott, Arteta (Naysmith 83), Carsley, Neville, Osman, Johnson (Beattie 82), Vaughan (Anichebe 78). FULHAM (4-4-2): Niemi; Volz, Knight, Bocanegra, Rosenior; Routledge, Brown, Smertin, Davies; Radzinski (John 60, Helgusson 70), McBride. GOALS: Bocanegra (22), Carsley (24), Stubbs (34), Vaughan (45), Anichebe (80) REFEREE: Dermot Gallagher ATTENDANCE: 35,612
Heroes sign off in style
Apr 7 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
FULHAM have been present at some significant occasions in Everton’s history. In 1963, the title was clinched on a memorable May afternoon on Merseyside when the Cottagers were flayed 4-1; Alan Ball announced his arrival as an Everton legend at Craven Cottage three years later, then the Londoners provided the opposition for David Moyes’ memorable first match as Blues boss in 2002. But arguably the greatest atmosphere for an Everton-Fulham clash came on the last day of 1967-68 season . . . when Everton were celebrating nothing. In fact the Blues had lost the FA Cup final to West Bromwich Albion just three days earlier. Hundreds of thousands had turned up to offer a sympathetic return home to the Toffees on the Sunday – then on the Tuesday night they were at it again. The ECHO’s Chris James reported: “They finished fifth in the League and runners-up in the Cup, but 38,000 Evertonians gave their team the most emotional and heart-rending reception it is possible to give following last night’s 5-1 defeat of Fulham in the final game of the season at Goodison Park. “They stayed behind 10 minutes after the final whistle, shrilling, chanting, cheering, singing and making almost every conceivable kind of worshipping noise, demanding that their Everton heroes appeared before them for the last time this season. “They waited, still chanting and finally 11 sweat soaked, unbathed but triumphant warriors in blue emerged to what must have been one of the biggest roars Goodison Park has known in its long and illustrious history. “For manager Harry Catterick it was a battle won, because he must have remembered the moment two years previously when he was stoned at Blackpool by some of the same fans that paid homage to his efforts last night. “Here they were chanting his name and eventually, through the din, he was able to make himself heard over the loudspeakers. He promised that the sort of football that had demolished a demoralised Fulham would be the pattern of things to come at Goodison. “He said, too, how overwhelmed he and the team were at the support of their fans and their reception. He thanked them for the way Everton had been greeted when they returned as beaten finalists from Wembley.” The football Everton produced during the 1967-68 and 1968-69 seasons was, according to some of the players who produced it, even better than during the famous championship winning season of 1969-70. Against Fulham, on May 21, 1968, John Hurst helped himself to two goals in half an hour, Johnny Morrissey opened the scoring before Jimmy Conway reduced the arrears – depriving Everton of the distinction of having the division’s tightest defence that season (they shared the distinction with Liverpool). Alan Ball made it 4-1 in the 83rd minute and Joe Royle added a fifth in the final minute. It was almost the perfect night, as James added: “That almost 40,000 people should turn up for a final, relatively meaningless last game of the season, despite the bus strike, was a tribute in itself, without the unprecedented scenes at the end. “Only one thing detracted from the glory – the fact that the attendance of 38,337 was not quite good enough to boost the aggregate League attendance for the season past the million mark. The final figure was 985,719 - just 14,281 short - but few people will worry about that.”
DAVID PRENTICE: WAS IN HIS HEYDAY IN THE SWINGING 60S
Fernandes keen to prolong his stay with Blues into another season
Apr 7 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
INJURY may have thwarted Manuel Fernandes’ hopes of playing in Everton’s crucial Easter fixtures but it would take more than a thigh strain to puncture his current sunny outlook on life. Since he arrived at Goodison Park on loan during the transfer window, the Portugal international has recaptured his appetite for success, and he has made a significant contribution to the Blues’ push for Europe. A goal at Watford, coupled with several all-action performances in the heart of Everton’s midfield, has helped him quickly become a fans favourite and the clamour is growing to make his stay on Merseyside permanent. Only time will tell if that happens – after all, Benfica are likely to want a fee in excess of £9m to let Fernandes leave Lisbon for good – but the 21-year-old has made it quite clear he wants to be a part of Everton’s future.
That, though, should not come as a surprise. He may be regarded in the same esteem as Portugal’s other bright young things, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma, but this season has been a testing one for Fernandes. Loaned to Portsmouth last summer, injury disrupted his stay at Fratton Park, as did the fact he never managed to clock up a significant number of consecutive appearances, as that would have meant Harry Redknapp had to sign him permanently. Happily for Fernandes, however, there have been no such problems at Goodison. Had it not been for an injury picked up on international duty, he would almost certainly have played in Monday’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa and in last night’s tussle with Fulham. But the damage is not going to keep him sidelined for any length of time and it seems likely that he will back in contention to start when relegation-threatened Charlton Athletic visit next week.
What is clear, nonetheless, is how content he is to be an Everton player.
“My time at Portsmouth was good in that it introduced me to the Premiership,” said Fernandes. “I enjoyed my time there but I can’t say that it was a good experience. There are a lot of good people there who helped me. “In the beginning it was difficult because I was injured when I came, so even if I was fit, it wasn’t going to be easy.
“When you are injured and you go to play in a different league, it is difficult but I think after a couple of games, I settled. That’s like here at Everton. “What is different between Portsmouth and Everton? The fact that I can play two games in a row for a start. When you are really wanted at a place, like I am here at Everton, it is good for your self confidence. “You feel okay about the place and I want to stay. I’m really enjoying it here. We have a really good squad with some great team-mates, and I can concentrate on getting more fit and doing my best. I hope there is a lot more to come from me.” Fernandes sprang to prominence for Benfica as an 18-year-old, helping them win Portugal’s Superliga for the first time in 11 seasons, and has since racked up some precious experience of playing in the Champions League. Aside from that, he has twice been called upon by Luiz Felipe Scolari to play for Portugal’s senior team and been singled out for praise by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. But it is another Chelsea man whom Fernandes c laims has had the biggest influence on his game.
Claude Makelele has long been regarded as one of the finest midfielders in Europe and Fernandes has spent many hours basing his style on the Frenchman. That has led to some observers in Portugal dubbing him ‘Manelele’ but the youngster is uncomfortable witch such comparisons. As he rightly points out, he still has much to learn yet he would love his education to continue in the Premiership. “I think the English style of play suits my game. A lot of players like to go after the ball and win, so that suits me,” said Fernandes. “Makelele stays more in front of the defence and I try to get forward more. “But if I could model my game on someone, it would be Makelele. “He is the best in his position and I would love to be able to play like him. But I need to work much, much harder to be near to his level.”
Fearless teens fire Europe charge
Apr 7 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES last night saluted the young guns who are firing Everton's challenge for a place in Europe. Eighteen-year-old strike stars James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe scored a goal apiece in a 4-1 defeat of Fulham which lifted the Blues to fifth. And Moyes said afterwards: "They have no fear, and I think the crowd pick up on that as well. "They are two young boys who don't really know what this is all about yet, so they go into it and play with a complete freedom. "Let's be fair to James Vaughan, he scored one, had another chance at the back post and had three or four really good efforts. "Victor did really well at the start of the season and there have just been signs he is beginning to come back again, so the goal will help him. "The four goals were important tonight. That really helps our goal difference and that might be worth another point at the end of the season." The Blues came from behind to win a Premiership match for the first time since December 2004, and Moyes added: "The first half was really rampaging stuff. Then we conceded a goal and I thought 'Oh well, maybe not.' "But there's a lot of confidence in the side, a lot of belief and a lot of players performing really well at the moment." Spanish midfield maestro Mikel Arteta claimed a hat-trick of assists and Moyes added that an international call-up was not far away. "I've said many times that Mikel will play for Spain," he added. "I think you get recognition in the Premiership and I think it will be hard for him not to get called up."
Moyes, meanwhile, will consider recalling goalkeeper Iain Turner from his loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday after today's game, following another freak injury to Richard Wright during the warm-up. The Blues reserve keeper injured his knee after the ball struck him awkwardly in the warm-up before last night's game.
Blues finish with a flourish
Apr 7 2007 Liverpool Echo
WHILE many will spend this bank holiday weekend hunting for Easter eggs, the only thing Evertonians will be rummaging around for is their passports.
Having seen their heroes crush Fulham last night with a display of ruthless finishing, this proved to be more than just a Good Friday for everyone of a Blue persuasion, it was a cracker. Though their stay in fifth spot might prove to be short lived, Everton, who are running into devastating form as the race for Europe intensifies, could not have done any more to put the pressure on Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham.
With the fourth best defensive record in the Premiership and goals being spread liberally around – Everton have had 13 different individual scorers – it is becoming increasingly difficult not to see David Moyes and his players competing in Europe next season. Goals from Lee Carsley, Alan Stubbs, James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe have increased expectations that the end to this campaign could be memorable. Fulham rarely experience anything other than heartache in this part of town – they have lost their last 13 league visits – and it only took Everton seven minutes to show that they would be in for another uncomfortable evening.
Spinning away from his marker on the left, Mikel Arteta chased a bouncing ball but, unfortunately, the Spaniard’s meaty volley was straight at Antti Niemi who turned it for a corner. That should have been the signal for Everton to launch an onslaught against a side who have won only two of their last 34 away fixtures in the Premiership, especially with the carrot of European football dangling enticingly in front of them. For some reason, though, the tempo slackened and Fulham were able to get a foothold in the match. Everton only had themselves to blame when falling behind to a Carlos Bocanegra header with a quarter of the game gone.
The warning signs had been there when Tomasz Radzinski had fired in a shot that forced Stubbs to take drastic action but another former Blue – Simon Davies – fired the resulting corner onto the head of the unmarked Bocanegra. Fortunately for Moyes and his players, Fulham’s lead proved shortlived. In the game’s first move of real quality, the ball sped between Arteta, Phil Neville and Andy Johnson before Joleon Lescott crossed for Carsley to slide in. It was a hardly a surprise to see this most popular player mobbed. The last time he scored at Goodison, Carsley ended up on the bottom of a mass of bodies, having scored in a Merseyside derby. The celebrations were not quite as extravagant on this occasion but the fact that every outfield player rushed towards him spoke volumes. Some players would have used a nasty gash above their left eye as a chance to head for the sanctuary of the dug out but not Carsley; he has been on the pitch for all bar 37 minutes and his leg would need to be hanging off for him to be substituted. His critics in the stand say all he does is pass the ball sideways and takes the pace out of attacks but it is no coincidence that Everton look an infinitely more robust ensemble with him around. It will be a major surprise, then, if he is not awarded a new deal. The same can also be said of Everton’s second scorer of the evening. ‘Prolific’ would never be away of describing Stubbs but he could not have picked a better moment to get back amongst the goals - it was his first in Blue since January 2005. Only time will tell how significant his towering header from Arteta’s pinpoint free kick proves to be, but it gave Everton the impetus to go on and wrap up the points before half-time. At times, some of the football they played was outstanding. Prompted by Arteta, Everton tore into the visitors; Vaughan smacked the post after being picked out magnificently by Lescott. Johnson forced Niemi into drastic action. Carsley might have doubled his tally. It came as no surprise when Vaughan got the goal his efforts deserved, drilling in from eight yards after Arteta - who else? - picked him out with a fine cross following good work by Johnson. Just as against Arsenal and Aston Villa, the youngest player ever to score for the Blues refused to stop running, never giving Bocanegra and Zat Knight a moment’s peace. The standing ovation he received when replaced by Victor Anichebe was richly-deserved. The crowd need not have bothered to sit back down. Within 60 seconds, Vaughan’s best mate got in on the act with a excellent finish from 16 yards, having started the move himself. No need to tell you who supplied the final ball.
So everyone headed home happy but, churlish as it may seem, this was not the perfect performance. True, the finishing was majestic yet there were aspects of Everton’s play that left Moyes shaking his head on the touchline. Add into the equation the calibre of the opponents whom they were facing and it would be premature to start shouting too loudly. As a message of intent, nevertheless, it could not have been better. Clearly, the next test can’t come quick enough.
EVERTON (4-4-2): Howard; Hibbert, Stubbs, Yobo, Lescott, Arteta (Naysmith 83), Carsley, Neville, Osman, Johnson (Beattie 82), Vaughan (Anichebe 78). FULHAM (4-4-2): Niemi; Volz, Knight, Bocanegra, Rosenior; Routledge, Brown, Smertin, Davies; Radzinski (John 60, Helgusson 70), McBride. GOALS: Bocanegra (22), Carsley (24), Stubbs (34), Vaughan (45), Anichebe (80) REFEREE: Dermot Gallagher ATTENDANCE: 35,612
FULL TIME: Bolton 1 - 1 Everton
Apr 9 2007
EVERTON secured a vital point in their quest for Europe after holding Bolton to a 1-1 draw at the Reebok Stadium. Bolton went ahead through a Kevin Davies volley after Joleon Lescott had kept the striker onside from Ivan Campo's chipped free-kick. Teenager James Vaughan drew Everton level, slotting home after a mix-up in the Wanderers defence. Both sides kept searching for a winner, but neither could deliver quite the edge needed to take all three points. Leon Osman and Mikel Arteta drove Everton forward after the equaliser, with Andrew Johnson looking the most likely to score. to get on the ball and pull the strings from the middle of the park. Bolton couldn't make their periods of possession count, and overall Tim Howard had a quiet day in the Everton goal. Everton manager David Moyes said: "I was pleased with the players as to come to Bolton and get a point is a difficult. "Bolton started better, but we were better than them in the second half and I'm pleased we showed character to come back from a goal down. "But the one thing you don't do is gift them Bolton a really soft goal and that is what we have done so from that point of view it is very disappointing."
'We'll defeat injury Blues'
Apr 10 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
PHIL NEVILLE believes Everton’s strength of character will see them overcome the latest problem to threaten their European ambitions – as he cleared El-Hadji Diouf of deliberately trying to injure him. The Blues drew 1-1 with Bolton yesterday to remain in the hunt for a UEFA Cup spot but saw goalscorer James Vaughan taken to hospital after he severed an artery in his ankle. Thankfully, the injury is not as sinister as first appeared – Vaughan was able to spend the night at home – but it is likely to keep him out of Sunday’s home game with Charlton and means the squad is stretched to breaking point. “The squad is down to its bare bones at the minute and if we get two more injuries, we’ll be looking at playing kids or the coaching staff,” Neville said today. “But that’s when we pull together even more. We have got a never-say-die attitude and we never thought we were going to lose against Bolton.”
Neville admitted there were initial worries that something was drastically wrong with Vaughan. Many felt something similar when Neville was left writhing in agony by Diouf, who somehow escaped a caution from referee Martin Atkinson but the England international has no intentions of dwelling on the matter. “Our hearts were in our mouths with Vaughany,” he said. “AJ signalled for a stretcher straight away and even Alan Stubbs could see there was a lot of blood from where he was standing. Touch wood he will be fine because he’s on fire at the minute. “At this stage of the season, you need fresh players and that’s what he is. He could be the key for us.”
Of Diouf, he added diplomatically: “I’d call it a forward’s tackle. It was sore at the time but I know him quite well. There was no malice. “This is football and when you receive a tackle like that, it’s easy to come out moaning. The referee dealt with it and you have to get on with it.” Moyes will give his squad a couple of easy days now before setting his sights on Charlton and Neville feels Everton can be satisfied with their efforts both against Bolton and over the Easter period. “It was quite a good game to play in, though I’m not sure the purists will have enjoyed it,” he said. “There were two committed teams who desperately wanted to get three points but it was a good game and there are no complaints with the result.”
Beattie’s chance to prove his worth
Apr 10 2007 by Tony Cottee, Liverpool Echo
I’VE been championing the prospect of a James Beattie/Andy Johnson strike partnership ever since this season kicked off. But I was hoping the circumstances in which we got to see it in action might have been just a little different.
Injuries to both of the young guns who sparkled against Fulham mean that Beattie should finally get his chance to show what he can do. It’s been a season to forget for Everton’s number nine. But now he has the opportunity to end it memorably.
He has conducted himself well off the pitch while James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe have been preferred to him. Now he should get the opportunity to show what he can do on it. I felt for Vaughan yesterday. He was performing superbly again, he tucked his goal away clinically – then he sustained what can only be described as a freak injury. But so often in football one player’s misfortune is another player’s opportunity. And with games against relegation threatened Charlton and West Ham looming, then one of the big games of the season, the visit of Manchester United, following hot on their heels – the time could be right for Beattie to end the season with a flourish. I’ve always thought that Beattie and Johnson’s games should complement each other perfectly. Beattie is a traditional centre-forward with decent aerial ability, while Johnson has the pace to exploit the channels and get on the end of flick-ons. That partnership clicked within minutes of the season starting, Beattie releasing Johnson to score his first Everton goal against Watford, but for whatever reason it hasn’t happened since. But Beattie hasn’t sulked or moaned while he’s been sitting it out in the dug-out – and now is the time for him to let his football do the talking.
Blues can triumph - but Addicks are no pushovers
ANY team which is trying to escape a relegation dogfight must have one vital component - a regular and reliable goalscorer. Charlton have just that in Darren Bent, and four successive clean sheets as well suggest that this weekend’s visit to Goodison is going to be anything but straightforward. Alan Pardew’s side have given themselves a real chance of escaping the drop. Like, Everton they will have an extra day to prepare for the match with the Grand National putting the kick-off back to Sunday - and they’ll be giving it everything. After the physical battering Everton endured - and came through - at the Reebok Stadium yesterday, it will be a very different challenge facing Everton. But it’s one they can come through. I said last week that four points would be an excellent return from the Easter programme. Everton have done just that - deservedly - and now have the opportunity to build on it. The next two games won’t be easy, but they’re also far from daunting and the Blues must look to really reinforce their hold on sixth place . . . and cheer on Manchester United and Chelsea in next weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals!
Hillsborough proved turning point
THIS weekend marks the 18th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy.
It’s an occasion when footballers and football fans all over Merseyside will take time out to pay their respects to those who lost their lives on that awful afternoon.
I remember it vividly. I was in the Everton side which contested the other Cup semi-final at Villa Park - when any thoughts of celebration were instantly doused when news filtered through of what had happened in Sheffield. It was an appalling afternoon - and I hope modern players, even those not old enough to remember the tragedy at the time - will also take time out this weekend and pause for just a moment’s reflection. The starting point for the very healthy situation football finds itself in today was that wretched afternoon. The Taylor Report commissioned to look into the disaster ruled that all-seater stadia were compulsory. As a result, a different type of spectator began to watch matches - with more women and families flocking to our grounds. Sky TV liked what it saw and began to inject huge sums of money into the game and, as a result, even average Premiership footballers now enjoy vast riches from the game. I hope they all take a little time out this weekend to commemorate those ordinary fans whose suffering 18 years ago, in part, sparked a revolution which continues today.
Williams at the double
Apr 10 2007 Women's Football by Paul Garrity, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON managed to secure a hard fought win on their travels, beating bottom side Fulham 2-0. The Blues did expect more goals from the game following their 9-0 victory over the Cottagers last week. But the home side decided to defend for their lives against the Blues, who were without manager Mo Marley who was with the England Under-19s, so assistant Andy Spence took charge. After a dull first half, the deadlock was broken deep in the second period by the in-form Fara Williams, who beat two players before firing her 16th goal of the season. And just a minute later, fellow midfielder Amy Kane grabbed the second, volleying a cross from the right past the despairing keeper. Midfielder Nikki Harding said: “Fulham put 11 players behind the ball. As much as we tried, we just couldn’t open them up. Even when we had the ball, we didn’t do enough with it and we weren’t very creative.” The Blues now have a fortnight off as their game with Arsenal next week has been postponed. Their next match is against Chelsea at Marine on April 22. In the Northern Division, Liverpool took a step closer to winning the league title, as they ran out 3-1 winners over Curzon Ashton. The Reds also left it late, but two goals from Kelly Jones and a strike from Gayle Formston gave Keith Cliffe’s side the three points. “It wasn’t our best performance, but the result is the most important thing, especially as our rivals for the title, Lincoln, drew 0-0 with Aston Villa,” said Cliffe. “We’re now up to second but next week is massive as we have Newcastle. I think the girls are going to knuckle down.” Liverpool’s game with Newcastle will be played at Prescot Cables on Sunday (2pm kick off).
Bolton 1, Everton 1 (Echo)
Apr 10 2007
by Dominic King
HEADING for home, his head shaking in disbelief, one shrewd Evertonian put into words the feelings of those who had sat in the South Stand hoping to be entertained. “They could give me a season ticket here for free,” he said, struggling to conceal his contempt, “and I still wouldn’t come.” Bolton Wanderers: the team that would have you scurrying to close the curtains if they were playing in your back garden. But while this was as far removed from the beautiful game as you could possibly imagine, those supporters who had forked out an exorbitant £39 for the ‘pleasure’ of seeing the Blues in action yesterday should be on good terms with themselves today. Although Everton were not able to reproduce the sparkling football that cut Fulham to pieces on Good Friday, the fighting spirit they showed to grab a thoroughly deserved 1-1 draw augurs well for the remainder of the campaign. Provided David Moyes’ side hold their nerve in the five matches that must be played between now and May 13, they will secure the place in Europe their efforts since Christmas – just two defeats in 15 matches – richly deserve. Whether James Vaughan will be involved, however, remains to be seen. Carried from the pitch on a stretcher after severing an artery in his left leg, fingers will be crossed that this increasingly influential young man can make a speedy recovery. Initial fears that he had snapped his ankle were fortunately allayed but the last thing that Vaughan – scorer of Everton’s equaliser here – needs is another lengthy lay-off. Similar sentiments apply to Moyes, who is sick of seeing his treatment room full to the brim. It was, nevertheless, something of a relief that Vaughan was the only Everton player who needed treatment after they were subjected to a battering from their hosts. This was a battle for Europe in more ways than one. While the League table suggests Bolton are currently the fifth best side around, they have not achieved that position by cutting teams to ribbons with élan – 11 giants chasing long balls does not make for pleasant viewing. Then there is the other aspect of their game. There are few more unpleasant characters plying their trade in the Premiership than the obnoxious El-Hadji Diouf, a man who is to sportsmanship what Sven Goran Eriksson is to monogamy, and it took him under 10 minutes to show his true colours. First, this student of Machiavelli blatantly handled inside the box to gain an advantage, then followed up with an even more obvious use of his hand to punch an effort towards goal. Extraordinarily, referee Martin Atkinson failed to punish him on either occasion. Worse would follow later, though up to that point, Diouf was the least of Everton’s troubles. Put onto the back foot straight away, they had difficulty dealing with Bolton’s direct approach yet, even so, the opening goal which they conceded was wholly avoidable. A long free-kick was pumped in by Ivan Campo and there seemed little danger as the defence surged out en masse. But, fatally, Joleon Lescott stayed behind to play five Bolton players onside and Kevin Davies exacerbated the error by firing past Tim Howard. Given the amount of possession Bolton had enjoyed, it was no surprise to see them take the lead yet it was bitterly disappointing that Everton – who had only lost once on their travels in four months – were unable to make a better fist of things. Things changed dramatically for the better just past the half hour. Leon Osman burst into life to spin past three challenges to send Vaughan into space and the youngster made no mistake from 15 yards, drilling past Jussi Jaaskelainen. It was as predictable as it was tiresome to hear Sam Allardyce insist that the goal should not have stood. Ordinarily, that would have been the platform for Everton to settle down, and it would not have been wide of the mark to expect some entertaining football. Then you remembered the identity of the other team involved and all hope disappeared. Allardyce, a man who likes nothing more than telling anyone who will listen how great his achievements are, favours a style of play we will describe generously as ‘agricultural’, and few would quibble with the assessment that Bolton are the new Wimbledon. In fairness, he has managed to get the best out of some fine talents such as Youri Djorkaeff and Jay-Jay Okocha, but it is hard to take him seriously when he bleats about how good a job he has done with Diouf. Really? A man whose list of previous misdemeanours includes spitting at a child and diving to get his fellow professionals into trouble? Ridiculous. Take a different slant and ask any member of Everton’s squad what they thought of his efforts in this contest. Phil Neville was prepared to forgive and forget but Everton’s skipper was fortunate that he did not end up in hospital last night nursing a broken leg after Diouf stamped on him. Absurdly, he again escaped censure despite having no intention of playing the ball. “I’ve seen the Diouf challenge and it was a bad one,” said a less forgiving Moyes. “The referee and linesman just stood there looking at it but it was an incredible day because there were some incredible decisions.” Quite right. Diouf was despicable but he was not alone; Davies got away with slyly putting his knee into Howard’s back, Nicky Hunt chopped Mikel Arteta down on numerous occasions and Ivan Campo ran his studs down Osman’s ankle. The least experienced official in the Premiership, Atkinson has no reason to look back on his afternoon’s work with fondness; thankfully his idiosyncrasies did not contribute to the final score and a draw was the right outcome. So another obstacle is cleared and Everton can feel satisfied with their efforts over an Easter period that could have proven to be troublesome; keep up the good work and the goal they have been working towards since last August will soon be attained.
BOLTON WANDERERS: Jaaskelainen; Hunt, Faye, Meite, Gardner; Andranik (Thompson 90), Campo, Speed; Diouf (Stelios 88), Anelka, Davies. Not used: Walker, Martin, Tal.
EVERTON: Howard; Hibbert, Stubbs, Yobo, Lescott; Arteta, Carsley, Neville, Osman; Johnson, Vaughan (Beattie 62). Not used: Wright, Naysmith, de Silva, McFadden.
ATTENDANCE: 25,179.
REFEREE: Martin Atkinson.
Bolton 1, Everton 1 (D,Post)
Apr 10 2007
by Ian Doyle at the Reeback Stadium
THE battle for Europe assumed a whole new meaning at the Reebok Stadium yesterday. But out of a genuine blood and thunder encounter, a bruised Everton emerged unbeaten and clutching a precious point to move a step nearer to UEFA Cup qualification. The blood belonged to James Vaughan, the young striker departing on a stretcher after severing an artery in his left ankle. The thunder came courtesy of El Hadji Diouf’s horror challenge on Phil Neville that somehow went unpunished by the officials. Despite this, Everton were by far the happier at the final whistle following a performance of resolute character and commitment to frustrate Sam Allardyce’s side and strengthen their claims for a top-six finish. David Moyes regarded the visit to the Reebok as a potentially season-defining fixture. And while yesterday’s draw means work is still to be done, this was another significant hurdle successfully negotiated by a Goodison outfit. Certainly, if the season ended today few could quibble with Everton’s placing. The task now for Moyes is to ensure his team complete the final five Premiership games in the manner they have the previous 33. They did it the hard way yesterday, Vaughan equalising an early strike from Kevin Davies, the man Moyes had earmarked as Bolton’s main threat. It was the youngster’s second goal in four days, and the highlight of another performance full of promise until it was abruptly ended on the hour by a freak injury sustained when accidentally catching the studs of Bolton defender Abdoulaye Meite. Few players can have suffered as much misfortune as Vaughan has at this early stage of his career. Still only 18, the striker has already missed a huge chunk of his development with a knee injury that had threatened his livelihood. And while yesterday’s setback could have been a lot worse, it is desperate timing for both player and club with Vaughan primed to play a major part in the run-in. Thankfully, that won’t involve another game with Bolton. Allardyce’s side are to the beautiful game what Jose Mourinho is to humility. Physical, reliant on the long ball and almost completely devoid of class, it drains as much stamina to watch them as it does to play against them. With the stakes highs and players tiring from their earlier Easter exertions, this was more a war of attrition than anything else. But Bolton’s robust attitude ensured a feisty fixture simmered throughout. El Hadji Diouf can boast the rare claim of being roundly disliked by both the blue and red halves of Merseyside, and he lived down to his reputation inside the opening 10 minutes when he twice left the Everton players fuming with his two clear handball offences inside the visitors’s penalty area, both missed by the officials. Even worse was to come later in the half when the Senegalese striker – dubbed the ‘Serial Killer’ in his homeland – contented himself with merely attempting to maim Neville with an over-the-top stamp on the Everton midfielder’s right leg as the pair contested a 50-50 challenge. Once again, neither Martin Atkinson – perhaps demonstrating his status of the Premiership’s least experienced referee – nor his assistant decided to take any action, despite the incident occurring right in front of them. Such roughhouse tactics have long been a part of Allardyce’s gameplan, his team yesterday again pushing the laws to the limit. Tim Howard can vouch for that, the goalkeeper left somewhat sore after an unnecessary knee in the back from the robust Davies. Portsmouth’s defeat to Watford earlier in the day gave a surprise fillip to the European aspirations of both yesterday’s combatants. Understandably given their Good Friday performance, Moyes kept faith with the same line-up for the third successive game, although Victor Anichebe’s ankle injury meant the lesser-spotted Anderson de Silva was elevated to the bench. Allardyce made two changes from the Bolton team that won 3-1 at Wigan Athletic on Saturday, Ivan Campo and Ricardo Gardner returning in place of the benched David Thompson and surprisingly dropped Tal Ben Haim. The importance of the game for both teams should have ensured a sell-out at the Reebok, but not for the first time this season there were noticeable gaps in the home end. Are ticket prices now so expensive that a key fixture cannot sell out on a Bank Holiday, or are the local population becoming disenchanted by the playing style of their team? Probably a bit of both. Those that turned up saw Everton fall behind on 18 minutes after Joleon Lescott was guilty of an error out of character in a season in which the 24-year-old has made a huge impression since his arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers. A lack of communication in defending a free-kick from Campo meant the left-back tracked Abdoulaye Faye into the area as his team-mates pushed up for offside, leaving the completely unmarked Davies the easy task of controlling the ball before swivelling and firing beyond Tim Howard. Although slow out of the blocks, Everton had enjoyed a few moments of encouragement before the opener, one direct Vaughan run forcing the Bolton defence scampering to cover. The young striker drew the visitors level on 33 minutes with a goal that owed everything to the persistence of Leon Osman. The midfielder held off the attentions of Ricardo Gardner and Kevin Davies before moving beyond Meite and slipping Vaughan into space. The 18-year-old had some good fortune in seeing the ball ricocheted back to him off Nicky Hunt, but he made the most of it by finishing clinically under Jussi Jaaskelainen. Allardyce’s later complains that there was a foul by Osman in the build-up to the goal were simply baffling. Osman and Andrew Johnson both tested the Bolton goalkeeper from range as Everton finished the half the stronger, the home side persisting with their increasingly ineffective route-one football. Although Faye headed over a Nicolas Anelka cross and Campo shot at Howard, Everton defended in relative comfort after the restart without ever really testing Jaaskelainen. A period of concerted pressure at an Everton corner was eventually subdued, while Joseph Yobo later headed over at the far post from Arteta’s deep free-kick. Following Vaughan’s untimely departure, Bolton upped the pressure but there was never any chance of Everton surrendering a deserved point.
BOLTON WANDERERS (4-5-1): Jaaskelainen; Hunt, Meite, Faye, Gardner; Davies, Andranik (Thompson 90), Campo, Speed, Diouf (Stelios 88); Anelka. Subs: Walker, Martin, Tal.
BOOKINGS: Faye and Campo (both fouls).
EVERTON (4-4-2): Howard; Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott; Arteta, Carsley, Neville, Osman; Johnson, Vaughan (Beattie 62). Subs: Wright, Naysmith, de Silva, McFadden.
BOOKING: Arteta (foul).
REFEREE: Martin Atkinson.
ATT: 25,179.
Everton Res 0, Middlesbrough Res 0
Apr 11 2007
Liverpool Daily Post
EVERTON Reserves could only earn a point at the Halton Stadium, despite having most of the possession against Middlesbrough. Gary Naysmith played the full 90 minutes after his substitute appearance against Fulham on Saturday.
The young Everton side had most of the chances against their more experienced opponents as the visitors fielded the likes of Malcolm Christie and Giezka Mendieta. Everton's first effort on goal came after 18 minutes as Steven Morrison's cross was headed just over by Anderson De Silva. Morrison tested Ross Turnbull in the Boro goal minutes later but the goalkeeper held the shot. The second half produced little more goalmouth action for the tiny crowd to enjoy and a point was just about what both sides deserved. David Moyes, watching from the stands will be delighted at the sight of Naysmith's continued progress as the first team push for a UEFA Cup spot. EVERTON: Ruddy, Irving, Elder, Naysmith, Kearney, de Silva, Kearney, Morrison (Kissock 78), Vidarsson, Spencer, Downes. Subs: Jones, Harpur, Hall, Molyneux. MIDDLESBROUGH: Turnbull, McMahon, Wheater, Grounds, Davies, Cattermole, Mendieta, Franks (Hutchinson 79), Christie, Lee, Porrit (Thompsom 70.) Subs: Robson, Steele, Bennett.
‘Carsley is our Euro inspiration’
Apr 11 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
ALAN STUBBS today paid a glowing tribute to the unsung hero who has helped keep the momentum behind Everton’s push for Europe. Lee Carsley has played in all bar 37 minutes of the Blues’ campaign and hit top form over the Easter weekend, scoring in the 4-1 drubbing of Fulham on Good Friday and was a hugely influential figure in the 1-1 draw against Bolton two days ago. Though his role in the side is not one that grabs the limelight, Stubbs says it should not come as a surprise that Everton have one of the Premiership’s most miserly goals against columns now that Carsley is back to full fitness. And while much will be expected of Andrew Johnson and Mikel Arteta as the race to clinch a UEFA Cup spot intensifies, Everton’s vice-captain feels Carsley will have just as much to contribute in the closing weeks. “We have got a great camaraderie in the team,” said Stubbs. “Whether it is a top player or someone who is struggling to get into the team, they all come in with the same attitude and they all want to do a job. “The lads who never get the headlines are just as important to us.
“You need players when you want to achieve something that are the unsung heroes and Cars is one of them for us. “He goes about his job brilliantly and he is just always there for us and is totally reliable. “In some ways, he reminds me of Denis Irwin. He was someone who you’d never notice but he just got on with his job all the time. And he did it very well. “Cars stops a lot of service from the opposition coming in on top of us. “The key word is the team. We are very hard to break down and that is all credit to everyone. “We don’t just go out there, pass the ball about and expect to win. I think we are one of the hardest working teams that you will come across.” Meanwhile, hopes that James Vaughan will play again before the end of the season have increased with Everton “cautiously optimistic” that the 18-year-old will only be sidelined for three to four weeks. Vaughan severed an artery in his left anklebut was discharged from hospital within hours after a consultant recommended that the wound should be left to heal naturally.
Naysmith shines in Blues’ stalemate
Apr 11 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Echo
GARY NAYSMITH continued his return to fitness by playing 90 minutes as Everton Reserves played out a goalless draw with Middlesbrough. The young Blues side had most of the chances against their more experienced opponents as the visitors fielded the likes of Malcolm Christie and Giezka Mendieta. Everton’s first effort on goal came after 18 minutes when Steven Morrison's cross was headed over by Anderson De Silva. Morrison tested Ross Turnbull but the keeper held on to the shot.
Boro had a chance when Christie shot on goal only for young John Irving to clear off the line with John Ruddy beaten. The second half produced little goalmouth action, although Irving again denied Boro with some fine defending. David Moyes, watching from the stand, will have been delighted at the sight of Naysmith’s continued progress. Everton: Ruddy, Irving, Elder, Naysmith, Kearney, de Silva, Kearney, Morrison (Kissock 78), Vidarsson, Spencer, Downes. Subs unused: Jones, Harpur, Hall, Molyneux.
True Blue goes the distance for charity
Apr 11 2007 by Adrian Butler, Liverpool Echo
AN EVERTON fan got up at 3am to walk from Goodison Park to Bolton to watch Everton’s game. Frank Porter, from John Bagot Close, Everton, took on the challenge to try to raise £1,000. Walking with him was friend John Taylor.
The 53-year-old builder, whose father died from cancer, is fundraising for Marie Curie Cancer Care. He said: “Dad had bowel cancer for 10 years, but he just got on with it and he got such good care from Marie Curie.”
Arteta’s double target
Apr 12 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES today challenged Mikel Arteta to give Everton’s European push an extra dimension by taking his goal tally into double figures. The Blues’ Spanish playmaker is second only to Andrew Johnson in the club scoring charts but has been stuck on eight since he converted a penalty against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on March 3. But with Tim Cahill currently sidelined with a broken metatarsal and James Vaughan out having severed an artery in his left foot, Moyes wants to see Arteta trouble the scorers again, starting on Sunday against Charlton Athletic.
“We have been pleased with the way the goals have been shared around recently,” said Moyes, who has seen 14 different players hit the target so far this season.
“A few different faces have started and that has made life a bit easier. “When you think back to the start of the season, it was really only AJ and Tim who were doing their bit, so that is encouraging. But I would really like to see Mikel get into double figures before the end of the season. “He is certainly capable of getting a few more and he is playing well. “Maybe Monday’s game against Bolton didn’t suit him so much, but he is a player with great talent so we are hopeful there is more to come.”
Arteta’s personal best for a season came during his time with Rangers when he netted on nine occasions during season 2003/04. Unbeaten in six games, Moyes knows that Charlton will represent a stern test on Sunday but is satisfied the way his squad have acquitted themselves recently. “We had a couple of good results over Easter and I suppose we would have settled for taking four points from six against Fulham and Bolton,” said Moyes. “Bolton were tough. They are a difficult side to play, but I was pleased and we have now got to keep it going in the last five games.”
Meanwhile, Everton are offering fans the chance to watch Moyes put his first team squad through their paces tomorrow morning, when they hold their only open training session of the season. Admission to the event is free and the turnstiles at Goodison will be open from 9.00am for a 10.30am start. The Healthy Schools Bus will be parked in the Park End car park with a table football tournament, and there will be a soccer skills presentation and entertainers for children of all ages. Tickets are subject to availability. Contact the Goodison box office.
The jury
Apr 12 2007
What impressed you most about the Blues' Easter performances?
Liverpool Echo
THE most impressive aspect over the Easter period was the way we came back twice from a goal down. It was good to see as it showed resilience and determination in the side and was good for confidence, particularly as we have not won from that position for a while. The two games, however, were very different. On Good Friday we played exciting football to outclass Fulham, while against Bolton a gritty display was required. We showed good team spirit against Bolton's physical approach, demonstrated by Vaughan wanting to carry on playing even though he had severed an artery! The other positive to come out of the Easter games was the way Vaughan has been playing and his understanding with AJ. It's a real shame their partnership can't continue against Charlton. Despite the injuries, if we keep up the same level of confidence and belief then we have an excellent chance of qualifying for Europe. HANNAH BARGERY, Widnes
OVER the Easter period, Everton showed the confidence and belief needed to land a UEFA Cup spot. The players have looked fresh after a mini break during March. They appear to be more determined, well organised and looking more of a threat in front of goal. In both games we went a goal down and normally we never look like coming back. However, we showed a lot of pride and passion - signified by James Vaughan who has proved to be a catalyst to our season. The Fulham game was the most entertaining performance of the season. They were awful and we deserved to score more. The Bolton game was one I've been dreading in the final run of fixtures. It was always going to be tough and I cringed watching their goal go in but again we fought backand deserved a point. The downfall was the injuries to Vaughan and Anichebe. They will be greatly missed. BEN McGRAE, Hunts Cross
OVER the last few weeks we have been playing some great football and we are so strong at the back. We also have the added bonus of having one of the best young players in the country. James Vaughan has been exceptional, the amount of effort he shows reminds me of a certain Wayne Rooney when he was once a Blue. Everyone knew we had something special on our hands with Vaughan, but I did not expect him to be this good. Since his first start, he has given Everton so much, and this has given the fans a huge boost. Anichebe has done fantastically well for us but Moyes knew deep down what Vaughan can do. It's been great to see an Everton player showing passion and enthusiasm. Vaughan's play has encouraged the team at the right time. Unfortunately he will be out for a few weeks, but fourth choice striker James Beattie will not help us achieve a Euro place. GARETH SCOTT, West Derby
RESULTS and performances over Easter have been really encouraging. A great display against Fulham, which did our goal difference a power of good, could work out to be an extra point come the end of the season. Great to prove the critics wrong, too, who say when Johnson and Cahill don't score Everton don't win. The trip to Bolton was never going to be the prettiest of games, but at least there was one team trying to play attacking football - and it wasn't the hosts.
Long balls, late challenges and off-the-ball incidents are what Bolton thrive on, but Everton proved a tough nut to crack and we earned a deserved draw. To have taken four points off each of Bolton, Liverpool and Arsenal, this season is a great achievement. The same effort has to go into the remaining five games.
Hopefully, the players will do that and provide us with European football.
TONY SCOTT, Walton
‘This can be best season so far’
Apr 13 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES today claimed his Everton squad has the potential to outstrip the achievements of the group he guided to a top four finish two years ago. On the back of a run that has seen them lose just two Premiership games since December 23, the Blues could take a significant step towards securing a UEFA Cup spot this weekend by beating relegation-threatened Charlton Athletic. That form represents the kind of consistency that Moyes has been striving for during the five years he has been in charge and is arguably better than their efforts in 2005, when they lost 13 games and finished with a negative goal difference despite securing fourth place. It has led Moyes to declare that the future at Goodison Park is looking bright but he knows that only deeds on the pitch matter between now and May 13 and has challenged his players to finish the season in style. “I think we have got the makings of a really good team,” said Moyes. “Whether we are playing better than we did the year we finished fourth, I’m not sure I’d agree with that completely. What I have certainly been pleased with though, is out consistency. “In the past we would win a game, then lose a game, but we have put a run together since Christmas that has been quite good and has taken us to near the top of the table, which is where we want to be. “Now we have got to take that form and the attitude we have shown since Christmas into the next two games, but we know how tough it is going to be. “Both Charlton and West Ham have really given themselves a chance of staying in the Premier League.” Moyes, who has been encouraged by progress that has been made this season, added: “They would not have been easy in the first place, but now they have both come into good form and their confidence will be up. “We have raised standards of performance and although there have been a few times when we have dropped below that, generally it has been good. We’ve been very consistent these last five or six games.” Moyes will not make any decisions on his squad until tomorrow afternoon. James McFadden missed a run out for the reserves on Tuesday with a swollen knee, but should be given the all clear.
Victor Anichebe, meanwhile, is also making good progress after damaging his ankle during the 4-1 drubbing of Fulham, but one man who will not be involved for the next few weeks is James Vaughan, who is still being monitored closely by medical staff.
“Victor is not too far away and Faddy missed the reserves as a precaution, so we will see how he is,” said Moyes. “What happened to Vaughany was a great shame, as he was giving us real enthusiasm but we are glad the injury wasn’t as serious as it could have been.”
Yobo is keen to make up for lost time in Europe
Apr 13 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
JOSEPH YOBO had just undergone a fitness test on a sultry evening in Dallas last summer when he mapped out his ambitions for the new campaign.
Having just put pen to paper on a lucrative new deal, the Nigerian international took a sip from a bottle of water and then proceeded to speak enthusiastically about Everton’s chances of playing in Europe at a later date. Fast forward to the present day and Yobo smiles when reminded about what his declarations were in the United States - with good reason. As the Premiership season draws to a conclusion, Everton - sitting pretty in sixth place - are poised to make one final push for the UEFA Cup.
There is, of course, still much work to be done; Sunday’s opponents Charlton Athletic will not come to Goodison Park to lie down, while West Ham United, Manchester United, Portsmouth and Chelsea all still have something to play for. Yet Yobo, like so many of his team-mates, senses that Everton will have a European campaign to look forward to during the close season, particularly if they show the same kind of character and commitment that has been evident during the past few months.
Finishing in the top six would show genuine signs of improvement but it would also give Everton’s squad the chance to right the wrongs of 2005 when Villarreal and Dinamo Bucharest put them to the sword and Yobo is hankering to make up for lost time. “It would mean almost everything to me to play for Everton in Europe,” said Yobo. “We had an experience of playing there a couple of years ago but it wasn’t the best and it didn’t last very long. We went out too early and because of that, everyone is hungry. “You can see it in the squad. We are all so determined and that is why I played against Bolton. I’ve been struggling and my thigh is a bit sore but I look around the squad and see how good the team spirit is and I want to be a part of it. It makes it difficult for you to say ‘no’. “I’m happy. As long as the team is winning and we can finish in a European place, I couldn’t ask for more. Europe is our target and we have to make sure we get there. We’ve been on a good run since Christmas and our confidence is very good. “In the past, we were conceding goals and it would mean that we would lose the game. But now when it happens, we believe in ourselves that we can get something back out of it. That is a very positive thing for us and it shows we are moving in the right direction. “We don’t believe we are going to lose games and the worst we are thinking about is drawing. When you think of some of the games that we have got coming up, starting against Charlton, that should serve us well.”
As was the case against Bolton on Easter Monday. Despite being subjected to the kind of aerial bombardment not seen since the Luftwaffe took to the skies, Everton stood firm and were good value for the point that keeps Sam Allardyce’s men within their sights. A return of four points from a possible six over the holiday also extended the Toffees’ unbeaten run to a sixth game and Yobo - who has played every minute of every Premiership match so far - feels they will be well on course for Europe if form does not taper off. “It was a good point and we were happy with the performance,” said Yobo, who was Moyes’ first signing in 2002. “It is always very difficult when you play against Bolton. They are ahead of us at the moment and we needed to get something out of the game to keep the pressure on them. “We would have taken four points out of six before the start of the Easter period and now we have done it, we have got to push on. If we keep doing what we have been doing recently - not losing games - we will be fine.” But while he wants to atone for the last time he played against Charlton - Yobo was partly culpable for Andy Reid’s equalising goal at The Valley last November - the 26-year-old recognises that beating Sunday’s opponents will prove easier said than done. Alan Pardew has galvanised a side that looked down and out before Christmas and they will arrive at Goodison confident of recording a fifth consecutive clean sheet. That is why Yobo accepts that nothing other than a big performance will do. “Right now, everybody is fighting for something in the Premiership,” Yobo noted. “We want to play in Europe and with Charlton fighting for their lives, it makes the game a lot bigger. It is going to be a very tough game for both clubs.”
True blue spirit shining through
Apr 13 2007 by Howard Kendall, Liverpool Echo
WHEN a team is pushing for a target, there is one thing it needs more than anything else – spirit. And it augurs well that Everton have it in bundles. A squad can be crammed with talent but it is useless if there are divisions in the camp. You only had to look at the way each goal was greeted at Goodison last Friday to see that everyone is pulling in the right direction. Whether it was Lee Carsley, Alan Stubbs, James Vaughan or Victor Anichebe, they all made a point of running to the person who had set them up and, within seconds, the whole team were involved. There was no ridiculous badge kissing or anyone looking to break free to milk the applause of the crowd on their own. The Everton players are in it together and that bodes well for the final weeks of the campaign, but the efforts of one particular individual will not have gone unnoticed. Lee Carsley has been awesome recently. It’s easy to pigeon hole him and say he is just someone who mops up – the Claude Makelele role, if you will – but there is much more to Carsley than meets the eye, and I don’t think it should surprise that he is doing so well in a 4-4-2 system. True, he is particularly effective at stopping service coming into the box, but he has a great engine, can pass the ball well and has an eye for goal. I would imagine he’d be disappointed he only has one to his name so far. One thing he can be well pleased about, however, is his overall contribution. He is someone who can be relied upon in difficult situations.
Charlton? I don't know what the fuss is all about
CHARLTON are Sunday’s visitors and, with a chance to take a step closer to the UEFA Cup, I doubt anything other than three points will be acceptable. I’ve heard people mention they are bothered about the threat Charlton pose. Some are worrying that they arrive on Merseyside in fine form, especially as they haven’t conceded a goal in four games. But, having watched them play against Reading on Easter Monday, I can’t really see what all the fuss is about. They were fortunate in that game and Everton are likely to have too much class for them. Results over Easter were positive. While another victory would not clinch a return to Europe, it would go a long way to doing so. But wouldn’t it be nice to go to Chelsea on the last day of the season not worrying about the outcome - as the objective had already been achieved? That is why I full expect Everton to roar past Charlton, so they can ease some of the pressure.
The eyes don’t have it as Poll loses plot!
Apr 13 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
GRAHAM POLL is a winker. No, really. I’ve seen him in eye-lash fluttering action, back when he wasn’t as well known as he wanted to be. And it was almost as unedifying a sight as the Thing from Tring making it up as he went along on Monday night. A female colleague first drew my attention to him at White Hart Lane.
He was supposed to be acting as fourth official at a Tottenham versus Everton match.
Instead, he spent the entire second half winking and waving at the young girl in the press box. It was an early glimpse of the ego we’d see so much of in the future.
I mean, why concentrate on your job when you know better than the men who frame the laws anyway? That was almost 10 years ago, but Poll hasn’t changed – as Monday night proved. Charlton boss Alan Pardew visited Poll at half-time during his side’s nerve-shredding match with Reading. Defender Alex Song had been booked, and Pardew wanted a pre-arranged signal from the referee if he felt that his player was moving close to a red card. Poll should have given him the same response he gave reporters who visited his house on Tuesday morning . . . except without quite so many F-words. But his ego wouldn’t allow him to. Oh no. It was an opportunity to play God, and well, it was Easter Monday after all. So instead of dismissing Song, Poll gave Pardew a secret signal (maybe even that cheeky wink which he does so well) and Song was substituted. Now if this had been a pre-season friendly – or even a meaningless end of season Premiership fixture, Poll might have been praised for his sensitivity. Instead, he has given relegation threatened teams like Fulham, Wigan, West Ham and Sheffield United the chance to cry foul! With total justification.
Would Charlton have held onto a goalless draw with 10 men? We’ll never know, because Poll decided to play judge and jury. Surely it’s up to Pardew to control his players? It’s not the referee’s job to keep an eye on indisciplined defenders.
But then Graham’s capable of doing two jobs at the same time, remember – neither of them very well, unfortunately. Just ask James McFadden, John Terry, Josip Simunic, Robbie Savage . . . and the embarrassed young lady at White Hart Lane.
It’s time for stats to tumble
STATISTICS tumbled around Everton over Easter. Against Fulham they became the last Premiership team to concede a goal from a corner this season. In the same game they finally ended a sequence which saw them fail to win a match in which the opposition had scored - a run which stretched back to the opening day of the season.
And they came from behind to win in the Premiership for the first time since December 2004. All well and good. But now they’ve got to end their wretched after-Easter shows, a run which goes back to the dawn of the Premiership.
Those anoraks at the Guardian, men who love a sad stat even more than myself, printed an intriguing table last season which showed the performances of Premiership football teams after Easter. Guess who was last? Yes, Everton. The table totted up the points from the last five games for the last 10 seasons. Everton couldn't even manage an average of a point a game. That sad stat continued last season. After a pointless Easter, the Blues endured home draws with relegated Birmingham and West Brom, then a rare win at Middlesbrough. Relegation-threatened teams are next on the agenda again. If ever there was a time for another statistic to tumble at Everton, it’s now.
Blowing the whistle on Sam
BIG SAM really was being serious.
He didn’t smirk, he didn’t place his tongue in his cheek - and he didn’t hold a deadpan expression before laughing out loud and declaring "Had you going, didn’t I?"
Complaining about the ‘injustice’ of Everton’s equaliser on Monday, he said: "Carsley has elbowed Speedo in the head. It’s a clear free-kick. Everton have had a bit of luck. We’re going to moan about it - we have to. You’ve got to get the right decisions at the right time and that didn’t happen." And, yes, he meant it. So if Bolton didn’t get the right decision that time, they did when Kevin Davies pushed Lee Carsley, and the hapless Martin Atkinson awarded a free-kick in Bolton’s favour from which Sam’s side scored. They did when Atkinson looked on while El Hadji Diouf used Phil Neville as a doormat; when Ivan Campo escaped a series of tackles from behind and squared up to Osman; and when Diouf tried to punch the ball into Everton’s goal.
Come on Sam. You were having a laugh . . . weren’t you?
Easy does it as Blues enter the home straight
Apr 14 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON begin the push for home tomorrow with confidence surging through the ranksafter they negotiated the potentially troublesome Easter period without too much trouble. Unbeaten in six games, results against Fulham and Bolton Wanderers last weekend keep the Blues on course for Europe and it is becoming more and more difficult not to see David Moyes’ side being involved in next season’s UEFA Cup.
But, even though it seems as if things are going to plan, experience has taught Phil Neville that nothing can be taken for granted; to use the old cliche, the form book is thrown out of the window in the final few weeks of the season. Quite simply, anything can - and often does - happen. Neville, of course, has been part of Manchester United sides that have won title races they were written off from and lost leads when it seemed they had everything in hand, so there is little chance thinking three points against Charlton Athletic will be a formality. On the contrary. There may have been much to like about the resilience and determination Everton showed earlier this week to secure a point at the Reebok Stadium, while some of the football they played against Fulham left supporters purring. Yet Charlton will arrive at Goodison in a similarly buoyant mood and are just as desperate for a win, given the spectre of relegation haunts them. For that reason, Neville won’t be making any bold predictions, even if overhauling Bolton is the Toffees’ top priority.
“Our next step is to look at Bolton,” he said. “We can only take small steps but we are pleased with where we are the minute. Easter is always a critical part of the season and if you can come out of it in a good position, it normally augurs well for the remainder of the campaign. “We are playing things calm at the minute, as there are still five games to go and there is everything to play for. At the moment, we feel as though we are in good form and we are really looking forward to the task that faces us, starting with Charlton. “Europe is something that we have aimed for all season. When we were away in America last summer, we all thought that was an achievable goal and we have proved it so far. But, at this moment in time, we have achieved nothing. “There is still a long way to go. Results over the weekend show that the bottom teams can beat those at the top. We face a Charlton side who are fighting for their lives on Sunday and we know that if we don’t play well, anything can happen.”
Judging by the mood around Bellefield in recent days, however, it seems inconceivable that Everton will allow all the good work since they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Blackburn to unravel in the next five games.
Since that grim afternoon in January, only Tottenham - on February 21 - have managed to get the better of the Blues and Neville admits that chastening experience was the jolt everyone at the club needed to turn their fortunes around.
“When we got beat 4-1 by Blackburn in the FA Cup, we thought we were having a pretty good season and that was just the kick up the backside we needed,” said Neville, who took over as club captain following David Weir’s January departure to Rangers. “After that we took stock of things and set a few targets for ourselves and at the moment we are reaching all those targets and there is a real determination in the camp that we can reach Europe. “We looked at the fixtures, projected what we needed and we thought it was achievable - Europe. We are on our way. There is still a long way to go at the moment but we are well on the right road and we need to keep it going.” Tony Hibbert’s return to full fitness has allowed Neville to move back to his favoured central midfield role but he is conscious that Everton’s squad is being stretched to breaking point, especially after they lost James Vaughan at The Reebok.
A lack of bodies, however, has not diluted the spirit in the camp and Neville points to the way Everton have clawed back deficits in their last two games as a sign that they are ready to make one last big push forward. “I felt we were comfortable throughout the game at Bolton,” he said. “That is a measure of our confidence. We never thought we were going to lose and at 1-1, we were the side who were putting the pressure on and asking questions. “We played a lot of balls into their box and we sustained the pressure. “Bolton do that to other teams but we felt comfortable. “The only thing we were disappointed about was the goal we conceded but these things happen. We have got to bounce back from it. “The good thing is that our run keeps going and we have just got to make sure that we keep everybody fit. “We lost James Vaughan on Monday but maybe that will give someone else a chance against Charlton. “At this stage of the season, we need fresh players.”
Coleman pays a high price
Apr 14 2007 by Barry Horne, Liverpool Echo
AFTER witnessing a brilliant 45 minutes at Aston Villa on the Monday night, which ultimately led to mixed feelings with two points dropped, it was a real thrill to see Everton produce 90 minutes of pace, panache and flair against Fulham on the Friday.
Going forward we looked as good as at any time in the past three or four years, and what contributed to an entertaining evening was that Fulham also could have scored four themselves. It was nice, therefore, to feel that we enjoyed the rub of the green for a change, and it was heartening to see that we are capable of that kind of sustained attacking quality for an entire match. Unfortunately it seems that although Chris Coleman did not receive official notification of his demise until Tuesday night, that result at Goodison Park was the final nail in his coffin. I spoke to Chris after the Everton game and he seemed in good spirits and gave no indication of what was to come. In hindsight, however, I suspect that he perhaps knew of his fate after that result, which is a shame. Chris is a good pal, and after he was thrust into a difficult position as a young man four years ago he came through well and carried himself with more dignity than most. He has managed to maintain Fulham’s position as one of the top 16 teams in the country throughout that time and I am sure that he will be back in football management again soon. From the fantastic entertainment on offer on Friday night, however, I had the misfortune to witness my second match in three days at the Reebok Stadium. Bolton seem to have become a parody of themselves, having become so entrenched in their ways. But the beauty, from Everton’s point of view, is that they could go from playing expansive, attractive football on the Friday to digging in and grinding out a result in acrimonious circumstances on the Monday. The only downside from that Bolton fixture was a nasty injury to James Vaughan. Happily the prognosis is not as bad as first feared and he could be back in two to three weeks.
Turner happy to be an Owl
Apr 14 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON may have plans for him next season but impressive young goalkeeper Iain Turner says he would like to stay at Hillsborough if it meant he was going to get regular first-team football. The Scotland Under-21 keeper has been in fine form since arriving at Sheffield Wednesday from Everton on loan and has not lost a game - helping The Owls to a nine-game unbeaten run in the process. But Toffees boss David Moyes has already stated that he wants the talented custodian to return to Goodison Park next season as it is tipped he will be the number two behind Tim Howard as current back-up Richard Wright looks set to leave this summer. Turner said: "I would consider anything next season as long as I am playing first-team football.
“If I get a chance here I would love it but I am under contract at Everton so we will see what happens there. "I have really enjoyed it here. When I first came, the boys made it easy for me to settle in and I have enjoyed playing my football here."
Neville is inspiring my Blues – Moyes
Apr 15 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
PHIL NEVILLE was a veteran of high pressure, end of season run-ins at Manchester United. And Everton boss David Moyes believes his never- say-die skipper can use the lessons he learned at Old Trafford to benefit the Blues during their bid to clinch UEFA Cup football at Goodison next season. Neville was involved in numerous nerve-shredding title run-ins during his 11 seasons at Manchester United.
Moyes said: “Phil has this mentality that you must win every single match, there can be no let up, whatever the situation – and that rubs off on everybody else.
“He is always enthusiastic and always shows an attitude which is conducive to winning football matches. “That is infectious, but what rubs off on everybody else is his willingness to keep on going right to the end. “And those are the qualities you need at this time of the season.” Everton have infamously fallen away at the tail end of the season in several of their recent campaigns.
FULL TIME: Everton 2 - 1 Charlton
Apr 15 2007
Everton moved into fifth place in the Premiership - and within touching distance of Europe - thanks to James McFadden’s first goal for the club since December. But it left relegation-haunted Charlton in despair, after the Londoners thought they had claimed a priceless point with a fine Darren Bent goal in the final minute of normal time. The strike had left manager Alan Pardew leaping around on the touchline, but he came crashing down to earth when McFadden lashed home deep into four minutes of injury time. McFadden has been out with a broken metatarsal, and this was his first game back, coming on in the second half for the ineffective James Beattie. Now only his goal of the season has put Everton in with a great chance of reaching the UEFA Cup. For Charlton there is only more pain, having squandered a succession of chances before Joleon Lescott put Everton ahead with nine minutes to go. There was still time for Bent’s equaliser and then Everton’s dramatic winner, sending Charlton closer to the drop. Wigan’s home draw with Tottenham earlier in the day at least gave Charlton some incentive ahead of a game crucial to both clubs at Goodison Park. But apart from a powerful run from Zheng Zhi, Bent was left to lead the line largely on his own as Everton dominated the opening spell. Andrew Johnson was sharp and a constant threat to the back line, and early on he was clear after a mistake by Souleymane Diawara. But as he got to the box a poor touch took him wide, and Talal El Karkouri got back to smother the danger. Lee Carsley went close from 20 yards and a Ben Thatcher tackle stopped Johnson in his tracks again. Everton’s pressure was mounting, and Beattie - back in the side with teenagers Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan both injured - was unfortunate not to score in a period of sustained pressure. He headed narrowly wide following fine crosses by Lescott and Mikel Arteta, and then failed by inches to reach a Leon Osman chip following a clever free-kick routine. Everton kept up the attack and twice Osman made poor choices when in good positions, first miskicking a low cross and then shooting wide when Beattie was unmarked alongside him. Charlton were content to continue with their deep defence in the hope of using Bent’s strength and pace to catch Everton on the break. And it almost worked on 57 minutes when Zheng Zhi slipped a pass into the striker’s path, and only the quick attention of Lescott forced a hurried shot. The ball, though, rolled agonisingly wide of the far post. Arteta had seen a shot blocked, but the slowness of Beattie was annoying the Goodison faithful, and eventually David Moyes. The manager hauled off the former England striker, sending on McFadden on 58 minutes.
Alan Stubbs came off with a muscle injury to be replaced by Gary Naysmith, allowing Lescott to revert to centre-back. Charlton, who had brought on the more attack-minded Matt Holland for Amdy Faye, were by now beginning to believe they could get something from the match. Bent again got away, only for Tony Hibbert to chase back and get in a telling tackle. Then Zheng Zhi scorned a far-post tap-in after Bent had flicked on a corner. The forward crashed a dipping drive just over before Bent got away again to fire a cross-shot inches wide of the far post. Everton’s progress had been painful to watch, there was no snap or guile about their play and Arteta was having little impact. But after 81 minutes, following Thatcher giving away a needless corner, Everton stole in front. Arteta’s cross was nodded out to McFadden, who hit a rising shot that Johnson diverted goalwards. Scott Carson made a fine point-blank save, but Lescott was there to crash home the rebound. Charlton threw on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Madjid Bougherra, the latter instantly booked for a foul on Arteta, in a desperate attempt to salvage something. Arteta was helped off, clearly dazed. Charlton kept going forward and were finally rewarded in the 90th minute. And it was Bent who got the goal that had Pardew leaping around in delight. Everton failed to clear and when the ball came back into the box for Bent, he took it wide of two defenders before lashing it past Tim Howard into the far corner. That should have been it. But in the second minute of four added on, McFadden claimed a loose ball on the edge of the box and unleashed a fierce drive that flew past Carson.
Everton 2, Charlton 1 (Echo)
Apr 16 2007
by Dominic King
JAMES McFADDEN celebrated his 24th birthday on Saturday but it’s highly unlikely that any of the gifts he received will have bettered the one which came his way yesterday. Having missed the majority of the season with a serious hamstring problem and, lately, a broken metatarsal, injury time is something McFadden knows all about, so he could not have picked a better moment to grab his second goal of the season. And what a goal it could prove to be. Though Everton still have four games of the season left to play, it is quite possible that McFadden’s strike from the Gods has guaranteed his side a place in next year’s UEFA Cup. Is it jumping the gun to make such a claim? Sceptics may find reasons for the Blues not winning another match between now and May 13, as their remaining opponents – West Ham, Manchester United, Portsmouth and Chelsea – all have something to play for. Add into the equation that Everton have been habitual weak finishers and you can see why some are viewing the run in with an element of trepidation rather than spending their time looking for where they last left their passport. Surely, though, even the biggest pessimist will be daring to dream that trips to weird and wonderful destinations across the continent are all but guaranteed after McFadden’s late, late show enabled Everton to get out of jail. It would be stretching credibility to suggest that this scruffy contest will live long in the memory but the goal which settled it was fit to grace any game, a stroke of genius that was juxtaposed to what had gone on before, which was largely thud and blunder. Flicking a loose ball over Madjid Bougherra’s head, McFadden darted past the Algerian before unleashing a guided missile that raged past Scott Carson and sparked scenes of unbridled joy around Goodison Park. Magical. Yet it could have been so very different. Moments before McFadden struck, Everton looked to have shot themselves in the foot after Darren Bent equalised Joleon Lescott’s second goal for the club with a smart finish in front of the Gwladys Street. Had the match finished then, Everton would have been booed off, optimism would have deflated quicker than a burst balloon and hopes of winning ‘the league within a league’ would be dashed, so thin are the boundaries between success and failure. While it was entirely predictable to hear Alan Pardew declare that Charlton should have collected all three points – not so – this unctuous character had grounds for arguing that a draw would have been a fair result. Offering nothing as an attacking force before the break, Charlton seized on Everton’s lethargy afterwards and with better quality, would have made the Toffees pay. Zheng Zi fluffed one chance from three yards, and Bent screwed another wide. There were a few murmurs of discontent in the stands at half-time and the grumbles and groans grew louder when the action restarted; anxious and panicking, the crowd did not exactly help the players out and it was only in the latter stages did they find their voices. Yet it wasn’t too difficult to understand where the ire was coming from. For all their effort and application, Everton’s passing lacked zip and Carson remained relatively untroubled. Andrew Johnson squandered the best opportunity that came his way in the fourth minute – he took one touch too many after seizing on a loose ball – and then there was James Beattie, who had an utterly wretched afternoon. It is difficult not to feel sorry for Beattie. Listening to some of the criticism he receives, you would think he is responsible for world poverty, global warming, war in Iraq and the Grand National favourite Point Barrow’s first fence fall. True, his record since that one time club record £6m move from Southampton cannot in any way be described as impressive and it beggars belief that his last goal from open play in the Premiership came 57 weeks ago. Quite simply, it isn’t good enough. Playing devil’s advocate, you could argue that it has been difficult for Beattie to get into a rhythm this year given how often he has been in and out of the team and he hasn’t been given the service he received on the South Coast. Perhaps that explains why his confidence is shot to pieces. With little having gone right, it was no surprise when David Moyes put the crestfallen striker out of his misery on 58 minutes, replacing him with McFadden. Like Beattie, McFadden has endured a frustrating campaign but his woes have largely been fitness related and it’s quite possible he could make the kind of impact in the closing weeks that his manager was predicting he would last summer. This gifted Scotland international does not enjoy universal popularity among Evertonians but that will soon change if he starts producing glorious moments such as yesterday’s on a regular basis – he is certainly capable of it. Maybe some forget that McFadden, who had made a favourable impression even before he came up with his golden goal, is still young and learning his trade but it is indisputable that he is a valuable member of a squad that is now on the cusp of a return to Europe. With results once again having gone right over the weekend – Bolton and Tottenham both dropped points, while Chelsea and Manchester United’s FA Cup Final date pushes the UEFA Cup qualifying spots down to seventh – it is surely Everton’s to lose. And if they do see the job through, it is safe to say that celebrations on May 13 will dwarf anything McFadden might have had planned to mark his big day of the year.
Everton 2, Charlton 1 (D,Post)
Apr 16 2007
by Ian Doyle at Goodison Park
IS that the best we have got?” howled one home supporter as another Everton move faltered at the crucial moment midway through the second half yesterday. Thankfully, the answer was emphatically in the negative as David Moyes’s side made another huge step towards the UEFA Cup qualification that is now tantalisingly within sight. The frustration of that fan’s cry made way for delight, disbelief and then delirium in an exhilarating final 10 minutes as Everton once again took a ride on the emotional rollercoaster before securing a last-gasp victory over relegation-haunted Charlton Athletic yesterday. It moved Moyes’s men up to fifth place, with the smiles worn by everyone associated with the Goodison outfit as large as the probability of playing in Europe next season. None were bigger than that of James McFadden. The Scotland international has been forced to watch Everton’s push for a top-six finish from the sidelines since suffering a broken metatarsal while playing head tennis during training in January. However, there was nothing freak about his contribution after stepping off the bench yesterday for a first senior appearance in more than three months. McFadden had already played a part in Joleon Lescott’s 81st-minute opener when he produced a memorable piece of skill to volley in the winner in stoppage time just moments after Darren Bent had drawn Charlton level. The grandstand finish came as the game was drifting towards a goalless draw, Everton unable to capitalise on their first-half dominance while Charlton failed to take the chances they created on the counter-attack after the interval. And it set the seal on a weekend that couldn’t have gone much better for Moyes’s side. Bolton Wanderers lost to Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur were held by Wigan Athletic and, with Manchester United and Chelsea reaching the FA Cup final, it opened up seventh place as an automatic UEFA Cup berth. Everton’s superior goal difference means seven points from their last four games will be enough for European qualification. Given their propensity on doing things the hard way, there are sure to be a few twists and turns before the season’s end, the sight of both Alan Stubbs and Mikel Arteta limping off a reminder of the threadbare nature of Everton’s squad. But with just two defeats in 16 Premiership games, holding off the challenge of Bolton for fifth place should now be the ultimate target. Few could quibble if it is reached. That yesterday’s victory came at the expense of Charlton manager Alan Pardew made it all the more sweeter. It was almost 18 months ago when the then West Ham United manager strolled into the post-match Press conference after his team had triumphed 2-1 on Merseyside and declared Everton had been taught a “footballing lesson”. While having publicly kept their counsel, many people inside Goodison were less than enamoured by Pardew’s comments. Certainly, few tears are being shed around these parts at his current plight. Amid all the ecstasy, spare a thought for James Beattie. Handed a start in attack alongside Andrew Johnson due to injuries to both James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe, this was a rare chance for the striker to convince. Sadly, he didn’t. And while his effort meant the jeers that met his substitution were ill-judged, Beattie’s painful lack of confidence makes it obvious a parting of the ways this summer would suit both parties. There was more appreciation for David Weir, who stepped out before kick-off to rapturous applause on his first return to Goodison since leaving for Rangers in January. Yesterday’s fixture had implications at both ends of the table. A run of six games without defeat meant victory would have moved Charlton back out of the bottom three. Puzzling, then, that only 440 supporters travelled north from south east London. Those that did make the journey saw their team hang on grimly during a one-sided first half in which a vibrant Everton failed to provide an end product to their enterprising build-up play, rarely troubling Scott Carson in the Charlton goal. Their first chance came in the fifth minute following a mistake by Souleymane Diawara. The Charlton centre-back – bizarrely wearing gloves on a sun-drenched afternoon – completely hashed his attempted clearance from Beattie’s flick on to let Andrew Johnson in on goal, but the striker’s touch forced him wide and allowed Talal El Karkouri time to sprint back and block his eventual shot. Leon Osman, continuing his impressive form against Bolton last Monday, buzzed with intent throughout the opening period, and after an improvised effort was struck off target, the midfielder watched an angled drive deflect off El Karkouri on to the foot of the post with Carson motionless. Osman was central to another fine Everton opening on 34 minutes. El Karkouri was too high on Johnson and, from the resultant free-kick 25 yards out, Mikel Arteta fooled the Charlton defence by slipping a pass in to Osman inside the area, whose instant ball across goal was narrowly out of reach of Beattie at the far post. Osman also shot narrowly wide moments before the break when the better option was a pass in for the overlapping Beattie, who had earlier nodded a presentable chance straight at Carson from a Lescott left-wing cross. Pardew’s men had offered precious little going forward, their threat summed up when Bent, on one of the rare occasions he wasn’t flagged offside, thrashed a volley out for a throw-in – on the halfway line. But the visitors were far more potent after the interval, Bent wastefully dribbling a shot wide of Tim Howard’s post after being sent clear by Zheng Zhi. And Charlton almost snatched the lead in the 64th minute. First Tony Hibbert did enough to divert the increasingly dangerous Bent’s shot behind after the striker had worryingly again been sent clear, and from the resultant Darren Ambrose corner, an unmarked Zheng failed to connect properly to El Karkouri’s flick-on from inside the six-yard box, allowing a grateful Howard to save easily. With Everton losing their way, Zheng almost punished some slack home defending by thrashing a shot marginally over before Bent screwed wide following another counter-attack. But as the game drifted towards a stalemate, so the excitement began with nine minutes remaining. After Charlton failed to properly clear a corner needlessly conceded by Ben Thatcher, Arteta’s cross fell to McFadden whose shot was diverted on target by Johnson. Carson produced a brilliant reflex save but Lescott was on hand to hook home the rebound. It was the first league goal Charlton had conceded in more than eight hours of football and Lescott’s second inside a fortnight. Yet the visitors drew level in the final minute, substitute Matt Holland beating Phil Neville to a header towards Bent, who sidestepped a Gary Naysmith challenge and slotted beyond Howard. Home despair turned to joy, however, in the third of four minutes of stoppage time. Madjid Bougherra, a former Everton transfer target, cleared a Naysmith cross to McFadden on the edge of the area, who then brilliantly flicked the ball over the head of the onrushing Charlton substitute and cracked a volley past Carson for the winner.
EVERTON (4-4-2): Howard; Hibbert, Stubbs (Naysmith 61), Yobo, Lescott; Arteta (de Silva 88), Neville, Carsley, Osman; Johnson, Beattie (McFadden 59). Subs: Wright, van der Meyde. CHARLTON ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Carson; Young, El Karkouri, Diawara, Thatcher (Bougherra 84); Hughes (Hasselbaink 84), Song, Faye (Holland 56), Ambrose; Zheng, Bent. Subs: Randolph, Rommedahl.
BOOKINGS: Thatcher and Bougherra (both fouls), Hasselbaink (dissent). REFEREE: Mark Halsey. ATT: 34,028. NEXT GAME: West Ham United v Everton, Barclays Premiership, Saturday 3pm.
Academy ready for a return to action
Apr 17 2007
Academy Football by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post
EVERTON under-18s will look to begin the run-in to the end of the season on a positive note when they return from the Easter break this Saturday at Barnsley (kick-off 11am). Neil Dewsnip’s side have not played an FA Premier Academy League match since drawing 1-1 with Blackburn on April 3. Saturday’s home match at Netherton with Sheffield Wednesday was postponed due to the Grand National. Many of the squad have been involved in Andy Holden’s reserves, who played out a goalless draw with Middlesbrough. But it is likely to be a hectic last few weeks with four Academy League fixtures still to play plus more reserve team fixtures also scheduled.Dewsnip said: “Obviously the lads are raring to get back into it. We have quite a few games in the next couple of weeks and we want to end the season well. Performances on the whole have been very good, but maybe we haven’t always had the results due to not taking our chances.” After Barnsley, Everton play Wolves next Tuesday. Everton’s 16-year-old defender Jack Rodwell is in line to be the first player from the club to play at the new Wembley Stadium. Rodwell captained England under-16s to Victory Shield glory earlier in the season and has been named in Birkenhead-born coach Kenny Swain’s schoolboy side to face Spain in a friendly at the national stadium on April 28. Rodwell is recovering from a hamstring injury which saw him miss the prestigious Montaigu international youth tournament. Swain said: “I’m really looking forward to what will be a fantastic tribute to youth football. It’s a marvellous opportunity for any young player to play at one of the best stadiums in the world.” Meanwhile, Everton under-15s won the prestigious Nike Cup tournament. They beat favourites Arsenal 1-0 with a goal from John Nolan in the final and are now in July’s world finals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Hibbert proving perfect boost
Apr 17 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES today said Tony Hibbert is recapturing his best form just in time to boost Everton’s European push. The Blues’ right-back has endured a miserable season and spent much of his time in the treatment room. Having missed the opening month with a tropical illness, he then missed 14 weeks after rupturing his groin at Middlesbrough. Hibbert returned for the Anfield derby on February 3 yet had another spell out with a knee problem. But he then made an eye-catching return in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa earlier this month. Hibbert - regarded by some as one of the best defenders at Goodison Park - excelled in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Charlton and Moyes has now urged the 26-year-old to keep up the good work in the final four matches.
“It has been a tough year for Hibbo with one thing and another,” the manager said today. “But it has been pleasing to have him back for the last few games because you know exactly what you are getting from him. “He is very reliable, he is consistent and you know that when he is playing, you will always get 100 per cent from him. He made some excellent tackles against Charlton and we are pleased with him.
“Hibbo knows what he has got to improve on and we would like to see him use the ball better at times but his defending is always very good and he likes to go about his job quietly. He just gets on with things. “We have missed him at times this season but now that he is back, he has got a role to play for us and we will need everyone at their best if we want to qualify for the UEFA Cup.” Unbeaten in their last seven games, the Blues only need seven points from their remaining fixtures to guarantee a place in Europe next year but even though Sunday’s results have given them outstanding chance, Moyes is taking nothing for granted. With Saturday’s opponents West Ham United battling to stay in the Premiership, Moyes knows Everton could their most difficult test of the campaign and he will hoping Mikel Arteta and Alan Stubbs are fit for duty. Stubbs hobbled out of the Charlton game after turning his ankle, while Arteta is wearing a neck brace from a knock he picked up in the same game but Moyes says it is too early to say whether they will be available or not.
‘Hibbo a great boost for us’
Apr 17 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES today said Tony Hibbert is recapturing his best form just in time to boost Everton’s European push. The Blues’ right-back has endured a miserable season and spent much of his time in the treatment room. Having missed the opening month with a tropical illness, he then missed 14 weeks after rupturing his groin at Middlesbrough. Hibbert returned for the Anfield derby on February 3 yet had another spell out with a knee problem. But he then made an eye-catching return in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa earlier this month. Hibbert - regarded by some as one of the best defenders at Goodison Park - excelled in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Charlton and Moyes has now urged the 26-year-old to keep up the good work in the final four matches.
“It has been a tough year for Hibbo with one thing and another,” the manager said today. “But it has been pleasing to have him back for the last few games because you know exactly what you are getting from him. “He is very reliable, he is consistent and you know that when he is playing, you will always get 100 per cent from him. He made some excellent tackles against Charlton and we are pleased with him.
“Hibbo knows what he has got to improve on and we would like to see him use the ball better at times but his defending is always very good and he likes to go about his job quietly. He just gets on with things. “We have missed him at times this season but he has got a role to play for us and we will need everyone at their best if we want to qualify for the UEFA Cup.” Unbeaten in their last seven games, the Blues only need seven points from their remaining fixtures to guarantee a place in Europe next year. But even though Sunday’s results have given them an outstanding chance, Moyes is taking nothing for granted. With Saturday’s opponents, West Ham, battling to stay in the Premiership, Moyes knows Everton could face their most difficult test of the campaign, and he will hoping Mikel Arteta and Alan Stubbs are fit for duty.
Stubbs hobbled out of the Charlton game after turning his ankle. Arteta is wearing a neck brace from a knock in the same game. Moyes says it is too early to say whether they will be available.
Lescott joy for Faddy
Apr 16 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
JOLEON LESCOTT today hailed James McFadden’s stunning return from injury and backed him to give Everton’s European push an added impetus.
The Scotland international had been sidelined since January after breaking a metatarsal in a training ground accident but banished his miseries with a spectacular injury time winner against Charlton. Everton are now up to fifth on goal difference and in control of their own destiny but with games against West Ham, Manchester United, Portsmouth and Chelsea to play, Lescott is not taking anything for granted.
Yet with McFadden coming back to form at just the right time, Lescott - scorer of Everton’s opening goal yesterday - feels his side have a player capable of making a significant impact now the stakes are at their highest. “The boys had given me a bit of stick earlier in the season for missing a few chances but thankfully now they are going in,” said Lescott. “Neither team gave much away but we are both fighting for different reasons and as the game went on, there were a few more opportunities.
“It was painful to concede a goal so late on but we believed that if we kept sticking at our game, we had a bit more extra quality and it showed with the goal that Faddy scored. He has got great feet and his first touch for the goal was absolutely unbelievable. “He’s been out for a while but even when he has been in the team and not scored, he’s done really well. He’s worked hard to get back from injury and is now really fit and he’s got his reward with that goal.” Though Everton were not at their best against Charlton, Lescott agreed that points are more important than performances at this stage of the campaign and he feels winning in such dramatic circumstances can provide the impetus to finish fifth. “It’s a big boost for us,” said Lescott. “Goals in the last minute against Arsenal are great but if you are honest, you don’t really expect to beat them. These are the games we have to win. If we want to get into Europe, we have got to beat the lower teams at home. “There are four games left now and the main thing is that it is in our hands. If we win next week, we will be in an even stronger position with three games to go. We’ve just got to keep doing what we have been. “To finish fourth you need one of the big teams to have an off season but, no disrespect, Arsenal haven’t had the greatest of years and they are still fourth, so it shows there is still a long way to go for us. But we are improving and we just want to keep getting closer every year.” The only fresh injury worry Everton have today regards Alan Stubbs, who hobbled off in the second half. He will be assessed at Bellefield tomorrow.
Osman is our unsung hero insists Moyes
Apr 16 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES paid tribute to another of Everton’s unsung heroes today – after a dramatic victory over Charlton left the Blues in pole position for UEFA Cup football next season. James McFadden was the injury time matchwinner, 10 minutes after Joleon Lescott had hooked in his second goal of the season. But the boss hailed the display of midfielder Leon Osman afterwards. “Ossie just tipped the balance for us in the second half with his performance,” he explained. “He had a few disappointing shots, but overall he just tipped the balance. He got on the ball, worked well in the hole behind James McFadden when we changed things a little bit near the end and he gave us different options in the last 20 minutes. “Charlton defended really well, as they have done in the last four weeks, which is why we kept trying to get the ball out wide to Mikel and Ossie. I don’t know how things are going to work out, but we’re in a good position now with four games to go.” The Blues boss added: “I told the players before the game how I thought the game would pan out, and it went pretty much exactly how we thought. It was just a bit too close for comfort! “It was a really well-worked goal, obviously the finish and the pass-and-move which led up to it.
“I totally disagree that Charlton deserved something. I think we fully deserved to win. We were the one side that kept going, never at any time did we change and I think we thoroughly deserved the victory, I really do. “We kept going trying to score goals, trying to play and all we had to contest were a few breaks when Darren Bent worried us with his pace. “I thought our players played really well in difficult circumstances. The weather was hot, the pitch wasn’t slick enough, but we didn’t half keep doing the right things.” Moyes made two decisive substitutions, introducing McFadden with half-an-hour left and full-back Gary Naysmith, who produced the cross for the winning goal. “I think we make decisions and, in the main, get more right than we do wrong,” he went on. “James scored the winning goal and Gary was involved in the build up. “We knew at half-time Stubbsy was struggling with his ankle and we didn’t know how he was going to be. So we made that change and decided to make a change up front. “My only worry was that the switches might not give us enough stature, we started to look small and we would have to play differently to try and get through them. “But we never shirked it, we kept going and kept trying to do the right things and really deserved it. “It’s a great victory for us.”
‘Faddy can fire us into Europe’
Apr 18 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES today challenged James McFadden to show his match winning cameo against Charlton was not a one-off when he declared: “Fire us into Europe.”
The Scotland international leapt off the bench last weekend to conjure up a contender for goal of the season and is firmly in the reckoning to make his first start since January 14 when Everton face West Ham on Saturday. McFadden has only made 17 appearances this season owing to injury problems, loss of form and suspension.
But with Moyes needing every one of his squad to make a contribution in the final four games to seal a UEFA Cup spot, he will be looking to McFadden for something extra special and believes his maverick qualities can give Everton an edge over their rivals. “Faddy scored a really good goal and was included in the run up to the other goal, which will help his confidence,” said Moyes. “He needed that and we hope that he can do it a bit more from now. He is a different type of player from any of the other strikers we have here. He has stacks of talent – you could see that by the way he set the goal up for himself. “What we want from him now is consistency. We want him to be involved and he needs to try to get to a certain level for us every week.
“But he has come back at the right time and we will be looking to him in the next few weeks.” With McFadden in the goals again, Moyes wants to see Leon Osman follow suit and could not think of a better place for him to do so than Upton Park. The 24-year-old has scored spectacular goals the last two times Everton and West Ham have faced each other. Osman may not enjoy universal popularity among supporters but Moyes has been delighted with how the midfielder has performed in the past few weeks and is in no doubt that if he keeps persevering, his tally will start ticking over again. “I don’t think Ossie gets as much praise as he should do,” said Moyes. “We look at the stats every week and he is the one who does more running than anyone else. He helped create the goal at Bolton, he never shirks a challenge and always looks to get on the ball. “His work rate and application is a match for anyone and the one thing we want to see from him now is a couple of more goals.
“He is capable of getting among them and if he keeps trying, it’s only a matter of time before the goals go in.”
The jury
Apr 19 2007
Is James McFadden finally realising his potential?
Liverpool Echo
McFADDEN'S goal was an amazing finish and another glimpse of his undoubted potential. Hopefully, he will realise that potential at Everton, but the jury is still out. He has been unlucky with injuries and suspensions since he arrived. He has also scored some wonderful goals but he has struggled for consistency. For Scotland, he's consistent and a regular scorer, so maybe he doesn't suit our style or is played out of position. He has good skill and a good shot but more often than not runs down blind alleys and makes the wrong decision with passes. He also drifts in and out of games. At Charlton, he looked a world beater for 20 minutes. But misplaced passes and poor decisions took away his confidence and he faded badly. However, with Vaughan and Anichebe injured he is worth a run. The fact he can play several positions, is young and has international experience is good for the squad. JAMES TYRELL, Woolton
IF you can keep your head while all about you are losing theirs, and if you can do it in injury time, then you'll do for me my son. I saw James McFadden scoring two for the reserves a week ago. He also had a magnificent effort crash back off the crossbar. Although he tired in the second half, he was clearly in form. Even his detractors would admit, I'm sure, that when he hits a purple patch he is world class. While I'm not suggesting that this form is necessarily going to last for too long, we actually don't need it to. He only has to keep it up for four games, and while there's any chance of that happening, he has to be the number one striking option. With impeccable timing he's looking good just when we need him. And If you think I'm losing my head, then keep on watching the video of that wonder goal. GEOFF HARRISON, Widnes JUST as it seemed a draw had been grabbed from the jaws of victory, the mercurial James McFadden produced the most memorable piece of skill seen at Goodison this season. For all the frustration he often inspires in large sections of the support he is one of the few squad members who can reach that level of technical ability, which makes his inconsistency all the more infuriating. Nevertheless, his talent offers David Moyes yet another option in a run-in that is being characterised by the ability to produce results while missing key personnel. In the continued absence of James Vaughan and possibly Victor Anichebe, there is every chance that McFadden will get the opportunity to partner Andy Johnson, after James Beattie went missing in action again against Charlton. With West Ham likely to throw men forward, a positive team selection might ensure a further increase in the number of passport renewals from local post codes. DAVID SPOWART, Wavertree FADDY is one of those players who will delight you with his skill and occasionally drive you mad with the wrong pass or by running up a blind alley. However, he is maturing rapidly and those frustrating moments are becoming rarer. He's been unlucky a couple of times this season with injuries - when he was playing particularly well. He's also been Polled! He needs to be consistent and sometimes when he makes a bad start in a game he never really picks it up. But playing regularly would help with this. McFadden needs to play in the middle. There are too many of those dead ends for him wide on the left. His link-up play, particularly with Johnson, is excellent and he made a big difference when he came on at the weekend. Faddy is also decent in the air, considering his size, but his best position is in the Cahill role. This is the job he should be given in the vital games at West Ham and home to Man U.
HANNAH BARGERY, Widnes
Bolton Res 2, Everton Res 1
Apr 19 2007
Liverpool Daily Post
NUNO VALENTE gave Everton manager David Moyes a welcome boost, scoring after just two minutes of the reserves' trip to Bolton despite the visitors falling to a Barclays Premiership Reserve League Northern Section defeat in Leyland.
The Portuguese defender has been out injured with a thigh strain but looked lively from the start and linked up well with Aidan Downes to fire past Al Habsi in the Bolton goal for his first Everton goal. Everton kept pressing and nearly doubled their lead on 16 minutes when Bjarni Vidarsson shot from distance only for his effort to go just wide. Everton stayed in front till the hour mark when ex-player Idan Tal levelled for the home side. Bolton where on top at this stage and it was no surprise when Greek international Stelios gave them all three points with a goal with 10 minutes remaining. BOLTON: Al Habsi, Sinclair, Jamieson, D Thompson, Augustyn, Cesar Martin, Stelios, Andranik, Harsanyi, Tal, VazTe. Subs: Fojut, Kazimierczak, Cassidy, Sissons, Basham.
EVERTON: Ruddy, Irving, Densmore, Valente, Dennehey, deSilva, Morrison, Kissock , Vidarsson, Connor, Downes: Subs: Spencer, Jones, Harpur, Hall, Molyneux.
We’ve got four cup finals – Fernandes
Apr 19 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
MANUEL FERNANDES is preparing for the “four cup finals” which could clinch European football at Goodison next season - and help secure his own Blues future.
The Portuguese midfielder has enjoyed an impressive loan spell since arriving from Portsmouth in February. But after a sparkling performance against Arsenal, he has missed the last four games due to a thigh injury and illness. “I am okay now and I hope to be involved against West Ham,” said Fernandes. “The four games we have left will be like cup finals because they are all against teams who have something to play for. “West Ham are fighting to stay up, Chelsea and Manchester United are going for the Championship, while Portsmouth are battling with us for Europe.
“We are in fifth place now and we deserve to be there because we are one of the top five teams in England at the moment- no doubt about it. “We are five points behind Arsenal and anything is possible because they have not been so consistent recently.
“But first of all we need to secure a UEFA Cup place before we worry about anything else.” Fernandes confirmed he would like to make his move to Goodison permanent at the end of the season. “If I stay here I will be very happy, but if I don’t I will also be happy because I will be going home and I will have had a great experience here.”
Blues manager David Moyes is waiting to see how Fernandes trains today and tomorrow before finalising his squad for the trip south. He said: “Manuel has only trained on Tuesday this week so we will have to see how he is, but anyone who is fit and walking at the moment is in the squad. Moyes was at Upton Park last night to witness West Ham’s heavy 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea. But he said: “I thought West Ham played well and the score flattered Chelsa on the night. “First half especially, West Ham played very well, but the result means there’s an awful lot on our game now.” Nuno Valente could also be added to the travelling party after playing for the reserves last night.
Blues’ prime objective
Apr 20 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
THERE is no worse feeling for players or managers than seeing a season fizzle out, so it should not surprise that David Moyes is revelling in Everton’s current position.
With £7.7m and, most importantly, a UEFA Cup spot up for grabs for the side that finishes fifth, it would be understandable if nerves were to become frayed over the next few weeks as the pressure intensifies. But having seen a couple of the campaigns he has been in charge of the Blues dwindle away, Moyes is determined that Everton will see the job through and will not be making undue demands on his squad.
Of course, winning the league within in the league – i.e. finishing fifth – remains the prime objective and Everton, who face relegation-threatened West Ham United tomorrow – have given themselves an outstanding chance of doing so. A giddy few have even suggested events last weekend have all but guaranteed Everton a return to European competition and it seems inconceivable that James McFadden’s wonder strike against Charlton Athletic will not give the squad a huge boost.
Moyes is quick to warn of the dangers posed by the clubs who are snapping at their heels yet, at the same time, he accepts Everton have a prime opportunity to show they are finally making progress. No wonder the manager is urging his players to seize the moment. “We have got a good opportunity now to achieve something,” said Moyes. “But it all boils down to how we do in the last four games, as we have some hard tasks in front of us and there are still a few teams behind us who will have a say.
“We are not going to be putting pressure on the players. We just want to see them play the way that they have done over the last few weeks but we are certainly not taking anything for granted. Everything is still so very tight at the minute and we know West Ham will be very tough. “Tottenham look like they have got a comfortable run-in with games in hand and if they were to win them, they would jump up the table and climb above us. We also know that Portsmouth are not that far away now. “But there is no escaping that we have got ourselves into a terrific position. This is the thing that you hope for at the start of the season – that every game means something when you get towards the later stages. “With the level of finances that we have got, it is tough for us to compete with the top four but we are doing our best. We are doing well within the group below those sides and I want to make sure we finish among the UEFA Cup positions if we can.” So, too, do his players and one man who has more reason than most for Everton seeing the job through is Lee Carsley. Having been an integral part of the side that finished fourth in 2005, a serious knee injury wrecked his hopes of playing against both Villarreal and Dinamo Bucharest. There have been no such problems this year, though. The only man who has played in every game, Carsley has been a model of consistency and the likely offer of a new contract at the end of the campaign will be richly deserved. Birmingham and Wolves may want to take him back to the Midlands, but for the time being, Carsley’s only thoughts are centred on helping Everton turn a promising season into an excellent one – and he believes the Blues are ready to turn the corner. “I’ve been pleased with how it’s gone, especially as I missed three-quarters of the season last year with my knee injury,” said Carsley. “Getting a good pre-season under my belt was important and that gave me a platform to build on. “I think we are improving. It’s been a steady progression and I believe the club is moving in the right direction. Next season will be another massive one for the club because the gaffer is constantly setting the standards higher. “A club the size of Everton, with our history, should be playing in Europe every year. It doesn’t matter who is at Everton – the club deserves to play in Europe. Since the Premiership was formed, Everton have been at the wrong end of the table more often than not.
“We deserve to be where we are. After all, we’ve been in the top half of the table all year. “We are obviously doing something right. We have now got to start creating our own history by finishing in the top half every season and pushing for Europe.”
Howard eyes up record
Apr 20 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
TIM HOWARD is aiming to close in on a modern clean sheet record at Upton Park tomorrow – before taking an enforced break from Everton’s Euro bid.
The great Neville Southall holds Everton’s clean sheet record in the Premiership era – 15 shut-outs during the 1994-95 campaign, which includes the club record of seven in a row. Howard has kept 13 so far this season – but knows he can only play in three of Everton’s four remaining matches. The American will be a spectator when Manchester United visit Everton next weekend in a match that could have a vital bearing on the destination of the Premiership title. Howard is barred from facing his old club this season under an agreement reached when he made the £3 million move from Old Trafford to Goodison Park. He missed Everton’s 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford in November because of the rule, when Richard Wright deputised, and the former England keeper looks certain to be given another outing next week. Highly-rated young Scot, Iain Turner, will end a successful loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday after tomorrow’s clash against Coventry and return to Goodison. Wednesday boss Brian Laws said: "Everton want Iain back after Saturday. "He’s been a sensational player for us. If we could have kept him it would have been fantastic. "I spoke to David Moyes and Everton will have a keeper problem themselves. After Iain has gone back there, he will not be able to return here this season. "As for next season, we’re still trying to get the lad back here. There’s a lot of talking to be done. Let’s hope he’s here next season on loan. "We have shown that if you get a quality keeper in, it does win you games. If we get a keeper of Iain’s calibre, I think we’ll be all right." Tim Howard has enjoyed an excellent first season at Everton – when even a share of Southall’s clean sheet record would set the seal on his campaign. The Blues’ all-time shut-out record is held by Gordon West, who kept 21 clean sheets during the 1969-70 title winning season.
David Moyes will check on the fitness of defender Alan Stubbs (ankle) and midfielder Mikel Arteta (neck) before tomorrow’s trip to East London, but he expects both to be available.
Keeping on toes to net a record
Apr 21 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
WHILE so many supporters have been scrutinising the remaining fixtures of Everton’s European rivals, one small piece of trivia is likely to have gone unnoticed.
But cast a glance through the record books and you will see statistics confirm what has been the general feeling for quite some time – Tim Howard is 270 minutes away from crowning his debut season at Goodison Park by setting a new Premiership club record. Though it will be a tall order, if the United States international can keep clean sheets in his final three matches – the rules of his transfer from Manchester United do not allow him to play next weekend – he will better Neville Southall’s total of 15 in 1994-95. To date, Howard has kept 13 shut outs – a figure managed by both Thomas Myhre in 1999 and Nigel Martyn two years ago – but ask him about his performances and he will reject the chance to talk up his role, pointing out that four other players contribute to Everton’s defensive record. There is no disputing, however, that whether or not Howard manages to carve a niche for himself in Everton’s colourful Premiership history, the main thing is they appear to have a goalkeeper who is poised to produce consistent, top class form over a lengthy period. Many have tried and failed to follow in Southall’s footsteps and perhaps only Martyn has got near to having the same kind of impact. Unfortunately, Father Time and injuries curtailed the stay on Merseyside of a man who continues to be held in the highest esteem at Bellefield.
It would, of course, be vastly premature to say one excellent season means Howard deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the greatest player ever to stand between the posts for Everton. He doesn’t. Clearly, though, he is ready for the challenge. As a someone who holds the British record for number of minutes played without conceding a goal – a staggering 1,196 – it is worth considering the views of Everton’s goalkeeper coach Chris Woods, who has been deeply impressed by the way Howard goes about his business. “Tim has just thrown himself into it head on. He is good to work with, as are all the other keepers,” said Woods. “We have never had anybody who doesn’t enjoy working and he is a pleasure to work with. He has knuckled down and his performances show he is committed wholeheartedly.”
Yet, while Howard’s star looks to be firmly in the ascendance, spare a thought for the man whom he has replaced. Richard Wright may be enduring one of the most frustrating seasons of his career, but his commitment and professionalism have never waned. With his contract running out at the end of June, it is looking increasingly likely that he will be looking for another club in the summer. But that won’t stop him from playing as if his life depends on it, if selected, against United in seven days.
Shrewd judges at Bellefield regard Wright to be the best trainer at the club and it is frustrating for all concerned that things have not gone according to plan for him since he joined Everton from Arsenal in the summer of 2002 with such high hopes.
Howard, on the other hand, couldn’t have wished to get his career as a Blue off to a better start. And, if the campaign ends with him bettering Southall and helping Everton secure a UEFA Cup spot, the £3m it took to sign the US star will look a shrewd business indeed.
Just give us a goal – that’s the call to Beattie
Apr 21 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
ALAN IRVINE used to watch James Beattie stage his own personal Goal of the Season competition. Now the Blues’ assistant boss is urging his former protege to score just one goal, any goal, to end the most harrowing drought of his life.
It’s now an astonishing 57 weeks since Beattie last scored from open play – against Fulham – ironically, with the most spectacular strike of his Everton career.
His last goal away from Goodison also invokes coincidence – a clever chip at Upton Park last March. And Irvine is praying that Beattie can return to West Ham today and finally end what has become almost a curse. “In the time that I had him as a young lad he used to have his own goal of the season competition,” explained Irvine, a former youth coach at Blackburn. “He’d score volleys, goals from distance and other spectacular strikes. “But while he’s scored incredible goals, funnily enough that’s something which hasn’t quite happened for him at Everton, apart from probably the goal against Fulham which was a fantastic chip. “He has tremendous power and maybe he just needs something like that, although right at this moment I guess he’ll take a tap in.” Irvine admits that the Blues’ management have not decided on a starting XI to take on West Ham in a match which could see the London club effectively relegated. But even with James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe out injured, Beattie can’t be guaranteed a place with James McFadden now breathing down his neck. “Faddy’s in contention without a doubt,” added Irvine. “But you do have to balance being fair with James McFadden, to wanting to look after James Beattie.
“Don’t for a second think that a run like this doesn’t upset Beatts, because he does worry about it. But he is the type of character who bounces back and is quite lively around the place anyway. “He’s as desperate as anybody to get a goal. “He had a good goal return all the way through his career and this is very difficult for him to cope with at this time. “Clearly, the more pressure that you are under as a striker the less composure you are likely to have in front of goal and we all know that composure is one of the qualities a striker needs. “He has to keep working hard in training, keep working on his finishing, which he does, and just keep getting himself into scoring positions. “The problem is you start going looking for other things and end up on the front post, or pulling away too far round the back when you should be in the middle.
“If you’re looking at the game last week he was outside the far post on a couple of occasions and he tried to pull one back across the goal when on another day he might well have scored. “You just have to keep reminding yourself that if you keep getting into those positions you will get chances and that’s the kind of thing we’re continually telling him. “Don’t go round trying to find a goal somewhere else. Keep getting into the areas that you know chances come from and hopefully relax when it comes . . . but that’s a lot easier for us to say than it is to do.” Beattie, of course, has got his name on the scoresheet twice this season. But on both occasions they were from penalty kicks.
His appearance against Charlton last week was his first start since another prematurely curtailed outing at Sheffield United five weeks earlier. “There have been times this season when we’ve stuck with him, and other times when we’ve pulled him out and given someone else a chance,” added Irvine. “What’s the right thing to do? Who knows, really? He’s had a taste of both and so far he’s still looking for that goal which will get him on the right path again. “Seeing James (McFadden) come off the bench and score a wonder goal with one of his first touches, and seeing youngsters like Victor and James Vaughan score goals for fun makes it harder for him. “It’s probably a mark of what pressure does to you. The ones who aren’t under pressure, like James, Victor and Faddy, come on and they score. “I guess if they’d gone games without scoring it might well be different. “But we’ve just got to keep working with James and hoping it all turns round,” added Irvine.
West Ham 1, Everton 0 (Echo)
Apr 23 2007
by Dominic King
LUCOZADE might be the drink that gets to your thirst fast but it clearly isn’t the tipple to keep jangling nerves under control. Just ask Alan Irvine. Having seen yet another attack flounder at Upton Park, Irvine was forced to take evasive action as David Moyes finally lost his rag and booted a holder containing six bottles of the stuff across his technical area, almost soaking his number two in the process. Aware that Moyes’ emotions were running high, Irvine found sanctuary in the visitor’s dugout and that move was vindicated moments later. After another glorious chance went begging, Everton’s manager volleyed a lonely carton in the same direction. To borrow a phrase from a Lucozade advertisement of days gone by it was ‘90 minutes of sheer hell’ for Moyes, who spent much of this maddening contest with West Ham gesticulating like an overworked tic-tac man. It was not difficult to understand why. Although he had calmed down within half-an-hour of Everton’s first defeat in seven league games, there is no doubt that the sense of what might have been will gnaw away at him until he next sends his players into battle against Manchester United. For good reason. Had they shown anything of the panache and poise that has illuminated their play since the turn of the year, carrying them into fifth place, Everton would have all but secured European football on Saturday. With results largely going their way once again - Bolton losing, Tottenham drawing - the Toffees could not have been presented with a better opportunity to reduce the anxiety levels of their supporters and management by winning in this grotty corner of London. For some baffling reason, though, Everton were never able to get out of second gear and after a wretched first half display - the last time they played as poorly was at Fratton Park in December - it did not surprise they came away empty handed. But it should have been so, so different. True, West Ham are fighting for their lives yet there is a myth that they are in a false position. Claptrap. The league table does not lie and if they are relegated - a fate that still seems likely - they can have no complaints. Despite taking a lead they would never relinquish through a terrific Bobby Zamora goal, West Ham lacked confidence, never put any pressure on Everton and would have buckled if the visitors had bucked their ideas up from the start. They are a poor side. Yet while this would never be described as a vintage Everton display, it is difficult to oppose Moyes’ view that they deserved something from the game. Had James Beattie and Mikel Arteta not missed glorious chances, victory would have been a formality. No wonder there were some long faces on Everton’s players as they trudged out of the ground to jump the bus back home; with three fiendishly difficult fixtures remaining it would be scandalous if they allowed all their good work to unravel now. “I was disappointed with periods of the first-half but not with our overall performance,” Moyes reasoned.
“But that’s our first defeat in eight games and anybody who watched us will say we were unfortunate not to get something from the game. “Had we won and gone into fifth position in the table we would have all been jumping about – so maybe we should be. “We’re in a good situation and we want to make sure we finish fifth, sixth or seventh and qualify for the UEFA Cup.” Everton’s propensity for doing things the hard way, nonetheless, means this particular roller-coaster is going to take a few more stomach-churning twists and turns before the final ball of the campaign is kicked at Stamford Bridge. Prayers will be offered to a higher place over the next few days to speed up Andrew Johnson’s recovery from the ankle problem which forced him to hobble out of the action after seven minutes - how his speed and guile was missed. With Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan also struggling to overcome their own injury woes, it is scarcely believable that the Blues could head into games against Manchester United with one out-of-form forward and another working his way back to fitness. “It (Johnson’s injury) never gave us a chance to get into the game,” Moyes offered. “We didn’t start particularly brightly and we ultimately paid the price for a poor start. We wouldn’t want to lose Andy for a while as he stretches teams.” As was the case in his previous start against Charlton, James Beattie was out of sorts even if there was nothing wrong with effort and application; no matter what he tried, little went right for him. For every crunching tackle that won back possession for Everton, there was a slip at a crucial moment when a goalscoring opportunity arrived. His afternoon was summed up by a shot from 12 yards that ended up in the top tier of the Centenary Stand. James McFadden, meanwhile, looked to be missing the yard of pace that would get him away from defenders. There was nothing wrong with his foot work but the chance to add to his wonder goal against Charlton never arrived - hopefully that will change next week. And it must also be remembered that this defeat does not mean it is all doom and gloom around Goodison Park. Quite the opposite. Everton are still in control of their own destiny and there were a few positives to take from Upton Park. Aside from the grit and determination of Alan Stubbs and Lee Carsley, the return from injury of Manuel Fernandes as a second half substitute - Moyes bravely took off his captain Phil Neville - improved the quality of the Blues’ football. Provided he shows no ill-effects in training this week, Moyes may revert to the formation that served him so well at the start of the season and plays a five-man midfield against United, with Fernandes, Arteta and Leon Osman given licence to roam. That decision, however, is for later on. For the time being, it is likely that Everton will be working on recapturing composure. Lucozade anyone?
West Ham 1, Everton 0 (D,Post)
Apr 23 2007
by Ian Doyle at Upton Park
AS Bill Kenwright would no doubt concur, every good drama needs a tense final act. But the Goodison owner could certainly do without the prospect of a nervy closing few weeks to the season that may well now await his team and their supporters. Everton’s fabled propensity to do things the hard way returned with a vengeance at the weekend to check their charge towards Europe and hand West Ham United an unlikely Premiership lifeline. The sight of David Moyes drop-kicking a carton of Lucozade across the dug-out in frustration as another attacking move floundered at the crucial moment said all you need to know about the trip to Upton Park. Indeed, a much stiffer drink would have been required for the Goodison manager after watching his team squander an opportunity to move within touching distance of that cherished UEFA Cup qualification. This will have felt like 90 minutes of sheer hell for Moyes, from the early departure through injury of Andrew Johnson to the inability to turn second-half dominance into goals with the striker on the sidelines. Favourable results elsewhere made the defeat all the more infuriating. With Everton still occupying fifth place this morning and their destiny very much in their own hands, it’s not ‘squeaky bum time’ just yet. But the remaining engagements, in which next week’s home fixture against Manchester United and a final-day visit to Chelsea sandwich the Goodison encounter with fellow Europe aspirants Portsmouth, will be causing a few nerves to, if not fray, then definitely twitch a little. Saturday’s setback was only the third in 17 league games and ended an eight-match unbeaten run that has made Everton one of the Premiership’s form teams. That’s precisely why there’ll be no over-reaction to this defeat, merely a focusing of minds on the task of finishing what has so far been a job well done this season. But the momentum that has grown over recent weeks made their weekend performance all the more puzzling. Yes, Everton sailed close to the wind on occasion during that run, but endeavour earned their good fortune. Against West Ham, though, it just didn’t happen. Even before Johnson hobbled off with an early ankle injury, the visitors struggled to get going and when they finally found some urgency during the second half, Moyes’s players failed to show the same assured touch in the penalty area as their manager had demonstrated in the technical area.
Perhaps Saturday was a question of desire and, having accepted top-flight survival largely rested on victory over Everton, West Ham simply needed the victory the most. Moyes himself saw no reason to be over-critical of his team’s display. “I was disappointed with periods of the first half but not with our overall performance,” said the Everton manager. “But that’s our first defeat in eight games and anybody who watched us will say we were unfortunate not to get something from the game. “Had we won and gone into fifth position in the table we would have all been jumping about – so maybe we should be! “We’re in a good situation and we want to make sure we finish fifth, sixth or seventh and qualify for the UEFA Cup.” There could be no qualms over the quality of the match-winning strike from Bobby Zamora on 13 minutes, the striker exchanging passing with Yossi Benayoun before unleashing a ferocious drive from the edge of the area that flew into the top corner with Tim Howard rooted to the spot. And while it was West Ham’s only meaningful shot on target, that was at least one more than Everton managed as, shorn of the pace of Johnson, they lacked genuine threat. “It never gave us a chance to get into the game,” admitted Moyes of the striker’s seventh-minute departure. “We didn’t start particularly brightly and we ultimately paid the price for a poor start.
“We’ve had a problem with Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan so we are limited in that area. We wouldn’t want to lose Andy for a while because he stretches teams and we couldn’t do that, especially in the first half. We couldn’t get behind West Ham.” Missing Johnson for even only one game will be major loss for Moyes, given his other striking options are either recovering from injury or struggling for form. James McFadden, Johnson’s replacement, returned from three months out to prove the match-winner against Charlton Athletic with a late cameo the previous week. But over a lengthier outing on Saturday he failed to make much of an impression, despite moving from an initial left-flank berth to partner James Beattie in the second half. On another day, Beattie might well have had a hat-trick. The problem is, having gone six months since a goal and more than a year since netting from open play, the striker can barely remember what that day is like. He had his chances on Saturday, but his finishing betrayed the lack of confidence borne of a forward suffering such a chronic goal drought. This was never more evident than in the 20th minute. Beattie was slow to react when Lee Carsley’s shot was deflected invitingly into his path off James Collins, allowing the West Ham defender the time to produce a fine sliding challenge and clear the danger. Beattie then failed to connect properly with Mikel Arteta’s precise right-wing cross, the ball glancing wide off an unwitting Leon Osman rather than testing Robert Green in the West Ham goal, before again hesitating at the crucial moment to give Green the chance to smother after Tony Hibbert’s cross caused confusion in the box. Arteta, though, was guilty of wasting Everton’s best chance eight minutes from time, firing over from eight yards after another deep Hibbert cross was headed back across goal from Joleon Lescott. That came when the visitors were very much in the ascendancy, Moyes having sacrificed skipper Phil Neville on 65 minutes for the more attack-minded Manuel Fernandes, making his first appearance in more than a month. However, West Ham would have been out of sight by then but for a fine tackle from Alan Stubbs to deny Benayoun a clear opening on goal after a breakout led by Carlos Tevez, a constant danger with his close control and clever touches. In the first half, Nigel Reo-Coker twice came close for the home side and Lucas Neill whistled a shot inches wide from range, while after the interval both Zamora and Benayoun struck presentable opportunities wastefully off target. Six minutes of injury time prompted some serious nail-biting from the home supporters before referee Mark Clattenburg put them out of their misery with the final whistle. Now Moyes and his players will strive to ensure Everton don’t put their own fans and their chairman through similar torture in claiming the European place that remains theirs for the taking.
WEST HAM UNITED (4-4-2): Green; Neill, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney; Benayoun, Reo-Coker, Noble, Etherington (Boa Morte 75); Zamora (Cole 71), Tevez. Subs: Davenport, Spector, Mullins.
BOOKING: Benayoun (foul). EVERTON (4-4-2): Howard; Hibbert, Stubbs, Yobo, Lescott; Osman, Carsley, Neville (Fernandes 65), Arteta; Beattie, Johnson (McFadden 7). Subs: Wright, Naysmith, de Silva. REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg. ATT: 34,945. NEXT GAME: Everton v Manchester United, Barclays Premiership, Saturday 12.45pm
Result has us sweating again
Apr 23 2007
View From The Stands
by Eddie O'Gara, Everton supporter, Liverpool Daily Post
SOMETIMES you’ve just got to take a defeat on the chin and admit that we were beaten by a fantastic strike by Bobby Zamora. Nine times out of 10 you could have held your ground and allow him to get his shot in from that position and it would hardly have troubled the keeper. But it was a terrific hit – so perfect, in fact, that Tim Howard wasn’t even able to attempt a save. Considering the good run we’ve been on, you’d have expected to have taken at least a point from this match so obviously defeat is an unexpected setback. Although we stay fifth ahead of Bolton because of their home loss to Reading, victory for Steve Coppell’s side brings them back into the equation. Tottenham only getting a point against Arsenal wasn’t bad for us either but they still have a game in hand and Portsmouth’s point against Villa hasn’t helped either. It means is that the race for the three UEFA Cup spots has now become even tighter as, like the sides at the bottom after West Ham’s win over us, the table has pushed in like a concertina. In recent years, Everton have been notoriously awful finishers in the season’s final month and all of a sudden, we’re sweating again.We’re praying that the scan results on Andrew Johnson’s injured ankle prove favourable because whether he’s scoring the goals himself or not, his sheer presence on the pitch instantly puts defenders on the back foot. It all adds up to a nervous finale because although we’ve got three games left, two are against Manchester United and Chelsea. It looks like we’re now going to have to take something from Rooney and co. at Goodison if we want to keep our European dreams alive.
Blues Kirkby verdict in two months
Apr 23 2007
by Nick Coligan, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON officials could decide within the next two months whether they want to move the club to Kirkby . The ECHO understands the Toffees hope to determine whether a new 55,000-seater stadium across the city boundary is their preferred option before the middle of summer. Fans will also be balloted on whether they support the idea, which has so far attracted mixed feelings from supporters. Everton are deep in talks with Knowsley council and Tesco about the proposal, which would include a massive supermarket, high street shops and a hotel. An exclusivity deal means the club cannot speak to any other council, including Liverpool, about a different site.That deal does not have a scheduled end date and will only conclude once Everton’s board decides Kirkby is their preferred option or abort the project once and for all. Senior officials hope that decision will be made within the next two months and certainly before mid-summer. It would follow more than a year of discussions with Tesco and Knowsley council, both hugely supportive of the plan. Other people, including Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley, hope the proposal will be abandoned so talks about keeping the Blues in the city can start. epresentatives from the Keep Everton In Our City campaign met Everton chairman Bill Kenwright and chief executive Keith Wyness recently to talk about the situation. Spokesman Alfie Hincks said: “At the end of the day, It is their deal soWe are putting pressure on Liverpool council to stand up and be counted. “Once the exclusivity deal is done, they must come forward with options for Everton to stay in the city.”
Striking show staged in full Technicolor
Apr 23 2007
by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
BILL KENWRIGHT now spends his Saturday nights searching for a Joseph.
A few years ago he was hunting a leading man of a different kind.
Brighton’s Goldstone Ground was the venue, rather than the BBC TV centre, and instead of Denise Van Outen pouting to his right, it was the less glamorous figure of Blues’ boss Walter Smith. The object of their attention was a young Bobby Zamora, and the talent spotters' assessment was mixed: Not a consistent goalscorer to warrant a transfer fee of £1.5m, but capable of the occasional long range stunner.Andrew Lloyd Webber will be reassured to learn they had Zamora sized up succinctly. The West Ham striker made one solitary contribution to Saturday’s nerve-shredder – it was enough to illuminate a scrappy, tension filled clash – and send the Blues chairman off to his Saturday night assignation frustrated and fretful. For Kenwright, only one dream will do. And UEFA Cup football looks a little less secure than it did before kick-off on Saturday. Whether Zamora was seeking retribution for that Everton snub in 2003 is uncertain, but after last season’s Goodison match winner, he repeated the feat with a laser-guided left-footer of impeccable precision. Perhaps that moment explained the intriguing half-time announcement. “We’d like to welcome the Barcelona Hammers here today!” chirped the tannoy announcer. Really? Do people willingly forego the opportunity to witness Ronaldinho and Messi, followed by tapas on Las Ramblas, in favour of a glimpse of Anton Ferdinand and a fish supper at Nathan’s Pie and Eel Emporium? Apparently, yes. But while they were rewarded by Zamora’s finish, Everton’s travelling army were crestfallen by the departure of Andrew Johnson with the game barely six minutes old.
While it would be wrong to describe them as a one-man team, without Johnson’s pace their attacking options suddenly become severely limited. “We wouldn’t want to lose Andy for a while because he stretches teams and we couldn’t do that today, especially in the first-half,” conceded manager David Moyes. After Johnson’s departure, James Beattie was asked to lead the line alone, a role he is patently unsuited to. And just when it mattered most he failed to find polish and precision in front of goal. An inability to dig the ball out from under his feet before half-time, and difficulty in trying to guide a sharp half-volley on target after the interval, saw his spell without a goal from open play stretch to 58 weeks.
With apologies to Lloyd Webber . . . “Poor, poor Jamie what you gonna do? Things look bad for you James, what you going to do?” In the short term, the answer must be to keep plugging away.If Everton have added quality to their squad this season, quantity is still a major problem. Losing key midfielder Tim Cahill and promising James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe to injury should not be an overwhelming problem for a Premiership squad. But when that squad is as compact as Everton’s, it creates insurmountable difficulties. If Johnson’s ankle injury keeps him out for any length of time, Beattie is the only available attacking option. On Saturday, Everton will be shorn of the services of their reliable shotstopper, Tim Howard, courtesy of the convoluted terms of his transfer from Manchester United. And that has now become a match Everton could do with taking something from. As it was always going to be, the visit of Portsmouth the week after will be pivotal. But Everton could ease the pressure on themselves significantly by putting another dent into United’s title-winning aspirations. And Kenwright could head back down the M6 humming happily: “A crash of drums, a flash of light . . .”
Moyes won’t put pressure on his players
Apr 23 2007
by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
DAVID MOYES has urged his Everton players to wrap up UEFA Cup qualification before their final-day visit to Chelsea. The Goodison outfit missed the chance to move within one victory of a European place for next season when they went down 1-0 at struggling West Ham United on Saturday. Although Bolton Wanderers’s defeat meant Everton remain fifth, Reading, Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth all picked up points in the battle for a UEFA Cup place. Everton entertain title-chasing Manchester United on Saturday before hosting Portsmouth in what could prove a pivotal fixture.And Moyes wants Everton’s top-seven place assured before they journey to Stamford Bridge on May 13. “No, we won’t want to do that (have to win at Chelsea) if we can help it,” he said. “But would we have taken that at the start of the season? Possibly. “You have to play them all twice in a season, so you have to play them sometime. “But we’re in a great position. If we had gone fifth on Saturday we would have been delighted. “We are fifth and we’ve stayed fifth and we’ve now got two games at home and one away. “So if you look at it that way you’d have to say that’s okay.” Moyes added: “I just think we want to finish off the best you can. I’m not putting any pressure on the team or myself, but if you manage Everton Football Club you want to be up competing with the best. “I’d like to be in one of the top four, if possible. “We finished in the top four two years ago but there’s a sense of satisfaction when you build a team with a little money. “But a lot of clubs have money now, Portsmouth and Aston Villa, even West Ham, not just the top four. “Reading and Portsmouth have both had super seasons; Blackburn were very close, maybe results at the weekend makes it difficult for them, but in the main it’s a good, old fight to get in those UEFA Cup positions. “Up until Saturday we were still quite close to the top four. We have beaten Arsenal and drawn with them, we’ve done the same with Liverpool, so it’s nice building a team. “I think you get a lot of satisfaction from that. “You do need investment and some good fortune but good management as well – look at Steve Coppell at Reading and Sam Allardyce at Bolton.”
Howard: No panic after Hammers blow
Apr 23 2007
by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
TIM HOWARD believes Everton will hold their nerve in the race for Europe – as Andrew Johnson faces an anxious wait to discover the extent of his ankle injury. The Goodison outfit fell to their first defeat in eight games when they lost 1-0 at struggling West Ham United on Saturday. It was only Everton’s third loss in their last 17 Premiership outings, but results elsewhere meant they remain in fifth place with only three games remaining. With Tottenham Hotspur, Reading and Portsmouth having picked up points, the battle for Europe closed up slightly over the weekend.Howard, though, is confident Everton will not be affected by their defeat at Upton Park. “There can’t be any panic in the dressing room,” said the goalkeeper. “It’s not like we were awful on Saturday, things just didn’t fall for us and I thought we played good football at times. “Considering the run we’ve been on, we just have to put this defeat to the back of our minds and keep pushing on. “There’s only three games to go, so we have to keep looking forward and not back at this point. “We’d rode our luck a bit during our seven games unbeaten, but there’s no rhyme nor reason as to why things didn’t happen for us at West Ham. They are struggling for their lives and we knew they could put a performance in like that.” Everton face a tricky run-in to the end of the season, hosting title-chasing Manchester United on Saturday and then fellow UEFA Cup hopefuls Portsmouth before ending the season with a visit to champions Chelsea. And despite occupying fifth place, Howard insists David Moyes’s side are taking nothing for granted. “We’re not looking at it like we are in pole position for Europe at all,” added the USA international. “We’ve got it all to play for, and we have to fight like cats and dogs to try and get it, so it’s all stacking up at the moment which is why we are so disappointed to have lost.”Bobby Zamora scored a spectacular 13th-minute winner to give West Ham a priceless victory in their battle against relegation. And of the defeat, Howard said: “We’re all a bit down. We expected to get something out of the game and we didn’t so inevitably, it’s tough to take. As it stands, we are fifth but it doesn’t help that we didn’t get any points at West Ham. “I hardly had a shot to save, so that makes it even more di sappointing. It wasn’t a great game, we didn’t have many chances and they didn’t have many chances either. “It always going to be one of those days. It was hot and sticky, and it just wasn’t happening for us. “The chances we did have we didn’t take, and as a whole it wasn’t a good game for us.” Everton’s cause wasn’t helped when Johnson limped off after only seven minutes after appearing to twist his ankle. The striker was due to undergo a scan to assess any damage, but that has been delayed until today because the swelling around the injury has not sufficiently eased. However, Johnson is already a doubt for the visit of United on Saturday. Meanwhile, Everton reserve goalkeeper John Ruddy helped Bristol City to a 3-1 win at Carlisle United on Saturday after joining the Coca-Cola League One outfit on an emergency one-week loan. Cristiano Ronaldo last night became the first man since 1977 to win both the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year Award in the same season. Ronaldo beat Chelsea’s Didier Drogba to the award, with United’s Paul Scholes third. Ryan Giggs and last year’s winner, Steven Gerrard, also made the shortlist. Ronaldo said: “It is a special night. It is amazing and a big honour for me. I am very proud. Cesc Fabregas was runner-up in the young player category, with Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon third.
Injury to Johnson cost us - Moyes
Apr 23 2007
by Adrian Curtis, Liverpool Echo
BLUES boss David Moyes was disappointed Everton had nothing to show for their efforts at West Ham and bemoaned the loss of Andrew Johnson after just six minutes with an ankle injury. Moyes said: "It threw us a little bit because he is a big part of how we play. I don't know how long he will be out for. It might just be a sprain. "I thought they started better than us. We played well in the second half and I'm disappointed we didn't come away with something again. "I was pleased with what we did after the first 20 or 30 minutes. "I thought we were unlucky not to get anything. West Ham had to win and we warned the players they would come out fighting, which they did. "It was a terrific goal which he rifled into the top corner. It was a very good goal from their point of view and the back heel from Benayoun took two of our players out." Meanwhile, West Ham boss Alan Curbishley insists there is still a massive job to do if they are to escape relegation from the Premiership. The Hammers remain second from bottom and while Curbishley was pleased with the effort against fifth-placed Everton, he is now demanding that his side produce it against lesser opposition. Curbishley said: "I thought it was a terrific performance. When we give ourselves and the fans a chance to hang on to something, it makes a difference. "We've been chasing too many games since I've been here. Some of the stuff we produced on the break and in our general play should have brought us more goals. "Bobby has scored some terrific goals but he has got an injury and we keep patching him. "To be honest I think he is revelling in that. He is an honest player and when Everton lost Andrew Johnson after six minutes and they changed their shape, I asked him to do half-an-hour on the right and he did well. "We've won four out of six and such a performance makes you wonder why it hasn't been there against teams around us. "That's got to change against Wigan next week. But we haven't really given our fans something to sing about like we did today."
I'm staying
Apr 23 2007
EXCLUSIVE by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
MIKEL ARTETA today gave Everton a much-needed boost as he pledged his future to the club – then slammed the gossips who have been spinning his words to cause trouble. The Blues’ influential midfielder was linked with a summer move to Atletico Madrid again last week, and his patience has finally snapped. Arteta gave an interview to a couple of Spanish journalists shortly before England played Spain in February when, among other things, he was asked about returning home – but not once did suggest that he wanted to leave Everton this summer. Since then, though, he has been dismayed to see a number of stories appear claiming that he would welcome a move to Atletico and Arteta has moved to put the record straight by stating his desire to stay on Merseyside for the foreseeable future.Arteta’s representatives are due to meet Goodison officials at the end of the season to talk terms on a new deal and the 24-year-old says he will not need much persuading to put pen to paper. “I am fed up with it all,” Arteta said. “They are taking my words and putting them into whatever context they want to. It’s getting on my nerves. “I keep saying that I am really happy here and that is true. I think that the club wants to do something in the summer and we will see what happens. “But if they want me to stay for a long time and are happy with me, I will be happy to do that. “I am committed to this club, I feel really happy here and I feel that I am an important part of the team. “I like all the people at the club, I am made to feel welcome by people in the city and there is no reason why I should leave. “Every time I am asked the question (by someone in Spain) it ends up coming out that I want to go home but that is not the case. “It would be a lack of respect if I spoke about other clubs and I wouldn’t do that anyway. All I can say is that I am really happy here.” Though Everton blew the chance to take a giant step towards UEFA Cup qualification by losing 1-0 at West Ham on Saturday, Arteta remains confident that they will see the job through, but whether Andrew Johnson will be involved remains to be seen. The England international hobbled off after five minutes at Upton Park and underwent a scan on his damaged ankle this morning but it is touch-and-go whether he will be fit to face leaders Manchester United at the weekend. “It’s a worry,” admitted Arteta, who missed a glorious chance to secure a draw against the Hammers. “He had a scan today and he is worried about being injured. “We hope he will be okay for next weekend but we will have to wait and see. “I still can’t believe I missed. I should have put it in. I was not expecting the ball to drop over Ossie’s head, so I took the chance late and my body was not in the right position. But it was not good enough and I should have done better. “West Ham showed a lot of desire in the first half but we were just not good enough. We had some chances in the second half but we missed them. “Everyone is disappointed but we must forget about it and move on.”
We must wait on AJ - Moyes
Apr 24 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
ANDREW JOHNSON will be given every chance to prove his fitness in the next few days in order to give Everton’s push for Europe fresh impetus. The club record signing underwent a scan yesterday on the ankle he damaged in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat against West Ham and it revealed that the injury is not as serious as was first feared.
But boss David Moyes admitted today that it was still too early to say whether he would be fit to face Manchester United at the weekend in a game that is crucial to Everton’s UEFA Cup ambitions. “We will just have to wait and see,” said Moyes, who reported that young striker James Vaughan is making good progress after severing an artery in his left foot during the 1-1 draw at Bolton on Easter Monday.
“We will see how he goes. We missed AJ when he went off on Saturday because he runs and stretches the defence. He is sharp with it and it does affect us when he is not there. We have got to find a different way of doing things. “But I couldn’t fault the lads who took his place. I thought James Beattie’s work rate was terrific and they have all been handling themselves with credit. I have watched a video of the game since and I have not changed my mind. I thought we played well.” Tim Cahill, meanwhile, has set his sights on making a return to competitive action in this summer’s Asia Cup for Australia. The midfielder has been sidelined since March 3 after breaking his metatarsal but can see light at the end of the tunnel. “I will be doing all I can to be fit and available for selection,” Cahill said. “The competition starts on July 1 so it is going to be very tricky on the schedule but the Asia Cup is a massive competition.
“It is something we have got a realistic chance of being in the top contenders to win it, so from Australia's perspective, following the World Cup successes, we need our strongest team possible. “I am gagging to get back into football. It is just frustrating because I couldn’t do anything about my first injury and then I came back and had a freak accident.” One man who won’t be joining Everton in the summer is West Brom’s Diomansy Kamara. His agent claimed that the Blues and Middlesbrough are trying to sign him but, as far as Everton are concerned, such claims are nonsense.
Positive Blues can stun off-key rivals
Apr 24 2007 by Tony Cottee, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON are on target to pocket half-a-million pounds if Manchester United win the Premiership. So it’s sod’s law that United come to Goodison Park on Saturday in a crucial showdown. It has led to a couple of comments about a potential conflict of interest. But I can honestly say that not one player will give that clause in Wayne Rooney’s transfer one second’s thought at the weekend. It’s probably something that fans talk about more than footballers. I know that the only financial issues footballers worry about are their own wages. Players are essentially a selfish, individual breed.
You do your job to the best of your ability, but there’s no way you think ‘The club could receive a nice little bonus if United win today.’ Equally, players don’t think about the financial incentives on offer to a club for finishing a place or two higher up the league table. They play matches, hope to win games – and just leave the financial rewards to other people. I should imagine the vast majority of Everton fans, as well as players, aren’t really bothered who wins the Premiership title . . . as long as it’s not Liverpool! To that end, they’ll probably be hoping that Everton do pocket another potential bonus from the Wayne Rooney transfer, however – from United winning the Champions League trophy! There would be smiles all round in the blue half of the city if that comes off. Not as many as there would be, however, if Everton can beat United this Saturday lunchtime. The visit of United at any time in a season is a daunting one, but there’s just a feeling that this could be a good moment to face Fergie’s men.
I saw the second half of their game against Middlesbrough on Saturday, when they were very flat. They have another high intensity game to negotiate tonight, and have several players struggling with injury. With three-quarters of a first choice back four injured – Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic – plus a goalkeeper struggling a little for form, United are looking more vulnerable than usual.
Edwin Van Der Sar might have made it into the PFA’s team of the year, but in the past three or four weeks he has not looked comfortable.
David Moyes will, no doubt, point that out to his players, highlight United’s makeshift rearguard and tell his players to get the ball into the box early for James Beattie to try and get on the end of.
If you sit back against United, they are better than any team in the country at picking you off. But if you can take a game to them and score the first goal, you have a chance to get at them on the break and punish them even more.
It’s important that Everton start well. I generally don’t enjoy lunchtime kick-offs. They always seem to be more sluggish for some reason. Players take a little time to get going, while the fans – deprived of the opportunity to have three or four pints before kick-off – generally aren’t as noisy as they normally are. It’s vital that Everton hang on in there for a UEFA Cup place next season. Being in Europe attracts a better class of player, and that can help Everton push on again and challenge for the Champions League places which is where a club of Everton’s stature should be.
Portsmouth and Spurs both picked up points at the weekend, Reading enjoyed an excellent win, and it’s just starting to look a little tight around the top half of the table.
If Everton can pick up something on Saturday it could make all the difference.
True Blue Irish joy
Apr 24 2007
by Tim Johnson, Liverpool Echo
GED KINSELLA is expected to make his debut for Ireland against Czechoslovakia, USA or Scotland at the under-16 Ballymena International Football tournament. The Everton Academy star will follow in the footsteps of former Reds midfielder and current Wolves player Darren Potter who, seven years ago, became the first youngster, while attending a Liverpool school, to pull on the famous green shirt. The parallels are quite striking. Both are products of Alsop High School; they qualified through Irish grandparents; won their first caps at the age of 15; play in central midfield. “I didn't realise that Darren had played for Ireland under-16s before me,” the Vauxhall-based player told Junior Xsport. “I do know him slightly and I just hope I can do as well as he has. “I was spotted before Christmas when playing for the Everton Academy against Liverpool. I went over for trials in Dublin and then played a game against Liverpool for a team of triallists. A letter then arrived inviting me to play in the Ballymena tournament. I am really excited about this opportunity. “Before coming to Alsop, I was at Campion for many years, but I think I have got to thank Everton for helping me get selected. I absolutely love it at the Academy and my coaches, Sean London (under-16) and Kevin Sheedy (under-15), have been fantastic. “I play or train six days a week at Netherton, including all day Thursday, when I am released from school. I hope this will help me to achieve my ambition to become a professional player.” Joining Kinsella at the Ballymena tournament will be Everton clubmate James Wallace. The 15-year-old striker will also be making his Ireland debut. If the two are successful they will join Jose Baxter (England), Lee McCardle and Nathan Craig (both Wales) from their age group at the Academy to have been capped by home countries this season.
Injuries temper Everton victory
Apr 24 2007
Academy Football by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post
FOLLOWING an eventful first 15 minutes Everton under-18s eventually secured a 2-0 victory over Barnsley on Saturday. Neil Dewsnip’s side scored after just two minutes through Steve Morrison, but had to re-adjust before the quarter-hour mark as both Shaun Densmore and Ryan Harpur both went off with back injuries following falls on the rock-hard pitch. But once they re-adjusted the played out a comfortable FA Premier Academy League victory with young substitutes Jose Baxter and James Hall both playing well as John Paul Kissock added second goal to seal the points. Scott Spencer saw his first shot saved after he broke into the box after just two minutes but Morrison was in the right place to score from the rebound to give Everton the perfect start. But that all changed as both Densmore and Harpur fell awkwardly on the firm surface and had to be replaced within the first 15 minutes by 15-year-old forward Baxter, who played in central midfield, and Hall, who has only recently returned from a long injury lay-off himself. It took a while for Everton to settle, but once they did they controlled the match and Kissock doubled the advantage with less than 10 minutes left when he latched on to pass from Aidan Downes before slotting home. Coach Dewsnip said: “It was a thorough performance, as opposed to exciting. It was a very solid performance. The pitch was very difficult – very hard.” In a hectic end to the season Everton take on Sheffield Wednesday at Netherton this Friday (kick-off 11.30pm) with further matches against Wolves and Newcastle United, as well as several reserve team fixtures to come the first of which is at Wigan tonight. EVERTON UNDER-18s: Jones; Irving, Dennehy, Rodwell, Molyneux; Ilmudia, Kissock, Harpur (Baxter 15), Densmore (Hall 10); Morrison, Spencer (Downes 60).
Now could be a good time to face United
Apr 24 2007
by Mark Lawrenson, Liverpool Daily Post
MANCHESTER UNITED will be looking at this weekend’s trip to Goodison and thinking: “That’s a heck of a tough game for us.” So Everton have to make sure they don’t disappoint them by bouncing back from the weekend’s defeat to West Ham and making it as tough as possible. United are wobbling a bit in the league, with a win, draw and defeat in their last three games and they showed how much then pressure might be getting to them on Saturday, only drawing a game everybody expected them to win easily. Everton will catch them in the middle of a gruelling Champions League semi-final with AC Milan and when you take into consideration their injury problems, David Moyes might just fancy it. It really isn’t a bad time to be playing them. From Moyes’s own point of view, losing at West Ham showed how much being without three or four players – especially Andrew Johnson – can take its toll and sometimes you just have those days when things don’t happen for you. So losing in London is no reason for Everton to be down and think their push for Europe is about to collapse under a difficult run-in. After all, it’s not as if any of their rivals did anything to take advantage of their defeat. At this stage of the season Goodison should be a horrible place to go when you need something and United know it. Everton have the ability to capitalise. Mark Lawrenson was talking to NICK SMITH
Johnson may be back to face United
Apr 24 2007
by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post
EVERTON are hopeful that Andrew Johnson will recover from his sprained ankle in time to face Manchester United on Saturday. The striker suffered the injury in the 1-0 defeat to West Ham at the weekend and now faces a race against time to recover for the visit of the Premiership leaders. If leading scorer Johnson can make it, it would be a major boost to manager David Moyes, who is already set to have Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan absent from his forward line once again. And Everton physio Mick Rathbone confirmed that a quick return to action is a distinct possibility given that Johnson’s injury isn’t worse than first feared. “It’s too soon to estimate recovery time but the good thing is that the player normally heals quite quickly,” said Rathbone last night following the scan on Johnson’s injury. “So it’s fingers crossed as far as we are concerned.” Also on the Goodison Park injury front, Tim Cahill is again targeting a summer international tournament as ideal preparation ahead of the new season. The Australian midfielder, who has been out since breaking his metatarsal against Sheffield United last month, wants to represent his country in the Asia Cup, which starts on July 1. “I will be doing all I can to be fit and available for selection,” said Cahill. “It is something we have got a realistic chance of being in the top contenders to win it, so from Australia’s perspective, following the World Cup successes, we need our strongest team possible. “I am gagging to get back into football.” Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, has moved to put a stop to constant rumours linking him with a move back to Spain by declaring his allegiance to Everton. He said: “I am fed up with it all. They are taking my words and putting them into whatever context they want to. It’s getting on my nerves. “I keep saying that I am really happy here and that is true. I think that the club wants to do something in the summer and we will see what happens. “But if they want me to stay for a long time and are happy with me, I will be happy to do that. “I am committed to this club, I feel really happy here and I feel that I am an important part of the team. I like all the people at the club, I am made to feel welcome by people in the city and there is no reason why I should leave. “All I can say is that I am really happy here.”
We’ll miss him terribly says pal Callaghan
Apr 25 2007 by John Thompson, Liverpool Echo
BALL’S former World Club squad colleague Ian Callaghan was devastated when told today of his sudden death. Callaghan, like Ball, was a winger in Alf Ramsey’s triumphant 1966 England squad, and faced him many times as a rival playing for Liverpool against Everton in derby matches in the 60s and early 70s.
Callaghan said at his home in Lydiate today: “This is terrible, terrible news.
“We were all due to have our England squad annual reunion together in Harrogate shortly. “Norman Hunter is organising it and I was looking forward to seeing Bally and the other lads there. “I just cannot believe it - and a year today to the day after Brian Labone died too, It’s awful. “I knew Alan very well - obviously through playing against him at Anfield and Goodison and also with him for England. “I met him in recent years too through these annual reunions of the England squad from the World Cup in 66. “He was a wonderful footballer - one of the best - if not the best - player in the team which won their World Cup final against West Germany in 1966. He had such a fantastic game. “It was always great to see him - he was just this mass of energy - a really bubbly and lovely man who always seemed to be at the centre of things. “In particular he was a great pal of Nobby Stiles and I know Nobby will be absolutely devastated. “Although I could go 12 months without seeing Alan and the rest of the lads, whenever we met up with him as much as anyone you felt like you had only been with him just yesterday. ”I, and everyone in football, will miss him terribly.”
Bally was simplythe best – Kendall
Apr 25 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
HOWARD KENDALL today paid a glowing tribute to Alan Ball describing him as “the best player I ever played with”. The Blues’ former manager, who was stunned by news of Ball’s death, arrived at Goodison Park seven months after Ball arrived from Blackpool, and instantly struck up a rapport with the midfield dynamo.
Along with Colin Harvey, Kendall and Ball formed an alliance in the late 1960s that led supporters to name them the “Holy Trinity” and they remain the greatest midfield partnership in Everton’s history. Though Ball joined Everton as a World Cup winner, Kendall revealed that Ball was always desperate to prove himself and that desire and commitment made him a popular member of the dressing room. “It’s such a massive shock just as it was with Brian (Labone) a year ago,” said Kendall. “I was with him, along with so many other former players, at the Barcelona dinner a few weeks ago and he spoke brilliantly about Everton, as he always did. “He got a tremendous reception and we were always bumping into each other at functions. Myself, Bally and Colin received quite a bit of publicity when we were playing together but we would always insist that we were just a part of a great team. “But he was the best player I ever played with. He was infectious and had such drive. He was an instant hit at Everton as he came to the club as a World Cup winner but he was always so determined to work hard. “I signed on transfer deadline day in the March and two days later, we played Liverpool in the FA Cup and he scored the winner. You couldn’t ask for any better way for the fans to accept you than by scoring against Liverpool but he didn’t need that. He didn’t have any difficulties. “The way he played made you want to play better yourself. He would lose his temper sometimes if he thought things weren’t going his way and you would sometimes see him fly into challenges that would get him into trouble. “He would get booked or sent off occasionally and you would not be surprised when that happened but that was his attitude in terms of not wanting to lose. What a player he was to have on your side.” Kendall will always remember a “bouncy, impish” character, who was always quick to have a laugh. “He was a cheeky little so and so,” added Kendall. “We all had mortgages when we were playing and knew we would be paying them off for a long time after he played but he used to wind us up by saying he’d own a house when he finished his career. “Also, his first advice to me when I joined was never to take the ball off Johnny Morrissey in training and I soon found out why. It’s such a terrible blow.”
He will never be forgotten
Apr 25 2007 by John Thompson, Liverpool Echo
LAST month in a Liverpool hotel, Alan Ball delivered one of the most moving speeches anyone here has surely ever heard from a footballer. It was an absolute privilege to witness it. He talked with such passion, love and sincerity - particularly about the influence his father Alan Senior had on him - that everybody was spellbound. And inspired. As much as anything, that was what defined Alan Ball. He was an inspiration to everyone who met him, saw him, or played with him.
Small in stature, he was a giant of a footballer and a man. Arguably the second greatest player ever to have pulled on an Everton shirt. So yet again, in exactly the space of 12 months, Everton have lost one of their greatest former players and biggest heroes. It is a devastating blow for Everton and to the world of football.
Last month Ball spoke so fondly of his dad, how he encouraged him to reach higher and higher and go further than others to prove himself because of his size.
Ball was clearly so proud of his dad and of playing for Everton, that his words lit up the room. Today, Bally is reunited with his dad. And Alan Senior will be as proud of his son, as his son was of him. So we have lost another true great. But he will never, ever be forgotten by everyone at Goodison who finds themselves in sorrow and premature mourning once again.
Golden great of Goodison
Apr 25 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
WHAT a crushing irony that it should be Alan Ball’s heart which gave out first.
A ceaseless study in perpetual motion – Ball was famed for his energy, his passion and his refusal to quit any battle, no matter how hopeless the odds. Sixty-one is an inordinately early age for such a man to pass away – and the coincidence of his passing coming almost a year to the day after the death of his skipper and friend Brian Labone, is almost too awful for Evertonians to bear. Dixie Dean’s place as the greatest footballer in Everton Football Club’s history is unchallenged. But few supporters still remain who witnessed Dean’s majesty in the flesh. Ask a more contemporary fan the name of the greatest player they’ve ever witnessed and the answer is universal: Alan Ball. He made 249 appearances for Everton, winning 39 of his 72 England caps whilst a Royal Blue legend, and his heady mixture of delicate skill and rampant fire branded his name upon Everton hearts. His appeal is summed up by a story he once told about himself. Ball was leaving an airport laden with bags, when an eager autograph hunter demanded a signature. Ball indicated that he was in a rush and his hands were full of luggage. Undaunted, and showing a never-say-die spirit typical of the player himself, the youngster brandished his book and declared: “Well you’re Alan Ball, spit in it!”
The youngster got his autograph. Ball was a Blackpool player when he conquered the world at the tender age of 21. But it was only a matter of time before he forged a relationship with Everton which would endure for the rest of his life.
The youngest member of Alf Ramsey’s World Cup squad, he was a driving force showing maturity beyond his years – and in the energy-sapping extra-time period in the World Cup Final it was his legs which continued to pump across the Wembley turf. It was from a corner, forced by his tireless running, that England scored to go 2-1 ahead. The Germans equalised with seconds to go, taking the game went into extra time. Somehow, this instilled extra bounce into Ball’s play and the image of his continuous running round the Wembley pitch, socks round his ankles, is one of the most enduring of the occasion. It was his chase and cross which created Hurst’s controversial second - and he was still sprinting upfield, unmarked and screaming for a pass, as Hurst took the ball forward to smash his historic hat-trick goal with the last kick of the game. Everton signed him for a British record transfer fee of £110,000 just weeks later. Howard Kendall later joked: “Everton’s scouting network was legendary. They spotted Alan Ball playing a World Cup Final.” It’s not overstating the case to say that Ball transformed Everton. Without his inspiring presence, Everton had lost the 1966 Charity Shield to neighbours Liverpool. That was on August 13. A fortnight later Ball was in the Royal Blue engine room, Everton beat Liverpool 3-1 in front of 64,318 ecstatic Evertonians, their new flame-haired hero scored twice and an idol was born. Ball ended that first season at Goodison with 17 goals - from midfield - and never once neglecting his defensive duties. The following season he scored an astonishing 20 league goals, added 16 more in 1968-69 – then in 1969-70 he was a member of the most cherished midfield unit in the club’s history – Ball, Harvey, Kendall, the Holy Trinity. It was the midfield which took Everton to its seventh league title playing football in the club’s cherished School of Science traditions. Ball was both the inspiration and the most idolised player. But it was a two way love affair.
“Once Everton has touched you nothing will be the same,” he later declared – and he continued to champion the Blues throughout his life. His value to Everton was inestimable. In the spring of 1971, manager Harry Catterick was asked to put a price on Ball’s head. Catterick pondered deeply, reflected that the domestic record stood at £200,000, then announced that he would expect offers in the region of £1m.
So would he really sell Everton’s idol for such a sensational sum? “I’d consider it, and then I’d say no,” he declared. So it was an earth-shattering decision when just a year later Catterick accepted £220,000 from Arsenal. Evertonians were devastated. Catterick’s explanation was that Ball was losing his pace and could no longer be the goalscoring midfielder of his youth. It made little difference. He re-invented himself as a more considered, thoughtful midfielder, and remained one of the first names on Ramsey’s England teamsheet. The scant consolation for Blues fans was that he still remained a persistent thorn in neighbours Liverpool’s flesh, usually saving his increasingly rare goals for trips to Anfield. In 1973, Ball became only the second player to be sent off in a full international, reacting with fury to violent tactics by Poland in a qualifier for the 1974 World Cup in Warsaw. As a result, he missed the return game at Wembley. He enjoyed a swansong at Southampton, before moving to play in the fledgling North American Soccer League, joining Philadelphia Fury as player-coach in May 1978 and joining the Vancouver Whitecaps in June 1979.
A football man to his very core, management was the logical next step for such a fierce competitor. But it was always to his chagrin that his career as a manager could not come close to matching his successes as a player. He would always show his prized World Cup winner’s medal when introducing himself to dressing rooms for the first time, but perhaps he could not come to terms with the fact that few of the players under his charge could match his own burning passion and desire. His managerial career kicked off at Blackpool, the club where his playing career started, and encompassed Portsmouth – a club he guided back into the top flight – Stoke City, Exeter, Southampton, Manchester City and Portsmouth once again. In 2000, he and four other members of the World Cup winning team were awarded the MBE for their services to football, an award which many felt was long overdue. And in 2003 he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. Always a distinctive figure thanks to his diminutive stature, his high-pitched voice and flame-red hair, Ball released his autobiography, Playing Extra Time, in 2004 and received much critical acclaim.
Aside from his highs and lows in football, it also candidly detailed his private struggle as a family man after his wife and daughter were both diagnosed with cancer.
His beloved wife Lesley, died on 16 May 2004, aged 57, after a three-year battle against ovarian cancer. Ball had lost his own inspiration, father Alan Ball senior, in 1982 following a car crash in Cyprus. But after overcoming so many personal tragedies, in recent months he admitted he had come to terms with his losses and was at peace with himself. He was a frequent visitor to Merseyside – only last month delivering inspiring speeches to a group of spellbound supporters and former players at the Hall of Fame dinner at the Adelphi Hotel, and then the Crowne Plaza Hotel before the Everton-Barcelona old boys reunion. It’s shocking to think that he looked in such rude and robust health. Former colleagues talk of Alan Ball as one of Everton’s finest players of all-time. Few would argue. There wasn’t much of Alan Ball physically, but in terms of talent, commitment and inspirational service he was a towering collossus. His legacy will live on forever.
Tearful Kenwright leads tributes to Goodison legend
Apr 25 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
A TEARFUL Bill Kenwright today paid an emotional tribute to his friend and idol Alan Ball and described the World Cup winner as the footballer who would never give in. Ball, who joined Everton in 1966 from Blackpool for a then British record transfer fee of £110,000, was a member of the side that won the League Championship in 1970. As was the case when Brian Labone, the Last of the Corinthians, died exactly 12 months ago, Goodison Park is in mourning and Kenwright is struggling to come to terms with the news. “He was just my mate,” said the Everton chairman. “I knew him for 40 years. When I was on Coronation Street, we lived not far from each other in Manchester. He was my great friend, my idol.
“Alan was the ball of fire, the epitomy of the footballer who would never give in. My favourite story about him comes from the 1966 World Cup final. “He would say that every player had to go through the pain barrier and the pain barrier was when you felt your ribs where going to snap. “Every player has to go through the pain barrier during a game. He went through the pain barrier twice in that game. “I thought of that story a couple of weeks ago. He would never have known anything other than to give 200 per cent. He would never give in. “And he loved Everton as much as anyone. I remember when I had the honour of giving him a Merseyside award a few years back.
“He told me that he couldn’t believe how he was still worshipped at Goodison Park after all the years. He will be worshipped for as long as there is Everton.”
Everton skipper Phil Neville added: “He was nothing other an absolute gentleman. He is a legend through being part of the 1966 World Cup winning squad and he is an Everton legend through his faultless performances on the pitch. It is a sad day for the club. “Alan was, and still is, an inspiration for all current Everton players because he was part of a team that won the league championship and that is something we are all aspiring to do. “Being a World Cup winner, he inspired a generation of players.
“Whenever you speak about Alan in regards to Everton, you speak about a legend, a tremendous ambassador for the club.” Chief executive Keith Wyness said: “For those who saw him at the Barcelona dinner just several weeks ago to see such a vibrant man who was giving so much and enjoying himself, it comes as such a huge shock.
“He was always available, was always happy to help and was such a great giver. He said that he was a water carrier, that he just got the ball and passed it on.But he was the best there was at it.” Colin Harvey, who was part of the legendary Holy Trinity with Ball and Howard Kendall, declared: “He was the greatest. I am devastated – I really can’t believe it. “I was with Alan about five weeks ago at a dinner at the Adelphi and he was his usual self – in smashing form. He was so dynamic, always making things happening. “I obviously never saw Dixie Dean play but in my time as a supporter and a player Alan was the greatest I have seen at Everton. The fact that he was the man of the match in a World Cup final at 21 years of age says it all.
“Howard, Alan and myself were all different but when we came together as a midfield three we just clicked and gelled. “He was the one who did everything at 100 miles an hour and he had such a great big heart as well as fantastic ability. It was a privilege to have played with him.” Added former Everton manager Harvey: “This is such devastating news for everyone at Everton FC. “I really cannot believe we have lost him not just so soon, but a year to the day after Labby died too. “It’s a dreadful, shocking day. We will all miss him terribly.”
Alan Ball, the golden great of Goodison
Apr 25 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
WHAT a crushing irony that it should be Alan Ball’s heart which gave out first.
A ceaseless study in perpetual motion – Ball was famed for his energy, his passion and his refusal to quit any battle, no matter how hopeless the odds. Sixty-one is an inordinately early age for such a man to pass away – and the coincidence of his passing coming almost a year to the day after the death of his skipper and friend Brian Labone, is almost too awful for Evertonians to bear. Dixie Dean’s place as the greatest footballer in Everton Football Club’s history is unchallenged. But few supporters still remain who witnessed Dean’s majesty in the flesh. Ask a more contemporary fan the name of the greatest player they’ve ever witnessed and the answer is universal: Alan Ball. He made 249 appearances for Everton, winning 39 of his 72 England caps whilst a Royal Blue legend, and his heady mixture of delicate skill and rampant fire branded his name upon Everton hearts. His appeal is summed up by a story he once told about himself. Ball was leaving an airport laden with bags, when an eager autograph hunter demanded a signature. Ball indicated that he was in a rush and his hands were full of luggage. Undaunted, and showing a never-say-die spirit typical of the player himself, the youngster brandished his book and declared: “Well you’re Alan Ball, spit in it!”
The youngster got his autograph. Ball was a Blackpool player when he conquered the world at the tender age of 21. But it was only a matter of time before he forged a relationship with Everton which would endure for the rest of his life.
The youngest member of Alf Ramsey’s World Cup squad, he was a driving force showing maturity beyond his years – and in the energy-sapping extra-time period in the World Cup Final it was his legs which continued to pump across the Wembley turf. It was from a corner, forced by his tireless running, that England scored to go 2-1 ahead. The Germans equalised with seconds to go, taking the game into extra time. Somehow, this instilled extra bounce into Ball’s play and the image of his continuous running round the Wembley pitch, socks round his ankles, is one of the most enduring of the occasion. It was his chase and cross which created Hurst’s controversial second - and he was still sprinting upfield, unmarked and screaming for a pass, as Hurst took the ball forward to smash his historic hat-trick goal with the last kick of the game.
Everton signed him for a British record transfer fee of £110,000 just weeks later.
Howard Kendall later joked: “Everton’s scouting network was legendary. They spotted Alan Ball playing a World Cup Final.” It’s not overstating the case to say that Ball transformed Everton. Without his inspiring presence, Everton had lost the 1966 Charity Shield to neighbours Liverpool. That was on August 13. A fortnight later Ball was in the Royal Blue engine room, Everton beat Liverpool 3-1 in front of 64,318 ecstatic Evertonians, their new flame-haired hero scored twice and an idol was born.
Ball ended that first season at Goodison with 17 goals - from midfield - and never once neglecting his defensive duties. The following season he scored an astonishing 20 league goals, added 16 more in 1968-69 – then in 1969-70 he was a member of the most cherished midfield unit in the club’s history – Ball, Harvey, Kendall, the Holy Trinity. It was the midfield which took Everton to its seventh league title playing football in the club’s cherished School of Science traditions. Ball was both the inspiration and the most idolised player. But it was a two way love affair.
“Once Everton has touched you nothing will be the same,” he later declared – and he continued to champion the Blues throughout his life. His value to Everton was inestimable. In the spring of 1971, manager Harry Catterick was asked to put a price on Ball’s head. Catterick pondered deeply, reflected that the domestic record stood at £200,000, then announced that he would expect offers in the region of £1m.
So would he really sell Everton’s idol for such a sensational sum?
“I’d consider it, and then I’d say no,” he declared. So it was an earth-shattering decision when just a year later Catterick accepted £220,000 from Arsenal.
Evertonians were devastated. Catterick’s explanation was that Ball was losing his pace and could no longer be the goalscoring midfielder of his youth.
It made little difference. He re-invented himself as a more considered, thoughtful midfielder, and remained one of the first names on Ramsey’s England teamsheet. The scant consolation for Blues fans was that he still remained a persistent thorn in neighbours Liverpool’s flesh, usually saving his increasingly rare goals for trips to Anfield. In 1973, Ball became only the second player to be sent off in a full international, reacting with fury to violent tactics by Poland in a qualifier for the 1974 World Cup in Warsaw. As a result, he missed the return game at Wembley.
He enjoyed a swansong at Southampton, before moving to play in the fledgling North American Soccer League, joining Philadelphia Fury as player-coach in May 1978 and joining the Vancouver Whitecaps in June 1979. A football man to his very core, management was the logical next step for such a fierce competitor. But it was always to his chagrin that his career as a manager could not come close to matching his successes as a player. He would always show his prized World Cup winner’s medal when introducing himself to dressing rooms for the first time, but perhaps he could not come to terms with the fact that few of the players under his charge could match his own burning passion and desire. His managerial career kicked off at Blackpool, the club where his playing career started, and encompassed Portsmouth – a club he guided back into the top flight – Stoke City, Exeter, Southampton, Manchester City and Portsmouth once again. In 2000, he and four other members of the World Cup winning team were awarded the MBE for their services to football, an award which many felt was long overdue. And in 2003 he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. Always a distinctive figure thanks to his diminutive stature, his high-pitched voice and flame-red hair, Ball released his autobiography, Playing Extra Time, in 2004 and received much critical acclaim. Aside from his highs and lows in football, it also candidly detailed his private struggle as a family man after his wife and daughter were both diagnosed with cancer. His beloved wife Lesley, died on 16 May 2004, aged 57, after a three-year battle against ovarian cancer. Ball had lost his own inspiration, father Alan Ball senior, in 1982 following a car crash in Cyprus.
But after overcoming so many personal tragedies, in recent months he admitted he had come to terms with his losses and was at peace with himself. He was a frequent visitor to Merseyside – only last month delivering inspiring speeches to a group of spellbound supporters and former players at the Hall of Fame dinner at the Adelphi Hotel, and then the Crowne Plaza Hotel before the Everton-Barcelona old boys reunion. It’s shocking to think that he looked in such rude and robust health.
Former colleagues talk of Alan Ball as one of Everton’s finest players of all-time.
Few would argue. There wasn’t much of Alan Ball physically, but in terms of talent, commitment and inspirational service he was a towering collossus. His legacy will live on forever.
Everton Res 1, Wigan Res 1
Apr 25 2007
Liverpool Daily Post
ANDY VAN DER MEYDE and Gary Naysmith both played the full 90 minutes as Everton Reserves were held to a 1-1 draw after a late Wigan goal in the FA Premier Reserve League North at the Halton stadium. Scott Spencer had given Everton a first-half lead as both van der Meyde and Naysmith completed the 90 minutes ahead of the weekend clash with Manchester United at Goodison Park. The home side looked in charge for most of the first half and went close through van der Meyde, Spencer and Ryan Harpur. The visitors had chances too in a lively first 45 minutes but it Everton who struck first, right on half-time when John Irving won the ball before feeding Spencer who tucked his shot away well from the edge of the area. Van der Meyde had a couple of efforts in the second half to win it for Everton but the Latics pressed hard for the equaliser and found it with 86 minutes on the clock. David Cotterill crossed for Lewis Montrose to head home. Everton now play Liverpool in their final game of the season. EVERTON RESERVES: Jones, Irving, Densmore, Molyneux, Naysmith, de Silva, Harpur, Kissock, van der Meyde, Vidarsson, Spencer (Elder 74): Subs: Morrison, McEntagart, Imudia, Hall.
Treasured memories of star rich in talent
Apr 26 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
ALAN BALL never passed up an opportunity to support an Everton cause or champion an Everton philosophy. Patron of the Everton Collection Charitable Trust, the body created to secure ownership of the most astonishing collection of football memorabilia in the world, he met the collection’s owner, David France, just weeks ago. Now back home in Vancouver, Dr France learned of Ball’s death during a late-night telephone call to his friend, Alex Young. Both were devastated. David instantly produced his own personal tribute to Alan Ball. These are his words . . . IT is only once in a generation that the gods of football provide the ideal formula for the beautiful game. In the late Sixties, we of the Royal Blue faith were convinced that Goodison Park had been duly blessed – with the presence of Howard Kendall, Colin Harvey and Alan Ball. Their repertoire of skills and telepathic understanding was beyond belief. These three young Englishmen may sound like fantasy footballers – but those of us who were fortunate to witness them in the Sixties will confirm that ‘The Holy Trinity’ was indeed a revelation. And with all respect to Howard and Colin, Alan Ball was the superstar sent from heaven. I met with him on several occasions during Heritage Week. We didn't talk about football, but about life-threatening illness and Northern wives. He told me how he had sat down with Lesley to address some difficult decisions. How they had discussed subjects which would have been taboo under normal circumstances. Alan seemed to have come to terms with her death and was at peace. In his role as the patron of The Everton Collection Charitable Trust, I asked him to draft a few words for the second edition of the ‘Everton Treasures’ book. He provided the following: ‘Three special words have had a special place in my soul as well as my heart for the past 40 years – Everton Football Club. I love Everton and being known first and foremost as an Evertonian. I enjoyed my football throughout my career, but people remind me that I played my best games in the famous blue and white. Over the years, I have relished returning to Merseyside. Of course, I never wanted to leave and had hoped to see out my days at Goodison Park. It may sound sentimental but it is true – I feel that although I left Everton, Everton never left me.
Like all of the club’s former players, I recognised that once Everton got into your blood my life would never be the same again. And I wasn’t. Today, Goodison oozes memories of great team-mates, worthy opponents and brilliant performances, and I am proud to have played my small part in the club’s illustrious past. Indeed, the depth and quality of the club’s heritage remains unparalleled in the British game. No club can compare with a history which is grounded on Everton’s role as a founder League member and is reinforced by 104 seasons at the elite level. History is important to all fans – none moreso than Evertonians. I am proud to serve as a patron of the Everton Collection Charitable Trust and encourage all fans to participate in the efforts to achieve its goal of netting an enormous source of royal blue pride – The David France Collection. These archives are world class and more vital to our future than our past. By the year 2010, it is likely that we will have moved on to pastures new and that the Grand Old Lady will have been bulldozed to make way for ‘progress’. While the club will be housed in modern facilities worthy of its standing, we will have lost the rich patina of 118 years of passion at Goodison Park. Hopefully by then, the significance of these rare treasures will become clear to even the deepest cynic.
For a club with such a rich heritage, such a priceless trove will be more important than ever. The David France Collection belongs to all Evertonians, it is the People’s Collection.’ From a personal perspective, one of my saddest days in supporting Everton was December 22, 1971. That was when Harry Catterick sold Alan Ball to Arsenal. I know from Alan that he never ever wanted to leave us. He never did and he never will.
The magic of Ball
Apr 26 2007 Liverpool Echo
THERE are footballers. There are heroes. There are legends. And then we have the immortals. Alan Ball's uniqueness lies in the fact that his folklore stretches from the football fields of England to a global stage on which he made a remarkable impact on one famous summer's day in 1966 when England won the World Cup for the one and only time. I am eternally grateful that fate dealt me a wonderful opportunity to get close to Alan, one of Everton's famous ‘Holy Trinity’ alongside Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey. Back in 1969, as an enthusiastic young sports reporter, I made my way to Bellefield with a double mission. Firstly, I was determined to gain entry to ‘Colditz’, as we called the training ground at that time. Manager Harry Catterick had turned it into a fortress. Secondly, I was set on interviewing the red-haired fireball who, having taken the international scene by storm three years earlier, was now building iconic status for himself in the royal blue of Everton. Incredibly, I breezed into Bellefield just as "Bally" was making his way to his gleaming blue E-type Jaguar. Having arrived myself courtesy of a double decker bus, I was pretty pleased when the Everton star pointed to the passenger seat of his car and said: "Get in. What can I do for you?" With the word "scoop" spinning through my mind for a tiny weekly paper with a circulation of just 15,000, I got straight to the point. "Alan, you've already achieved a tremendous amount in the game with your sensational World Cup victory . . . " He stopped me in mid-flow. "Listen," he said. "I've won nothing in the game yet! Nothing at all. But I'm with a club who can put that right. And the fans here will inspire me all the way." I realised immediately that I was with a very special footballer. Yes, he had won the Jules Rimet Trophy. But Alan Ball wanted more. Much more. First and foremost, he was desperate to win the League Championship.
Fittingly, that burning ambition was achieved within a matter of months in that most inspirational of Everton seasons, 1969/70. Alan picked up the captain's mantle during the run-in with the giant, Brian Labone, injured. Incredibly, that was the last trophy Everton would win for 14 long and barren years. The fans were devastated when their hero was sold to Arsenal in 1971 for a giveaway £220,000. He later played for Southampton, Philadelphia Fury, Vancouver Whitecaps, Blackpool and Southampton for a second time, Bulova in Hong Kong and Bristol Rovers. But I can only ever envisage him in Everton blue, his shirt half out in a perpetual show of defiance, his white boots giving him a special presence and his red hair summing up his explosive nature. Here was a man who didn't suffer fools gladly, hence many bust-ups in the Everton dressing room. But anything and everything could be forgiven if you were world class, which he was. He would run further than any other player. He hurt more than any other player. He set the standards and demanded no-one would fall short. He had great skill and he scored superb goals. He was pure inspiration. In the early Nineties, the great Alan Ball found himself down the divisions managing Exeter City. Now working for the Echo, I was writing a book entitled "Everton Greats." Of course, he was instantly on my list and I travelled to Exeter for an interview.
When I arrived, he was out on the pitch coaching a group of young strikers. He was right in the heart of it, demonstrating, cajoling, inspiring people who were not fit to lace his boots. I sat in the front row of the stands, mesmerised by his antics and recalling in my mind's eye the incredible effect he had on Evertonians.
It didn't matter to Alan that this was Exeter. It didn't affect his drive and passion one jot and this emerged again several years later when I signed him as guest speaker for an Echo Sports Personality of the Year award won by Liverpool's Michael Owen.
Alan was incredible that night. He was addressing a room full of people, but in fact he was talking right into the face of a young Michael. He told him about football dreams. He spoke about the importance of fans, the winning of trophies, the pride in playing for your country. You could sense Michael's heart was pounding, that he was captivated by the message and the delivery. It remains one of the great mysteries that Alan did not become one of the game's great managers. His passing is a hammer blow to the Goodison faithful. I had the honour of sitting at the same table as Alan in 2003 at St. George's Hall as Everton celebrated 100 years of top flight football. In truth, I would have preferred the venue to have been the passenger seat of an E.Type Jag, circa Bellefield 1969. I would have taken the initiative and said: "Alan, whatever happens, we will never forget you."
A man for all seasons in a league of his own
Apr 26 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
THREE years ago Evertonians were asked to commemorate Everton’s 125th anniversary by selecting the “Greatest Ever Everton Team.” Dixie Dean was the only 100% choice, but not far behind, and a shoo-in at the heart of midfield, was Alan Ball.
Graeme Sharp, a man who joined him in that greatest ever side, yesterday expressed his disbelief at Ball’s premature passing. “It is absolutely unbelievable,” he said. “I am absolutely devastated as is everyone connected with Everton Football Club.
“I was only in his company a fortnight ago at an Everton function and he was his usual self, always on the go, laughing and joking. “That night he got up and addressed the Evertonian crowd and as usual they were in absolute awe of him. He commanded respect.” A member of the revered, Ball, Harvey, Kendall midfield unit, he made 249 appearances for the Toffees, scoring 78 goals. Sharp added: “He was a true footballing genius in every sense of the word. Few others have done what Alan Ball has achieved in football and he will sadly missed by all.” His son Jimmy Ball described his own sense of shock at the news. “I was talking to him last night just after the football and he was in great form. We were talking about (Paul) Scholes’ pass,” he said.
“And then I got a phone call in the middle of the night. It's unbelievable and very, very sad. “I would like him to be known as a nice man with a passion for football. He had a big heart and was very generous.” Jimmy said his father missed his mother Lesley terribly after she died from cancer three years ago and added: “I hope they are together now.” The couple were married for over 36 years. Of his World Cup winning team-mates, Sir Geoff Hurst, who scored a hat-trick in the 1966 final, led the tributes to Ball. He said: “He was the youngest member of the team and man of the match in the 1966 World Cup final. We are all totally devastated.” Lawrie McMenemy, who twice signed him for Southampton, said: “He was my guest at St Mary’s on Saturday and I should have been playing golf with him this morning. “We were very, very good friends. “I was very fortunate to manage him. I wanted him badly not just for his ability but for his enthusiasm. Once his feet touched the grass he was like a performer on the stage. “In his early career he was a runner, a scrapper, a fighter, a workmanlike player. At the end of his career he became the best one-touch footballer in the game.
“Alan started life as a road sweeper and ended up as the best lead violinist Southampton ever had. “They were a tight-knit family that World Cup team but he has gone to join Bobby Moore now. “He was about to move up to his close pal Mick Channon and start a new part of his life that he was very excited about.
“He had an enthusiasm for life, not just football, and it spread. He was a lovely fella.”
His midfield partner in 1966, Sir Bobby Charlton, added: “He was probably the best player that day and if it had not been for his impact the result could have been totally different. “It is very sad news which has hit everyone hard. He was a terrific character who was always bubbly and jolly and a football man through and through.
“He did not appear to have a nerve in his body, and he was an inspiration to us all.
“Alan was always bright and bubbly in everything he did as a player. He went about his work with great enthusiasm and gusto and he always had a smile on his face.
“He was a sensational little player with great touch and great vision. He had great close control and although he wasn’t a fast player he didn’t need to be. He could see things clearly and always made the right decisions. “He was the youngest member of our squad and we were all looking forward to our latest reunion in two weeks. I am very sad and shocked by the news. Alan will be badly missed.” England team-mate at the 1970 World Cup finals, Alan Mullery, said: “I just can’t believe it. His nickname was ‘Bouncy’, he was just such a bouncy, lively 61-year-old. “It’s such a shock. He was a loveable character, heart of gold and lived football. He loved playing for his country. “He was a wonderful footballer to have in your side, he was so enthusiastic. He had a marvellous engine for a midfielder and had wonderful skill. “In the World Cup final he was 5ft 10in when he started but he did so much running that day he was 5ft 5in at the end. “When everyone else was tiring there was Bally running round the pitch.” Ball was only 21 when England won the World Cup England team-mate Jack Charlton added: “Alan was a brave little fella. Everybody loved Alan; he was a lovely little lad. “Every time I met him and spent time with him he was taking the mickey out of me, he was having a go at me. It was something we had going since 1966.
“I used to get annoyed with him and grab him by the shirt but it was only fun and we both knew it and I am going to miss Alan more than anybody because we had a tremendous relationship. “I’m laughing now because I am thinking of Alan. I am not happy and I don’t know why I’m laughing. It’s just thinking of him. I’ve got so many good memories of Alan Ball.” Kevin Keegan, an Anfield legend who played with him at Southampton, said: “He was a great player but I think as a person he was even greater. “I played with him when he was 38, I’d already been European Footballer of the Year twice but he could teach me things that I never even thought about.”
Moyes backs Blues keeper Wright
Apr 26 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES today backed Richard Wright to deliver an emphatic Goodison swansong when he returns to the starting line-up this weekend. With his contract expiring in the summer, the former England international is expected to end his five-year stay on Merseyside, and has found opportunities limited during the current campaign owing to Tim Howard’s outstanding form. Wright has only made two appearances so far - at Peterborough in the Carling Cup and against Manchester United last November - but is likely to be handed one more when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side visit on Saturday. Some have wondered whether Wright will have the necessary sharpness to face United after so long out yet his manager has no doubt that Everton’s number two goalkeeper - who has sparkled this week at Bellefield - will rise to the challenge. “Richard has got a terrific attitude,” said Moyes. “It is disappointing that we have not got Tim Howard but I will not have any qualms about putting Richard back in. “You can never fault his work in training and he is a great lad to have
around the place. He won’t let anyone down.” Everton will continue to monitor Andrew Johnson’s recovery from a sprained ankle but it is still too early to say whether he will be involved against United but there is the slightest chance that James Vaughan could come back into contention. One man, though, who is pressing for a recall is Manuel Fernandes. The Portugal international caught the eye after coming as a substitute in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at West Ham United, having been sidelined with a thigh problem for three weeks. Moyes has had time to digest that performance and though he recognises that Everton will have to significantly step up their efforts if they are to remain on course for a European place, he is quick to point out that it is not all doom and gloom. “We did not create as many chances as we would have liked,” said Moyes. “But I wasn’t too disappointed with the performance. I thought we played well in the second half. “But other than one shot from Yossi Benayoun, which was dragged wide, I don’t think Tim Howard had a save to make himself. “We lacked a bit of quality in the final third but we improved when Manuel came on and it is good to have him back amongst it.” Meanwhile, a book of condolence was opened for Alan Ball at Goodison Park this morning and anyone wishing to make an entry can do so until 5pm this evening. The book will also be open from 9am to 5pm tomorrow.
Moyes backs Blues keeper Wright
Apr 26 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES today backed Richard Wright to deliver an emphatic Goodison swansong when he returns to the starting line-up this weekend. With his contract expiring in the summer, the former England international is expected to end his five-year stay on Merseyside, and has found opportunities limited during the current campaign owing to Tim Howard’s outstanding form. Wright has only made two appearances so far - at Peterborough in the Carling Cup and against Manchester United last November - but is likely to be handed one more when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side visit on Saturday. Some have wondered whether Wright will have the necessary sharpness to face United after so long out yet his manager has no doubt that Everton’s number two goalkeeper - who has sparkled this week at Bellefield - will rise to the challenge. “Richard has got a terrific attitude,” said Moyes. “It is disappointing that we have not got Tim Howard but I will not have any qualms about putting Richard back in. “You can never fault his work in training and he is a great lad to have
around the place. He won’t let anyone down.” Everton will continue to monitor Andrew Johnson’s recovery from a sprained ankle but it is still too early to say whether he will be involved against United but there is the slightest chance that James Vaughan could come back into contention. One man, though, who is pressing for a recall is Manuel Fernandes. The Portugal international caught the eye after coming as a substitute in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at West Ham United, having been sidelined with a thigh problem for three weeks. Moyes has had time to digest that performance and though he recognises that Everton will have to significantly step up their efforts if they are to remain on course for a European place, he is quick to point out that it is not all doom and gloom. “We did not create as many chances as we would have liked,” said Moyes. “But I wasn’t too disappointed with the performance. I thought we played well in the second half. “But other than one shot from Yossi Benayoun, which was dragged wide, I don’t think Tim Howard had a save to make himself. “We lacked a bit of quality in the final third but we improved when Manuel came on and it is good to have him back amongst it.” Meanwhile, a book of condolence was opened for Alan Ball at Goodison Park this morning and anyone wishing to make an entry can do so until 5pm this evening. The book will also be open from 9am to 5pm tomorrow.
The jury
Apr 26 2007
Is this the best time for the Blues to face Man United?
Liverpool Echo IT WILL be interesting to see the approach taken at Goodison this Saturday. An attacking formation similar to the one used against Arsenal is unlikely and a 4-5-1 featuring Manuel Fernandes the correct option. In goal, it would be a positive move to see Iain Turner, not Richard Wright, replace Tim Howard. His loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday will give him the match practice Wright cannot offer, and the experience of a game such as this would be invaluable. It would also be nice if the crowd ignored the tedious trend of booing Ronaldo and Rooney, and instead give the side its full backing. DAVID SPOWART, Wavertree
WITH only three games to go, our season is coming to a dramatic end. The match against United is a must win game after the disappointing result against West Ham. I'm sure the players will be fired up for it. The problem was a lack of a threat in front of goal. It's vital for Johnson to start at Goodison. With injuries combined with juggling Europe and Premiership ambitions, we have a great chance to get a result and even snatch all points. The players know that if we get a result against United then a win over Portsmouth will guarantee European football. They'll be desperate to win and nerves could be vital in the final result. The threats will be Ronaldo and Rooney. If we can keep them quiet and frustrate them, then they'll struggle. It should be a good game and with the fans firmly behind the team, I'm hoping for a positive result. BEN McGRAE, Hunts Cross
THERE is never an easy time to play United, especially after their win on Tuesday night against AC Milan and our task has been made more difficult by the fact that we are very short up front. A couple of weeks ago I would have been 100% confident that we would beat United, especially with Johnson and Vaughan playing so well. But now, all has changed. How can we possibly beat Manchester United when we are unable to have a shot on target against West Ham?
The only positive to take from the West Ham game is that we were very solid again. The defence and goalkeeper all season have been fantastic. The midfield has been extremely good at times and to have Fernandes back in the team for Saturday would be a huge bonus. If we do manage to win on Saturday, it would put a huge gap between us and the chasing pack - European football would more or less be guaranteed. We need to treat the game as a cup final. GARETH SCOTT, West Derby
A WIN on Saturday will cement our place for European football next season. If we can pick up the three points against Manchester United the West Ham performance will be forgotten. We have to plan in the same style as when we played United two seasons ago, closing them down, attacking, winning second balls and, most of all, really getting at their defence. Every Evertonian has a major part to play on Saturday by making it as hostile as possible, just like we did when we beat them in 2005. I must stress that this game is about getting behind the 11 men in blue, not just concentrating on the 'Mancunian' from Croxteth. The players will respond, I have no doubt, and we could be celebrating a famous victory come Saturday afternoon. Hopefully, the late, great Evertonian, Alan Ball,will look down on us and see us back in Europe, where the People's Club belongs.
TONY SCOTT, Walton
Foul play in the chase for points
Apr 27 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
HOW would the Premier League table look if refs got the key decisions right?
Now we know – thanks to a wonderful website. And Joe Moan might be surprised to learn that it’s Liverpool and Everton who have suffered, not poor put-upon Chelsea.
If that impossibility, infallible officials, really did exist, Liverpool would still be third in the Premiership, but they would be four points better off – with very real hopes of a runners-up spot. Everton, meanwhile, would be a monumental eight points better off, a UEFA Cup place already nailed on and Arsenal still just about in sight on the Champions League chasing horizon. West Ham, on the other hand, would have been relegated weeks ago – and Charlton would be almost home and dry in the relegation battling comfort zone. It’s all just a bit of fun, of course. But the creators of the ‘right result’ concept are wonderfully anally retentive. “The Right Result concept was devised by people who’d had enough of seeing bad decisions affect the outcome of football matches week in week out,” explained the organisers, Arsenal fans themselves. “Like many other fans, we don’t buy into the old ‘luck evens itself out over the course of a season’ line that gets offered up so often as if it makes everything okay, because luck doesn’t do this and it isn’t okay! “We wanted to see just how different the league table would look if refs called it right more often. “The Right Result panel is made up of members of the Association of Football Statisticians, who select the key injustices that happen each week, apply the strict rules of the game, and pass a judgement on whether or not questionable decisions should stand. “In cases where it is simply too close to call, the decisions are put to a public vote with the majority decision being final.” So which are the games which change?
The Right Resulters agree with Keith Hackett’s view that Andrew Johnson has been denied an inordinate amount of penalty kicks. As a result, Everton would have won at Aston Villa (actual score 1-1), against Reading (1-1), at Manchester City (1-2), at home to Middlesbrough (0-0) and Chelsea! (2-3), they’d have beaten Newcastle (1-1) and Blackburn (1-1), but Andy Johnson’s last minute goal against Arsenal recently would only have been an equaliser, because Jeremie Aliadiere was brought down by Tim Howard in the area! The Reds, meanwhile, would have lost 1-0 at Aston Villa (actual score 0-0), but salvaged a draw at home to Manchester United (0-1), beaten Chelsea 3-0 (2-0) and won at Middlesbrough (0-0). Check out www.rightresult.net. Great fun. Now about that Clive Thomas decision . . .
Don’t write us off against the quality of United
Apr 27 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
MANCHESTER UNITED’S breathless tussle with AC Milan in midweek may have had some Evertonians cowering about their impending visit to Goodison Park, but Mikel Arteta is not among them. As he sat nodding his head in approval at the way Cristiano Ronaldo and company tore into the Rossoneri’s ageing defence to establish a first leg lead in their Champion League semi-final, Everton’s own tormentor-in-chief started to become impatient. With the Premiership season drawing to an exciting conclusion, Arteta – like the rest of his team-mates – is determined to give supporters a memorable send-off into the summer and could think of no better way to do that than by beating United. Having chased a UEFA Cup spot since embarking on a relentless run of form just after Christmas, David Moyes’ side are within touching distance of securing a return to European competition and three points tomorrow lunchtime would just about seal the deal. To achieve that, though, Arteta knows just how much Everton will have to raise their game against a team who are desperately trying to get their hands on the Premiership for the first time since 2003 when, with bitter irony, they were presented with the trophy at Goodison. Moyes and his players need no reminding that a 2-1 defeat against United on the final day of the campaign four years ago cost Everton a UEFA Cup place and it would be catastrophic if another away win had similar consequences. But chastened by an unexpected setback at Upton Park seven days ago, Arteta believes Everton are ready to give a bold account and have nothing to fear against a team he feels have one foot in the Champions League final. “Everyone is involved in a battle,” said Arteta. “West Ham were trying to get themselves away from the bottom when we played them, Manchester United are going for the title and we just want to be playing in Europe next season. That has been our aim all year. “It is going to be tough but we will do all that we can to get some points. They are a great side and we respect them. But we need to keep the battle going on. I believed that we were going to get something from West Ham and we did enough in the second half to score. “We paid the price for starting slowly. That is not normal for us and we have to make sure that doesn’t happen again on Saturday. If we do, they have the quality to punish us. Everyone was disappointed by what happened but we must forget about it. “We have got two big games coming up at home now and we must make that count. We cannot forget about the run that we have been on, too. We cannot let our confidence drop. We have been on a great run and we are still up there. There is everything to play for. “It’s not as if we have lost 4-0; all that happened is we lost by one goal. West Ham did not have many chances. All we must do is forget about it, do what we do best and show our real form in the next two games at home. We are totally focused on qualifying for the UEFA Cup.” Arteta’s declaration earlier that he wants to sign a new contract with the Blues - making talk of summer moves to Real Zaragoza and Atletico Madrid redundant - was well received by those who idolise him on the terraces, not to mention by the men with whom he shares a dressing room. Phil Neville knows a thing or two about what separates the great from the good and is in no doubt that Arteta has provided the crucial element in Everton’s European charge. He doesn’t expect this son of San Sebastian to come up short tomorrow.
“When you've got a team like ours, you need one individual special player, and he's our icing on the cake,” offered Neville, who arrived at Goodison Park festooned with medals after a hugely successful 11-year spell at Old Trafford. "He opens the door, creates chances, scores free-kicks. For a Spaniard to come over to Merseyside, he has settled in brilliantly, he is well and truly one of the lads and I'm just glad he wants to commit his future to the club." Another Blue who describes Arteta as “a real good lad” is Alan Stubbs and, like Neville, he feels the 24-year-old will have a key role to play in Goodison’s biggest match of the season. But, more than that, the veteran defender feels the occasion will bring the best out of everyone. “This is a great game for us,” said Stubbs, who is expected to be offered a contract in the summer. “We expect to win every home game, whether it is against the team at the top or at the bottom. “And it’s at the stage of the season when teams are starting to drop points. We have got two home games left and I think two wins will do it. Maybe even four points will do it for us.”
We must turn it on against United – Moyes
Apr 27 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES today urged his Everton players to deliver their best performance of the season and take a giant step towards European qualification. The Blues welcome title-chasing Manchester United to Goodison tomorrow and are determined to bounce back from their frustrating 1-0 defeat at West Ham last weekend. Moyes believes that if they are to secure only their third win over United at Goodison in the last 15 years, Everton – who will give Andrew Johnson and James Vaughan late fitness checks – will have to better everything they have produced so far. He said: “It will take our best performance of the season if we want three points. We know that it is a big game.”
“But we have got a lot of confidence in our ability. The team has a strong mentality and there is a belief that we can be successful. “We have always had good games against them and everyone will remember the goal that Duncan Ferguson scored two years ago when we won 1-0. “I look forward to these games, as I’m sure everyone else does. You always want to test yourself against the best and that’s the reason we are looking forward to it. “If we are going to get a good result, it is going to take a lot of hard work and we are going to have fight hard for everything. Anything we get from them will be earned.” United’s hectic schedule in recent weeks means they will be not as fresh as Everton at kick-off time but Moyes doesn’t think this is the ideal moment to face them. Pointing to the wealth of attacking option Alex Ferguson has, headed by PFA Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, he accepts Everton will need to be on guard at all times. “Ronaldo is an exceptional talent and the way he has matured in the past year has allowed him to fulfil that rich potential,” Moyes added.
“The standard of their game against Milan on Tuesday was exceptional, the quality level of the players was first class. That’s what you come to expect from them.
“United are used to playing in big games at this time of the season, they have had lots of practice down the years, so they are well equipped to handle their schedule.
“But we are looking forward to the game and I’m sure there will be a special atmosphere inside the ground. “It would be fantastic if we could get a good result.”
Moyes will not finalise his starting line-up until tomorrow morning, which will allow Johnson and Vaughan more time to prove their fitness.
United face relegation heartache
Apr 28 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
TO anybody under the age of 40, today’s nostalgia trip just won’t ring true. But it happened . . . just 33 years ago this week. Manchester United came to Goodison and lost 1-0, and the result effectively sealed their relegation into Division Two.
“The club scoreboard, which announced the time of what they call the golden goal, must have been like a slap in the face to United, for in fact it could be the most important and depressing goal of their career,” reported the Post’s Horace Yates.
United’s night was made even gloomier when relegation rivals Birmingham hammered QPR 4-0, with Howard Kendall scoring his first goal for the Midlanders.
United had been on an inspired run prior to their trip to Goodison. After looking dead and buried at the turn of the year, they played six games and dropped just two points.
One of those results had been a 3-0 defeat of Billy Bingham’s Everton at Old Trafford just eight days earlier, but this time Everton were out for revenge. Dave Clements captained the Blues for the first time and while “the optimistic United throng made a lot of noise and gave their team vast encouragement, their hopes were punctured by Mick Lyons’ goal which seemed to spread a blanket of gloom. “Harvey only half-connected with a shot and Telfer sent the ball across goal for Lyons to beat Stepney by cleverly sliding the ball into the net.” The match took place on a Tuesday night. Four days later United entertained neighbours Manchester City. Denis Law scored and the rest is history. Coincidentally, United face a trip to Everton and neighbours City in back to back weeks this season. Toffees fans would settle for a similar outcome.
MICK LYONS was a frequent thorn in United’s side. On April 10, 1982 he scored in a 3-3 draw at Goodison Park when Everton came from behind three times – then ended the game in goal after Neville Southall was stretchered off with a head injury.
Young marksman Graeme Sharp also struck. ON April 28, 1949, the relegation tables were turned. United came to Goodison with Everton’s top flight hopes clinging by a thread. The Blues won 2-0 and, according to correspondent Stork: “lifted the relegation clouds so that, with the tension eased, Everton can go into their last two matches with easier minds.” Eddie Wainwright and Jimmy McIntosh were the marksmen, but it was a temporary reprieve. Everton scrambled clear of relegation again the following season, then in 1950-51 dropped out of the top flight for the last time.
Eager Vaughan keen to make up for lost time
Apr 28 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
IT says much about James Vaughan’s tenacity that the first words he barked out when blood was seeping from a gaping wound at Bolton on Easter Monday were: “I’m fine to carry on. Honestly!” Lesser individuals may have fainted after learning they had severed an artery in their foot but so eager was Vaughan to make up for lost time, he would have happily carried on regardless had Everton’s medical staff given him the chance. No wonder. Having spent the best part of a year fighting to overcome a worrying knee problem, the last thing the youngest scorer in Everton’s history wanted to contemplate was another lengthy lay-off when things were going his way.
Happily, though, the damage he sustained when kicking Abdoulaye Meite’s foot during the 1-1 draw that afternoon was not as serious as first appeared and he remains on course to play a part in the Blues’ push for Europe. His return could not be more timely. With Andrew Johnson struggling after spraining an ankle at Upton Park seven days ago, Everton need a flyer to trouble Manchester United this lunchtime and few fit the bill better than Vaughan. Before he was struck down at the Reebok, Vaughan had vindicated David Moyes’ decision to pitch him into the starting line-up against Arsenal last month with four performances that were bursting with endeavour.
A couple of goals against Fulham and Bolton confirmed the opinion that this 18-year-old had a bright future in front of him; if he happens to play in any of Everton’s three remaining fixtures, expect him to seize the moment. “I’d been enjoying playing but the one thing that had been missing was a goal,” said Vaughan with a maturity that belies the date on his birth certificate. “That’s what strikers are judged on, so I was delighted when I finally got one against Fulham. “The physio told me I would be out for three to four weeks but I wanted to be back before that. It is just the way I am and I just hope I can be back soon. I was enjoying playing, so hopefully I can get back and get into the team again. “The lads have made everything so easy for me. Everyone is working hard, we are all pulling in the same direction and we seem to be getting our just deserts at the moment. People say that nothing has fazed me but it’s just good to be playing. “I’ve always wanted to play in the Premiership so when it happens, there is not much to worry about. You spend your life dreaming of these moments, from the time you are young enough to kick a ball, so you have got to enjoy it.” That Vaughan is thriving again owes a lot to knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman and there was something appropriate about the date he found the net against Fulham, a victory three weeks ago that gave Everton’s UEFA Cup push an added impetus. There were occasions when, understandably, he feared that he might not return but he has always had someone to turn to at Bellefield and the camaraderie in the dressing room is something he feels will help Everton see the job through. “That week marked a year from when I first went to Colorado to get my knee sorted out,” said Vaughan. “It’s been a long, hard year but with the help of the coaches and the physios, I’ve got to where I want to be. “Everyone in the whole team is giving 100 per cent and if I can get in there, that would be even better. But if not, I will still be hoping that the lads can do the business because we are so determined to get into Europe.” As Vaughan has made good progress from his injury, so too has Victor Anichebe. If they make the necessary development, they could both have key roles to play in Everton’s future and their relationship has helped spur each other on. “We do a lot of work together with Taffy and Alan Irvine,” said Vaughan. “We practice our finishing and touch work, so it was great that the game against Fulham was the first one we had both scored in for the first team. “We live a few doors away from each other, so we are never really out of each others’ pockets. It’s not just on the pitch we are good mates; off the pitch, we are near enough best mates too. “But it’s like that all the way through the team. You couldn’t ask for a better bunch of lads. We are showing we’ve got the capability to get into Europe, so hopefully we can kick on. We just want Europe.” Whoever happens to breach United’s defence this lunchtime will be guaranteed a hero’s reception and if Everton beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s men for only the third time at home since the Premiership’s inception, UEFA Cup football would be all but assured. “It’s a massive game for us,” said Lee Carsley. “We have been working towards it all week and we’re looking forward to it. ” Special Alan Ball tribute in today’s Blues matchday programme.
Moyes poised to place faith in Turner
Apr 28 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
EVERTONIANS will be given a glimpse of the future today when young guns Iain Turner and James Vaughan are asked to help topple Manchester United.
David Moyes had been widely expected to give Richard Wright a rare start against Sir Alex Ferguson’s title chasers but the outstanding form Turner (left) has shown during a recent loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday has caught the manager’s eye.
The Scotland under-21 international is held in the highest esteem at Goodison Park and with Wright’s contract expiring in the summer, it is the broadest suggestion yet that the former Arsenal goalkeeper will soon be looking for pastures new.
Turner, who kept a clean sheet against Luton Town for the Blues earlier in the campaign, has not started a Premiership match since February 2006 when he was sent-off after just nine minutes during a game against Blackburn Rovers. But he has come on in leaps and bounds this year and Sheffield Wednesday were unbeaten during the 11 games he stood between the posts for them; Moyes has no doubts that Turner will be able to cope with the atmosphere at Goodison this afternoon. Those are sentiments which apply also to Vaughan and his return to fitness after severing an artery in his left foot on Easter Monday could not be better timed, as Andrew Johnson is struggling with a sprained ankle and he remains a huge doubt. Moyes, meanwhile, has been happy with the way preparations have gone for a fixture that, if Everton were to win, could all but guarantee their return to European football next season. Stopping the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney maybe seen as the priority but Moyes is mindful of the damage that Michael Carrick could do if he is given space to play, as he tried to sign him in the summer of 2004 from West Ham. “Michael Carrick was someone that we talked about for a long time,” said Moyes. “It didn’t quite come off but he was a player who we were really, really interested in. As it has turned out, he has become an excellent player. “Am I surprised? No. When you look back, all the signs were there. He was young and developing and he maybe needed another move. He got his move to Tottenham, who saw his potential too. “But now it seems Manchester United are getting the best of it. I thought he was a really good player for Tottenham but he has taken it to the next level. He is a good passer and just a good all-round player.” Former Evertonian Rooney is guaranteed a hostile reception, particularly as he is in the middle of legal proceedings with Moyes but the manager will not let that issue become a side show. He added: “I will say my peace at the right time.”
Everton 2, Man Utd 4
Apr 28 2007
By DOMINIC KING at Goodison Park
EVERTON’S European ambitions received a huge blow this afternoon as a second half collapse allowed Manchester United to wrestle victory from the jaws of defeat. Though they lead through terrific goals from Alan Stubbs and Manuel Fernandes, an error by Iain Turner seemed to drain the confidence from Everton’s team and United went onto score four times in the last 30 minutes. The famous old ground was packed to the rafters before kick-off with supporters eager to pay their respects to Alan Ball, who tragically passed away earlier this week, and Everton had organised a fitting tribute to one of their greatest sons. Ball’s children James, Mandy and Keeley laid a wreath behind the Gwladys Street goal before joining the two remaining members of the Holy Trinity - Colin Harvey and Howard Kendall - and Sir Bobby Charlton in the centre circle for a minute’s applause. It ensured the atmosphere was highly-charged before kick-off and it wasn’t long before the home supporters had something to really cheer about, as Everton’s bright start yielded a fully deserved goal. Joleon Lescott gave United an early warning when he rattled the bar with a header but that was not heeded; on 12 minutes, Stubbs drilled a ferocious free-kick past Edwin van der Sar via a deflection off Michael Carrick. Not surprisingly, United came back strongly but for all the possession they enjoyed, the closest they came to equalising was when Ryan Giggs played a terrific ball across the face off goal that just evaded Rooney. A good afternoon looked to be getting even better just after the re-start when Fernandes cracked home one of the best goals seen at Goodison Park this season, his instinctive right-foot shot speeding past van der Sar from 25 yards.United, though, managed to haul themselves off the canvas yet their comeback owed as much to good fortune as it did to scintillating football; two mistakes in the space of eight minutes saw them reclaim parity. First Iain Turner - who had hitherto enjoyed such an assured afternoon - inexplicably dropped a Ryan Giggs corner, which allowed John O’Shea to bundle in from six yards then, moments later, Phil Neville put through his own net after another set piece. Then came the moment that completely took the wind of Everton’s sails. Tony Hibbert gave the ball away to Cristiano Ronaldo, whose deep cross picked out Rooney. He in turn skipped past Hibbert’s despairing lunge to slot past Turner. Game over. Unable to muster an effort from that point, salt was rubbed into gaping wounds in injury time when Chris Eagles skipped clear and rifled past Turner. It was a miserable end to a day that had promised so much.
Everton 2, Manchester United 4 (Echo)
Apr 30 2007
by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
HEARD the one about the team that created six goals yet ended up losing 4-2?
Bill Kenwright may be currently searching for a ‘Joseph’ but it’s a good job he is not looking for anyone to play the leads of Antipholus or Dromio in The Comedy of Errors; maddeningly, the chairman would have been overwhelmed with candidates on Saturday. For 60 minutes during the game that was supposed to define Everton’s season, things were going to plan until the final third when there was more farce and slapstick than Shakespeare managed to cram into the five acts of one of his most famous plays. Only time will tell how costly this defeat to champions-elect Manchester United proves to be but it would be a catastrophe on the grandest scale if it was the catalyst for Everton to miss out on the target they have chased relentlessly all season. The frustration felt by everyone today would be easier to handle had United ripped the Toffees apart with free-flowing football, the brand that has taken them to within touching distance of the treble. Yet that simply wasn’t the case. Having kept Sir Alex Ferguson’s side at arm’s length, out of nowhere one calamity followed another to deflate optimism around Goodison Park quicker than a punctured balloon on a day that had started with such high expectations. Crestfallen, traumatised, Everton’s players trudged away from their famous old home the victims of a mugging that was wholly avoidable. David Moyes now has a huge task on his hands to ensure the squad does not suffer a hangover. “We were the instigators for Manchester United getting back into the game,” offered a shell-shocked Moyes. “Defensively we have been very good and not conceded many goals all season. We’ve been very sound, so that’s why we are disappointed. “It is strange for us to do that. We lost the game because of our deficiencies and the way we defended at different times. That gave them the momentum they required. You can’t afford any mistakes and it was that first mistake that gave them a great lift.” Perhaps the thing which puzzled most about the collapse was that from the moment John O’Shea capitalised on Iain Turner’s inexplicable blunder, there was almost an air of expectancy that Everton would collapse like a house of cards. So it proved. Farcical is the only way to describe the own goal Phil Neville scored to hand United parity, while for some reason the normally assured Tony Hibbert squandered possession outside his area to gift a foolish 21-year-old from Croxteth the killer third. Substitute Chris Eagles then took full advantage of a defence that was completely at sixes and sevens in injury time, administering a blow that has left Everton’s UEFA Cup hopes precariously balanced. How has it come to this? From being masters of their own destiny, buoyed by a profitable spell over Easter, all of a sudden there is a chance another defeat against Portsmouth next Saturday will bring all hopes and dreams crashing to the floor. And that is not the prediction of an eternal pessimist. With Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth winning on Saturday and Reading having a game in hand, the possibility of Everton being swamped by the chasing pack is very real. Some will argue that the absence of key men such as Tim Cahill, Andrew Johnson and Tim Howard proved crucial yet that argument would not have been raised had things stayed the same after Manuel Fernandes had rifled Moyes’ side into a two-goal lead. James Vaughan made a thrilling return from injury, running himself into the ground and pestering the life out of Gabriel Heinze, while Turner had made a number of smart saves before his aberration. It is hoped he will bounce back from such a chastening experience. Quite simply, there is no point looking to make excuses. The only way to explain what happened on Saturday lunchtime is that a number of players froze at the vital moment and allowed nerves to get the better of them. How else do you explain what happened to Neville, a veteran of more than 450 top-flight appearances? He could find himself on his own goal-line and 999 times out of a 1,000 would put the ball into the stands; sod’s law he should err here. For some, that blunder was the final straw. Neville does not enjoy universally popularity on the terraces and there are a few who are happy to jump upon his every misplaced pass or every rash tackle; a few hotheads want him sold. Absurd. Sure, he may not have the technical gifts that some of his team-mates have been blessed with and it is true that his passing could be brushed up but you do not end up with his medal collection through good fortune. He does not deserve to be pilloried. If a team had 11 players with his application and desire, they would not go far wrong and Neville considers it an honour both to be captain and play for a club with Everton’s history. This incident will have crushed him. Maybe Fernandes should take note. The rocket which he unleashed past Edwin van der Sar was a moment of magic, while some of his footwork was breathtaking yet there were times when he looked as if he wanted to be somewhere else. The clamour for Everton to sign him permanently in the summer maybe growing but unless his attitude improves and he shows a desire to wear the Blue shirt every week, that will not happen. Don’t shed too many tears if that is the case. Everton’s success this season has been built on the foundations of having a united dressing room, a belief amongst the players that no challenge is too big for them - a desire and determination in the style of the late, great Alan Ball. With that in mind, it would be unwise to start writing off Everton’s hopes of playing in Europe next year. A win next weekend would just about seal the deal yet until then, nobody will be able to rest easy; Goodison Park needs cool heads and brave hearts. Joleon Lescott: One of only a few players to emerge with their reputations intact. Excellent, as he has been all season.
Everton 2, Manchester United 4 (D,Post)
Apr 30 2007
by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
THE words may have been said in jest, but the sentiment was painfully accurate from Phil Neville on Saturday. While navigating the corridors deep within the Main Stand shortly after a perplexing 90 minutes at Goodison, the Everton skipper bumped into his former Manchester United team-mate Paul Scholes. When asked on what was said, Neville’s response was succinct. “I called him a jammy so-and-so while he was thanking me for the goal,” he groaned. It would be funnier if it wasn’t so true. From a point of relative comfort, Everton had contrived to surrender a two-goal advantage as United, aided by Neville’s calamitous strike into his own net, took a huge step towards the Premiership title. Not that Neville’s actual exchange with Scholes was any less revealing. “We’ve been best friends for a long time and he was probably asking why I didn’t shake hands at the end of the game, but I was just too gutted, to be honest.” He wasn’t the only one. It’s a sign of the progress made this season at Goodison that defeat against the champions-elect should be met with such huge disappointment. But that is of little consolation to David Moyes and his players for whom a UEFA Cup qualification that appeared virtually assured with the last-gasp win over Charlton Athletic a fortnight ago now essentially rests on their home clash with fellow European aspirants Portsmouth next Saturday. It didn’t have to be this way. Much will be made of United’s remarkable recovery with four goals in the final half-hour, but the fact is Everton’s downfall was almost entirely of their own making. For more than an hour on Saturday, Moyes’s side produced a performance much improved on their limp showing the previous week at West Ham United, a committed display in keeping with the magnificent and touching pre-match tribute to Everton legend Alan Ball. However, the ginger midfielder in white boots celebrating at Goodison by the final whistle was not wearing a blue shirt; one of several unwanted twists of fate for Everton on an irony-rich afternoon. Wobbling at 2-0 down, United were there for the taking. But once they were gifted a way back into the game, there was only ever going to be one winner. And it wasn’t Everton. A knock during training on Friday to Cristiano Ronaldo had consigned the new PFA Player of the Year to the bench and added to United’s growing injury concerns, but Moyes later highlighted Everton’s own missing personnel. “It just shows that when you come into the big games, you need your big players,” said the Goodison manager. “On Saturday, we were without Andrew Johnson, Tim Cahill and Tim Howard, so it was a big ask.” With neither Howard’s ineligibility nor Cahill’s injury exactly a surprise, it was a moot point. That said, the absent trio’s replacements, James Vaughan, Manuel Fernandes and Iain Turner, would all play significant roles. Vaughan was hugely impressive as ostensibly Everton’s lone striker, Leon Osman offering some support for the first half-hour before moving to the left flank. Showing bags of energy and courage in returning so quickly from the ruptured artery in his left ankle earlier this month, the 18-year-old harassed the makeshift United back-line and Gabriel Heinze in particular before fading and tiring during the second half. Indeed, had the Argentine been rightly cautioned by erratic referee Alan Wiley for a poor challenge on Vaughan early on he would have walked for a later second bookable offence on Mikel Arteta before the break. After a driven 30-yard free-kick from Alan Stubbs deflected off Michael Carrick and beyond Edwin van der Sar to earn Moyes’s men a deserved half-time lead, a Fernandes screamer on 50 minutes had put Everton on track for only a fourth win in 30 Premiership games against their North West rivals. The on-loan midfielder accepted a Mikel Arteta pass before sidestepping Wes Brown and blasting home from the edge of the area for a goal even United manager Ferguson conceded was special. But it was not typical of the Portuguese’s performance. Fernandes disappeared for worryingly long stretches of the game and, when in possession, was too often guilty of overdoing things in the hustle and bustle of midfield, forcing Moyes to warn the player must improve his all-round game in order to win a permanent transfer. That spectacular strike should have been Everton’s third goal, the unmarked Joleon Lescott having somehow headed Arteta’s corner on to the crossbar from a matter of yards in the third minute. The game, though, turned on a 61st-minute mistake from reserve goalkeeper Turner, preferred by Moyes to the soon-to-depart Richard Wright. The 23-year-old inexplicably spilled a routine catch from a Ryan Giggs corner on the left to gift John O’Shea the opportunity to drag United back into the game. Turner had left Goodison in tears after being sent off during his Premiership debut against Blackburn Rovers last March, but the confidence gained from successful loan spells at Crystal Palace and most recently Sheffield Wednesday should ensure Saturday’s blunder doesn’t cast too long a shadow over a promising career. After all, Turner made a number of fine saves as United roused themselves following their poor start, smartly turning away a Wayne Rooney shot at this near post in the first half before smothering the ball to deny the same player soon after the interval. Rooney, as is now expected, came in for some heavy abuse from an unforgiving home crowd. The United striker, though, would have the last laugh. Neville’s moment to forget came in the 68th minute when he horribly belted into his own net against his former club while attempting to clear from just in front of his own goal-line after Ronaldo met Carrick’s corner and the ball hit both Turner and Lee Carsley. That Ronaldo had been thrown into the fray was an indictment of Everton’s stranglehold on proceedings. But after Turner and Neville’s mistakes, the momentum of the game and the mood of both sides shifted dramatically. Everton were gripped with fear; United could sense it. A third self-inflicted wound completed United’s recovery in the 79th minute, with a goal Tony Hibbert will not enjoy seeing again. With Everton on the backfoot, the right-back unwisely attempted a pass across the front of his own area that was intercepted by Ronaldo, who quickly fed O’Shea on the right. The United man then crossed to the far post where Hibbert’s rash dive in gave Rooney time to sidestep his former team-mate and stroke confidently past Turner. Everton’s misery was made complete in injury time when young United substitute Chris Eagles calmly beat Turner with a fine finish after being fed by the irrepressible Rooney. Results elsewhere couldn’t have gone much worse for Moyes’s side, meaning there can be no hangover from this defeat. With only two games remaining, Everton simply don’t have the time to feel sorry for themselves ahead of a pivotal meeting with Portsmouth next weekend that could determine their European fate. Having been on the wrong end of must-win games for teams from Upton Park and Old Trafford, now Everton have to triumph in their own. Otherwise nobody will be in the mood to joke next Saturday.
Now or never in Euro bid – Moyes
Apr 30 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES has branded Everton’s final home match of the season against Portsmouth as make or break for their European ambitions. The Blues tossed away three points against Manchester United on Saturday, and now must beat fellow UEFA Cup hopefuls Pompey next Saturday to keep their hopes of finishing in the top seven alive. Victory over Harry Redknapp’s side would guarantee they cannot catch the Blues, but Spurs and Reading are both hot on Everton’s heels now, while Bolton edged ahead of Moyes’ side with their unexpected point at Stamford Bridge.
“We played West Ham last week, which was a must-win game for West Ham,” explained the Blues boss. “We played Manchester United today, which was probably must-win for them, now it’s a must-win game for Everton next week. “The pressure’s on us now.” Everton looked in control of Saturday’s match against United until rookie goalkeeper Iain Turner gave them a lifeline when he dropped the ball at John O’Shea’s feet. But Moyes stuck by his decision to go with the youngster ahead of the more experienced Richard Wright. “We’re looking to move on and you always have to look for the potential and that was the decision we took,” he said. “I’ve known for a while what the situation was with Tim Howard. But it just shows that when you get to the big games you need your big players. “We didn’t have Andy Johnson, Tim Cahill, Tim Howard today, so it’s a big ask. But I thought our players did really well in general. “I don’t regret the decision to select Iain Turner, not at all. “You have to give people opportunities and we’ve done that today. “They have the players that can make things happen, but I think today we made it happen for Manchester United.
“Defensively we were very good until we got two goals up. We haven’t conceded many goals all season, so that’s why we’re disappointed because it’s strange for us to make mistakes like we did today. “We had a new, young goalkeeper in the team and he accepts he’s made a mistake. He understands that. “We’re trying not to be hyper-critical of him, but we can’t hide the fact that it led to Manchester United getting back into the game. “To lose a goal as easily as that against Manchester United has given us a massive downer and given them an incredible slice of luck which has changed the way the game was played. “The general performance was good, but I think we’re disappointed we made it easy for United in the end. They got a slice of luck when they needed it.” Moyes was delighted with the performance of young striker James Vaughan, recalled just a fortnight after severing an artery in his ankle just three weeks ago. “James Vaughan was very good today,” he declared. “He’d had very little training and we had to keep changing the way we played because of what Manchester United were doing – there were times when we had someone with him, periods when we didn’t, but I thought he did brilliantly. “We knew at half-time he probably had another 15 or 20 minutes in him, but he did really well. “Yes, he was booked again, but he was fouled before he was booked. “There’s no doubt it was a foul he was booked for, but he was fouled himself just before that. “But any 50-50 decisions today all went to Manchester United. No question of that.” While Moyes was pleased with his young forward, he pointed out that he wanted more from on-loan midfielder Manuel Fernandes if the Portuguese international’s spell at Goodison is to become permanent. “There wasn’t enough involvement in the game from him,” he said.
“The goal underlined what he is capable of. We liked the goal but I think we’re looking for more from an all-round general performance.”
We must hold nerve – Neville
Apr 30 2007 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
PHIL NEVILLE came out fighting today as he vowed that Everton will hold their nerve to secure a place in Europe next season. The Blues’ charge for the UEFA Cup has stuttered in the past couple of weeks following back-to-back defeats against West Ham and Manchester United, meaning next weekend’s meeting with Portsmouth is now hugely significant. Pompey have closed to within a point of Everton after beating Liverpool 2-1 on Saturday but skipper Neville still has confidence that his side can bounce back with a victory that will put them back in the driving seat.
But having scored a freak own goal in the 4-2 defeat against his former club, Neville has apologised to supporters and admitted that it will take a bit of time to get over the blow of letting a two-goal lead slip. “Last week was a must-win game for West Ham,” said Neville. “Saturday was a must-win game for United. Next week against Portsmouth is a must-win game for us. “We have set ourselves a target of getting a UEFA Cup place and the whole season will probably boil down to that one game now.
“If you had said at the start of the season that we needed to beat Portsmouth in our final home game to get into the UEFA Cup, we would have accepted that.
“It’s better than last season, when we played West Brom in our final home game with nothing to play for. We’ve got to react in the best possible way. Let’s look forward to it and let’s enjoy it. “A win against United would probably have taken us into the UEFA Cup. It would be silly to throw it all away by losing our heads and losing our composure. It’s a real must win game and the fans will be up for it.” That, however, is something Everton did in the final 29 minutes and while Neville feels they were beaten by the champions-elect, he accepts that the Blues were masters of their own downfall. He was shattered after putting through his own net, just as rookie goalkeeper Iain Turner was when he dropped Ryan Giggs’ corner into John O’Shea’s path yet he has no doubt the Scotland Under-21 international will come back stronger for the experience. “When you play against a team of that calibre you have got to make them work for their goals,” said Neville. “Each goal that we conceded, could have been stopped. It wasn’t to be and we have just got to take it on the chin.
“The own goal was an individual mistake. For someone who has played a lot of games, in that situation you’ve just got to clear it. I didn’t and it’s so disappointing. I hold my hands up. The second goal let them back in the game. “Iain was fantastic all game. He commanded his box well, he kicked the ball well and he is a young keeper. Young keepers do make mistakes. He’s made one but he’s had an outstanding game. There’s no blame attached and we are lucky to have him.”
April 2007