Everton Independent Research Data
Falkirk 0, Everton 3
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
May 1 2002
STARS from the past helped Everton and Falkirk celebrate the Scottish club's 125th anniversary last night. But it was a possible star of the future who created the greatest stir at Brockville.
While former Everton and Falkirk players Alex Parker and John McLaughlin were paraded on the pitch beforehand, along with Jim Scott - brother of Alex who died last September - it was the appearance of York City goalkeeper Russell Howarth in the Everton goal which created the greatest interest. The Blues received special permission to play the England Under-20 keeper, but he had little to do as the visitors strolled to a 3-0 win. Kevin Campbell opened the scoring with a flashing header from Idan Tal's cross in the 19th minute, then David Unsworth delivered a superbly weighted defence-splitting pass for Jesper Blomqvist to skirt around the keeper and roll in the second.
Everton were comfortable against a side just relegated to the Scottish Second Division, and Mark Pembridge made it 3-0 just before half-time. Radzinski set up the Welsh international to steer in the third then hit the post himself with a shot. The game was disrupted in the second half by the usual plethora of friendly match substitutions, but the trialist goalkeeper did make one smart stop from Waddell's close range effort. The match remained competitive, so much so that David Unsworth had to be substituted at the referee's request after clashing with Falkirk striker Andy Rodgers.
John McLaughlin selected Pembridge as Everton's Man of the Match, with Alex Parker opting for Falkirk's Jamie McQuilken.
EVERTON: Howarth, Watson, Unsworth (Gemmill 76), Pilkington, Weir (Stubbs 45), Linderoth, Blomqvist (O'Hanlon 61), Pembridge, Campbell (Southern 75), Radzinski (McLeod 54), Tal (Osman 54). Unused substitute: Gerrard.
FALKIRK: Hogarth (Hill 45), Lawrie, McQuilken, Hughes, Denham, Cringean (McStay 45), Craig (Morris 75), Kerr, Miller (Waddell 45), McKenzie (Rodgers 45), Coyle. Unused substitute: Deuchar. Referee: B McGarry.
Attendance: 2,175.
Goals: Campbell (19) 0-1, Blomqvist (33) 0-2, Pembridge (42) 0-3.
Monaco chance to sign Nyarko
May 1 2002 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
THE clock started ticking on a 14-day deadline today to decide Alex Nyarko's Everton future.
Part of Monaco's loan agreement for the midfielder was that they would be granted an exclusive period to negotiate a permanent deal. That period lasts 14 days, starting today. "We had preliminary discussions with Monaco back in January," said Blues' chief executive Michael Dunford. "They now have an exclusive 14-day period in which to negotiate if they wish to pursue a permanent deal. We have not had any contact yet." Manager David Moyes will be keen to resolve the situation before he plots any transfer raids of his own this summer. But the goalkeeping position is one he has clearly targeted as a priority. York City goalkeeper Russell Howarth was given a trial in last night's friendly match at Falkirk. The England under-20 goalkeeper has made only a handful of first team appearances at Bootham Crescent because of the form of first choice keeper Alan Fettis.
Moyes wants a young keeper to groom at Goodison, in addition to bringing in another senior keeper to compete with either Paul Gerrard or Steve Simonsen. One of that duo would then be allowed to leave. Everton, meanwhile, point out that the mini-derby match against Liverpool will take place next Monday (2pm) at the Halton Stadium, Widnes, and not tonight as reported elsewhere.
Blues braced for goalkeeper fight
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 2 2002
DAVID MOYES will face a battle with at least two Premiership rivals if he decides to step up his interest in young York City keeper Russell Howarth. The Blues boss received permission from the third division club to run the rule over the England under-20 stopper in Tuesday's friendly win at Falkirk. Moyes is keen to reinforce his goalkeeping department this summer, ideally with a youngster to groom for the future and a more established number one to replace Paul Gerrard or Steve Simonsen. Everton have been linked with both Ian Walker and Alex Manninger for the senior spot but any move for Howarth is likely to be rivalled by both Leeds and Sunderland.
Despite making only one start and one substitute appearance this season due to the form of Northern Ireland's Alan Fettis, Howarth - a product of York's youth system - has attracted widespread interest. The York-born stopper spent a trial period at Sunderland earlier this season but as yet The Minstermen have received only tentative enquiries from Peter Reid, David O'Leary and now Moyes. However, City are expected to cash in on their 20-year-old prospect this summer when any deal will take place. Moyes, meanwhile, has saluted his side's approach at Brockville where first-half goals from Kevin Campbell, Jesper Blomqvist and Mark Pembridge secured a comfortable 3-0 win. The Blues boss said: "We want to win every game we play in and that is what I told the players beforehand. "In the first half, when it really mattered, we got the goals and played the game in the right manner." Rising star Wayne Rooney was left on the bench as England booked their place in the quarter-finals of the European Under-17s Championship last night.
His Everton team-mate Scot Brown, however, played the full 80 minutes in the goalless draw with host nation Denmark.
Pembridge nightmare at an end
May 2 2002 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
INJURY plagued Everton star Mark Pembridge is aiming to end the season with a flourish.
The midfielder has been named in Wales' squad for the friendly match against Germany on May 14 - despite not starting a senior match since February. The 31-year-old has been stricken by a series of calf problems over the past two years. He ended a 13 match absence from the starting line-up with an influential appearance at Crewe in the FA Cup, before sustaining yet another recurrence.
On his latest comeback, however, he has started three reserve games - scoring two goals - and netted again during Tuesday night's friendly match at Falkirk. That has been enough for former Blues' team-mate and current Wales coach Mark Hughes to select him in the international squad.
Pembridge has already won 41 Wales caps, which puts him in his country's top 10 international appearances. The Blues, meanwhile, have been linked with yet another goalkeeper. Croatia's World Cup 'keeper Stipe Pletikosa is reported to be a target for The Toffees, after Derby County's bid for his signature failed when The Rams were relegated.
Early holiday
May 2 2002 IcLiverpool & Daily Post
Early holiday
JUST a thought on our inconsistency. Great performance against Southampton with points still to play for, complete dross against Blackburn with only the Intertoto cup (and place money) at stake.
Seems to me like some of our professionals didn't fancy losing out on their holidays.
They scored freely enough when they needed to and then settled back into lumping the ball up to Blackburn. Alternatively, starting the match with pace from Radzinski and Blomqvist might have set the stall out differently and given us something to shout about.
Dave McHugh, Southport
Board game
ALL this criticism of Kevin Cambpell's salary is the board's fault and not the player's. His performances are no worse than anyone else's (Weir and Unsworth's efforts excepted). Let's get some 'footballers' in.
Jon Davie, Liverpool
Youth policy
MAYBE Steve Watson, our "versatile" utility man, should go in goal for the Arsenal game. He couldn't be any worse than Gerrard. Everton have got to try blooding some of the youth players. There isn't enough money to buy big, and the brutal fact is that even lesser players are not going to be jumping over themselves to sign for us next season. The only answer is to gamble on players with talent who want to play for the club. If we get relegated as a consequence, then so be it. It'll be better than watching the drivel served up in recent years.
Steve O'Connor, (via e-mail)
No easy move
THE only problem with Paul Gerrard and Kevin Campbell is who is going to take them? Gerrard is not Premiership standard but he would probably turn his nose up at a lower division side and Campbell? Who on earth is going to give him £30,000 a week? Apart from Everton, of course!
Chris Sillett, Liverpool
Go for Merson
I SEE Graham Taylor has said Paul Merson can go. Without raising the issue of more Villa cast-offs - I think any comparisons with the Ginola situation would be unfair - I reckon he could bring us the muchneeded creativity we need, short term admittedly. He has flair, vision, and isn't afraid to run at defenders - Big Dunc and Nick Chadwick would love his service too.
Simon G, Woolton
Splash the cash
I THINK that some of the Everton players need a kick up the backsides! David Moyes is the man to do that, but first he must ring the changes. We need strikers who score goals not go missing. The defence is a rock, the midfield has no skill and the wide players can't cross the ball. The only way the club is going to move forward is by the owners putting their hands in their pockets and stop employing managers to take all the blame when things go wrong. A manager without any real money to spend is just a sitting duck.
Nigel Johnson, (via e-mail)
Lay off, Len
IF LEN Capeling hasn't got anything good to say, don't say it. Please Len, stop slagging off Everton at every opportunity. It really is getting rather boring.
Sammy Holland (via e-mail)
Blues pondering Zamora chase
By Jonathan McEvoy, Daily Post
May 3 2002
EVERTON are ready to step up their interest in Brighton hotshot Bobby Zamora. Blues boss David Moyes is a longstanding admirer of the 21-year-old striker and could decide to cash in as uncertainty reigns at the south coast club. Peter Taylor walked out on Brighton on Monday, just two weeks after guiding them to promotion-to the first division, citing a lack of facilities and ambition. And Moyes is monitoring the situation at cash-conscious Brighton as he plans a summer of wheeler-dealing and rebuilding. Zamora has scored 32 goals to spearhead Brighton's charge to the Division Two title.
Former Everton boss Walter Smith was tracking the Londonborn starlet while new chief Moyes wants to revamp his squad with talented young players. The Goodison manager has been told he must work within a tight budget - £5million - in the summer and agreeing a fee for Zamora could yet prove a stumbling block. The player has attracted interest from a crop of top-flight clubs and is line for a place in David Platt's European Championship squad, which is due to be announced on Tuesday. Croatia's World Cup keeper Stipe Pletikosa, meanwhile, has been linked with Everton.
Derby's bid for the highly-rated stopper fell through when they were relegated and Everton could be poised to step in. The Blues are currently eyeing Leicester's Ian Walker and Arsenal's Alex Manninger, along with York City's 20-year-old Russell Howarth. Moyes is eager to strengthen his goalkeeping options with a youngster to groom for the future and an established number one to replace Paul Gerrard and Steve Simonsen.
FA Cup lost in Premier land
May 3 2002 By Howard Kendall
FA CUP week used to be the most appetising in the fixture calendar.
Both clubs would go away on the Tuesday to prepare, the media focus would be entirely on the looming final - and the entire nation would be gripped by cup fever. Not any more. We have had Champions League semi-finals, play-off matches and league games to distract us all week, there is even another round of Premiership games to go in a week's time - and the finalists don't even bother with Cup final records any more. Mind you, after hearing some of the songs from years gone by again on TV this week, that's one tradition we may not miss! But there's little doubt that while the Cup final's appeal has not been diluted, it has certainly shrunk. It still carries the same intensity, excitement and appeal for the two clubs involved. But it does not envelop the whole of the country as it once used to. Leaving Wembley - and England for that matter - was obviously a body blow.
But the biggest blow to the competition has been the extension of the Champions League, and the greater importance now attached to Premiership position. The point was hammered home to me in a big way earlier this season when Middlesbrough met Manchester United. In terms of a cup tie, it was an intriguing and fascinating occasion. But Sir Alex Ferguson selected what was effectively a second string team on the day, and faced with that scenario the Boro fans turned their back on the match in their thousands. If a manager is switching his focus away from one particular competition, it is only natural the players will do likewise. And when that heppens it is only a matter of time before the fans do likewise. I am sure the supporters of Arsenal and Chelsea will revel in the Cup final atmosphere this weekend. But for the rest of the country it is fast becoming just another big match - and for me that is sad.
Moyes' tough summer
DAVID MOYES is facing a summer of change at Everton Football Club. But ironically the changes he will probably find the easiest to implement, are the ones he may find the hardest to carry out.
I'm talking about making changes to the backroom staff. Alan Irvine has already been announced as David's new first team coach, and we are led to believe further changes are imminent.
But for that to happen other experienced and dedicated individuals may have to leave.
It is a situation I have been faced with a number of times throughout my managerial career, and one I never found easy to deal with. I have been forced to say goodbye to talented and hardworking men like Terry Darracott and Eric Harrison - and the fact that both went on to achieve such distinction in coaching roles elsewhere did not make the decision easier to bear. David Moyes may find it easier physically to add to his backroom staff than he will his playing staff, but emoitonally they could be among the toughest decisions he will make.
Harvey keen to keep heat off Rooney
May 3 2002 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
COLIN HARVEY has been dreading this moment.
Ever since he handed Wayne Rooney his Under-19 Youth Academy debut - at 14 - and watched him score a stunning goal, he knew the young forward had the potential to explode into the nation's footballing consciousness one day He merely hoped to delay the inevitable - and when that day came make the transition as smooth as possible. As one who made his own first team debut in the cacophonic cauldron of the San Siro aged just 18, Harvey understands the pressures of teenage stardom more than most. He was insulated by Harry Catterick up until that point, but while he quickly became public property afterwards, the 1963 press focus was a just fraction of today's, where Sky is not the limit but just one arm of an increasingly intrusive media. "With the best will in the world, Wayne won't be playing in the European Cup at 18 for Everton," he said "but he is already attracting media attention . . . too much really." Discussing Rooney with Everton's massively respected youth coach, you get the impression he is holding back. Clearly excited by the youngster's obvious potential, he does not want to add to pressure which will only intensify. In many respects Harvey has always been fighting a losing battle. The decision to let 30,736 supporters watch Rooney sign his first pro contract - at half-time in the Sunderland match in January - didn't help.
Nor did the presence of the Sky TV cameras when he unleashed a thrilling 30 yard blockbuster in an FA Youth Cup semi-final, described by David Pleat as the best goal he had seen at White Hart Lane all season. His appearance on the first team substitutes' bench at Southampton added to growing fascination. Then a wonderful goal for England against Holland in this week's European Championship - televised by Eurosport - brought interest to fever pitch. So just how good is Wayne Rooney? "If it all pans out, he has an unbelievable future," conceded Harvey. "He has got a very special talent. If I didn't work for Everton he's the kind of player I would pay to go and watch.
"But life can be fraught with obstacles when you're that age. "He has to realise that, people around him have to realise that; his friends, his family, his agent - so that we can hopefully enjoy his talent at the highest level. "Part of that talent is that he is an incredibly hard worker and he has to carry on doing that. "He will have to be protected by the manager and staff in the years ahead. There's so much that can go wrong. But he definitely has a special talent. "He isn't just a goalscorer. He can make goals, he tackles back and he forages constantly. "Much will depend on how he handles himself when he does make the For Harvey, the original breakthrough came when Rooney was just
14. Losing an Under-19 Youth Academy match 2-0, he decided to introduce his young substitute.
"Physically he was ready," said Harvey. "I put him on, I think it was for Nick Chadwick, and within minutes he had made a couple of chances. He then picked the ball up on the left, went past a couple of players and bent one into the top corner from 20 yards. "He was only 14 and he was playing against men, but nothing fazes him football wise. "We already knew all about him, but that just confirmed what we'd hoped really." Since then Rooney's progress has escalated dramatically.
In this season's Youth Cup competition he has scored seven goals in six games - and he qualifies for a further two years. But after appearing on the substitutes' bench at Southampton a fortnight ago, there is every chance he will be playing first team football then. If so, that will be a testament to the part Colin Harvey has played in keeping Wayne Rooney a secret for as long as he could.
But in football you can't ever keep a secret for long . . . especially one as exciting as an emerging young striker. * The FA Youth Cup final first leg between Everton and Aston Villa will be played at Goodison on May 14.
Blues to thwart interest in Dane
May 3 2002 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON will ward off any interest in rejuvenated midfielder Thomas Gravesen this summer.
Italian side Empoli have reportedly targetted the Dane as a replacement for Parma-bound Australian Marco Bresciano. An impressive World Cup with Denmark could also tempt other clubs.
But Blues' Chief Executive Michael Dunford said: "We have had no contact from Empoli, nor would we encourage any interest in Thomas." Gravesen's Goodison career has gone full circle, after it seemed he was poised for the exit door under former manager Walter Smith in January.
Under new boss David Moyes he has played every minute of every match he has been available for, despite suffering a red card just half-anhour into the new manager's debut match. The only midfielder the Blues will actively seek to off-load this summer is Alex Nyarko. Everton have still not received any contact from Monaco - three days into the exclusive 14 day bargaining period.
The player will remain on-loan in France until June 30, and if no buyer emerges may have to return to the club he vowed never to represent again. But Monaco look likely to make a bid soon. Coach Didier Deschamps said recently: "We see Alex as a vital player for us in the seasons to come and he has done well to set aside the traumatic incidents at Everton. He is a true and talented professional."
The mini derby match against Liverpool Reserves, meanwhile, takes place at the Autoquest Stadium on Monday, kick-off 2pm.
Dampener put on Moyes' revival
May 4 2002 Fanscene By Mark O'Brien
RAD'LL DO NICELY: Tomasz Radzinski fires one in against Falkirk
WELL, at least we beat Falkirk. It would appear that the dangling carrot that is Intertoto qualification simply wasn't enough to spur David Moyes' troops into a convincing performance against fellow strugglers Blackburn Rovers. The dull weather and even duller performance took the shine off what was meant to be a bit of a celebration of our latest salvation. There aren't normally too many games left by the time we've ensured our top flight survival - maybe that's why our players seemed somewhat distracted as Blackburn were allowed more or less the freedom of Goodison.
David Moyes said that the performance didn't tell him anything that he didn't already know, ie that the task facing him in turning the club around looks set to be a long and arduous one.
He wisely made a statement about expectations, warning that they mustn't get out of hand simply because of the immediate impact he has made on the first team since arriving. He also stressed that most of the players next season will be the same ones that we've got now, and that the players he does bring in will be young ones who we can develop into the finished article. That didn't stop the rumour mill cranking up a gear this week though. The latest whisperings have had us linked with Stipe Pletikosa, who sounds like a type of food poisoning but is in fact Croatia's international goalkeeper. Another international linked with us was Wales' controversial midfielder Robbie Savage. Opinions seem divided on the Leicester City man's abilities. Some say he's a great midfielder who doesn't get the credit he deserves because of his disciplinary problems, while at the other end of the spectrum there are those who think he is a long-haired Geoff Thomas. You could say that he gets caught between two stools. An even crazier rumour is that we're enquiring about a season-long loan arrangement that will bring a certain Steve McManaman back to Merseyside. Just you wait, the 'My mate's a cabby and he just took Nicky Butt to Bellefield' one will be next. Not all the rumours are of new arrivals, though, as Rooneymania starts to emanate further afield some Sunday papers were speculating that our teenage Wunderkind is the subject of £5million bids from Spurs and Manchester United. All this and his goal for the England under-17s - it was a bit special - has certainly whetted the appetite of the already adoring Evertonians. And finally, speaking of adoration, apparently David Moyes was reminded - as if he needed to be - of just how highly he's regarded by the fans when he joined the Goodison staff for their end of season drink at the Taxi Club after the Blackburn game. Apparently he was greeted by a spontaneous round of applause worthy of the end of the Dead Poets Society. Eyewitnesses were all in agreement when they remarked, "Isn't he tall".
Blomqvist in World Cup heartache
May 4 2002 By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
NICLAS ALEXANDERSSON believes Everton compatriot Jesper Blomqvist will "bounce back a better player" for his World Cup heartbreak. Blomqvist's dream of capping his remarkable comeback from a career-threatening injury died yesterday when he was left out of Sweden's 23-man squad for this summer's competition. But there was Swede and sour news for the Blues' Scandinavian triumvirate as Alexandersson and Tobias Linderoth were both left celebrating call-ups for Korea and Japan.
Blomqvist's blow, however, will be a huge disappointment for the former Manchester United player after salvaging his career at Goodison Park. The 28-year-old, still sweating on an extended Everton contract this summer, played a starring role in Sweden's recent 1-1 draw with Switzerland but was left out of the next friendly against Norway. That omission has now been cemented by joint coaches Lars Lagerback and Tommy Soderberg, and Alexandersson believes his team-mate's injury influenced the decision in the end. Alexandersson said: "Jesper will be very disappointed not to be involved. He probably had time against him in the end. "The squad now is more or less the same as what we stuck to in the qualifying group and he probably needed a little bit more time to convince the management that he was the man for the World Cup. "I'm sure he is disappointed but I'm also sure he'll bounce back a better player for this." Linderoth has clinched his place despite making only two brief substitute appearances since David Moyes took charge at Everton. Alexandersson added: "It's a big dream to go to the World Cup and this is probably the only chance I'll get now so I'm delighted to be involved. "I read the squad on Teletext but I also spoke to the manager a few days ago. He didn't tell me I was in but from what he was saying I understood he was going to include me."
Sweden open their World Cup campaign against England on June 2, before taking on Nigeria five days later and Argentina on June 12. And Alexandersson, one of eight British-based players in the Swedish squad, believes the date with Sven-Goran Eriksson's side will shape their fortunes for the entire competition. "It is going to be tough out there," said Alexandersson. "It's a different climate and we are in a very tough group. "But we go there with everything to play for and there is not as much pressure on us to do well as there is on the other sides. "The game against England is vital. You've got to get something out of the first game in any tournament and I think whoever wins that one will go through to the next stage. "We will be the underdogs because we didn't have the hardest group in qualifying, but we came through it unbeaten and if we can maintain our good defensive record I think we'll have every chance." Former Everton star and Tranmere coach Kevin Sheedy, meanwhile, has applied for the vacant managerial post at Carlisle.
Ball looks to silver lining
Exclusive By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 6 2002
HAVING been forced to spend all of 2002 on the sidelines, Michael Ball is the last person you'd expect to see revelling in injury time. At Hampden Park on Saturday, however, the former Everton star was granted a rare release from what has so far proved his Rangers torment and was savouring every moment. As Peter Lovenkrands' header bounced into the Celtic net 10 seconds from the end of an epic Scottish Cup final clash between the Old Firm rivals Ball, sitting in the stands with his fellow injured team-mates, was on his feet amid the wild celebrations of one half of Glasgow.
For the first time this year the England international could forget about the knee problem that has turned his £6million switch to Ibrox into the most frustrating spell of his career. But as he toasted the 3-2 triumph that raised Rangers spirits following Celtic's second successive title triumph, Ball's thoughts understandably turned towards more silver linings - for himself, his new club and, of course, for his boyhood club Everton. He admitted: "It was hard watching from the stands when I would have loved to have been out there playing but even so it was a great day and a fantastic final.
"It helped that I was unable to play in it because of my injury. I would have felt much worse if I'd been dropped but in the end I was just made up for the lads because they've taken a lot of stick over the points difference with Celtic this season. "We've won two trophies this season and yet it's been regarded as a bad one for Rangers because Celtic won the league by so many points.
"But I don't think there is that much between the teams now. We have shown a lot of character under the new manager and we are getting stronger." That was clearly in evidence on Saturday. Twice behind to Celtic's power at set-plays and headers from John Hartson and Bobo Balde, Rangers fought back for a deserved victory over the tired champions. Lovenkrands equalised within two minutes of Hartson's opener then, after the excellent Barry Ferguson levelled again in the 69th minute with an immaculate free-kick that visibly shattered Martin O'Neill's side, dived in for the winner with the game's final touch. "We've played well against Celtic in every game since I've been here but just haven't been able to finish them off," said Ball. "But on Saturday we scored at the right times. We equalised straight after their opener, then Barry scored just when Celtic were enjoying their best spell in the game, and of course it's always good to get a 92nd minute winner in a cup final!" Ball is not expected to return to action until September following surgery in America before Christmas on the injured knee that was a legacy from his time at Goodison Park. The arrival of Alex McLeish at Ibrox, a manager Ball compares in style to Howard Kendall, has intensified the player's anxiety to impress at a new club. Time on the sidelines has also given Ball the opportunity to watch another new manager at work in David Moyes, with a number of visits paid to Goodison Park since his departure. And he admits: "From the outside it looks as though the players have a lot of respect for David Moyes. They've responded really well. "They've had to pull their weight with a new manager coming in. He might sell a few in the summer and their futures are at stake. "But it looks as though they've given 110 per cent. Training has probably changed, his methods are different and the players want to show they can be a part of his plans. He's made a great start and I hope it carries on.
"But an awful lot depends on what happens this summer. Next season is the biggest test for the new boss and he needs to be given money to spend to bring new faces in." Ball knows only too well the consequences of Everton's financial state, having been sold off by Walter Smith last summer to help balance the club's books. And while he hopes he is the last Everton graduate to exit for those reasons Ball remains fearful for the future. " People are saying David Moyes has got about £ 5m to spend this summer but that is a joke," he said. " C h a r l t o n and Southampton spend more than that and then there's Manchester City, who have a similar fan base to Everton but who have been in and out of the Premiership for the last few years but who are ready to spend over £20m on big names this summer because they want to stay in the Premiership. "If Everton want to stay in the Premiership and make an impression in it then they've got to do the same. To be honest, I'd rather Everton finish just above the relegation zone than higher up in 12th or 13th because that would be a false position. "I know that's not what you want as a fan because you get money with every position in the table, but it's what I genuinely think the club needs. The board needs to realise how precarious the club's position is and be frightened into action. "Of course I want Everton to be in the top half and back with the big clubs but they are not going to do that without more good players.
"The last manager got his money by selling the players who cost the club nothing but that is not the way forward. Hopefully they can tie up Wayne Rooney and other young players and keep them at the club as part of an emerging team and not just put them in the shop window.
"It is not embarrassing being an Evertonian at the moment but it has become a selling club and that is not what Everton are about." Despite his injury problems at Rangers, Ball has relished the move north of the border and insists it is not bitterness about his sale but a fans' love of his club that provokes such concern. He added: "It's different when you're looking at the club from the outside but now I can look at things as a fan. "The players have been giving their all for the new boss, they seem to have more belief, but he will need a much bigger squad to turn us into a top six side.
"There are clubs who are nowhere near as big as Everton but who are now finishing higher. That's because of money. "Everton need fresh faces to give the club a lift. It does happen and it does help the younger players improve, I know. I remember watching the likes of Anders Limpar and Andre Kanchelskis train, and listening to Dave Watson, Gary Speed, Andy Hinchcliffe, all international players, and it does rub off on you. "Those players are not easy to find, and we are not going to be competing with Manchester United and Arsenal for them, but they are needed. "A boost a new player can provide can last seven or eight weeks, it can bring you five wins. When that happens belief and confidence comes naturally. "Fingers crossed for the summer and hopefully David Moyes can get in some good buys but he needs to be given a lot more than £5m. "Everton have a great youth system thanks to Ray Hall but they cannot keep risking their Premiership status by selling their best young players all the time. They need to keep them and add to what they've got.".
Rooney made to wait
Report By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 6 2002
WAYNE ROONEY'S bid to write his name into the Everton history books has been ruined - by Wayne Rooney! The Blues striker was again England's star in the European Under-17 Championship at the weekend when he scored the only goal in the quarter-final defeat of Yugoslavia. But Rooney's international heroics have come at a price - and cost the 16-year-old the chance to become the youngest player to appear in a competitive fixture for the Blues. An outing at Highbury on the final day of the season this Saturday would have seen the striker shatter Joe Royle's 35-year record.
But unless Everton qualify for the Intertoto Cup this July, Rooney's final opportunity to make history will pass at Arsenal with the young striker still leading England's campaign in Denmark. The Blues' latest Youth Academy protege headed the winner on Saturday to set up a semi-final clash with Switzerland, thus ensuring England will play this weekend in either Sunday's final or Saturday's third-place play-off. Rooney, an unused substitute in the recent win at Southampton, then has only two days to recover for the FA Youth Cup final against Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Blues midfielder Jesper Blomqvist has launched a stinging attack on Swedish national coaches Lars Lagerback and Tommy Soderberg for their treatment of him. The former Manchester United star battled back from crippling knee problems to put himself in contention for a World Cup place, but his national coaches overlooked him for selection. Blomqvist feels the way he was told was wrong, saying: "I am not happy at all. I got to hear it on Thursday on my answering machine. That is not a funny way to learn.
"Then, I waited throughout Friday in the hope that they would call again, as they said they would do. But they never called. "In the end, I had to seek Lasse (Lagerback) myself. "All coaches can't like you as player. That is something you have got to accept. But it's a question of respect." Blomqvist is unlikely to play again under Lagerback and Soderberg, adding: "Right now, it feels really, really doubtful. I would like to, but it feels like I have nothing to do there." The player feels his efforts have not been rewarded. He said: "I have worked very hard the last 10 months to come to the World Cup. That had been my big goal. "I played five consecutive matches for Everton after my comeback and it went really well. But nobody called. "I was pleased with the 45 minutes I got against Switzerland and I provided the assist for a goal. "We were quite good in the firsthalf, better than the national team played against Norway. "When I then didn't get selected for the Norway friendly, I understood that my chances of going to the World Cup were very small." The player then turned his attentions to Everton, and confirmed he will be happy to stay at Goodison should David Moyes tell him he is in his plans. The 28-year-old said: "There are a few other clubs who have been in touch, but I am not opposed to staying at Everton. "I have talked to new manager David Moyes, but he has not told me about the future yet."
Rooney puts England in semis
Uefa U17s Championship By Chris Wright, Daily Post
May 6 2002
WAYNE ROONEY scored once again to send England into the semi-finals of the UEFA European Under-17s Championship in Hvidovre, Denmark, on Saturday. The 16-year-old Everton striker scored the only goal of the game - his second in three finals appearances - as Dick Bate's side beat Yugoslavia to set up a semi-final clash with Switzerland, who beat Georgia 3-0 yesterday, in Herfolge tomorrow. It is the second successive year England have reached the last four, having gone out last year to France when they hosted the event in its previous guise as an under-16s tournament.
But this time they have the chance to go all the way, with Merseyside stars to the fore. Rooney continued his sparkling form with another man-of-the-match display. He glanced in Stacey Long's left-wing cross past Yugoslavia keeper Igor Baletic after seven minutes, which proved enough to seal the quarter-final victory. Liverpool's 17-year-old forward Mark Smyth was also in fine form and almost doubled England's advantage but he just failed to connect with Wayne Routledge's cross.
Rooney missed a great chance to add to his tally, but he shot wide from 10 yards after Smyth had touched Lee Croft's cross into his path. And after some neat footwork, the Blues starlet-flashed a shot wide from an acute angle. Yugoslavia had their chances but Rooney and Smyth were causing constant danger. Twice the Everton frontman sent his Liverpool colleague through but Baletic blocked both efforts superbly. Liverpool's David Raven was again a dominant force at the back as the skipper marshalled his side to their third clean sheet in a row, but he had to be replaced by Matt Sadler after 56 minutes. Although their progress is good news for England, Liverpool will have to do without Raven - who has been a regular for Hugh McAuley's under-19s at right-back this season - for their FA Premier Academy League play-off final first leg with Arsenal at Anfield on Thursday.
England coach Bate said: "I am delighted. It was a hard battle but in the end we could have won by a bigger margin. "We were forced to defend but we held them at arms' length and kept a clean sheet against a tough side. England are quite a young team but we worked very hard throughout the side and created chances." His opposite number, Yugoslavia coach Momcilo Vujacic, said: "That is football. We played very well today but we did not get the result. The early goal was a problem for us and England are a very good team. We have played well in the competition but today was not our day." Hosts Denmark lost on penalties to holders Spain on Saturday after the match finished 2-2 after extra-time. Last year's losing finalists France will face the Spanish again after beating Germany also on penalties after a 1-1 draw yesterday.
* EVERTON defender Peter Clarke will be action today for England under-20s as Martin Hunter's side begin the Toulon Tournament with a game against China. They also face Poland this Friday, Portugal on Sunday, and Brazil next Tuesday..
Everton Res 0, Liverpool Res 1
Daily Post
May 7 2002
NEIL PRINCE hit the only goal of the game to seal mini-derby honours for Liverpool in a 1-0 win over Everton at the Halton Stadium, Widnes, yesterday afternoon. The U19s left-winger scored in the first half from close range after Richie Partridge's fine run and cross. It was the final match of the season for both sides in the FA Premier Reserve League and a crowd of 4,002 saw a game of few real chances. Blues' reserve boss Andy Holden fielded much of his regular side with a number of Everton's U19 youngsters while his opposite number, Reds' reserve coach Joe Corrigan, called on a number of experienced players like Gregory Vignal, Milan Baros and Igor Biscan. Many of the Reds U19s players were rested, including 45-goal striker Neil Mellor and midfielder John Welsh, ahead of Thursday's two-legged U19 final with Arsenal at Anfield. Everton had the first real opportunities. Keith Southern's header was cleared off the line by U17s right-back Stephen Vaughan after five minutes. Five minutes later Southern raced clear but was denied by a excellent stop by Jorgen Nielsen. Liverpool almost scored from their first attack. Brian McIlroy set up Partridge, but from his cross Bernard Diomede saw a volley saved superbly by Blues' keeper Steve Simonsen.
The home side were aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty soon after. But the referee deemed Paul Culshaw's sliding tackle to be a fair one on David Eaton. Liverpool should have taken the lead after 26 minutes but Baros' chip was comfortably saved by Simonsen. Baros was involved again soon after. His bustling run set up Irish U21 international Partridge, but Blues' defender Sean O'Hanlon got across to block his shot with a timely interception. Liverpool took the lead after 33 minutes. Diomede put Partridge in down the left and from his low cross Prince was on hand to poke home at the far post. Everton almost equalised five minutes before the break but Leon Osman's curling shot was well held by Nielsen. While at the other end Liverpool should have doubled their advantage but after Diomede has miscued his header from Baros' cross, Partridge did likewise with his shot and it went wide. Liverpool gave Scotland U16s winger Robbie Foy his reserve team debut as a substitute for Igor Biscan. But the Blues stepped up the pressure in the second half in search of an equaliser.
Southern fired over the bar and Australian David Carney was also off target with a header from Osman's corner. The Blues piled on the pressure near the end and almost snatched a lastminute equaliser but Nielsen managed to keep out Carney's volley.
EVERTON RESERVES: Simonsen, Valentine, McLeod, Pilkington, O'Hanlon, Southern, Curran, Osman, Symes (Crowder 63), Eaton, Carney. Subs: Pettinger, Schumacher, B Moogan.
LIVERPOOL RESERVES: Nielsen, Vaughan, Vignal, Warnock, Culshaw, Biscan (Foy 45), Partridge, McIlroy, Baros, Diomede, Prince. Subs: Parry, Flynn, Sjolund, Wright.
REFEREE: Mr C Harwood.
ATTENDANCE: 4,002.
Blomqvist heading for exit
Report By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 7 2002
EVERTON are set to add to Jesper Blomqvist's misery by letting the Swedish international leave Goodison Park this summer - as David Moyes plans more changes to his backroom staff.
The Blues winger wants to extend his Everton career when his short-term contract expires next month. But with time running out on his existing deal and negotiations not even started over a new one it seems Blomqvist, angered by his omission from Sweden's World Cup squad last Friday, does not figure in the Blues' manager's plans. The 28-year-old yesterday revealed he has been approached by other clubs with regards a summer move. And it now appears likely his future does rest outside Goodison, where he has made 18 appearances since a free transfer move from Manchester United to revive an injury-threatened career. Moyes, meanwhile, has made his first raid on former club Preston in an attempt to bolster his backroom staff for next season.
The Blues boss, who has secured ex-Everton midfielder Alan Irvine as his assistant for his first full season in the Premiership, has offered new roles at Goodison to North End's chief scout Clive Middlemass and coach Jimmy Lumsdon. The experienced duo are considering their offers from Everton, but last night Preston chairman Derek Shaw claimed Middlemass had rejected the chance of a reunion with Moyes. Shaw said: "We are still hoping Jimmy will do what Clive did and say 'No' to Everton. "David obviously has a very high regard for the backroom staff here at Deepdale but so do we. And we want to keep them." The Preston chief added: "We know Jimmy has been offered something at Everton but he hasn't told us yet what he intends to do. "He is thinking it over and I expect we will get an answer one way or the other within the next few days."
No walkover
By Paul Walker, Daily Post
May 7 2002
MUCH-maligned Everton will be cannon fodder at Highbury, so it does not really matter whether Arsenal lose against Manchester United at Old Trafford because they will see off David Moyes' no-hopers anyway. That is the theory being put about - the Barclaycard Premiership title is set for Highbury regardless of tomorrow's summit meeting, because surely nobody can bank on Everton putting up any sort of resistance on the final day of the season. It is the sentiment that will no doubt be buzzing around soccer, probably the Arsenal dressing room too, but words that will be like a dagger through the heart of new Everton chief Moyes. The tough, confident Scot will recoil in horror at such an assumption about any side of his, says one of his former players at Preston, Colin Murdock. The giant Northern Irishman, snapped up for just £100,000 from Manchester United's reserves in 1997, admits he learned to fight and battle under Moyes at Deepdale, where there was no such thing as a lost cause. "He hates losing, at anything, he won't like the idea from people that Everton will just roll over or be cannon fodder at Highbury," Murdock said. "He worked hard with us on backs-to-the-wall defending, last-ditch stuff because he felt it was important to be able to do that, and I'm sure he'll be impressing that on Everton. "He'll hate the thought that people may think that his Everton will capitulate. "The idea of being the underdog will inspire him and he'll get that across to his team." Everton seem to be the unimportant equation in the title race, the assumption is that Arsenal will get the points to win the crown on the last day, no bother. If Arsenal draw at Old Trafford on Wednesday, they'll be champions. If they lose to Sir Alex Ferguson's wounded heroes, then it will mean the Gunners still only needing a point against the Toffees. Dead easy! But Murdock's international team-mate David Healy - himself a Moyes capture from United's backwaters - underlines the point about his former boss. He said: "What really stood out for me about him is his will to win. "He wants to win every game. It's as simple as that. "The thought of being written off already will get to him, he won't like it and won't want his players thinking that way." The omens, however, are not good for Everton. The last time Arsenal won the league back in 1998, Everton were mauled 4-0 in the Gunners' last home game when they clinched the title. But you can be sure that Moyes, whose determination shines through every word he says, will be aware of that little matter and won't want it to happen again. If Everton's stars, no doubt already smelling the suntan oil, have any doubt about that they would do well to recall the words of Murdoch and Healy.
Pace ace must be Moyes' priority
May 7 2002 By Kevin Ratcliffe
RARELY does a day pass without Everton being linked with another goalkeeper.
David Moyes' concerns in that direction are evident, but I also believe he needs to look at the opposite end of the field this summer. Everton have proved throughout the season that they are capable of keeping things tight at the back, but where they have been found wanting is the pace to transform solid defending into attacking threat. The Blues lack pace all the way through their side, but particularly in the attacking third of the field. When I watched them recently Nick Chadwick (right) looked to be the fastest forward they had, and he would not claim to be over-quick.
The problem, of course, for David Moyes is that one striker - even an unproven, lower division forward - would swallow up the vast majority of the £5m transfer pot he is reported to have at his disposal. I always felt that Brighton's Bobby Zamora was worth taking a gamble on earlier in the season, but that was when prospective suitors were being quoted £2m. Now he is an England Under-21 international, his fee has swollen to more than £4m, which would leave David with precious little cash to invest in other areas of his team. I do believe that Zamora is capable of scoring goals in the Premiership, and Everton badly need his kind of pace in their squad. But the most frightening aspect of the whole situation for me, is that David Moyes has to effect some kind of revolution at Everton Football Club - on £5m. No matter how powerful his motivational skills are, how good a football team organiser he is, he will find the hardest test of his managerial ability this summer to be reshaping the make-up of his squad. He will have to unload players who may not want to move on. He will have to attract young, hungry players with the minimum of outlay - and he will have to do it quickly. It's a monumental task, but one David knew all about before he accepted the job. All we can do as Evertonians is wish him Good Luck!
All eyes on Old Trafford
TOMORROW night could be a significant moment in Wayne Rooney's football career - even though he will be hundreds of miles away in Denmark. The result of the Manchester United-Arsenal title showdown could decide whether the 16-year-old is handed an historic debut at Highbury on Saturday. If Arsenal clinch the championship at Old Trafford, and Saturday's occasion is nothing more than a celebratory wind down for the Gunners, the temptation to hand the youngster his first taste of Premiership football may be too great to ignore. Personally I don't think there would be a better time to blood him. But David Moyes must decide whether the pressure of then becoming the youngest player in Everton's history would be counter-productive and, of course, the first leg of the FA Youth Cup final then kicks off only three days later. But these are the kind of decisions it must be great for an Everton manager to have to make. It will be one of his easiest decisions of the summer!
Blues need to move to lift snubbed Blomqvist
SWEDEN have decided they can do without Jesper Blomqvist at the World Cup finals this summer.
Now Everton must decide whether they can afford to be without him next season. I have been impressed with his attitude and ability whenever I have seen him - and he does offer an invaluable quality Everton are desperately short on throughout their squad - width. But unfortunately I think the deciding factor, as it always will be with Everton, is finance. At present Blomqvist is on a very, very modest contract - as he tried to prove that he had fully recovered from a career threatening injury. I think he has done that as fully as anyone could hope, but if he is to stay on at Goodison for another three or four years he will be seeking a salary commensurate with an international winger who has played for a Champions League winning side. David Moyes' big decision is whether he can afford to divert some of his limited resources in that direction. Juggling your pack is one of the toughest tasks of managing a football club, and David will have to make sacrifices to bring in other players he wants. Whether Blomqvist is one of those sacrifices or not, only time will tell.
Moyes keeps Jesper guessing
May 7 2002 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES insists he has not made a decision yet about Jesper Blomqvist's Goodison future.
Reports today claimed that the Swedish winger would not be offered a contract at the end of his trial spell with Everton. But manager Moyes declared: "I have not made that decision yet and if I had I would have spoken to Jesper about it first. "It's nothing more than speculation." Blomqvist was already reeling from the shock of his omission from Sweden's World Cup squad, when these latest stories surfaced. The player himself is keen to stay on after resurrecting his career at Everton following a twoyear injury nightmare. "There have been a few other clubs in touch, but I am not opposed to staying at Everton," he said. "I have spoken to David Moyes but he has not told me about the future yet." Blomqvist has returned to Croatia this week to visit the medical expert who nursed him through his long term knee problem. A minor achilles strain has been causing him problems and he wants to seek expert advice. He is unlikely to recover in time for Saturday's final match of the season at Arsenal. Before leaving he blasted joint Swedish coaches Lars Lagerback and Tommy Soderberg for the manner in which he learned about his international exile. "I'm not happy about it at all," he said. "I got to hear on Thursday morning on my answering machine and that's not a funny way to learn. "I then waited throughout Friday in the hope they would call again, as they said they would, but they never did. "All coaches can't like you as a player, but it's a question of respect."
Everton team- mates Niclas Alexandersson and Tobias Linderoth have made the World Cup squad, while Thomas Gravesen was included in the Danish party named yesterday and Joe-Max Moore is in the USA's squad. Everton must announce their retained list for next season by the third Saturday in May. The only certainty at present is that David Ginola will be released following his miserable loan spell.
The Evertonian: out now
May 7 2002
WE'LL be back! Another season is drawing to a close and there's every reason for Blues fans to be optimistic as they look to the future. We look back over the 2001-2002 campaign in the June edition of The Evertonian and ask you to pick your Goal of the Season and star man - one lucky winner could present the player with his prize on the Goodison pitch before a match next season. But we're also looking forward to what promises to be an exciting summer for different reasons. Firstly, David Moyes will begin his team rebuilding as a new era unfolds. We look ahead to the new faces that we could see arriving - there'll be a few new arrivals if history is anything to go by. Secondly, we look forward to the big event of the summer - the 2002 World Cup. Everton stars will be playing their part in the Far East and we bring you a seven page special on the men hoping to make a name for themselves ... Watch out Sven - read our exclusive interview with Niclas Alexandersson as the Swede and his team-mates get ready to take on Sven Goran Eriksson's England in Japan.
Danish Blue's taste for the big time - we look at Thomas Gravesen and the threat that Denmark could pose. Lee's Irish dream - Ireland fancy their chances this summer - and why not? Lee Carsley is hoping to be a part of Mick McCarthy's plans. Joe-Max sets his sights - the American team has big ambitions to improve on their last World Cup showing. We talk to Everton's USA star Joe-Max Moore.
PLUS - included in this month's Evertonian is a FREE World Cup Wallchart. Follow the progress of the Blues - as well as England and the other top teams - with our unique colour poster.
THERE'S also a chance to win some great World Cup prizes. Up for grabs is Thomas Gravesen's signed Denmark shirt if you can predict the tournament winners while you could also take home a prized England DVD box set. Also in this month's magazine ...
Leave my record alone! Read our revealing and exclusive interview with Goodison legend Joe Royle. Royle speaks about Goodison wonderkid Wayne Rooney - and why he's pleased he hasn't broke a very special record . . .
Touch of class - Gary Stevens is back at Goodison and hoping to impress. We speak to the former Blues defender embarking on a new career.
Double act - we take David Unsworth and his celebrity pal for lunch at the city's Albert Dock - can you guess who the famous face is?
THERE'S also exclusive interviews with Scot Gemmill and Alessandro Pistone and we welcome David Moyes' new number two - Alan Irvine.
It's all in the June edition of The Evertonian - great value for money at only £1.20, available from all good newsagents now, or you can order your copy by clicking here.
Carsley sets sights on Blues future
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 8 2002
LEE CARSLEY celebrated a World Cup call-up last night and immediately set his sights on spoiling this weekend's Premiership party at Highbury. The Everton midfielder's hopes of heading to the Far East with the Republic of Ireland this summer were realised yesterday when he was included in Mick McCarthy's 23-man squad. But the £1.75m man insists his immediate priority is to forge his way into David Moyes' first-team plans at Goodison Park and is anxious to seize his final chance of the season at Arsenal. The Gunners can wrap-up the double tonight if they avoid defeat against Manchester United. But if the FA Cup winners lose at Old Trafford they must beat the Blues on Saturday to ensure United don't claim a fourth successive Premiership title. Arsenal enjoyed a 4-0 win over Everton to clinch the 1997/98 title on the final day of the season. But Carsley has warned them not to expect such an easy ride this time around. He said: "We definitely won't be rolling over for Arsenal. If they need a result against us, we'll still have a point to prove to ourselves.
"Since David Moyes has come in we've suddenly got the results to take away the pressure of being at the bottom of the league. "Next season is going to be a massive season for us, to see which way we are going to go." Wayne Rooney, meanwhile, will be taking part in a third place play-off on Saturday after England's hopes of reaching the European Under-17 Championship Final were dashed.
England yesterday lost 3-0 to Switzerland in the semi-final, in which Rooney played, and now face pre-tournament favourites Spain in the play-off after they were beaten on penalties by France.
Sven-Goran Eriksson, meanwhile, has yet to decide which match he will attend tonight in the final chance for fringe players to impress him before he names his World Cup squad. The England coach has organised seats at both Arsenal's potential title decider against Manchester United at Old Trafford, as well as Liverpool's game at Blackburn. He will attend one of the two games, while his trusted right-hand man, Tord Grip, will be present for the other so that he can report back before the 23-man squad is announced tomorrow. The duo, who will fly to Manchester Airport this afternoon, will decide en route which ground they are each going to when they land.
The late decision could be taken to confirm Eriksson's admission that he expects to leave it until the last minute to settle on his full squad.
Moyes appoints second coach
May 8 2002 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES has made a second addition to his coaching staff.
The Everton manager has returned to former club Preston to take Jimmy Lumsden to Goodison as a first team-coach. The 53-year-old Glaswegian will arrive on Merseyside next week, along with Alan Irvine who is coming as assistant manager. Lumsden worked closely with Moyes at Deepdale and Preston had hoped he would follow the example of caretaker manager Kelham O'Hanlon and chief scout Clive Middlemass by turning down Everton's approach. But while those two remain to work with new Preston boss Craig Brown, Lumsden will complete Moyes' backroom staff shake-up.
Everton will prepare for Saturday's final match of the season without young stars Wayne Rooney and Peter Clarke. England Under-17s' 3-0 defeat by Switzerland yesterday means that the young striker will be involved in Friday's third/fourth place playoff match against Spain in Denmark.
Clarke, meanwhile, will be in France until the end of next week, representing England Under-20s in the prestigious Toulon Tournament. After featuring in Monday's 0-0 draw with China he hopes to line up against Poland on Friday in Cannes. England then face Portugal on Sunday and Brazil next Tuesday in Frejus.
Lumsden steps in at Goodison
Report By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 9 2002
DAVID MOYES bolstered his Goodison backroom staff yesterday when Jimmy Lumsden agreed to follow the Everton boss from Preston. The 53-year-old Glaswegian will become Everton's first team coach next season after accepting the offer to sever his ties with the Deepdale club.
Moyes had wanted both Lumsden and North End's chief scout Clive Middlemass to join him on Merseyside only for the latter to turn down the approach to work with new Preston boss Craig Brown. Lumsden, however, is to become the second addition to Everton's new coaching team and will join assistant manager Alan Irvine at Goodison Park next week. Meanwhile, former Everton defender Marco Materazzi has become embroiled in an amusing feud with Antonio Conte after telling the Juventus captain to "buy a new toupee". Materazzi was in tears as his Inter Milan side blew the Scudetto on Sunday with a final day defeat at Lazio which handed the Italian championship to the Turin club. Juventus' triumph made amends for their own last gasp agony in 2000 when a defeat at Perugia, then containing Materazzi, gifted the league to Lazio. The defender's spat with the balding Conte dates back to that day and after Inter's 4-2 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico the pair were at loggerheads. Materazzi said "It's true I cried, but only after their fourth goal went in. I remember Antonio Conte crying two years ago at Perugia and the game was still at 0-0. Well, maybe with his prize money for the title he should buy a new toupee." Conte snapped back: "I can buy a new toupee but he needs a brain graft. I respect the tears of Ronaldo, but I have no respect for him."
* There will be no World Cup swansong for Roberto Baggio after Giovanni Trapattoni pulled no surprises in the Italy World Cup squad. The Azzurri coach has called on the bulk of players who remained unbeaten in qualifiers. However, Baggio's France '98 colleagues Angelo di Livio, 35, and Paolo Maldini, 33, will make the trip.
Blues cling on to faint Euro hopes
May 9 2002 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON will attempt to gatecrash Arsenal's double-winning party on Saturday - and keep alive their own slim hopes of an end of season celebration. The Blues travel to the newly crowned champions, aware that only a win would give them InterToto Cup qualification in their own right.
But, perhaps appropriately, the Blues could still benefit from a backdoor route into the backdoor entry to European competition. In the likely event of Arsenal extending their astonishing unbeaten run in domestic football to 29 matches, David Moyes' men could still qualify by virtue of results elsewhere. Should Chelsea beat Aston Villa - and Fulham move above the Midlanders by winning at Blackburn, Everton would still sneak into the second round of the Inter-Toto Cup. That permutation is unlikely, but the Blues at least received a cash windfall with the news that Sky TV will screen Saturday's clash at Highbury live. The Gunners are sure to rest a number of their double-winning heroes - allowing fringe players like Francis Jeffers the possibility of a rare run-out. But Everton will still face a daunting test. Last night's win at Old Trafford meant Arsenal have set a new club record of 12 consecutive League victories, equalling the Premiership record set by the deposed champions in 2000. In domestic football, they are unbeaten since December 18, when they lost at home to Newcastle. That run now stretches to 28 matches and encompasses just four draws. The win at Bolton created a new Arsenal record of seven consecutive League away wins - which was last night extended to eight.
Gunners scared of showdown
Fanscene By Mark O'Brien, Daily Post
May 10 2002
THE shandy drinking Southern softies. Arsenal, obviously terrified by Lee Carsley's 'shot across the bows' bottled out of a titanic final-day tussle and took the cowards' way out - winning the title at Old Trafford. So all we're left with is one ' meaningless' game now. For all the talk from the club about new attitudes, etc. it would be pretty naive to think that the Blues are going to go and put on a rousing display in the capital. Which is a shame, as they owe as much to the supporters who are paying good money to go down there and watch them. After all, there are no meaningless games to us - I was on the edge of my seat when Walter Smith played Subbuteo against Gerard Houllier on Football Focus. At least the reserves took the mini-derby seriously enough on Monday at the Halton Stadium. Did anyone else know it's no longer called the Autoquest? They lost narrowly to their Red counterparts but as ever played some good stuff. It's been a tough season for them, losing experienced regulars like Phil Jevons, Danny Cadamarteri and Peter Clarke. However, as those players move on it's heartening to see others growing in stature. After Clarke and Nick Chadwick's rapid succession to the first team the ones to look out for next season will probably be George Pilkington and Keith Southern. While we're on the subject of youth, that there rumour mill now has us linked with Matthew Taylor of Luton Town. He's apparently a very accomplished defender at the tender age of 20, and he certainly fits the profile of the sort of player that David Moyes said he wants to bring to Goodison. The 'self-styled Guvnor' Paul Ince, however, doesn't even come close. Surely when going through our squad looking for areas that need strengthening, 'over-the-hill midfield destroyer' wouldn't be top of the list. Speculation like this is to be expected, especially when you've got a new manager, although one person who would probably like a little bit of clarification is Jesper Blomqvist. Not only has he had the disappointment of not making Sweden's World Cup squad, but also had to endure - if that's the right word - press reports that Everton are releasing him in the summer. Opinions seem pretty divided on whether to retain him.
On one hand, when he arrived he looked like a Champions League winner with his pace and skill, but then he seemed to go off the boil. The fact that the new manager often preferred the wholehearted yet technically-limited David Unsworth on the left side of midfield tends to make you think that the Swede will be plying his trade elsewhere next season. Incidentally, it was 1-1. The game of Subbuteo. Walter equalised late on and was pleased with the result.
The winning formula
By Chris Brown Daily Post Staff
May 10 2002
A CAMBRIDGE mathematician has proven what some Everton fans have claimed for years - Walter Smith should have gone in 1999. Chris Hope, of the Judge Institute of Management, at Cambridge University, has come up with the ultimate formula to decide when a manager is ready for the sack.
David Moyes could soon see his future depend on the calculation perf (m) = 0.121(result(m))+ 0.879(perf(m-1)). While Smith should have been shown the door in April, 1999, rather than battle on until this March, other managers have been harshly treated. Joe Royle never reached the drop zone during his time at the club, and Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli were both unlucky to lose the Chelsea post. Dr Hope, a Cambridge United supporter, has come up with the formula that, after an eight-game honeymoon, a manager should be sacked if his average of points per game, weighted to favour recent results, sinks below a figure of 0.74. But Dr Hope said that his research wasn't designed to be harsh. He commented: "This isn't just about sacking managers but also to show that some have been unfairly treated, if you use my formula, both Gullit and Vialli shouldn't have been sacked." By using the new formula, teams would get an average points score of 56.8, compared with the current Premiership average of 51.8. Job turnover, however, would increase with each club employing an average of 5.7 managers every 10 years, compared to the present average of 4.5.
Dr Hope, who has supported his local team for 16 years but keeps an eye on the results of the club he grew up with, Tottenham Hotspur, hopes to create a formula for Nationwide football for next year. Dr Hope said: "The calculations would be different for Nationwide because they play more games but I'm hoping to get a formula next year. Cambridge haven't had a very good season so it would be interesting to see how the formula would work." In the formula "perf(m)", is the rating after "m" number of matches. If this drops below 0.74, enough to relegate a team, the manager should go. "Result" is the number of points scored in the most recent game and "perf (m-1)" is the accumulated performance score after the previous match. The figures of 0.121 and 0.879 are used to give more weight to more recent results. This means that the last five games account for the 47pc of the rating to give a "smoothing effect". This strategy means that managers who have a good track record but are facing a bad run do not face the chop, while poor managers do not stay in charge for too long. Dr Hope said: "The trapdoor value seems generous, an average of 0.74 points would normally see the team relegated, but if you set it too much higher, you end up sacking too many Alex Fergusons because of bad runs." Although the formula works as it is, Dr Hope wants to add further development, including a distinction between home and away games, the quality of the opposition, the importance of avoiding relegation and the different aspirations of different clubs.
Dr Hope said that the reason for doing the research was because of the high turnover of managers. He said: "By the end of October, 2001, less than three months into the 2001-2002 football season, 21 managers from the 92 English Premiership and Nationwide League clubs had lost their jobs and many commentators thought that the clubs were too quick to act. "So I decided to come up with a strategy for whether a manager should be sacked or not."
Rava fits the bill for Blues
May 10 2002 By Howard Kendall, Liverpool Echo
I KNOW I have been warning against Everton gambling again in the transfer market, but there is one player available on the market who I believe could fit the bill at Goodison - at least as a genuine short term fix next season. I'm talking about Derby County's Fabrizio Ravanelli, a striker I tried to sign myself when I was in the Goodison hotseat. Derby's demise means the Italian is available as they strive to cut their wage bill. I know that the Blues have had their fingers burned with the likes of David Ginola and Paul Gascoigne. Others have arrived with injury concerns, like Jesper Blomqvist.
There is a need for David Moyes to sign individuals he can build his team around, a genuine blueprint for the future. But I don't think Ravanelli would be a risk in that respect. He would certainly be worth 12 months, but the manager would have to believe that he could accommodate him in the side. For instance, if his plan is to go with two from three in the shape of Kevin Campbell, Tomasz Radzinski and Duncan Ferguson then Ravanelli would become a distraction and even a problem as a larger than life character who desperately wants to be involved. You wouldn't want him sitting on the bench. If he was focused and fit then I believe he would be good enough to be in the side. I was impressed with his professionalism when I met him at Bellefield, even though he did arrive with a team of advisers and minders. I felt then that he could have given us a lift. I feel the same now. People will look at his age and ask if he has still got the appetite after being involved in two relegation campaigns. He has always looked sharp and fit whenever I have watched him.
We would all like to think that Moyes will have the resource to think big. We would all love him to be able to go for the game's top young talent. But the reality will be somewhere in between.
Ginola was a gamble. But I don't see Rava that way and John Gregory indicated yesterday that the player can leave at the end of the season.
Let's gatecrash party
May 10 2002 By David Prentice
EVERTON will receive a £500,000 windfall tomorrow, with Sky TV's decision to screen Arsenal's double celebrations at Highbury. But boss David Moyes is looking for his players to cash in on an afternoon when The Gunners, for once, may not be fully focused. The final match of the season is largely meaningless, with even Everton's outside chances of InterToto Cup qualification hinging on unlikely results elsewhere. But Moyes said: "It's a strange game. It's like you are going to someone else's party when you haven't been invited. "But I want to see positive signs. If I was a player I would want to send the manager away with good thoughts about myself for the coming season.
"I also want to finish as high up the table as we can and still want to try and qualify for the Inter-Toto Cup. We want to try and win the game to make that happen. "I may also take the opportunity to have a look at a couple of players. So there's plenty to play for." One of the players Moyes has not seen start a match yet is Swedish international Tobias Linderoth. A regular for his World Cup bound side, Moyes insists there has been no hidden agenda in his absences from Everton's starting line-ups since his arrival as manager. "Toby has a chance of coming in tomorrow," he explained. "We have been under pressure to get results and let's be fair, in the first four or five games we won three of them which made it difficult for me to make changes. "It's unfortunate if people could not get into the team because of that, but it's up to them to push their way in." Everton will go to Highbury without the suspended Duncan Ferguson and the injured Idan Tal (thigh strain). Wayne Rooney and Peter Clarke are both away on junior England international duty, while Joe-Max Moore has been allowed to leave England early to join his USA World Cup squad. Nick Chadwick has been struggling with a groin strain throughout the week, but the Blues hope he will recover in time to play.
Blues' blond Sven-sation
May 10 2002 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
NICLAS ALEXANDERSSON has already had his World Cup hair-do.
And the Blues' new peroxide star hopes to prove blonds really do have more fun this summer.
There's something about the final stages of big football tournaments that goes to footballers' heads.
In 1998 the entire Romanian squad bleached their heads blond ahead of their opening game against Colombia. Two years later Abel Xavier followed suit, but got himself noticed for very different reasons after a goal-line save which didn't have Stephane Henchoz's degree of disguise.
Alexandersson's already strawcoloured coiffure has now received a blast of bright blond, but he hopes it is his football which gets him noticed. But after a season of grim realism at club level he will fly out to Japan with expectations firmly at ground level. Sweden kick-off their campaign against England on June 2 - after remaining unbeaten throughout qualifying. But Alexandersson insists: "Everybody knows it is going to be really difficult for us. "You have to believe in yourself as a player and in your team. We know that if we reach the standards we know we are capable of then we have a chance. "We also know that it will require that and nothing less and it will be really tough to do it.
"We were unbeaten in the whole qualification," Alexandersson added. "I think that is probably our main asset, that even though we are not winning, we are hard to beat. That is something we have to take the World Cup - defence has probably been our main strength. "I think even in Sweden people probably don't expect us to go through. Argentina are probably the favourites followed by England in my view, so for us to go through we need everyone fit and everyone on top form. "We've missed Patrick Andersson the captain quite a lot in the last few friendlies because he is the organiser at the back and Freddie Ljungberg has only played one half in the last two games, so really we need all of our top players to be at their best. "We have one more friendly in Sweden and then we leave for Japan on the 20th. "We haven't played great lately to be honest. We've had two draws in the last two friendlies and we have struggled a bit. "Defensively we still look quite solid but going forward we haven't scored as much as we'd have liked to - but we've played two teams who sat very deep in defence. "I guess it will be different against some of the teams in the World Cup. "If we progress from the group stage then we have done more than anyone has expected and from then on we have nothing to lose. But we've not even set a target like that. "We have said we will have to go there and play three games as well as we can and then we'll have to see how far that will take us.
"We didn't manage to do that in the European championships, because I think there we focused too much on going through and as a result we didn't manage to play to our best. "Basically, we will try to go there and make it hard for the other teams to beat us and see how far that will take us."
Eager Moyes aims to gatecrash party
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 11 2002
DAVID MOYES admits he will feel like an intruder when Arsenal's Double-winning party kicks off at Highbury today. The Everton boss is determined to end the campaign on a high note after saving the Blues from relegation. But Moyes believes his team will be just a sideshow as the Gunners celebrate their Premiership and FA Cup triumphs - and is urging Everton to respond by puncturing the party atmosphere. "We are going to a party we haven't been invited to," said Moyes, who could be without of host of senior players through injury today. "Arsenal deserve to be champions and with winning the FA Cup last weekend as well it is going to be a big day for them and their supporters. "But I hope our players see what it feels like to be winners. I know I am certainly-envious of Arsene Wenger and his achievements. "Hopefully one day I'll be fortunate enough to be manager of Everton in the same situation." Alessandro Pistone, Nick Chadwick and Thomas Gravesen are all doubtful, while Jesper Blomqvist and Idan Tal definitely join the suspended Duncan Ferguson on the sidelines. But Moyes said: "We have to go there and play the best we can but, let's be fair, it would be difficult at Arsenal at any time. "It would have been more difficult if they hadn't been crowned champions. They've done their work and what they set out to achieve at the start of the season.
"As for ourselves, while I'm manager of Everton we will go to win every game we enter.
"We want to win this one so that we can finish as high up the table as possible. Plus, if we do win it, there is still a chance we could qualify for the Intertoto Cup. We've got a few injuries but we'll put out the best available side. I also want to have a look at one or two players who have been on the outside a bit since I arrived." That could mean a recall for Swedish international Tobias Linderoth, who has made only two substitute appearances for Everton since Moyes replaced Walter Smith.
And the Blues boss, who has also included young defender George Pilkington and David Ginola in the squad, added: "When you go away in the summer you always remember the last game clearly and I want to enjoy the summer remembering a good result at Highbury. But many managers have not got one there this season. "It's important for what we are doing at Everton to get a good result."
Sky TV's decision to screen Arsenal's trophy parade today has landed Everton a £500,000 windfall.
Earn a place at title party
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 11 2002
TO MANY observers, this afternoon's game at Highbury marks the unveiling of the new Premiership champions. For David Moyes's Everton stars, it marks the final chance to play for their Goodison futures. Moyes may have saved the Blues from relegation but has not bought one player since taking over from Walter Smith two months ago. And while he averts his gaze from Arsenal's League and Cup Double celebrations, the Everton manager admits the time is fast approaching for his imprint to extend beyond results and to the squad itself. Though it will be difficult. Moyes has been assessing Everton in his two months in control, and admits that although he is unable to force out players under contract, he is in for a busy summer of wheeling and dealing. Jesper Blomqvist, David Ginola and Alec Cleland are the only ones out of contract that Everton can - and probably will - release. Moyes continued: "I've worked with the squad for about six weeks and know a lot about most of them, but you don't assess a club like Everton from top to bottom in that time.
"All the players who are here now will be here next season, we can't make many changes because of the financial situation. "But this is a problem with contracts because the players are under contract and that means they are here and it won't change." But Moyes will clearly soon be telling a host of players they do not figure in his future plans and the choice will be for them to decide whether to sit on long term contracts and not play, or to engineer moves. So Moyes faces a busy summer - but before that, Arsenal must be endured. "If I was playing in this one I would want to go away for the summer knowing the manager had a good thought in his head about me," said the Blues boss.
"I hope my players will be thinking that. "But I don't think Arsenal is the place to find out too much about my team. "You don't know what mood Arsenal will be in, if they are in top gear.
"Our players are also aware that they have done the work needed when I first arrived.
"But in every game I look for signs that are positive." The Goodison boss continued: "I've been in this situation when I was at Preston when we had won a championship and we really wanted to enjoy our party and put in a good performance - I am sure Arsenal will be in that mood.
"But you do have in back of your mind that you have done your work and sometimes you are not as fully focused as normal, but I doubt Arsenal will feel that way. "We are gatecrashers a bit, but we must go there and do the best we can." And on the new champions, Moyes said: "They are a fantastic side with the players they have got - their movement, how they interchange positions, how solid they are at the back. All round they are a wonderful side. "They have a good framework and world class players to put into different positions, they can handle that superbly." And on his own short spell in the top flight, he added: "It has been a big step up for me here, but I've enjoyed it.
"The fans have got a little bit of hope and encouragement back and if you can give that to people, it's a great thing. "The players have done that and hopefully we can build on that for next season.
"It's going to be a busy summer, with lots of things planned. "When you come to a new club the summer is the time to do things." He added: "If you'd asked at the beginning I'd have said it was not a good time to move to Everton and not a good time to leave Preston. "But now I'm glad because we have done a decent job in keeping Everton in the Premier League and I have a rough idea what we require and what we need for next season, it has given me the chance to break myself in."
Rooney hat-trick powers England Report
By Chris Wright, Daily Post
May 11 2002
WAYNE ROONEY grabbed a stunning hat-trick to give England third place in the UEFA Under-17 European Championships in Gladsaxe yesterday. The Everton youngster made it five goals in five games in the championships as England's youngsters beat pre-tournament favourites and last year's winners Spain 4-1 to earn bronze medals. Rooney may have missed out on becoming the youngest-ever player to appear in a Everton shirt by playing in this international event, but he showed why he will not have to wait too long for his Blues debut. His first goal came on 39 minutes to put England 2-0 ahead, sliding in a cross from opening goalscorer Crystal Palace's Wayne Routledge - and in the second half Rooney ran riot. Spain's skipper Jaime Gavilan Martinez pulled one back just before the break, but it took 16-year-old Rooney just six minutes after the restart to strike back and score his second, diving in to head home another Routledge cross. And he completed his hattrick six minutes from the end when Liverpool's Mark Smyth - on as a second-half substitute - played him in on goal and the teenage scoring sensation despatched with a typically cool finish. Blues team-mate Scot Brown also made his second start of the tournament on the right of midfield, but England captain and Liverpool defender David Raven again had to sit the match out through injury. In the final, England's semi-final conquerors Switzerland beat France on penalties after a goalless draw.
Rooney and Brown will return to Merseyside today in buoyant mood ahead of the FA Youth Cup final first leg against Aston Villa at Goodison Park next Tuesday night (kick-off 8.05pm).
Earn a place at title party
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 11 2002
TO MANY observers, this afternoon's game at Highbury marks the unveiling of the new Premiership champions. For David Moyes's Everton stars, it marks the final chance to play for their Goodison futures. Moyes may have saved the Blues from relegation but has not bought one player since taking over from Walter Smith two months ago. And while he averts his gaze from Arsenal's League and Cup Double celebrations, the Everton manager admits the time is fast approaching for his imprint to extend beyond results and to the squad itself. Though it will be difficult.
Moyes has been assessing Everton in his two months in control, and admits that although he is unable to force out players under contract, he is in for a busy summer of wheeling and dealing.
Jesper Blomqvist, David Ginola and Alec Cleland are the only ones out of contract that Everton can - and probably will - release. Moyes continued: "I've worked with the squad for about six weeks and know a lot about most of them, but you don't assess a club like Everton from top to bottom in that time. "All the players who are here now will be here next season, we can't make many changes because of the financial situation. "But this is a problem with contracts because the players are under contract and that means they are here and it won't change." But Moyes will clearly soon be telling a host of players they do not figure in his future plans and the choice will be for them to decide whether to sit on long term contracts and not play, or to engineer moves. So Moyes faces a busy summer - but before that, Arsenal must be endured. "If I was playing in this one I would want to go away for the summer knowing the manager had a good thought in his head about me," said the Blues boss. "I hope my players will be thinking that. "But I don't think Arsenal is the place to find out too much about my team. "You don't know what mood Arsenal will be in, if they are in top gear. "Our players are also aware that they have done the work needed when I first arrived.
"But in every game I look for signs that are positive." The Goodison boss continued: "I've been in this situation when I was at Preston when we had won a championship and we really wanted to enjoy our party and put in a good performance - I am sure Arsenal will be in that mood.
"But you do have in back of your mind that you have done your work and sometimes you are not as fully focused as normal, but I doubt Arsenal will feel that way. "We are gatecrashers a bit, but we must go there and do the best we can." And on the new champions, Moyes said: "They are a fantastic side with the players they have got - their movement, how they interchange positions, how solid they are at the back. All round they are a wonderful side. "They have a good framework and world class players to put into different positions, they can handle that superbly." And on his own short spell in the top flight, he added: "It has been a big step up for me here, but I've enjoyed it.
"The fans have got a little bit of hope and encouragement back and if you can give that to people, it's a great thing. "The players have done that and hopefully we can build on that for next season.
"It's going to be a busy summer, with lots of things planned. "When you come to a new club the summer is the time to do things." He added: "If you'd asked at the beginning I'd have said it was not a good time to move to Everton and not a good time to leave Preston. "But now I'm glad because we have done a decent job in keeping Everton in the Premier League and I have a rough idea what we require and what we need for next season, it has given me the chance to break myself in."
Arsenal 4, Everton 3
By David Prentice At Highbury, Liverpool Echo
May 11 2002
A STUNNING individual goal from Tomasz Radzinski plus three other strikes handed to players on a plate courtesy of calamitous individual errors lit up Arsenal's double winning celebrations at Highbury this afternoon. Stubbs twice stumbled to give the Gunners the lead, but the Blue's hit back each time with that Radzinski strike and Lee Carsley's first goal fro the club. Everton arrived at Highbury as bit-part players in Arsenal's double winning celebrations, but while the Blues had only an outside chance of an InterToto Cup place to play for collectively, individually some of them still had points to prove. Mark Pembridge made his first start since the FA Cup replay at Crewe, while World Cup bound Swede Tobias Linderoth was given his first start under David Moyes. Arsenal, with manager Arsene Wenger admitting in his programme notes "Apparently it was a very late night on Wednesday so there may be a few heavy legs out there" left out seven of the team which clinched the double at Old Trafford. Only Cole, Parlour, Edu and Wiltord remained - but such is the strength in depth at the Gunners' disposal they can still name a forward line of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp and leave £8 million Francis Jeffers on the substitutes bench. Everton played the role of dutiful guests perfectly. After lining up to give the home side a guard of honour as they came onto the pitch they then gifted the Gunners a goal inside three minutes. Ashley Cole's pace got him clear down the left but his cross was covered by Stubbs. The Blue's defender, however, in explicably delayed his clearance allowing Cole to recover and cross for the unmarked Bergkamp to side-foot in an easy opening. It was the 28th time this season Arsenal had taken the lead in a game and ensured that they kept their remarkable record of having scored in every Premiership match. But while the Gunners attacking threat was as vibrant as ever at the back, with three-quarters of their usual rear guard rested, they looked strangely hesitant. Twice in as many minutes Kevin Campbell had opportunities to level the scores. In the eigth minute he squeezed between Stepanovs and Luzhny to prod a shot narrowly wide then in the 10th minute was inches away from sliding into a far post cross. But while Everton were chiselling out chances at one end, Arsenal were doing exactly the same at the other and in the 14th minute Henry escaped Everton's offside trap and skirted wide of Simonsen before finding the angle too tight and shooting into the side netting. While Arsenal's pace was troubling the Everton rearguard, Radzinski's speed off the mark was making life uncomfortable for the ponderous Egor Stepanovs and in the 20th minute that combination produced Everton's equaliser. Under pressure the Arsenal defender turned and played an awful pass across his own penalty area into Radzinski's path. The little striker might have shot, but instead delayed his pass long enough for Lee Carsley to race up into fourth. When he got there the Irish midfielder produced an impressive finish, crisply wrapping the ball home from 18 yards to score his first goal in Everton colours. The combination of a depleted side and Wednesday night's celebrations had clearly left Arsenal way below par and Everton began to dominate the match. Campbell had a far post header blocked by goalkeeper Wright, Carsley saw a dipping shot fly narrowly over then Alexandersson dispossessed Cole and played in Radzinski for a chance which really should have brought the Blues second goal. The Canadian international got to the ball ahead of Wright but could only steer a left footed shot over the unguarded target. But if that was a bad miss there was no doubting the quality of Radzinski's instant response in the 31st minute. Kicking the ball up near the half way line he turned and headed directly for the Gunners goal. His lightening pace took him clear of Arsenal's trailing defenders and when Wright advanced off his line he steered a confident finish into the far corner of the net. Everton deserved the lead, but within three minutes Arsenal had levelled and this time the goal was controversial. Alan Stubbs appeared to be in charge as he shepherded a ball back towards his own goal with Bergkamp in close attendance. The Dutch striker appeared to foul Stubbs who fell to the floor allowing Bergkamp a free run at goal. He waited for strike partner Henry to join him then slid the ball across goal to give the Frenchman a simple tap in. Everton were angered by the goal and a minute later the Dutchman infuriated them again when he appeared to use his hand as he tried to punch the ball into the Everton net. After the farcical defending of the first 45 minutes, the new half was less than 60 seconds old when a goalkeeper was called into action yet again. This time it was the custodian of the Blues goal, Steve Simonsen, who had to spring smartly to his right to Parry Edu's rising drive. If both managers had berated their players for the quality of the first half defending clearly none had listened. An Everton victory at Highbury would have hauled them above the Londoners and into prime position, but Gunners boss Arsene Venger decided to shake up his side in the 64th minute and introduced Patrick Vieira and Francis Jeffers from the substitutes bench. The match turned inside the space of 60 seconds with incidents at either end of the pitch. In the 71st minute Radzinski outpaced the Arsenal defence for the umpteenth time to find himself bearing down on Wright's goal. The striker cut the ball across onto his left foot and shot, but the keeper flung himself to make an outstanding block. The ball dropped to Pembridge and his 20 yard effort was deflected behind for a corner. The Gunners defended the kick effectively and immediately broke forward to give Henry the opportunity to beat the offside track. The Frenchman did so comfortably and showed how to finish by sliding the ball past Simonsen. Then with seven minutes remaining Arsenal sealed another the win with their fourth goal of the afternoon.
Dennis Bergkamp retrieved the ball on the bi-line and while Everton defenders slept whipped in a cross which Jeffers steered in with his head at the far post. It was clearly a pleasing moment for the former Blues striker, but he over-did his celebrations, waving his shirt at the travelling fans and then gesturing to them as the players lined up for the re-start. With less than two minutes remaining Steve Watson pulled a goal back for the Blues with a left footed strike which appeared to take a deflection as it flashed past substitute goalkeeper Taylor.
ARSENAL: Wright, Dixon, Stepanovs, Luzhny, Cole, Wiltord, Grimandi, Edu, Parlour, Bergkamp, Henry. Subs: Vieira, Ljungberg, Jeffers, Lauren, Taylor.
EVERTON: Simonsen, Watson, Stubbs, Weir, Unsworth, Alexandersson, Carsley, Linderoth, Pembridge, Campbell, Radzinski. Subs: Gerrard, Gemmill, Cleland, Ginola, Chadwick.
Referee: Mr Mark Halsey.
Ruthless Moyes in warning to Blues
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 13 2002
DAVID MOYES has warned he will be ruthless in his mission to weed out the errors that cost Everton a place in Europe next season. The Blues manager was left disappointed at Highbury on Saturday where, despite an encouraging display against Doublewinners Arsenal, his side's 4-3 defeat ended any hopes of qualifying for the Intertoto Cup. And Moyes insisted he will not tolerate the individual mistakes that have lost Everton valuable points in recent weeks. Moyes was infuriated by the defensive howlers and missed chances that allowed Arsenal a record 13th straight Premiership victory and condemned Everton to a final finish of 15th. And the Blues boss said: "If it is a collective problem you can work on it and sort it out but you also hope individuals cut it out as well.
"It has happened a few times now and we have to look at that. If people let us down we need to do something about it. "It was pleasing to come to Arsenal and play so well and create so many chances. But woe for the ones we missed. "We wasted a bag-load of chances and defended very poorly." Moyes continued: "It would be easy to take if this was the Arsenal who carve teams up, but this defeat was self-inflicted." Lee Carsley and Tomasz Radzinski struck either side of Dennis Bergkamp's fourth-minute opener, before Alan Stubbs' slip allowed Thierry Henry to make it 2-2 after 33 minutes. And Moyes pinpointed Arsenal's second goal, and a Radzinski miss 60 seconds before Henry struck again, as crucial factors in the outcome. He added: "We played well and did most things right. But we let ourselves down with the second goal because we had just started to control the game then. "I think Tomasz should have scored in the second half. Their keeper wasn't forced into the save and one minute later they went in front." The Blues boss, however, was encouraged by the display and in particular the performances of midfield duo Carsley and the recalled Tobias Linderoth. "I thought the two boys in midfield played very well," he added: "It was a decent team performance let down by individual mistakes. "We went about things the right way, we went for the win. We did well overall but you can't really say that when your team has conceded four goals. "I am disappointed we haven't reached the Intertoto Cup because that means we haven't won as many matches as I wanted."
Arsenal 4, Everton 3 (D,Post)
By Andy Hunter At Highbury, Daily Post
May 13 2002
WIDE BERTH: David Moyes weighs up the gulf between the champions and his Blues side at Highbury. EVERTON performed the role of the uninvited guest to perfection at Highbury; after the party games they congregated quietly in one corner while their merry hosts knocked back another Double. Jealously abounded as David Moyes' men gathered around the Arsenal dug-out to watch Tony Adams raise the Premiership trophy aloft exactly a week after doing likewise with the FA Cup.
And as strange as it may sound, the Everton players and fans who stayed to watch the celebrations had good reason for their envy. The most optimistic and certifiable Blue has long given up demanding silverware even though hope never fades in any football fan. But even at the home of England's new champions Everton were offered a tantalising glimpse of a promising future before being turfed out by cruel reality. Positive signs were in evidence on Saturday; a bright, hungry display combining flashes of class and composure that whetted the appetite for the seasons to come. Then the sickening realisation kicked in that Francis Jeffers had chosen to take those talents away from the club that nurtured him, the club he professed to once love from the Gwladys Street.
That their former great hope should condemn an encouraging away display to defeat, and twist the knife by taunting his former fans in the process, was the final blow in another depressing season for Everton. But as Jeffers waved his red and white shirt at the Blues' travelling army he did Everton a great service by highlighting a lesson the club must heed if it is to prosper again. Economics and ambition meant the gifted but injury-prone striker would always look beyond Goodison Park to further his career, and though much of his debut season has been spent on the sidelines, Jeffers has made a sound choice of destination. But as Arsene Wenger's side envisage a shift in sustained power from Old Trafford to Highbury so Everton must start shifting heaven and earth to keep hold of those who follow in Jeffers' early footsteps. Economics mean it will be an awful long time before Everton can buy big, but at the very least they should match the ambition of their own best young players with hope they can advance together. After all that is the policy they have adopted with their new manager, who will watch the latest batch of Academy talent roll into the FA Youth Cup Final tomorrow night. On Friday, Moyes admitted the final game of the season would be the one that determines his mood on his summer vacation. On this evidence it could go either way.
Dodgy centre-halves apart, Arsenal fielded an impressive cast-list for Saturday's party and it spoke volumes for Everton's intelligent passing performance that the champions had to introduce Patrick Vieira and Jeffers to distinguish themselves amidst the carnival. But the fact this defeat was thoroughly self-inflicted was the ultimate frustration for a manager who, if he dwells on this game too long, will have his holidays ruined by thoughts of his defence's lack of pace and his attack's lethargy. Moyes' jealous streak must have erupted way before Arsenal started their trophy parade as he gazed at the armoury Wenger has at his disposal. Even with Igors Stepanovs and Oleg Luzhny at the back, the Arsenal manager had enough power up front, and as if there wasn't enough honours at Highbury, Thierry Henry's double snatched the Premiership Golden Boot prize. His haul for the season matched the entire Premiership output of Everton's five leading goalscorers this term, Duncan Ferguson, Tomasz Radzinski (left), Kevin Campbell, David Weir and Steve Watson, and but for generosity in front of goal, would have beaten them all. Creatively the statistics are just as galling. Prior to kick-off, Henry had reached 144 shots for the season, Everton's biggest threat on that score, Radzinski, was on 38. Both strikers increased their hits and misses at the weekend as Everton got the gatecrashing role down to a fine art during the game too, making a complete nuisance of themselves but ejected before the end. Alan Stubbs has enjoyed a fine entrance at Goodison Park this season but will want to forget his departure in a hurry, culpable to some degree for all four Arsenal goals. Less than four minutes had elapsed when the defender's hesitation in the area allowed Ashley Cole, given a torrid time by World Cup rival Niclas Alexandersson, to set up Dennis Bergkamp for an easy finish. It would get even worse for Stubbs, but thankfully matters improved dramatically for Everton. Radzinski's pace and movement rattled the Gunners throughout the first half, in stark contrast to Campbell's cumbersome display throughout, and he was on hand to turn Stepanovs' dreadful pass into the path of Lee Carsley who emphatically converted the first goal of his Everton career. With Tobias Linderoth (right) also impressive in midfield, Everton began to take advantage of Arsenal's various distractions and Radzinski joined Ferguson as the Blues joint-top scorer this season - with six - on 30 minutes. As against Southampton earlier in the season, Radzinski's pace from the left caught defenders off guard, and after rounding Luzhny he powered into the area to despatch an assured finish past Richard Wright - one minute after stabbing a much easier chance hopelessly wide. The Canadian continues to be a conundrum. Ahead against the champions, Everton's jubilant fans sang "We're going to win the league!" only for their own private party to be spoiled by more bad defending. Stubbs again failed to clear when he had the chance and tumbled under the challenge of Bergkamp who set Henry up for a simple tap-in. Even that setback failed to deter Everton's enterprise and they came close to restoring their lead three times in the second half before the French international punished them yet again. Carsley was twice foiled by Wright following Campbell knock-downs, before the Arsenal 'keeper denied Radzinski with his legs in the game's deciding moment on 71 minutes. From the resulting corner the Gunners swept forward in the style that has carried them to the title, Edu's brilliant ball dropping over the Everton defence for Henry to clinch the Golden Boot with a trademark, nonchalant finish. Substitute Jeffers provided the travelling support with some light relief with two glaring misses, one saved by Steve Simonsen and the other somehow hit against the post, only to have the last laugh with a back-post header after more ball watching by the Blues' rearguard. Steve Watson lashed home a third but by then balloons were already cascading from the Highbury stands for the main event. The time had come to toast the end of a long, arduous season. No longer the outsiders, Everton raised a glass to that.
ARSENAL: (4-4-2): Wright (Taylor 83); Dixon, Luzhny, Stepanovs, Cole; Wiltord (Vieira 64), Parlour (Jeffers 64), Grimandi, Edu; Bergkamp, Henry. Subs: Ljungberg, Lauren.
EVERTON: (4-4-2): Simonsen; Watson, Weir, Stubbs, Unsworth; Alexandersson (Ginola 77), Linderoth, Carsley, Pembridge; Campbell, Radzinski. Subs: Gerrard, Gemmill, Cleland, Chadwick.
REFEREE: Mark Halsey
ATT: 38,254
Ruthless Moyes in warning to Blues
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 13 2002
DAVID MOYES has warned he will be ruthless in his mission to weed out the errors that cost Everton a place in Europe next season. The Blues manager left disappointed at Highbury on Saturday where, despite an encouraging display against Doublewinners Arsenal, his side's 4-3 defeat ended any hopes of qualifying for the Intertoto Cup. And Moyes insisted he will not tolerate the individual mistakes that have lost Everton valuable points in recent weeks. Moyes was infuriated by the defensive howlers and missed chances that allowed Arsenal a record 13th straight Premiership victory and condemned Everton to a final finish of 15th. And the Blues boss said: "If it is a collective problem you can work on it and sort it out but you also hope individuals cut it out as well. "It has happened a few times now and we have to look at that. If people let us down we need to do something about it.
"It was pleasing to come to Arsenal and play so well and create so many chances. But woe for the ones we missed. "We wasted a bag-load of chances and defended very poorly." Moyes continued: "It would be easy to take if this was the Arsenal who carve teams up, but this defeat was self-inflicted." Lee Carsley and Tomasz Radzinski struck either side of Dennis Bergkamp's fourth-minute opener, before Alan Stubbs' slip allowed Thierry Henry to make it 2-2 after 33 minutes. And Moyes pinpointed Arsenal's second goal, and a Radzinski miss 60 seconds before Henry struck again, as crucial factors in the outcome. He added: "We played well and did most things right. But we let ourselves down with the second goal because we had just started to control the game then.
"I think Tomasz should have scored in the second half. Their keeper wasn't forced into the save and one minute later they went in front." The Blues boss, however, was encouraged by the display and in particular the performances of midfield duo Carsley and the recalled Tobias Linderoth.
"I thought the two boys in midfield played very well," he added: "It was a decent team performance let down by individual mistakes. "We went about things the right way, we went for the win. We did well overall but you can't really say that when your team has conceded four goals. "I am disappointed we haven't reached the Intertoto Cup because that means we haven't won as many matches as I wanted."
Arsenal 4, Everton 3 (Echo)
By David Prentrice At Highbury, Liverpool Echo
May 13 2002
ON the last Saturday of a football season, things often aren't quite what they seem. So if you spotted Tomasz Radzinski trudging disconsolately on his own along a lonely London pavement, miles from Highbury and hours after the final whistle had blown, don't be misled. Journalists being journalists - and we had a car full - conspiracy theories abounded. "He's had a row and been thrown off the bus!" "Moyes has clocked him for missing that chance!" "Go back and pick him up!"
It transpired that nothing more sinister had happened than a prearranged stay in London, his teammates on the bus finally tiring of driving around the capital and telling him to get off and hail a taxi. Likewise, if you look at the result Arsenal 4, Everton 3 - and believe that David Moyes has suddenly transformed The Toffees into a team capable of running the allconquering Gunners close on their own turf, you'd be just as ill-informed. On an entertainingly unreal afternoon Arsene Wenger rested seven of the stars who'd clinched the Double at Old Trafford three days earlier.
And of those who remained, Ashley Cole looked like he'd partied long and hard with that mischievous mistress Stella Artois. Alan Stubbs looked like he'd gate-crashed the same party, as both defences shared out seven goals - unevenly in Arsenal's favour. It was difficult to come to any meaningful conclusions on such an unusual afternoon, other than that Alan Stubbs and David Weir need a long and restful summer, Nick Chadwick's groin strain must have been painful to keep him on the bench behind the toiling Campbell, Tobias Linderoth could have a bright future at Goodison if he's ever given a chance, David Unsworth's attitude should be bottled and fed neat to his team-mates before every match - and David Ginola will be missed on Merseyside only by the pie-makers at Sayers. But it would be churlish to be too critical on such an outrageously entertaining afternoon.
Arsenal, who had scored in every single Premiership match previously, had to wait only three minutes to maintain that remarkable record. Alan Stubbs delayed a clearance fatally, and Dennis Bergkamp profitted with an easy finish. But the defensive mistakes weren't limited to the visitors.
Igor Stepanovs is living embodiment that even managers as gifted as Arsene Wenger sometimes get it completely and utterly wrong. The lumbering Lithuanian is the antithesis of everything the modern Arsenal stand for. Searing pace, a high level of technical accomplishment, mobility and the ability to interchange positions easily - he has none of those qualities. His 20th minute pass to Tomasz Radzinski, mind, was deft enough. Shame that Radzinski plays for the opposition. The Canadian played in Lee Carsley and the Irishman finished with ruthless efficiency.
Carsley got forward into threatening positions all afternoon, watching another dipping shot five minutes later fly just over.
He and Linderoth formed a disciplined and useful midfield partnership, although no-one could claim the credit for assisting Radzinski with his stunning 31st minute strike. The forward turned Luzhny yards inside the Gunners' defence and showed the kind of explosive pace and directness that Thierry Henry has made his trademark this season. He also ended the run with a controlled finish that has, sadly, not been his own stock in trade this season. Radzinski missed an easy opening a minute earlier, and in the second half allowed Wright to save when played clean through again.
He shared the Premiership top scorers' title at Everton for 2001-02 with Duncan Ferguson - a stingy six apiece - and if he has a future at Goodison it seems we'll have to accept he'll miss more than he will score. But his pace and movement does give the side something they don't possess in anyone else, and it would be foolish to dispense of those qualities cheaply. Arsenal have them in almost every player, it seems. Bergkamp mugged Stubbs to hand Henry a tap-in, then in the second half Henry, Wiltord, Edu and substitute Jeffers raced through on goal at will. Henry and Jeffers grabbed a goal apiece, Jeffers missed an even easier chance - the howls of derision from the away section possibly explained his ridiculously exuberant celebrations when he did eventually tap one in - and Steve Watson clipped a last minute consolation past substitute keeper Taylor. It ended a bizarrely entertaining football match. But it wasn't a real one. The real business for David Moyes begins on August 18. His look at the end of this surreal spectacular suggests he knows it.
ARSENAL (4-4-2): Wright (Taylor 84 mins), Dixon, Stepanovs, Luzhny, Cole, Parlour (Jeffers 64 mins), Grimandi, Edu, Wiltord (Vieira 64 mins), Bergkamp, Henry. Unused substitutes: Ljungberg, Lauren.
EVERTON ( 4- 4- 2): Simonsen, Watson, Weir, Stubbs, Unsworth, Alexandersson (Ginola 78 mins), Carsley, Linderoth, Pembridge, Campbell, Radzinski. Unused substitutes: Gerrard, Gemmill, Cleland, Chadwick.
Referee: Mark Halsey.
No bookings.
Goals: Bergkamp (3 mins) 1-0, Carsley (20 mins) 1-1, Radzinski (31 mins) 1-2, Henry (34 mins) 2-2, Henry (72 mins) 3-2, Jeffers (83 mins) 4-2, Watson (89 mins) 4-3.
Attendance: 38,254.
Travel hopes dashed
May 13 2002 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON dropped two places on the final Saturday of the Premiership season to finish a disappointing 15th. The 4-3 defeat at double winners Arsenal also ensured that the Blues would not be competing in the Inter-Toto Cup competition in July. But rather than relish the extra time he will have to work with the players, manager David Moyes was disappointed to miss out on the maligned competition. "The longer it has gone on I think I'm more disappointed that we have not reached the InterToto Cup," he said. "I knew that if we did reach it then it would have meant I'd won quite a few games, which is what I wanted to do when I set out. "But let's be fair when I took over if someone had said to me you can come to Arsenal on the last day safe and fairly confortable I'd have taken that." Everton even had opportunities to snatch an unlikely last day victory, but missed chances and sloppy defending gifted The Gunners victory. "There have been individual errors this season," warned Moyes. "When mistakes are individual you can change them, if it's collective you can work on it. "When it's individual you hope they cut it out and don't let it happen again, but it has happened on one or two occasions. "If people don't do their jobs and let us down then we need to do something about it. "We should have got a draw at least today. It was pleasing to come here, play so well and create so many chances. But oh for the ones we missed. "We missed a bag load and it summed the game up. We missed a bagload of chances and we defended very, very poorly.
"It wasn't really the Arsenal we know on Saturday. The Arsenal would normally cut you up and carve you to bits but that wasn't the case. It was self-inflicted. "The first half was littered with mistakes, but I wasn't concerned with the ones they were making. I was concerned by ours. But having said that we played well and did most things well. "We let ourselves down by losing the second goal especially, because we were beginning to control the game then and create opportunities and on another day we'd have scored a hatful of goals. "Their goalkeeper made good saves, but he shouldn't have been allowed to save them on more than one occasion. "It was a decent team performance but you can't say that when your team loses four goals."
Moyes won't wield the axe
May 13 2002 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
THERE will be no summer clearout at Everton.
David Moyes says the players who ended the season missing out on a place in the InterToto Cup, will kick off the new season at Goodison. Citing evolution rather than revolution as his blueprint, Moyes (pictured) said: "I have worked with the squad for about six weeks and know a lot about most of them, but you don't assess a club like Everton from top to bottom in that time. "All the players who are here now will be here next season. We can't make many changes because of the financial situation." David Ginola and Alec Cleland will be released at the end of their contracts this summer, while Jesper Blomqvist's position is still in the air. But any further changes may be put on ice.
The Blues are still being linked with a clutch of players, Wimbledon goalkeeper Kelvin Davis joining the usual suspects of Robbie Savage and Ian Walker. Despite reports to the contrary, Everton have not made any approach to Leicester regarding Savage. Davis, however, is an identified target and the Blues could contact Wimbledon later this week. Wayne Rooney, meanwhile, warmed up for tomorrow night's FA Youth Cup Final first leg with a hat-trick for England Under-17s.
Rooney struck three times in a 4-1 defeat of Spain in the European Championship third/fourth place play-off in Denmark. The whole of Goodison Park will be open for the first leg against Aston Villa.
Also on Saturday, Peter Clarke captained England Under-20s to a 1-0 victory over Poland in the Toulon Tournament. Scottish internationals David Weir and Scot Gemmill flew out this week for a tour of the Far East which includes matches against South Korea and Hong Kong.
Young midfielder Matt McKay, meanwhile, has been forced to quit football through injury.
The 21-year-old joined Everton from Chester City on transfer deadline day 1998 for £500,000.
True Blue has leader quality
May 13 2002 By Chris Wright, Daily Post
TO lead a team out at Goodison for a cup final is every boyhood Blues' dream. But when Stephen Schumacher captains Everton Youth team tomorrow in the FA Youth Cup final first leg against Aston Villa it will be nothing new for the Kirkby youngster. Schumacher has shown his leadership qualities at every level of football, and it was as captain of Kirkby schoolboys under-11s that he first came to the attention of the Everton Academy. The 18-year-old said: "It is a dream come true really. I wish it was the proper FA Cup final, but it is our equivalent, so all the lads are up for it and it's going to be great night. "I've always been an Evertonian. All my family are Blues through and through. We used to go to all the away matches before I was playing. "So it will be a good night for everyone. They will be made up to come and watch me run out, in front of a good crowd hopefully." Schumacher is hoping for a similar result to the one when he first graced the Goodison turf. He said: "I played for Kirkby boys and we beat Wirral 2-0 in the Everton Cup and that was a good night, so hopefully we can go and get the same sort of result - a clean sheet and a couple of goals to take down to Villa Park." Academy director Ray Hall recalled that day: "He played at Goodison for Kirkby Schools when he was 11 - that was one of the first times I saw him. He was captain of the Kirkby under-11s side that played in one of the finals," he said. "He was showing the kind of qualities we expect from boys at that age." From then on, Schumacher has progressed through the Blues ranks with distinction in central midfield or in the heart of the defence, where he has proved inspirational not only for Colin Harvey's side this year but for England. He led the under-16s to the semi-finals of the UEFA European Championships last year, but this season has not been all plain sailing for the former Cardinal Heenan pupil. Hall added: "Stephen has been unfortunate this season with injuries. He's had a number of problems. And even in the last U19s game against Blackburn, he got kicked in the head and needed eight stitches in a head wound. "But that shows one of his qualities and that is a real desire to compete, whether he is playing in midfield as a defensive midfield player or whether he is playing at the back. He has got good leadership qualities." Schumacher missed a number of games through tendonitis and then on his return he was injured again and it has been a frustrating spell for the youngster. He added: "I had tendonitis in my knee due to a bit of over-use. It was a little bit tender, but that's gone. "And then I came back against Derby and I twisted my ankle, so I was out for another week with that, which was disappointing, so I just want to make the most of the games I've got left now. "After that game I was out for a week. I came back and then got eight stitches in my eye. So I had a bit of a nightmare couple of weeks. "It was horrible sitting there watching the lads play, but as soon as you win you feel a big weight off your shoulders and you are made up. You want to go and congratulate the lads for doing well. "I was lucky enough to play in the semi-final. I got back fit for that so I was made up." Now with his injuries problems behind him, he is concentrating on tomorrow's first leg. He added: "My aim immediately is obviously to go and pick that trophy up. "I don't get nervous. It gives you a buzz when you go out and see all the crowd all wanting you to do well. "You get nervous before the game but as soon as you run out there you want to get on with it and play the game." Once the season is over, Schumacher will be hoping to make Goodison appearances a regular occurrence. He said: "For next season I just need to keep the hard work up and hopefully get a chance in the reserves and just push on from there and see how it goes. "I haven't figured for the reserves. I have been on the bench and been involved with the squad a little bit. But, as I say, I have been injured so this season has been a bit stop-start for me. I haven't featured in the reserves but hopefully it will be a bit better next year." And he hopes to follow in the footsteps of the many young Blues who have been breaking through into the first team, although he is prepared to wait for his dream. He added: "It does give you encouragement seeing players like Chaddy (Luke Chadwick) and Wayne (Rooney) get a chance, but they are strikers and they are going to get chances. "Whenever a striker gets injured they are in - they can take a chance. But I look to the likes of Tony Hibbert and Peter Clarke, who are a little bit older than Nick and Wayne, and they've come through a little bit later on. "So I've got to look further ahead than the immediate future - it may not be this year or next year, but maybe the year after or the year after that and maybe I can push through and follow in their footsteps. "There isn't a rush. Time is on my side. I've only just turned 18, so I've got a couple of years left. Well, I think I've got a couple of years left, hopefully to try and stake my claim for the team." If he does it will be a dream come true for the youngster, who has always idolised the Blues. He said: "I think my hero was Kevin Sheedy, but I haven't got as good a left foot as him. I used to love watching him take free-kicks. But there are loads of players I look up to and I just want to make sure I'm wearing that shirt in front of big crowds at Goodison." Tomorrow he gets that chance, but he knows Aston Villa will provide tough opposition, adding: "We haven't played against Villa this season. We played against them last season and we know they are going to be a strong side. "There are probably going to be a couple of big lads. But we are up for it and we'll take whatever comes. If it is a footballing game we can play football. But if it has to be a battle we can battle as well."
Wizard of Oz aims to cast his spell
By Chris Wright, Daily Post
May 14 2002
EVERTON'S scouting network stretches to every corner of the globe but local lads are the bedrock of their Academy system. That's why the Blues' only ' foreigner' in their FA Youth Cup final ranks is an Evertonian from 'Scotty' Road. Left-sided midfielder David Carney was born and bred in Australia, but his parents are true Blues who emigrated from Scotland Road more than 20 years ago.
Everton Academy director Ray Hall saw Carney play in the Australian state tournament in New South Wales when he was 15. Initially he felt it would be too early for the youngster to come to Everton.
But a trial at Barnsley almost led to the youngster ending up in Yorkshire before he eventually arrived at his spiritual home, where his father had spent many years watching the Blues in action, regaling his youngster of tales of the greats of the past. Hall recalled: "The first time he came to us was in the June before they started in the July (in 2000). He was over on trial at Barnsley. The family are mad Evertonians. I'd seen him play in the championships that I go over for (in Australia). And his dad contacted me and asked me could he go to Everton. "I was on holiday in France, so I was in contact with Colin Harvey to try and get him looked at here. We had a trial game specifically for him. And Colin liked what he saw so we set in motion that we would sign him. "And it wasn't easy for the lad moving from the other side of the world, but he has settled in because fortunately he is English speaking and he has got relatives on Merseyside. "His family are from Scotland Road. They emigrated about 20 years ago. So it is an amazing coincidence that I went over to identify a boy whose parents are mad Evertonians." The 18-year-old struggled to cope with the pace and physical nature of the English game in his first year at the club, but Carney feels a lot better with his form now, saying: "I thought I've really come on this second year. I have really learned from the first year and developed my strength and I have grew which has helped a lot. "I feel confident in myself, which I didn't really last year and usually I was playing one good game and having an off day. This year I have kept my consistency and I've been having a few good games. I think I've had a really good season this year." So much so that the youngster is now an integral part of the Blues' FA Youth Cup side that has the chance of bringing some silverware back to Goodison. Like the Aussie midfielderthe Blues have progressedas the season has gone on with the form of their cup run rubbing off in the League. And Carney believes the third round tie at West Ham, when the Blues won 2-1 in extra-time, was the season's turning point. He said: "The first game against West Ham, we weren't expected to win down there. But since we won that I think the confidence has lifted. West Ham were one of the favourites and we beat them, so we all thought 'why can't we win this?'.
"I think we get along together and bond well and especially in this Youth Cup. We are all under-age in the U19s and we found it hard, but to finish where we did was a good achievement."
As well as team progress Carney has tasted personal success with winning goals in the quarter-final against Nottingham Forest and semi-final first leg against Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison. But he is hoping to improve on that further. He added: "I'm pleased with my goals in the Youth Cup but not in the league. In the cup I was made up to score the two winners in the quarter-finals and the semi-finals but my goal ratio in the league is not as good. I probably haven't hit what I should do but I've created quite a few, which I'm quite pleased with." Carney has now also taken the next step up to the reserves and almost snatched a late equaliser in last week's mini-derby, where he played the full match. He said: "I've felt confident in the reserves. I just went out there and tried to stand up and be counted. "Starting the last game of the season against Liverpool was good. It was a hard game and a bit disappointing that we got beat. But I thought I stood my ground and I could have scored late on." Hall also agrees that the youngster has improved, but he was keen to stress he must continue the hard work if he is to follow former and current team-mates Peter Clarke, Nick Chadwick, Wayne Rooney and Andrew Pettinger into the first-team squad. He said: "He has played in all the games and in the last three or four reserves' games. We're pleased with his progress.
"But like we say to all the boys the first contract is not the difficult one, it is the second one. When they get a contract beyond 18 or 19 is when the manager is involved and obviously that is the key contract for their future. "What he needs to do is work hard from now on and impress the manager and his coaching staff enough to be offered a further contract. "The higher the standard that the boys play - and if it is seen they can cope with those standards - that helps them in moving forward."
But as a player Carney is developing all the attributes he needs to succeed on the left of midfield and Hall added: "He has got a good left foot. "His crossing has improved and he is getting in positions where he is likely to get us a goal now, which helps and it takes the pressure off the two front players a bit. "He is a good dead-ball kicker, a good crosser and he has developed his knowledge of actually playing as a left-sided midfield player. "Again it was difficult coming from a country that doesn't have those kind of positions." But now Carney hopes that this season will be the springboard towards a concerted effort to make the next giant leap in his development.
He added: "Next season I hope to start playing a lot more in the reserves and maybe getting a new contract and pushing on to the first team. "Chaddy was only with the under-19s last season and all of a sudden this season he is in the first team so it shows it can be done if you work hard and know in yourself that you have got the talent." But for now the Youth Cup is his number one priority and playing a prestigious final will have made all the hard work worthwhile. Carney said: "To sign for Everton was unbelievable. "Now to be in the final is just great. "It is the crowd that is going to lift it and I just can't wait. "I'm really looking forward to it. "I don't know how many are going to be there but to play in a final at Goodison really is a dream come true."
Robbie not the answer, Blues
May 14 2002 By Kevin Ratcliffe
AS a patriotic Welshman, I've watched Robbie Savage in action more often than most Premiership players this season.Which is why I feel qualified to suggest that he is not the answer to Everton's midfield problems next season.I don't know if reports continually linking the Leicester star with a move to Goodison are true or not, but I do know that Robbie doesn ' t offer Everton anything they don't already have.Don't get me wrong. I'm an admirer of the qualities Robbie does have. He is hard working, upsets people and uses the ball efficiently - but so do any number of midfielders already at Goodison.What Everton desperately need is someone who can open up defences from midfield. Unfortunately, for the money David Moyes has available you don't get players like that.David will, no doubt, have looked at the squads of the relegated teams this season and noted players like Jim Magilton and Georgi Kinkladze. But they do not fit in with the youthful image he is trying to create at Goodison.Younger stars like Malcolm Christie would unfortunately cost twice as much as David has at his disposal, so it looks like a summer of wheeling and dealing for the Blues boss.But I hope he wheels and deals away from Filbert Street.
Cruel blow for Matt
MATT McKAY was one of the most promising young players I'd worked with when he joined Everton four years ago.Today he is contemplating a life outside football after an ankle injury ended his career at 21. It's a sad story and I wish Matt all the best for the future.I remember a game he played in when I was manager at Chester and Howard Kendall was watching. He played one ball around the corner and followed his pass in, then he went into two 50-50 challenges with the centre- half which were bone-shuddering.Matt always liked a tackle and had a big heart. He'll need that character as he tried to pick up the pieces. That's entertainment!
DAVID MOYES (right) has only been at Everton a couple of months, and already he's been involved in two 4-3 matches, a 6-2 a 2-2 and a couple of 2-1s. That shows the positive attitude he has already instilled in his side.At Arsenal, Ashley Cole's attacking threat down the left is well known. So, rather than double up defensively on him, David asked Steve Watson and Niclas Alexandersson to attack down that flank.It produced a marvellous match - and two goals for Everton from that area. David won't be happy with the balance, but at least Everton are having a go and entertaining the fans.Can't wait for next season!
Easy does it, Kev
KEVIN CAMPBELL will be looking forward to this summer's break more than most at Everton.Kevin has struggled in recent months, but it's no surprise that that struggle has coincided with his return from injury.I know from my own experience that when you come back too quickly from injury - and Kevin was rushed back because Duncan Ferguson and Tomasz Radzinski were both injured at the same time - you can't recapture that sharpness straight away.You feel lethargic and when you are returning to a side that is struggling as well it's even more difficult.Kevin needs a break - and a full pre-season under his belt - then hopefully will come back next season as sharp as ever.
Final misery for boy Blues
By Chris Wright At Goodison, Daily Post
May 15 2002
Everton 1, Aston Villa 4
THEY came to see at first hand the latest boy Blue born to be King of the Gwladys Street.
And while a Goodison crowd of more than 15,000 saw enough of teenage striking sensation Wayne Rooney to know they have a special talent in the Everton family, last night's FA Youth Cup final first-leg defeat to a vibrant Aston Villa means there will be no fairytale ending to a season of much promise. And the final scoreline will make grim reading, as brothers Stefan and Luke Moore continued their own Youth Cup scoring run to give Everton an almost impossible task in the return leg at Villa Park this Saturday. The elder of the two - Stefan - hit a double either side of the interval to cancel out Rooney's 23-minute opener, and his younger sibling completed the job with a late fourth to put the Midlanders firmly in the driving seat and land their first FA Youth Cup triumph since 1980. But an Everton defeat seemed an unlikely outcome in an exciting opening half, when Colin Harvey's side more than matched their visitors, with Rooney at the heart of all of the Blues' best work. Villa started brightly and from Marshall's left-wing corner the Blues defence only half-cleared. Foley looped the ball back in but Everton keeper Andrew Pettinger was alert to punch clear as England under-19s striker Stefan Moore put him under pressure. But after four minutes the crowd got just what they had come to see - England U17s front-man Rooney in full flow. It was only a sniff of a chance but after strikepartner Michael Symes had flicked on a long ball, the 16-year-old forward took it in his stride only to see his fierce drive from 20 yards pushed aside by Villa keeper Wayne Henderson. After eight minutes Rooney almost turned creator, but his through-ball to his strike partner was cut out by Villa defender Marshall. Rooney and Symes were keeping the visitors' defence busy. The England forward almost got in a long ball down the left but Villa defender Liam Ridgewell got back to clear for a corner. And Schumacher headed Beck's resulting kick agonisingly over as he arrived in the six-yard box. Villa should have opened the scoring in the 11th minute. Stefan Moore's shot broke to his younger brother off Everton's Welsh youth international Craig Garside, but after taking his time, he was thwarted superbly by Pettinger - the Blues keeper relieved that the striker gave him time to spread himself to stop his shot. The match was swinging from end to end, with Rooney a constant menace. After 14 minutes, despite appearing to be second to a long ball out defence, he muscled his way past Liam Ridgwell into the box. With seven FA Youth Cup strikes in six appearances, it seemed Rooney would grab his eighth and move to within one of the competition's record goal tally for a season, held jointly by Liverpool's Michael Owen and Arsenal's Jeremie Aliadiere. As everyone waited for the net to bulge, Rooney dragged his shot past the post.
The Blues were having most of the pressure and Rooney was involved in much of their good work. But once again he was thwarted by a superb double save from Henderson after 22 minutes.
He was played in on the right by Symes, and after shrugging off Marshall, his snapshot was pushed aside by the Villa keeper, who also turned the youngster's follow-up behind as it seemed he would score. Rooney was not to be denied and within a minute he had opened the scoring. Australian midfielder David Carney swung over the corner from the right and centre-back Garside flicked it on to Rooney, who was waiting at the far post unmarked to gleefully head home, before revealling his 'Born to be a Blue' T-shirt to an delighted Park End. Scot Brown almost doubled the Blues' advantage just before the half-hour mark. And it was Rooney involved again. He coolly controlled Symes' ball inside and from his flick, Brown fired a fierce volley over the bar. Just as it seemed the Blues were in control, Villa drew level after 37 minutes in similar fashion to the Blues' opener. Stefan Moore's shot took a wicked deflection off Schumacher's outstreched leg but fortunately, as Pettinger scrambled back, the ball bounced off the top of the bar. But from the resulting corner, Moore rose, this time at the near post, to head home off Foley's left-footed delivery from the right.
The equaliser knocked Everton out of their stride and Villa finished the half the stronger. Two minutes before the interval a deep cross from Luke Moore had Pettinger stretching to flick it away from goal. The 18-year-old shot-stopper only diverted the ball to Peter Hynes, but luckily, Garside was on hand to block Stefan Moore's shot as he tried to turned on his team-mates' pass.
Everton were happy to hear the halftime whistle. It seemed the break had done them good and in the first minute of the second half, Rooney nodded into the area for Symes to chase. The 18-year-old striker couldn't get a decent attempt on goal as he was crowded out by the Villa defence. But the Midlanders reasserted themselves once more. Left-winger Foley, who was a thorn in Everton's side, cut inside and whipped in a delightful cross, which Crowder was glad to turn behind as Hynes came diving in at the back. A minute later Everton almost paid for their indecision as Marshall was allowed to run from his own half. Luckily, his shot from 20-yards was off target. Villa took the lead after 53 minutes. And it was Stefan Moore who again did the damage. Hynes tricked Crowder down by the byline and from his pullback the Villa striker steadied himself before firing an unstoppable shot past Pettinger. Villa were dominating as this stage and Moore was denied a hat-trick by a brilliant onehanded stop by Pettinger. Foley cushioned a volleyed pass in from the left and the striker's first-time effort was pushed on to the post by Pettinger and gathered at the second attempt. Harvey's side almost got back on level terms on 65 minutes. Symes chested down and slipped Crowder in on the left, but his fiercely struck angled volley dipped inches over the bar.
But Villa increased their lead three minutes later and it was nightmare for Blues keeper Pettinger, who allowed Hynes' low shot slip from his grasp and trickle into the net after Foley's cutback from the byline. The Midlanders added a fourth with 10 minutes left to leave the Blues with it all to do in the second leg at Villa Park. This time it was Stefan's brother Luke Moore who scored. The younger of the two latched on to Steven Davis' long ball to loft a delightful chip over Pettinger.
The Blues tried to rally late on but with a three-goal deficit to make up, it seems their cup run - that started with a morale-boosting win over the claret and blue-shirted West Ham at Upton Park - will not end in a silver lining against a similarly-clad Aston Villa at Villa Park.
EVERTON YOUTH: Pettinger; B Moogan, Crowder, Schumacher (capt), Garside; Brown, Beck, A Moogan (Colbeck 74), Carney; Rooney, Symes. Subs: Southern, Cole, Martland, Hopkins.
ASTON VILLA YOUTH: Henderson; Wells, Whittingham, O'Connor (Amoo 84), Marshall; Ridgewell, Hynes (Husbands 88), Davis, Foley; L Moore (Atkinson 90), S Moore. Subs: Pecora, Stuart.
Referee: B Knight.
Attendance: 15,280.
Moyes in for £2.5m ace
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 15 2002
EVERTON have entered the chase to land Leeds United's want-away defender Michael Duberry.
David Moyes is preparing a £2.5million bid for the former Chelsea star who has been strongly linked with a move to Bolton Wanderers and yesterday declared his future lies outside Elland Road.
Sam Allardyce is also willing to pay that fee for the 26-year-old, but Leeds are demanding £1m more as they start their summer clear-out. Moyes, who saw the club's youngsters beaten 4-1 in the first leg of the FA Youth Cup final last night, has identified a new centre-half as a must for next season as part of his defensive reshuffle. Duberry said yesterday: "It has not been a good season for me personally because I have not played enough games. "I couldn't complain at the start of the season because the form of the team was good, but when they were not doing well I felt I could have forced my way in. "When I did get a chance I don't think I let anybody down in any way. I think I did well when I played in the first team and I was disappointed to lose my place again. "It's no secret that I want to play first-team football. Reserve team football at the age of 26 is not what I want.
"I get on with it and I would never moan about it, but I want to play on a Saturday afternoon in front of a capacity 30,000 crowd showing them what I am made of. "Sometimes fringe players can really have a bad effect on morale if they go about the place sulking and moping, but that's not me. But I have to be playing first-team football." Duberry added: "It would give me a huge boost if someone wanted to buy me. I will be 27 next season and I have to think of what is right for Michael Duberry."
The Blues boss was among the 15,280 crowd at Goodison Park last night as Everton's youth team were heavily beaten by Aston Villa. Rising star Wayne Rooney went close several times before opening the scoring with a back-post header in the first half. But Villa equalised before the break and over-ran their hosts in a dominant second-half display. Blues coach Colin Harvey said: "The better team won in the end and there are no complaints from me at all. "Villa played some good football and ran out worthy winners. "We started well and needed a goal in that early spell but didn't get it. "I thought our strikers played very well. "Michael Symes worked very hard and nearly played Wayne in a couple of times but we couldn't get the ball to Wayne in the second half and anything he did get he had to create by himself. "One or two went missing in the second half and didn't show enough desire to get the ball back, but now they have 90 minutes to put it right.
"We've got more than a mountain to climb now but I'll be happy if they show their character and put things right on that score." Rooney again impressed for the Blues with a blistering start.
Harvey added: "Wayne tired too, but that's not surprising after playing five games for England last week. "But in the first half he showed what he's capable of and who knows what we will get from him in the future?" Villa coach Tony McAndrew, however, believes Rooney and Symes still pose a major threat to his side's chances of lifting the cup this weekend. "With the two kids Everton have got up front, there is no way we can think it's finished," said McAndrew. "They are probably the best pair I've seen at that age and if we think it's all over we could be in for a rude awakening."
Moyes unveils backroom boys
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 15 2002
DAVID MOYES unveiled the Scottish spine of his Everton backroom staff last night and the fierce work ethic he hopes will revive the club's fortunes. Alan Irvine and Jimmy Lumsden stepped into their new Goodison roles yesterday as the Blues boss implemented the first stage of his mammoth rebuilding task. And his fellow Scots immediately united behind Moyes' belief that, with little cash to elevate Everton to the next level, hard work is the only solution for success. New assistant manager Irvine knows from personal experience how Everton fortunes can be transformed, being part of the club's glorious emergence in the 1980s before leaving just as the great times rolled.
And despite an 18-year absence from Goodison Park, the chance to pursue a similar task proved too strong to resist for the former winger. Irvine said: "I was in a fortunate position of having three exciting offers, from Everton, Newcastle and the FA. It was nice to be wanted but as soon as I had a chat with the manager it made me realise I wanted to come back. "The pull to return to Everton was strongest. I had to take this opportunity. "Having been here before will help me settle in.
Whether it will be an advantage in terms of the team, I don't know, but I know the club, know the area and it's amazing but I still know a lot of the faces here. "To be honest, I don't know David that well but we are similar in terms of our beliefs about football and our work ethic. "He's got a fantastic record so far and if I didn't think there was a chance of him succeeding here, I wouldn't have come." Irvine doesn't need to go back as far as his Everton playing career to know revivals can happen. The former head of Newcastle's Youth Academy added: "In the short-term we are looking to improve. Hopefully, in the long-term it will be a huge improvement. "First of all we need to make an improvement on last season. People have made comparisons with what has happened to Newcastle under Bobby Robson. "Like David he kept the team up in his first season, steadied them the following season and now they've had an amazing season. If we can emulate that it would be fantastic." While Irvine has the benefit of an Everton connection new first team coach Lumsden knows exactly what to expect from his new manager. Lumsden and Moyes go way back to when the Blues boss was starting his fledgling playing career at Celtic, with the pair reunited two decades later at Preston and now Everton. "I made David the player he wasn't," said Lumsden, who will also be involved in the club's reserve and scouting setups; "I was the youth team coach at Celtic and he was the captain. "He must have had something to be the captain but I can honestly say I didn't think he'd be a manager. "Later on though he became interested in coaching and if his hard work is anything to go by, he is a certainty." Lumsden added: "Preston wanted me to stay but it wasn't a hard decision to leave because of the manager here. "He brought me back into the game so it was easy for me to join him at Everton. "I know how he works. He pushes everyone extremely hard but that is the only way for success. He sets a great example himself." Manager Moyes, meanwhile, believes the first acquisitions of his Goodison reign will help him promote the qualities he thrives on.
"Alan's a great coach and he'll give me plenty of knowledge," said Moyes: "Like me, he has served his time and is now due the step up, after working with the Newcastle first team and then their Academy. "It is a young partnership but Jimmy's here to lend us the experience and it's nice to see that I'm the only one who isn't grey, yet!" The Blues boss added: "Jimmy's very hard working and experienced. He's been manager of Bristol City and was assistant manager at Leeds before I brought him to Preston. He'll also act as a go-between with Andy Holden who will take the reserves. "All my staff will be hard workers and they need to be if they want to stay here. "I want to turn the club into a hard-working club. I want people to see us at such. That is the way forward for us. We haven't got the money to buy big-name talent but we can develop the players and the talent we have got.
"I think that is us now as far as the backroom staff is concerned, but you never say never. We are looking at the scouting system as well. "John Ebbrell has done a smashing job there and fits the bill as young and hard-working. Jimmy will also have a look into that set-up. "Hopefully we can develop Everton off the field which will help us on the field," he added.
Released Gin may turn to wine
May 15 2002 By David Randles, icLiverpool
DAVID GINOLA has been released by Everton.The flamboyant Frenchman (right), who was signed on loan from Aston Villa in February, has failed to make an impact at Goodison.Signed by former Blues boss, Walter Smith, the former Tottenham and Newcastle winger has made just one appearance under new manager David Moyes. A free agent under the Bosman ruling, it is expected Ginola will return to France in search of a new club before hanging up his boots to make - wait for it - red wine!Speaking of his imminent retirement the 35-year-old said: "I would like to do something I am as passionate about as football, but it would have to be something serious."I would love to make a top quality red wine in Provence and sell it over here. I have already got good contacts."During his brief spell on Merseyside, Ginola was the subject of an audacious bid from non-league Accrington Stanley who approached the Blues about a possible loan deal before the player turned them down.Ginola also rejected overtures from Premiership new-boys West Bromwich Albion.Defender, Alec Cleland has also been released by Moyes following a four-year injury blighted stay with the Blues.Early reports have suggested Cleland may link up with former team-mate, Dave Watson across the Mersey at Tranmere as he tries to resurrect his career.
Blues cool it on Kelvin
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 16 2002
DAVID MOYES' search for a new Goodison goalkeeper is set to continue as the Everton boss cools his interest in Wimbledon's Kelvin Davis. Former England under-21 international Davis recently spent a two-day trial period at Bellefield as the Everton manager weighs up a summer swoop for the £4million-rated Don. But following closer inspection Moyes is believed to be unwilling to meet Wimbledon's asking price for the 25-year-old. Cash-strapped Wimbledon are resigned to selling their prize asset but the Goodison chief, linked with bids for Ian Walker and Alex Manninger this summer, will not rush into a decision. Neither Paul Gerrard or Steve Simonsen have convinced the new Everton manager since he assumed control two months ago and at least one is set to leave in the close season if t h e Blues receive an acceptable offer. Moyes is keen to strengthen his defence for next season and is continuing to monitor Michael Duberry's situation at Leeds. Both Everton and Bolton are in the hunt for the 26-year-old, but the Blues will only move if the Yorkshire club lower their asking price to £2.5m. And while he pursues additions to his senior squad Moyes has bid farewell to both David Ginola and Alec Cleland - and is set to follow suit with Jesper Blomqvist.
The Swedish international will discover tomorrow whether he has a future at the club following talks with the Blues boss, but as the Daily Post revealed recently, Blomqvist is expected to be told to find a new club. Meanwhile, Ginola and Cleland, who have mustered just one substitute display between them since Moyes arrived, were not offered extensions to Goodison contracts which expire this summer. Ginola , Walter Smith's final signing as Everton manager, made only seven appearances following a free transfer move from Aston Villa and the late cameo at Highbury on Saturday could prove his final bow in the Premiership. Cleland has also endured a disastrous time on Merseyside too, with most of his Everton career ruined by injury. The former Glasgow Rangers defender was signed under the Bosman ruling by Howard Kendall just before he left the club in 1998. But in four seasons at Goodison Park Cleland has made just 28 starts and 19 substitute appearances for the club. Everton, meanwhile, have announced their preseason tour plans for the 2002/3 campaign.
The Blues, after a week-long training camp in Austria, start their friendly fixtures against Kevin Ratcliffe's Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow on Saturday, July 20. A mini-tour of Scotland begins on Tuesday, July 23, against opponents still to be confirmed, and includes Aberdeen on Saturday, July 27 and Hibernian on Monday, July 29. An Everton XI will play at Chester on Wednesday, July 31, before the Blues take on Wrexham at the Racecourse on Tuesday, August 6. David Unsworth's testimonial game at Goodison is expected to be held on August 10, but the date and opposition have still to be confirmed.
Everton's Canada star hits double
Liverpool Echo, Daily Post
May 16 2002
EVERTON striker Tomasz Radzinski scored twice as Switzerland suffered a shock 3-1 defeat at the hands of Canada last night. Just over 4,000 disgruntled Swiss turned out at St Gallen's Espenmoos stadium to watch their side humbled by one of world football's lesser lights. Radzinski opened the scoring after 20 minutes and Werder Bremen's Paul Stalteri netted the second in the 38th minute.
Two minutes into the second half Radzinski got his second. Switzerland pulled a goal back through Blaise N'Kufo late in the game.
Blues boss eyeing pounce for Poom
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 17 2002
DERBY COUNTY'S Mart Poom has emerged as the latest name on David Moyes' goalkeeping list.
The Everton manager has turned his sights to the Estonian international as his search for a new number one at Goodison Park moves on. Moyes has been linked with summer swoops for Leicester's Ian Walker and Arsenal's Alex Manninger while Wimbledon's Kelvin Davies recently spent a trial period under the manager's watchful eye at Bellefield. However, the Blues boss is now believed to be ready to tempt relegated Derby into off-loading their 30-year-old stopper.
The Rams have placed a £4million asking price on Poom's head but the Blues hope the financial problems at Pride Park will force them to sell for around £2.5m. Injury-plagued Mark Pembridge has vowed to train during the summer to win over boss Moyes. The 31-year-old has started only one match since Moyes took over in March, and fears he has slipped down the pecking order at Everton.
But he put a season of injury frustration behind him this week with an outstanding performance to help Wales to their shock 1-0 win over Germany in Cardiff to prove he is over his fitness troubles.
Pembridge believes he has finally recovered from a persistent calf injury, but admits he must keep working during the summer months to avoid any more damage when pre-season training starts in July. The midfielder said: "I will be training during the break to make sure my calf is okay over the summer." "I don't want to just do nothing at all and then find that when I come back the calf problem returns. I need to keep things ticking over." Pembridge made several reserve appearances and considered himself fit two weeks before Moyes gave him his first Premiership runout under the new management, in the 4-3 defeat at Arsenal on the last day of the season. Pembridge then joined up with Wales and played superbly against the Germans. He said: "I am over the injury. I have been back and forward to Germany several times to see the doctor, who was actually with the German team in Cardiff. "I've had tests, and at first they thought it was scar tissue causing the problem but I broke down again and that clearly wasn't the case. "Now I've had blood tests and changed my diet and I am 100 per cent over it. "I've gone seven weeks now since the last problem so I'm convinced it's okay now. My diet has changed, no pasta, no white bread, no red meat and it's worked."
Pembridge figured in only 14 matches all season and started only two of Everton's last 26 games of the season. He said: "The Arsenal game was my first under the new manager and I felt I did pretty well. "My job is now to impress the manager and get myself back into the side. I got my head down and worked hard and we will see what happens from there. "The manager is enthusiastic, wants to work properly and wants to pass the ball, which is what the game is all about." Pembridge, still with two years of his contract to run, has Scot Gemmill, Thomas Gravesen and Lee Carsley established in front of him, while David Unsworth has been a midfield fixture under Moyes. And Everton could also have midfield outcast Alex Nyarko back with them next season. The Ghanaian has been on loan at Monaco all season, but the French side have so far failed to come up with an offer of a permanent deal for the £3million star. If that remains the case - and no other club comes in - Nyarko will be back at Everton for pre-season training on July 1 at a club he vowed never to play for again after his on-pitch row with an irate fan last season.
Good portents for Blues
Fan Scene By Mark O'Brien, Daily Post
May 17 2002
SO, the fat lady has finally sung. Inserting a David Ginola joke there would be simply cheap and unnecessary. The nightmare scenario at the start of the season was that Francis Jeffers would score the winner at Highbury that would send us down. As it turned out his late header was just a footnote to the season in what was essentially an exhibition match. It certainly wasn't the pasting that many expected. The Blues played some nice stuff at times, with Lee Carsley and Tomasz Radzinski scoring a pair of cracking goals. The fact that we could go into the match and approach it in such a carefree manner is again testament to what David Moyes has done since he arrived. The real hard work obviously starts now as the manager tries to manoeuvre in the transfer market to try and improve the squad. No doubt we'll be linked with all sorts of exotic individuals during the World Cup, but the truth is that with such a tight budget we are not going to be taking any risks on another 'next Vieira'.
A new goalkeeper and a central defender with a bit of pace seem the priorities. Michael Duberry has been mentioned, and he's not a bad player at all, but Leeds, with financial pressures of their own, are likely to try and hold out for daft money for him. And speaking of players who are worth a bob or two, what price Wayne Rooney? In the first half against Aston Villa he looked like a combination of Alan Shearer and Ian Wright, with a dash of Romario thrown in. It was not difficult to see just what all the fuss is about. Unfortunately his immense talent wasn't enough to give Colin Harvey's young side an edge against a talented and physically powerful Villa line-up who ran out 4-1 winners.
The kids with character and determination are the ones who will make it in the game. Let's face it, just to reach the level they are at now they all must have talent. They need to go to Villa Park tomorrow, work hard, put Tuesday behind them and make everyone proud of them. Here's to next season and the further adventures of Everton Football Club.
Jesper shown blues door
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
May 18 2002
JESPER BLOMQVIST is today on the look-out for a new club after being told he was no longer needed at Everton. Manager David Moyes has decided not to offer the Swedish international a contract extension at Goodison Park after talks between the pair this week. Blomqvist now becomes a free agent after failing to convince the Blues boss of his worth following his recovery from a careerthreatening knee injury. And Moyes explained: "It has been a very difficult decision but we have Idan Tal, Mark Pembridge and David Unsworth who are all comfortable on that side.
"Everyone at Everton wishes Jesper all the best for the future." Unsworth is to face Howard Kendall's former club Athletic Bilbao in his testimonial game at Goodison on Saturday, August 10.
The Basques, who provided the opposition for Kevin Ratcliffe's testimonial in 1989, were 10th in the Primera Liga last season and will provide Everton's last friendly opposition before the campaign starts on August 17. Everton, meanwhile, are considering appealing to the FA after Fulham escaped punishment for their part in the fracas at Craven Cottage on December 8. The Londoners were fined £30,000 and had Barry Hayles suspended for one match following the incident but after the ban was lifted the fine was waived this week at a personal hearing. In contrast David Weir served a one-match suspension and the club were hit with a £25,000 fine. Chief executive Michael Dunford said: "We may now reconsider our position. We were happy to take our punishment on the chin at the time but this puts things in a different perspective."
EFC in Reds' plan
May 18 2002 By Mark Thomas, Liverpool Echo
GOODISON PARK could play a role in the ambitious new tourism plans crucial to Liverpool FC's Stanley Park stadium scheme. Plans for a new 55,000-seat Anfield stadium in the park include the creation of a football-themed " Liverpool - Football City" tourist destination that could bring at least 200,000 visitors a year. Everton hope to vacate Goodison to move to their new Kings Dock arena home in the winter of 2005/6. Liverpool hope to have their stadium ready for 2005, although council sources believe this to be optimistic, with 2006 a more realistic target and 2007 a possibility if there is a public inquiry. No firm plans have been made, but the Goodison site is under consideration to form part of the Anfield tourist package. It could be turned into an attraction in its own right, or form a terminus for shuttles that would take visitors to the tourist trail.
A council report on the Anfield/ Breckfield regeneration strategy says: "Were Everton to relocate to Kings Dock, the opportunity clearly exists to incorporate Goodison Park within the regeneration framework." Visitors dropped off by the shuttle will walk through Stanley Park on a "path to glory" taking them through Gladstone Conservatory and a new "Pavilion of Legends" before they reach the new Anfield stadium itself. There they begin a stadium tour, including a "Story of the Reds" exhibit, superstore and a sky walk offering spectacular views over the city from the stadium roof.
After that, they will walk through the current Anfield stadium site, which will be converted into open space incorporating fountains, a Kop bar/restaurant and memorials to the history of the club before departing again by shuttle. Everton FC spokesman Ian Ross said no decisions had been made on the future of the Goodison site, although he confirmed it would be sold as part of the financial package for the new arena. "There are various interested parties, but we would hold consultations with the local community before making any decision. "Whoever takes it over, there would be some sort of memorial to mark the fact that this was Everton's stadium. The club is fully aware that people in generations to come will remember Goodison as the spiritual home of Everton." Consultants will spend two months seeking the views of every Anfield resident on the Stanley Park proposals before a final decision is taken.
Brown left to rue first-leg mistakes
Report By Chris Wright, Daily Post
May 20 2002
SCOTT BROWN had mixed feelings after he hit the winner for Everton's youth team at Villa Park on Saturday - but had to settle for an FA Youth Cup runners-up medal. The 16-year-old midfielder capped a fine display with a 75th-minute strike to give the Blues a 1-0 second leg win, but it wasn't enough to turn round the 4-1 deficit from the first leg at Goodison Park. Brown said: "It was good to score the winner, but it is disappointing to lose. I thought we worked hard and did our jobs well, and I thought we deserved better. "We had chances in the first half but they didn't go in. We had enough chances to win it." He believes the Blues' lacklustre second-half display at Goodison was ultimately their downfall. "We were disappointed on Tuesday, but all the lads were up for it in training," added Brown. "But it was always going to be hard. We had left ourselves a lot to do, being 4-1 down. So we were always going to struggle to score three goals. "But even so, I thought we had enough chances today to do it, but we just didn't take them. "Wayne Rooney had been scoring goals for us all season and on another day the chances he had would have gone in." But the youngster feels all the team can take a lot of positives from their run to the final. He said: "It was a great experience for all of us. If you had said to us in November we would be runners-up, we'd have grabbed it. We have been underdogs all the way through. "We have had the hard pick. We played Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Man City and we did well to beat them so we have done very well throughout." But now Brown wants to learn from that experience and push on to make the breakthrough at a higher level. He added: "I'm hoping to break into the reserves next season and if I do get the chance, I've got to take it." Brown's Everton and England colleague Rooney produced another powerhouse performance, but for once he couldn't add to his eight goals in the tournament, falling just one short of equalling the tournament record. The 16-year-old, who was named man of the match, echoed Brown's feeling that the first leg had proved the deciding factor of an entertaining final. He said: "Obviously we left ourselves an uphill task after the first leg, but at least we've restored some pride back. "It was the end of the season, so we just gave it all we've got, but we just never did enough in the first leg.".
Gothenburg eyeing Blomqvist
Report By Ian Doyle, Daily Post
May 20 2002
HEADING HOME?: Jesper Blomqvist is surplus to requirements
EVERTON reject Jesper Blomqvist has been offered the chance to resurrect his career back in Sweden. And Thomas Gravesen could be set to follow him out of Goodison Park. Blomqvist was released by the Blues last week after manager David Moyes decided his services were no longer required. The winger, who made 17 appearances during his six-month spell at Goodison, was released along with David Ginola and Alec Cleland as Moyes begins to reshape his squad.
And former club IFK Gothenburg have confirmed their interest in Blomqvist - but admit they are unlikely to lure the 28-year-old back to his homeland. "We may have to sell a player to afford Jesper, but if it comes to that, I'm sure we'll fix it," said Gothenburg sports director Roger Gustafsson. "Of course we want him to come home to us, but he has been playing very well at Everton and I think he will get offers from other foreign clubs. "Jesper has explained he would like to stay abroad for a couple more years, so it will be hard for us to get him." Blomqvist was brought in from Manchester United before Christmas on a short-term contract by former boss Walter Smith, after more than two years sidelined with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Gravesen's turbulent Everton career has again been put into doubt. The Danish international had believed he would be allowed to join up with his national side for a pre-World Cup training camp last week, providing the Blues were clear of relegation come the final game of the season at Arsenal last Saturday. But, with Moyes' side still chasing a possible Intertoto Cup place, Gravesen was refused permission to leave before the clash at Highbury. And the Dane was not part of the 16-man squad which faced Arsenal.
£25,000-a-week star's terraced home
Daily Post
May 20 2002
EVERTON footballer Alan Stubbs has swapped his exclusive £375,000 mansion for a Merseyside terraced house, it was reported today. Stubbs, 31, who earns £25,000 a week, has taken up residence with his family at the modest home in Kirkby after selling his mock-Tudor mansion near the Royal Birkdale golf course. The council house recently became vacant after the death of his mother-in-law, Julie Glover. It is believed Stubbs has moved to Kirkby with his wife Mandy, 32, and their two children, Heather, four, and Sam, two, as a temporary measure while a new house is built.
According to today's report, Stubbs and team-mate Duncan Ferguson have bought a plot of land in Formby to build neighbouring homes. Stubbs only moved into his five-bedroom detached home in Birkdale less than a year ago after quitting Celtic, and had already spent a substantial amount on renovations. His wife, Mandy, said: "We are just using my mother's house to stay in while we are waiting for our new home to be finished." A neighbour said: "It's quite obvious where he lives because of the Mercedes and the big Jeep parked outside."
World Cup duo linked with Blues
Daily Post
May 21 2002
EVERTON are thought to be interested in South African World Cup duo Aaron Mokoena and Delron Buckley. Ajax defender Mokoena and Bochum winger Buckley are being monitored by several Premiership clubs over a summer move - with the Blues among them - claims the players' agent.
Mokoena is highly rated at Ajax, although he has been on loan at their Belgian feeder club Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen for the past two seasons. His agent Rob Moore said: "There is interest from the Premiership in Aaron. He's an outstanding player and would be well suited to England."
After his impressive displays for his country and in the Jupiler League he has been catching the eye of a number of English clubs, thought to include Everton, Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers. But Moore would not disclose the interested parties, saying: "We cannot reveal which clubs are interested. We will just have to see what happens." With David Ginola and Jesper Blomqvist on their way Mokoena's international colleague may be an option on the wing. The 23-year-old has been in Germany with Bochum for six years and is thought to be keen on a move away. And Moore said: "Everton, West Ham and Middlesbrough have all watched Delron at some point and they, along with many others, are likely to be watching over the World Cup finals."
Vision document on stadium
May 21 2002 by Mark Thomas, Liverpool Echo
GOODISON PARK could be used to create a garden of remembrance for Everton fans if the club moves to Kings Dock. That is one of the plans which would be considered according to a new document which has been published. It comes from regeneration company Liverpool Vision which held a series of public consultation meetings to discuss Everton's plans. And one of the key facts to emerge is that proposals for Goodison will be considered at the same time as the detailed application for Kings Dock later this year. The report says the club has strong links with the community and is committed to liaising with residents about its plans. It reveals that plans are being considered to extend the grounds of St Luke's Church at Goodison Park to create a "garden of remembrance" for the ashes of Evertonians currently buried in over 300 urns beneath the pitch.
"A number of options are currently being considered, including relocation of the urns to the new ground or a garden of remembrance by extending the footprint of the church gardens.
"Everton will consult fans and families about what they would like to see happen to their loved ones and will ensure that this sensitive issue is considered and dealt with in the most appropriate and fitting way." In response to questions that Goodison Park could be left derelict Liverpool Vision say the club's contribution to funding for King's Dock will be made up in part from funds from redeveloping Goodison. On the issue of traffic the document reveals that there are to be approximately 3,600 parking spaces at Kings Dock. Parking for at least 70 coaches will be provided on the area occupied by the pitch when it is retracted. Additional coach parking can be provided on street in the nearby Parliament Street industrial area. The report says that if it is decided that the Strand is to be closed on major event days, it will be for between 20 and 30 minutes, to allow pedestrians to clear. The document says that the public sector partners in the Kings Dock will not allow the project to go ahead unless the private sector have made legal commitments to meet their share of the costs.
Pembridge resolution for Moyes
May 21 2002 By Kevin Ratcliffe
WHILE David Moyes' decision to release Jesper Blomqvist may have come as a surprise, more eyebrows were probably raised at the reasons behind the decision. David cited the ability of Idan Tal, Kevin McLeod, David Unsworth and Mark Pembridge to play down the left as influences on his thinking. Neither Tal nor McLeod have figured under the new regime, Unsworth is ostensibly a full-back - while Mark Pembridge is one of those unsung heroes who never seems to receive the credit he deserves. But anyone who saw Pembridge's performance for Wales against Germany last week would probably appreciate Moyes' sentiments more. Playing as a midfield anchor in front of the back-four, Mark was outstanding. He broke up German attacks regularly, used the ball well and only gave away possession once all match. His influence was enormous and David will be hoping the injury problems which plagued Pembridge last season are now finally behind him. The uncertainty over Blomqvist's own fitness may have played a part in the decision to release him. So, too, presumably, would Everton's financial position. It's obvious to everyone that the Blues' squad is short on numbers. David will have to operate with a small, tight-knit squad next season and probably wants players whose fitness he can rely on to get them through 35 to 40 games.
He will also be looking to save as much as possible on his wage bill to bring in one or two new faces and create the competition for places. Some people have pointed to the altercation David Moyes and Jesper Blomqvist had when the player was substituted against Bolton towards the end of the season - and suggested that played a part in the manager's decision. I can't really see that.
It's true that some managers do hold grudges, but from what I know of David is not the type of man who would cut off his nose to spite his face. The Blomqvist call was clearly a difficult one, but it won't be the last tough decision he has to make.
Harvey spirit alive and kicking in super Youth set-up
I WASN'T at all surprised to see the reaction of Everton's youngsters in the second leg of the FA Youth Cup final last Saturday. It was a mirror image of the way their manager Colin Harvey would have reacted, too. Stung and embarrassed by the 4-1 first leg defeat, they showed tremendous spirit, character and desire to dominate the second leg and win the battle, if not the war.
Colin's record as youth team coach at Goodison has been outstanding. People point to the successful 1998 Youth Cup winning side when discussing his achievements in that role. But they forget that he was also supremely influential in the youth set-up that reached the finals in 1977 and 1983, and won it in 1984. I was a youth team player in the late 70s, with Steve McMahon and Paul Lodge, when we reached the semi-finals and Colin was a huge influence on me. I suspect he has modified his coaching techniques over the last few years, though! When I was there he would think nothing of throwing in crunching tackles in the five-aside - especially if his team was losing - and that was even after he had undergone hip replacement surgery! That kind of burning will to win was infectious, and even if Colin doesn't throw himself around now as much as he once did, I'm sure he still transmits that passion to the youngsters. Colin has served Everton in almost every role since he made his debut in the San Siro Stadium aged 18. He is still doing an outstanding job for the club almost 40 years later.
Blues' keeper search goes on
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
May 21 2002
WHILE Everton weigh up whether to make a formal bid for Derby goalkeeper Mart Poom, Wimbledon number one Kelvin Davis is carefully considering his own future.
The highly rated youngster spent two days on trial at Everton last week, but the Blues have not yet followed up their interest. Davis, however, says he is unsure whether a move North would be right for him at this stage of his career. "I'm not expecting to hear anything in the next two or three weeks and I still have to decide whether it would be right for me personally with my first child on the way," he explained. "There's a lot to consider before anything might happen. "I found it quite exciting to work with former England keeper Chris Woods and I enjoyed the training."
Wimbledon are believed to want £4m for the 25-year-old. For that figure, David Moyes wants a keeper with more experience and Derby's Estonian international Mart Poom fits the bill.
But he remains loathe to commit almost all of his modest transfer pot on one player.
Everton From Chile
By David Charters Daily Post Staff
May 22 2002
SURELY one is enough, the careworn Evertonian might say as he sucks the gravy from a meat and potato pie high in the Gwladys Street stand of Goodison Park. Soon, however, as the familiar rhythm of the Z Cars theme fades into another nerveshredding performance, the diehard Blue will be able contemplate the prospect of another Everton - in paradise. To reach this destination, he must cross 8,000 miles of ocean, tropical rain forests, desert, Inca ruins and snow-tipped peaks. But the second Everton is there to be found, in an oval, all-seater stadium by the banks of a beautiful lake in the town of Vina Del Mar, near the Pacific Ocean. Like the faltering giant of Walton, this Chilean Everton has enjoyed some glorious moments. And next Wednesday, John Shearon is travelling to Vina Del Mar, a few miles from the famous port of Valparaiso, to forge closer links between the two clubs, leading to the official formation of the Ruleteros Society. This perhaps tells of a difference in approach between Merseyside's Everton and their Latin American namesakes. Our team is nicknamed the Toffees in celebration of a delightful humbug, while supporters of Corporacion Deportiva Everton are the Ruleteros, or the men who gamble on the spinning of a wheel. But such differences should make for an interesting friendship. John, 42, a manager with an information technology firm, has contacted Goodison bosses, including deputy chairman Bill Kenwright, about his idea. And with him he will be taking club souvenirs, including shirts signed by the first team players. In Chile, he will be staying at the home of Luis Ramos Vivanco, administration manager of CD Everton. Meanwhile, arrangements have been made for the Ruleteros Society to meet above the Valparaiso restaurant in Hardman Street, Liverpool. From all this, John hopes there could be transfer deals, cultural exchanges and friendly matches between the two clubs. These could culminate in 2009, CD Everton's centenary. Over the years, our Everton has been the more successful with nine top-flight championships against CD's three, in 1950, 1952 and 1976.
But South American press cuttings have a familiar tone: " Evertonians returned to earth with a bump . . . Once again Everton's display pleased few . . . Everton's season was kicked back to life . . ."
Poor gates have been a problem with the average falling to 2,000 in the 20,000-seat stadium. At one point this led to a delay in paying the players' modest wages. But the ground fills with success.
And this season CD Everton, who wear blue shirts with a yellow stripe, have a good chance of being promoted back to the Primera A (first division). However, with a glamorous stadium on the edge of Lake Sausalito, the Chileans provide a mirror for Everton's ambition to move into a new Goodison Park on the Kings Dock. Both clubs have been World Cup hosts - Estadia Sausalito in 1962 and Goodison in 1966. But the story of the two Evertons stretches back to 1909 when the Merseyside team beat the Argentine League XI, the Uruguayan League XI and the Argentinian club, Alumni, during a South American tour. These results greatly pleased a group of Chileans starting a club in Vina Del Mar. It gave them a name. A more fanciful story suggests that at the first meeting, one of their number pulled an Everton mint from his pocket and decided on the name there and then.
Now John, an old boy of Liverpool's St Francis Xavier School with a BA in Latin American studies, has set up a committee, a website and an e-mail address for the Ruleteros Society (www.algorta. demon.co.uk). "The idea is to meet about three times a season," he said. During his two-week mission to the other Everton, he will watch matches against La Serena and La Calera.
Although he now lives in Leeds with his wife Heather, 42, and son Michael, 11, John remains a season ticket-holder at Goodison. "I first learned about the other Everton from a small article in the programme for our third round Cup match against Stoke City in 1977," he said. "I just got hooked on the idea of the other Everton. "During my year abroad in Mexico in 1980, I hitch-hiked down to Chile to visit them." The whole thing might have remained a personal interest if it hadn't been for his pal Michael Owen, 45, who invited him to make a presentation to last November's meeting of Everton Shareholders' Association. The Chilean Everton then issued John with a certificate recognising him as liaison man between the clubs. "CD Everton really support the English team," John said. "They watch us on Fox and Sky. Now Everton should break out of Walton. "Manchester United has a link with the New York Yankees which is so commercial that it's almost obscene. We have got an absolutely genuine link with a South American club. "I would love Everton to play Everton - maybe as the inaugural game at the Kings Dock."
Witnesses in ex-Blues star trial lured by cash
By Tariq Tahir Political Correspondent, Daily Post
May 22 2002
SEX abuse allegations against ex-Everton star Dave Jones were made by witnesses driven by the lure of cash compensation, his lawyer told the House of Commons yesterday. The case against Mr Jones, who now manages Wolves, collapsed after the judge ordered the jury to acquit him because he would not get a fair trial. This came after it was revealed one of the witnesses would not be coming to court to give evidence. Solicitor Linzi McDonald told MPs carrying out an inquiry into the handling of sex abuse allegations the police began a so-called "trawling" operation to find witnesses in the case. This practice - which has come under fire recently - involves contacting people who used to be in care homes to ask them if they know of any similar offences committed by the accused.
Ms McDonald told the Home Affairs Committee a number of pupils were written to by police, who made it clear what was being investigated and asked them to come forward with information.
"People therefore knew what was being investigated and what was being looked for," she added.
"In my case, evidence suggests two or more did this for financial compensation. From the trawl and publicity, people came out of the woodwork." Southport solicitor Chris Saltrese, who has defended clients accused in major police probes on Merseyside and North Wales, attacked the police handling of Mr Jones' case. "Police were scurrying around prisons trying to dig out further complainants. That's extremely worrying." Mr Saltrese told MPs this practice was common in Liverpool's jails.
He said he once went to speak to a prisoner, who had been in a care home, about sex abuse allegations made against a client. The solicitor told MPs he asked the man why a fellow care home resident had made the accusations. "He looked at me like I was an idiot - he said 'it was for the money dummy.' There's a sub culture in the world these people come from. "I went to see another prisoner in Liverpool and there was a trawling operation by four police forces who were visiting his wing. Prisoners know what's available." The committee also heard from the Merseysidebased Falsely Accused Carers and Teachers group (FACT). Former Liverpool care home worker Phil Fiddler described how in 1994 he was arrested as part of " Operation Van Gogh" and accused of raping a young woman in 1979. In 1995 he was re-arrested by Merseyside police for offences against two males at a separate home in the area. He said neither the woman or one of the males was even in the care system when the offences were alleged to have happened, yet he still faced the court.
During the subsequent trials he told MPs he was cleared unanimously of the allegations but now finds himself on a blacklist. "My whole life has been ruined," said Mr Fiddler.
Blues vow to protect striker Rooney
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
May 22 2002
YOUTH coach Colin Harvey has urged Everton to ease off the pressure on young striker Wayne Rooney. The Goodison legend concedes that the 16-year-old has "a special talent".
But he insists that the teenager needs to be given time and space to develop those skills.
"There has been an awful lot of hype about him," he said. "It is now up to the coaches and the people who deal with him to see that the talent comes to fruition. "Obviously we don't want him to fall by the wayside in any way. We've just got to make sure he gets to play in Everton's first team and we all see the fruits of that. "He's a level-headed lad and to play in the team he knows he has to play as a team member, which he does. It's up to him how far he goes. "He's got a special talent, but he's got a long, long way to go." Rooney will jump straight from the youth team to Everton's first team squad next season. Manager David Moyes is still trying to make further additions to his squad, with an exchange deal involving Paul Gerrard the latest reported bait for Derby goalkeeper Mart Poom.
The Estonian appears to be his preferred option for the Goodison goalkeeping slot, but a £4m asking price is a sticking point. Coventry keeper Magnus Hedman has declared from his Swedish training camp that he will leave Highfield Road this summer. David Moyes, however, does not have him on his list of targets.
Everton's funding bid
May 23 2002 Liverpool Echo
TRUE BLUE VISION
EVERTON FC'S King's Dock dream was set to take a major leap forward this afternoon.
The club and its partners are hoping to be formally invited to apply for £35m worth of European Objective One funding. Sources close to the project say this invitation would be a very strong indication that the Euro-funding critical to the financing of the project is likely to be approved.
It follows three months in which Everton and public sector partners Liverpool council, the North West Development Agency and English Partnerships have made detailed presentations to three Objective One panels. Key issues were the economic impact of the project, employment, training and business opportunities and its impact on tourism. Today the Objective One project monitoring committee was reviewing the proposals, and was expected to make a decision on whether to invite the developers to apply for the £35m European regional development fund grant. A source close to the project said: "So far all the indications have been very positive, and we are hoping the project will be formally invited to bid. "They don't invite applications unless they are confident that the money will be forthcoming." The economic impact assessment carried out by independent consultants for the Kings development predicts the creation of approximately 3,000 jobs and a £23m increase in annual tourism expenditure on Merseyside. The 55,000 seat multi-purpose arena at the heart of the £300m project is expected to cost £155m to build. The public sector partners are to pay £30m, Everton £30m, with around £40m coming from the developers of the rest of the Kings site and £20m from a commercial loan or mortgage.
Blues' selling days are over
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
May 23 2002
DAVID MOYES will resist all interest in his World Cup bound stars this summer, declaring: "Everton is not a selling club any more." Everton have five players away on international duty in Japan and South Korea, with fans fearing that a good tournament for stars like Thomas Gravesen will see him snapped up. But Moyes said:"Everton is not a selling club any more. I would not have come here if that had been the case. "I am here to build a football club, not dismantle one. "I want to keep the players I want and if players are sold it's because I feel it's right to move them on." Moyes may have to juggle his finances, however, by selling some players to recruit others, but he believes there will be a lull in the transfer market during the World Cup. "We are certainly looking for players," he explained "but the supporters realise what the financial restraints are and we will do the best to improve the squad with what's available. "Prices out there are very, very high at present and clubs may wait to see how the World Cup progresses before making their moves." Two of Everton's Youth Cup final side, meanwhile, have been called up to England's Under-18 squad for a tournament in Portugal next month. Steven Schumacher, who skippered Everton's youth team last season, will also captain his country. He will be joined by clubmate Alan Moogan in Lisbon.
The tournament takes place from June 3-10.
Your Letters 23rd May 2002
May 23 2002 Liverpool Echo
WITH the Liverpool FC board seemingly committed to getting a new ground perhaps they could be reminded that Goodison Park might soon be available for short term lease, if Everton's move to the Kings Dock is accelerated. This could become an interesting propositions should the Anfield community prefer the rebuilding and expanding of a temporarily vacated Anfield to a move onto Stanley Park. If the move to the park goes ahead however, perhaps the planners might seize the opportunity of removing a longstanding traffic bottleneck by extending Utting Avenue to Walton Breck Road through the open space suggested for a vacated Anfield site.
Blue in the face trying to get ticket
Report By William Leece, Daily Post
May 24 2002
I'VE never found it in me to hate Everton fans. I'll tease them and even sympathise with them until I'm blue in the face - and what a calamity that is! But deep down, I can't truly dislike them. And besides, it was an Evertonian who parcelled me off to Rome in May 1977 for the footballing clash of the titans - Liverpool versus Borussia Moenchengladbach. As a Kop season ticket holder I had to go. I mean, I'd been at every home leg of a European tie that season, so my presence at the final was a foregone conclusion, right? Wrong. Even though the Daily Post and its sister paper the Liverpool Echo had pooled their resources to cover the biggest game in Merseyside football history, it still meant that 10 or so journalists were out in Rome - and someone had to man the phones back in Liverpool. So a few days' holiday were OUT. And then Vin Kelly came to my rescue. At the time he was news editor of the combined Daily Post and Echo team. He called me into his office to say he had a special job for me. Oh yeah? Oh yeah! British Rail were offering a journalist the chance to join the biggest football special train ever - 5,000 Liverpudlians trundling all the way from Lime Street station to Rome and back again. And what's more there was a ticket thrown in. There was a strike of sorts on the French railways at the time, so the train had to take the scenic route once we'd landed at Ostend - across Belgium and through Switzerland. Dawn in northern Italy. There's mist on the plains, yet you know it's going to be hot. And the sheer chaos that was the Holiday Inn in Rome. From somewhere in the middle came a distinctive rasp that showed that Bill Shankly, even in retirement, was the man they wanted to hear. The Daily Mirror almost missed it though. Their Liverpool reporter Frank Corless - now a Daily Post part-timer after a distinguished Mirror career - had been booked into the wrong Holiday Inn at Rome airport 20-odd miles out of town.
He might have been a rival at the time, but the Daily Post and Echo came to his rescue, giving the Mirror crew use of our own rooms for a bit of peace and quiet. And then the match itself. Surprisingly enough, much of it is a blur now. I can replay David Fairclough's Kop-end goal against St Etienne but the Rome images merge into one. But if Berti Vogts reckons he's having a hard time as Scotland manager, just whisper the name Kevin Keegan to him and watch him go pale. And then it was time to go home. The postscript to it all was that the train VIPs then had to work for their living, handing out the Italian railway-issue packed lunches. The Italian lunch-packs each included a quarterbottle of wine. Simple - stack up the quarter bottles for our own use, and pass the butties down the train...
Blues' sights set on Walker
May 24 2002 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON have switched their goalkeeping focus from Derby to Leicester, after being priced out of a move for Mart Poom. Ian Walker will now become their top target, after a series of player-exchange deals were tossed out for David Moyes' preferred choice. Rams boss John Gregory wants a straight cash deal of £4m for his highly rated Estonian keeper, but Blues boss David Moyes was unwilling to exhaust almost all of his transfer fund on one player. Suggested player-plus-cash deals were also rejected by Gregory. Instead he will now transfer his attentions to Leicester's Ian Walker - who comes cheaper at £2.5m. Everton have reshuffled their pre-season programme, meanwhile, and have included a friendly at European Cup Final venue Hampden Park. The Toffees will take on Queens Park, who finished bottom of the Scottish Third Division, on Tuesday July 23 (7.30pm).
They have also replaced the trip to Aberdeen on July 27 with a match at Dunfermline.
With a game also scheduled against Hibernian on July 29, the Blues have replaced the long trip to the Granite City with a hop across the Forth Bridge. David Weir and Scot Gemmill, meanwhile, ended their season on a winning note when Scotland finally broke their duck under Berti Vogts by beating a Hong Kong XI 4-0. Gemmill scored the final goal - and both he and Weir will now head for a break.
We can't afford squad of bench warmers
May 24 2002 By Howard Kendall
SAYING farewell to Jesper Blomqvist was as necessary an act as releasing Gazza and giving David Ginola his marching orders. David Moyes will be fully aware of the need to have a strong squad.
But the primary concern of the Everton boss over the summer months will be putting together a starting XI he is happy with. A club in Everton's position cannot afford to have its highest earners warming the bench. Ginola and Gazza were clearly never going to be regular starters and it seems Moyes shares that view regarding Blomqvist. And once he had reached that conclusion the sensible option was to say goodbye to the talented Swede. The money saved on cutting that trio's wages could be used to pay for three younger, cheaper players. With youth, you can afford to be patient. With highly paid ageing stars there is little room for sentiment. If they are not good enough to play in the first team then there is no use having them in the squad. There is no doubt Blomqvist is a great talent. But doubts over his fitness made him a luxury item and there is little room for luxuries when you are trying to build a side.
Goodison to be children's zone
Exclusive By Suzanne Elsworth Daily Post Staff
May 27 2002
GOODISON Park could be transformed into a "kids' quarter" as part of Liverpool FC's new stadium plans. A children's museum would be the focal point of proposals to create youth education and leisure facilities when Everton leave for the Kings Dock. The idea has come from consultants looking at the future of the Anfield and Breckfield area as part of the plans for Liverpool's new ground.
Although no final decision will be made on Goodison Park's future until the Kings Dock scheme is under way, the option of using Goodison as part of the new-look Anfield package has been highlighted in a report today. The widely-anticipated study has been put together by Manchester-based consultants GVA Grimley on behalf of Liverpool City Council, LFC and a community steering group and confirms a bus terminal at Goodison Park could also be included in the plans.
The Daily Post has been told the proposed family attraction would contain few shops and the emphasis of the museum would be on education rather than fun. Publication of the study today follows the release earlier this month of the executive summary revealing Liverpool could build a new stadium on the Stanley Park car park. The £60,000 report confirms Goodison Park is being lined up as the gateway to a Path of Glory heritage trail leading through Stanley Park to Liverpool's new stadium, celebrating the achievements of both clubs. Vernon Sangster Sports Centre would be rebuilt in the western stand of the new stadium facing the park. In addition, the Rockfield area, near the current Anfield stadium, could be developed as an arts quarter, offering a creative haven for artists. The proposals have been drawn up to ensure strong economic and social benefits for the area after the upheaval of Everton leaving, and Liverpool moving. The regeneration strategy laid out in the new report proposes modernising primary and secondary school facilities, improving educational performance and aspirations, developing basic skills in all age groups and boosting job skills. Phil Pellow, editor of club fanzine Satis?, and leader of the Everton For Kings Dock campaign, said: "We are talking about the local community using that site for its own benefit, so the idea of a kids' quarter seems a fitting way to use that land." He thinks the proposals would be received better than others which have also been outlined in the report. Another idea in the report is that the land could become a coach terminal for tourists visiting what would be known as Football City Anfield.
Regeneration officials realise that such a scheme - Liverpool supporters disembarking on what has for years been Everton's home - would be a sensitive one for Blues fans. But the document also stresses the need for fans to get to and from the new stadium and a high-quality shuttle service is proposed, with Goodison Gate - a landmark entry to the park - being the drop-off point.
Mr Pellow said: "It is mischievous that anyone could come up with a plan to include Goodison Park as part of Liverpool FC's regeneration. "From my perspective but I think I speak for other fans, I would not be happy for it to be used as a shuttle terminus for Liverpool fans. "The club has made it clear that it will do what's best for the community and that it will be sensitive to the needs and wishes of local residents, fans and the families of those who have scattered their ashes at Goodison Park."
Radzinski for return
Daily Post
May 28 2002
TOMASZ RADZINSKI will make an emotional return to his former club Anderlecht-later this summer.
Everton have organised a pre-season game against the Belgian side in the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium for Tuesday August 6. The game will pitch Blues striker Radzinski against the club he quit for Goodison Park in a £4.5million switch last summer. Everton have also scheduled a three-match Scottish tour. They take on Queens Park at Hampden Park on July 23 and also face Dunfermline and Hibernian.
Biggest regret of Irish skipper's life
May 28 2002 By Kevin Ratcliffe
AS a former Welsh international, I never had the chance to play in the World Cup Finals.
So it mystifies me that a player like Roy Keane should so willingly throw away his chances of gracing the game's biggest stage because of a few gripes over facilities. I was skipper of Wales and I would have given my right arm to lead my country out in a World Cup finals. Keane has kissed goodbye to his chances of doing just that. And so if I had been in Keane's shoes last week I am sure I would have handled things differently. From what I have read in the papers about the facilities at Ireland's training camp in Saipan, the skipper had good reason to be frustrated. It brought back memories of playing for Wales during the 1980s. It was like a step back in time when I left Everton to join up with the squad. Players would rush to the training ground in order to get first pick from the kit bag.
We trained in a mish-mash of training tops that looked like they'd been handed down from the Romanian FA. If the wind caught the collars at the right angle there was a very real danger of flying away! I took my own shorts with me for international duty because the shorts we had with Wales were all uncomfortable. It was a running gag with the lads. Roy Keane has said the Irish squad called themselves the Dog and Duck. During my early days with Wales it was like training with Rag A . . . United! I recall one particular training camp at Bisham Abbey where we were put to shame by the well financed England squad. Our facilities were poor, we had a shoddy kit and when we travelled to foreign matches our tracksuits made us look like we had walked straight off the set of Randall & Hopkirk Deceased. But we still gave our all on match days. We still put in 110 per cent because we were playing for our country. Mike England, who was the boss at the time, understood our gripes and did his best to sort them out. Nowadays the Welsh camp is far more professionally run. It seems, however, the Ireland camp still has problems. And when you are a forthright, committed player like Roy Keane who has become accustomed to the very best facilities at Manchester United it is inevitable you are going to be frustrated. But there can be no justification for his outburst at the manager. Mick McCarthy had little option. It seems there has been animosity between the two men for some time. They are two very similar characters. They are both stubborn, they are both opinionated. Their personalities clash as a result. Of course, it was right that the captain should voice his concerns to the manager if he was not satisfied. But it stuns me that the problem snowballed into such a big row. In my opinion, Keane is the best midfield player in the world, bar none. Forget Zinedine Zidane or Luis Figo, Keane has it all. He is the perfect midfielder. For Ireland he is irreplaceable. His single-mindedness has helped make him such a supreme talent.
But that same focus has also led to the self-destructive events of last week which ended with the Manchester United skipper being banished from the Irish squad. Now, like me, Keane will never know the buzz of leading his country out in the World Cup. He may not realise it now, but it will be one of the biggest regrets of his life.
Moyes goes on a scouting mission
May 28 2002 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES will draw up his transfer hit-list - after he returns from a World Cup shopping expedition to Japan. The Everton manager jetted out today to view potential targets, with the opening game of the tournament between France and Senegal his first destination.
He will also watch games involving, Slovenia, Spain and Croatia. Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa is just one of several keepers who have been linked with The Toffees this summer. But Moyes is not expected to swoop until he returns from Japan. Everton's pre-season preparations have now been finalised, with a match at Wrexham pencilled in on Saturday, June 3 and a trip to Anderlecht on Tuesday, June 6. The Blues will travel to Brussels to meet Tomasz Radzinski's old club in the 28,000 capacity Constant Vanden Stock Stadium. The Blues' full pre-season schedule is: Saturday July 20, Shrewsbury Town; Tuesday July 23, Queens Park; Saturday July 27, Dunfermline; Monday July 29, Hibernian; Wednesday July 31, Chester City v Everton XI; Saturday August 3, Wrexham; Tuesday August 6, Anderlecht; Saturday August 10, Athletic Bilbao. The final fixture is the only match staged at Goodison Park.
Gravesen horseplay as Danish duo scrap
By Martyn Ziegler, Daily Post
May 29 2002
TWO Danish players yesterday launched into their own trainingground bust-up.
Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer and Bolton's Stig Tofting were involved in a wrestling match after an incident which also involved Everton's Thomas Gravesen. The scuffle started after Gronkjaer was ambushed by Tofting and Gravesen, who jumped on the winger during stretching exercises, sprayed him with water bottles and put ice cubes down his shorts. The good-natured horseplay turned sour after Gronkjaer hurt his eye, was seen by the team doctor and then went to confront Tofting. Words were exchanged before the pair wrestled each other to the ground with Tofting's hand around his team-mate's throat. An eyewitness said: "They were just horsing around before then suddenly it was a serious fight. "It was over quickly, maybe five or six seconds, but it was a real fight - Tofting had his hand around his throat. "Team officials shouted 'stop, stop' and Tofting finally let him go."
Danish FA official Jim Stjerne-Hansen told journalists: "These players need a kindergarten teacher to sort them out." The incident follows last week's bust-up between Sweden's Arsenal star Freddie Ljungberg and Aston Villa's Olof Mellberg, after the Gunners player reacted angrily to a bad challenge. Tofting is known as the 'midfield enforcer' of the Denmark side, and he and Gravesen have formed a boisterous partnership which has reportedly caused offence to some of the quieter members of the squad. Over the last few days, the pair have - in an apparent jibe aimed at their Swedish rivals - been jumping on team-mates and throwing them to the ground.
Duo to be recognised for Rovers' revival
Daily Post
May 30 2002
JOHN KING and Peter Johnson, the two men chiefly responsible for driving the spectacular revival in Tranmere Rovers fortunes in the late 1980s and 90s, are being honoured by the club this summer.
Tranmere will establish a lasting tribute to the most successful and popular manager in their history by renaming the Borough Road side of Prenton Park as "The John King Stand". And former chairman Johnson, who remains the club's controlling shareholder, is to take the honorary title of club president. While King was the engineer of Tranmere's remarkable on the field progress from the brink of relegation form the old fourth division in 1987 to the brink of the Premiership by the mid 90s, Wirral multi-millionaire Johnson was the man who provided the vision and the financial clout to make it work. While they were together average home attendances at Tranmere more than quadrupled to just over 8,000. Last night King reflected on the working partnership he formed with Johnson that saw Tranmere pile success upon success between 1987 and 1994. He said: "I have always believed one of the most important elements in any football club is the relationship between the chairman and the manager and I felt that Peter Johnson and I had a good one. "We were able to respect and trust one another. "Peter let me get on with managing the team. "He did not interfere. "He used to say he employed me to manage because he was a busy man. "I wasn't to bother him with the detail of something until it was all set up and awaiting his final approval. When he resigned as chairman to take over Everton in 1994, it was a real sickener." Fans have been calling for a permanent tribute to King for some years and the club say the re-naming of the stand is a reflection of his contribution to the club as a player, coach and manager over four decades. "I love Tranmere and I feel so much affection for Prenton Park, after all I spent half my life there." Johnson said last night: "I made it clear some time ago that I do not want any day-today involvement in football again, but I am delighted to be given this honorary title. "I love Tranmere Rovers. "The club and in particularly, the current board have my total unswerving support."
Moyes chasing Eastern delights
May 30 2002 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES landed in South Korea last night - and hinted that it would be players from the Far East he would be paying most attention to during his week-long spying mission. The Everton manager (left) is one of a host of Premiership bosses talent spotting at the World Cup.
But with a meagre transfer pot at his disposal, he admitted he would not be concentrating on established, highprofile international stars. "The African clubs are tapped these days with some of the better players already playing in Europe," he admitted. "It is the far Eastern countries, the likes of China and South Korea, that will in time produce players able to play in the Premiership.
"The recent World Cup warm-up matches between those countries and European nations have proved that to a point." South Korea have beaten Scotland, drawn with England and run world champions France close in recent friendlies. Their only European-based stars at present are Seol Ki-Hyun, a 23-year-old striker who plays for Anderlecht, Perugia's Ahn Jung Hwan and Choi Sung Yong who plays for Linz. China's players are even less widespread. Fan Zhiyi, the current Chinese stopper, has played for Palace and Dundee, while Sun Jihai is a Manchester City defender. There is unlikely to be any transfer activity at Goodison until Moyes returns from the far East. "I would say it is quieter than normal because there are very few deals being done," he said. "Everybody at the moment seems more interested in the World Cup and watching that. "I am looking forward to it. It has been quite an exciting build-up with things not quite going to plan for a lot of the countries, so I would say it could be quite open."
May 2002