Nerves are a thing of the past – Seamus Coleman belongs in big time with Everton
1 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
"We’ve got the best left-back in England at Everton and Bainesy helps me all the time"
Most players who reach the pinnacle of the Premier League will talk about steep learning curves along the way, but Seamus Coleman’s was more daunting than most. The Everton defender was plucked from the relative unknown of the Irish Premier League for £60,000 in 2009, and in the subsequent four years has gone on to play in Europe, become his club’s first choice right-back and even captain the Republic of Ireland. Not bad for a lad who admits he was nervous and tongue-tied when he first rolled up at the Blues’ Finch Farm training ground, ready to rub shoulders with players like Mikel Arteta, Louis Saha and Tim Cahill that he had watched on TV back home for years.
Now, as he sits next to team-mates Ross Barkley, 19, John Stones, 19, and James McCarthy, 22, Coleman is the elder statesman – dishing out the banter and ruling the roost. It’s a far cry from those first days at a top flight club, and that first game against Sunday’s opponents Tottenham, when he burst onto the Premier League scene with a headline-grabbing cavalier display.
“That first game was something I’ll always remember and if you ask people back home when my Premier League debut was, they’ll always say Spurs but it wasn’t,” he says. “It was actually against Bolton for 10 minutes but that was less memorable! “That game helped me and then I scored against Spurs to make it 2-1 in January 2011 which was one of my better moments. Hopefully I can play my part in another win on Sunday, whether it’s setting up or scoring a goal. They’re always good, hard games.” As an avowed student of the game, Coleman has absorbed a wealth of experience during his time in England, and admits his international outings have been particularly instructive. While he has not been tasked with copying any particular top right-back by club manager Roberto Martinez, he can’t help but observe and learn from the best. “The manager doesn’t ask me to look at anyone specifically but we played Germany away recently and Philipp Lahm was outstanding for them,” he recalls. “I always knew he was good but then playing against him was something else. He makes it all look so easy and if I can learn from that it’ll make me a better player. He was just so composed and can play centre midfield too – not many full-backs can go and do that. “Obviously Germany are a top team but because he played in my position I enjoyed watching him. “Then we’ve got the best left-back in England at Everton and Bainesy helps me all the time. “I’m always learning.” Another player learning the ropes at Everton after arriving on Merseyside in the summer is Coleman’s friend and international team-mate James McCarthy.
“I’m close with James and know him from my time with Ireland. I was delighted he joined the club,” says Coleman. “He’s fitted in so easily and been brilliant. He just breaks the play up and keeps it simple. I was saying to him it’s easy to forget how young he is because he’s played so many games at Hamilton and then Wigan. “He’s a quiet lad and might have been a bit nervous at first but I knew he’d fit in. You’ve got the likes of Jags and Bainesy who will give out banter when they see you and encourage you to give a bit back. You soon come out of your shell. It’s a great changing room.”
Coleman was schooled in the art of team spirit and character-building badinage by another respected former Everton right-back, Phil Neville. Neville moved on in the summer of course, but the 25-year-old has not forgotten the debt he owes to the Manchester United coach.
“You miss people like him,” he says. “Nev was brilliant with me and was great around the place. He’s got a top job now and I’m delighted for him. “From day one he was always good with me and the other young lads coming through. If you had a bad game at the weekend he’d be there to have a joke, maybe take the mick out of you but it was all to build your spirits back up again. That was important. “I remember Bainsey saying to me as well; never get too high, never get too low. Keep a happy medium.”

Martinez admits concern over Kone knee injury
1 Nov 2013 10:13
Blues boss: “We are going to assess him again and see because it is a little bit more serious than expected"
Everton manager Roberto Martinez admits he is worried by a knee injury to striker Arouna Kone.
The Ivory Coast international sustained the problem in the 2-1 win over Hull on October 19 and missed last week’s win at Aston Villa. He is set to miss Sunday’s visit of Tottenham but Martinez does not yet know how long the forward, whose Everton career has yet to take off after following his manager from Wigan in the summer, will be out for. “We had a little bit of a setback and we are a bit worried with the knock he picked up against Hull,” said the Toffees boss.
“I am a bit concerned with his knee because he is someone who gets through anything.
“Little niggles will never stop him from playing or being available and I have never seen him like this. We need to make sure we get to the root of the problem. “We are going to assess him again and see because it is a little bit more serious than expected. “He has over-extended the knee. It is something we need to find out about over the next couple of days. “We have to do a couple more tests to see how the knee is reacting.” Kone’s former Wigan team-mate Antolin Alcaraz, who has yet to make his Everton debut after being sidelined by a hernia problem since signing in the summer, will be available for selection later this month. “Antolin is progressing really well but he is not going to be ready until the next international break,” added Martinez.

Coleman: Martinez has magic formula
1 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Gre O’Keefe
Blues boss has shown he canimpact games from the touchline
Seamus Coleman is convinced Roberto Martinez has the magic formula to change games in Everton’s favour. The defender believes the Catalan has proved he has immaculate timing with a series of game-changing alterations from the dug-out so far this season. Martinez reshuffled his pack in three of the club’s nine Premier League games so far to master-mind a victory, and Coleman said: “You can see with the manager’s substitutions he has good timing. “Bringing Pienaar on to score with his first touch against Hull was good, then Ossie changed the game for us at Villa.
“He’s been making spot-on decisions and it’s worked for us.” Coleman explained how the Toffees manager has even displayed his tactical acumen with specific half-time instructions to players, and given him confidence he can get on the score-sheet more often. “I remember against Norwich at half time the manager told me ‘If you get in this position and take a chance, you’ll score’, and in the build-up to the goal it was going through my head what he’d said, so I took a chance," he said.
“Jela had a shot and it just came to tap it in, and when you get a goal you go into the next few games thinking you can score. I do want to score goals as a full back and I feel I can get a couple more.”
Meanwhile another Everton player with a habit of changing games this season has been awarded player of the month for September. Romelu Lukaku was at Liverpool's Hilton Hotel yesterday to collect his award after notching three goals in his first three appearances for the club.
The on-loan Chelsea striker said: “We are playing very well and I am just trying to add a little bit to the team. The other players, the staff and everybody at the club has helped me, so I am happy to be here and very happy with the prize as well. “I would still say the goal at West Ham was my favourite, even though I don't remember it [Lukaku was knocked out following a collision with Joey O'Brien]. It was a winning goal and I had to be very committed. Since day one I have been committed and given my heart in every game.”

Kendall: Howard is best Blues keeper since Big Nev
1 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
Howard’s a worthy successor to Southall says former Everton manager
Tim Howard was the hero at Villa Park for that tremendous save from Christian Benteke’s penalty in the first half, and the string of other stops that kept Everton in the game. Once again I have to conclude that the USA international is another player who has sparkled thanks to the change of regime at Everton over the summer. It’s not just the new manager who has shaken things up and inspired his players, it’s his coaching staff too; in this case the new goalkeeping coach Inaki Bergara.
No disrespect or criticism intended whatsoever to Chris Woods, the previous keeping coach, but it can boost a player to have a new face, new ideas and new methods of training. It is a very individual position on the field, and keepers need to be kept on their toes. I remember with Neville Southall, he would only work with a coach he liked – if he didn’t get along with them he didn’t want to know.
Alan Kelly eventually had a stand named after him at Preston North End, and when I brought him to Everton, he and Neville hit it off famously. He managed to get the best from Neville, and it was immeasurably beneficial to us as a team. Hopefully Howard’s form continues like this all season.
He knows there’s a talented young Spaniard hoping to pinch his place as number one but it only drives him on. I think he’s been a tremendous signing for the Blues and I’ve never been one to slate him, it’s always baffled me on the rare occasions people have had a moan. For my money, Tim is possibly the best goalkeeper Everton have had since Big Nev and I can’t give him any higher acclaim than that.
Players must feel wanted
Martinez has been very shrewd in the way he has spoken so highly of his senior players who aren’t making the first team at the moment. He was quick to lavish praise on Nikica Jelavic and Leon Osman, and always has an encouraging word for John Heitinga and Tony Hibbert.
They are all vital members of his squad and he goes out of his way to let them know it.
It’s canny psychology because he needs to keep them happy and keep their confidence high in the same way I had to with Alan Harper and Kevin Richardson. It’s not nice to sit on the bench every week when you’re desperate to be first choice and out there playing. You only have to see the impact Osman had as a substitute at Aston Villa to understand the thinking behind Martinez’s positivity. You need all your players, even squad men, motivated and ready to help during a season because you’re only ever a couple of injuries away from needing them to come in and do you a job. Jelavic was the main man a year ago, but he’s fallen off his perch and Romelu Lukaku is the striker who just can’t stop scoring. I understand the concern that Lukaku is only going to be around for a season, but Martinez can’t worry about the long term with his loan men.
Blues can sink Spurs despite their threat
Just a cursory glance at Tottenham’s squad list underlines the potential goals they have in so many areas. The Toffees will have to be at their best defensively, because in Roberto Soldado, Jermaine Defoe and co they have some potent strikers. But Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin are not the types to shirk any challenge. Defoe in particular is a real predator and I’m amazed he doesn’t start more often. Nevertheless we are more than capable of dealing with their threat and then Everton have players who can worry any defence too. I think Spurs are suspect at the back, and once the Blues have kept them quiet up front we can target them at the other end.

Hundreds turn out for funeral of 10-year-old Everton fan James Greenop
1 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Razyie Akkoc
Two pall-bearers wore Everton team shirt with James' s name written on back
Everton FC footballers Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman joined hundreds of mourners gathered to say goodbye to a young fan who died after being knocked down by a bus. The sportsmen joined 10-year-old James Greenop’s family and friends for his funeral today. Everton’s Z-Cars theme was playing as his coffin, draped in a Blues’ flag, was carried in to Garston Bridge Chapel. Two of the pall-bearers wore the Everton team shirt with James' s name written on the back.
Tributes to keen footballer James were paid at the service by his uncle and grandparents as well as two teachers from Whiston Willis primary school. Tree to be planted at Finch Farm in memory of bus tragedy boy James Greenop The congregation heard how James had a tour of Goodison Park before the game between Everton and Hull. He had described the event on the weekend before his death as “the best day of his life”. In honour of James, who was head boy of the school, the teachers said no pupil would now replace him in the role. The youngster was knocked down by a bus on Speke Road, Garston, on October 22. The inquest into his death recorded a verdict of accidental death last week.
Football fans to honour tragic James
The chaplains for both Liverpool and Everton football teams paid tribute to passionate Blues fan James. Bill Bygroves and Reverend Henry Corbett spoke of the teams' support for the family at a difficult time. Reverend Corbett also read a letter from Everton manager, Roberto Martinez .
Everton FC manager sends condolences to family of schoolboy who died in bus accident
Pastor Rob Whiteway welcomed those attending and said he spoke at the funeral not as a pastor but “as a family member”. On behalf of the family, he thanked everyone for their “overwhelming support” and encouraged donations in memory of James to the Wirral Autistic Society.
The congregation left the chapel to the sound of Annie Lennox's Into The West, before family and close friends went on to Springwood Crematorium and later Whiston Labour Club.
A Just Giving page in James’s memory to raise money for the Wirral Autistic Society has had more than £5,700 in donations. To donate go to justgiving.com/ Helen-Greenop.

McCarthy can be future captain says Martinez
1 Nov 2013 23:07
Boss tips Scot to be leader
James McCarthy has the potential to wear the captain’s armband for Everton in the future, believes Roberto Martinez .
The 22-year-old made his 250th appearance in senior football at Villa Park last weekend, and is set to remain a crucial part of the Blues midfield against Tottenham tomorrow. Martinez, who paid a record £13m fee for a Scottish player when he enticed McCarthy to follow him from Wigan in the summer, has been thrilled with the speed he has settled in at Goodison. Asked whether the man who made his first-team debut for Hamilton Academical aged 15 might one day skipper the Toffees, he said: “Yes maybe one day. He already sets a great example. "He embraces challenges and wants to help the team while also being humble. The way he’s started has been a joy and he deserves the milestone he has achieved. “Sometimes it’s hard to go into the unknown but when James arrived here he had a solid background with the amount of games he’d played at a very young age.
“It’s easier for him to come in and be himself straight away because of that. But if you see his passion for the game and the way he trains it says a lot. “James plays with real confidence and every winning side needs the energy and tactical knowledge of a player like James.
“It’s been great to see him developing and Evertonians have given him a terrific welcome. Now I want him to carry on growing with the club.” Martinez feels that McCarthy’s rapid adaptation to life at Goodison has been quickened by the strong dressing room spirit at Everton.
“It’s pleasing because it tells you how healthy the dressing room is,” he said. “When you sign a new player straight away you rely on how he’ll be welcomed, and we have the perfect set-up for that. The senior players here deserve credit for that. “James takes everything in his stride and he’s part of a group of young players who share the same football demeanour. Strong characters on the pitch, but then very respectful and keen to learn off it. John Stones and Ross Barkley are the same.
“They give you real encouragement for the future. Some young players enjoy a bit of success and you don’t know how solid they’ll be with their work.They get volatile but that’s not the case here. They’re respectful and hungry to succeed which is ideal.” l Tickets are still on sale for the game against Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow (KO 1.30pm). Tickets start from £36 for adults and only £18 for Under-16s. Buy online at evertonfc.com/eticketing, calling 0871 663 1878 or visiting the box office, Everton Two in Liverpool One or the Ticket Quarter in Queen Square.

'Our stars won’t be sold,' says Everton manager Roberto Martinez
EVERTON manager Roberto Martinez will not be tempted to cash in on his star players as Tottenham did with Gareth Bale.
By: Timothy Abraham
Sat, November 2, 2013
Daily Express
Spurs sold Bale to Real Madrid for a record £86million in the summer with the money invested in a clutch of highly-rated players . Martinez will get a chance to see some of those players first hand when Everton welcome Tottenham to Goodison Park tomorrow. But when asked if he would be prepared to sell any of his top players – notably left-back Leighton Baines and midfielder Ross Barkley – Martinez would not entertain the idea. He said: “No. We were at that stage in the summer , but once Marouane Fellaini and Victor Anichebe left, that gave us the opportunity to reinvest.
“Now we are in a position where we need a bit of continuity and time to squeeze our potential as a team. That stability is very important for us.”

Martinez: Blues and Spurs have much in common
2 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
Londoners' reaction to losing Bale mirrors Blues' strength after Fellaini departure, says boss
Just a solitary point separates them in the Premier League table, and Roberto Martinez believes Everton and Tottenham have plenty in common off the field too. Mainly, the Catalan insists the two clubs are prime examples of rolling with the punches when big-name players head for the exit.
Marouane Fellaini’s dead-line day departure in August after Manchester United’s clumsy pursuit made headlines, but that was nothing compared to the global box-office generated by Spurs being forced into selling Gareth Bale for £85m. But Martinez thinks Tottenham’s reaction to losing the Wales international – by ploughing a huge chunk of that stellar fee into seven top-class additions - must be the model for clubs like the Toffees. The Blues boss did that himself to a degree by bringing in a trio of players in the wake of Fellaini’s departure, and both sides are riding high in the league thanks to refusing to feel sorry for themselves. “Gareth Bale was phenomenal for them, but when you replace that with seven or eight players you’re going to be in a stronger position,” says Martinez ahead of Sunday’s lunch-time showdown at Goodison. “You’re not relying on one player who can get injured no matter how good he is. You’ve got greater competition and with men like Erikson and Soldado they have top potential. They’re a great example of turning the disappointment of losing a player into the excitement of bringing so many in. “It used to be the case that it was a small elite that would never lose players but I think that’s gone. “Look at when Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United to go to Real Madrid. It was a sea change when you began to see a trend that footballers would push themselves at clubs for a shorter time then look to experience different cultures, different leagues. “Players move on now and you need to be prepared as a football club. We’ve seen players become unhappy at Real Madrid and move on like Mesut Ozil.
“It happens everywhere. You can’t feel sorry about the decision of a player. You have to accept it and prepare for the future – then take advantage like Spurs did. In the long term they have benefited.” Martinez explains that part of his planning for January involves trying to pre-empt what potential moves could be on the cards, and making sure Everton emerge stronger from every transfer window whether they sell or not. “Behind the scenes your objective is always to find a way to leave the squad in a wealthier position. That’s the aim,” he says. “Can you achieve it? That’s why you work hard between windows and try to anticipate issues and moves. Again, Spurs have been a real example. They turned that setback into a positive. “It’s the way the modern game is going and how football clubs should move from window to window.” Martinez has been mightily impressed by the new-look Londoners so far this term, and knows they will pose a threat to his club’s unbeaten run on home soil. “There has been a lot of talk that Spurs haven’t gelled but if you look at it they’ve had six clean sheets,” he says. “They’ve had three away wins and a very impressive start so imagine what they’ll be like when they gel! You’ll see two teams with very similar football concepts. Two teams that need the ball, and like to open opponents up with possession. “As a top four club sometimes you can be outstanding at something; Spurs are getting toward being outstanding at everything. “I think they can be a side which can be something special, but we’re looking forward to facing them. “Goodison is not an easy place for any side to come to. I’ve suffered that myself in the past.” Martinez must contend without Arouna Kone again on Sunday, with a knee injury suffered by the Ivorian against Hull causing increasing concern. “I'm worried because Arouna isn’t the type to complain easily or not train,” he says. “It's a little bit more serious than we first expected, so he won't be available for the squad. “It [the severity of the injury] is something we need to find out over the next few days. We'll do a few tests and see how his knee is reacting. But it’s unfortunate and he hasn’t had the easiest start to his time here.” Meanwhile John Heitinga has returned to training following a muscle complaint, meaning Antolin Alcaraz (hamstring) and Darron Gibson (knee) are the only other absentees.

Everton FC confident they will get the best out of Arouna Kone and Antolin Alcaraz
2 Nov 2013 Daily Post
The pair have not hit the heights since their move from Wigan but Roberto Martinez is confident they can
Roberto Martinez has dismissed suggestions Everton will never see the best of summer signings Arouna Kone and Antolin Alcaraz.
The pair followed the Spaniard from Wigan to Goodison Park – Kone costing £6m with his team-mate arriving on a free transfer – but despite the Toffees’ promising start to the campaign, neither has made an impact. Injury has dogged Kone – who has managed just 79 minutes of Premier League action this season – with his latest knee complaint giving Martinez some cause for concern.
The striker, who turns 30 later this month, has managed just 79 minutes of Premier League action in five substitute appearances and has yet to score. A hernia problem has prevented 31-year-old Paraguay defender Alcaraz making his debut so far. Nevertheless, Martinez believes the pair will prove their worth to their new club. – even if his comments regarding Kone suggest it may be some time before the Ivory Coast international regains full fitness. “I felt pre-season was a challenging time for Kone, for different reasons but I don’t think they were footballing reasons,” said the manager. “I think Arouna when he came on against Cardiff (on August 31) I felt he was ready and that game I saw him being himself. “I thought when he came on against Hull (on October 19) he straightway had a massive effect on the game and he was ready. “But we have had a little bit of a set-back and we are a bit worried with the knock he picked up against Hull. “I am a bit concerned with his knee because he is someone who gets through anything and little niggles will never stop him from playing or being available. “I have never seen him like this and we need to make sure we get to the root of the problem. “We are going to assess him again and see because it is a little bit more serious than expected.” It seems likely Alcaraz could be named in the squad ahead of Kone, with Martinez claiming he will be available for the first match back after the next international break - which would be the Merseyside derby on November 23. “I am convinced that Antolin is ready now,” he added. “Early on in the season he had two or three set-backs and we were a little bit concerned if we were going to find the solution to get him back to his best.
“Now he is 100% on the road to being his best.” “The good thing about Antolin is he has tremendous experience at any level and has been in the British game for a long time.
“Once he is fully fit he will be ready to help the team.”

Greg O'Keeffe: Blues must handle Baines contract talks with care
2 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
Defender may stay at Goodison
He has been an outstanding performer over the years, and now clearly he's at the peak of his career.
“We're going to make sure he feels that warmth from the football club and, from a contractual point of view, exactly the same.” In the days after the summer transfer window closed, Roberto Martinez was unequivocal on Everton’s plans for Leighton Baines ’ future on Merseyside.
There was a sense of palpable relief around Goodison that September 2 had passed with Europe’s best left-back still on the pay-roll, and the intention to ensure that remained the case was very clear.
That clarity, in public at least, has dwindled since. Questions about the status of Baines’ contract offer have been evaded by Martinez as deftly as a boxer avoiding a crushing right hand.
It’s led to concern among the fan-base, who in the meantime have been served up a steady diet of Sunday morning tripe from some quarters; peddling variations on the myth that Manchester United have already tied up a £15m move for the player they ‘chased’ with such embarrassing misjudgement and lily-livered conviction over the summer. In truth the reality of the situation regarding Everton’s coveted England international defender is rather delicate. For starters; supporters fearing Everton have sat on their backsides and declined to offer the club’s player of last season a bumper new deal should fear not. Martinez and the board are doing all they can behind the scenes to get the result every Evertonian wants. The Everton manager prefers not to go public on the ongoing talks for fear of causing a distraction which could linger negatively and overshadow the performances of the team as a whole and Baines - which have both been generally sparkling so far. If or hopefully when Baines puts pen to paper, the Catalan will be a relieved man - ready to sing it from the roof-top of the Old Lady. Until then it is best not to jump to too many conclusions based on his silence on the matter, while also ignoring spurious claims of ‘done deals’ possibly generated from the other end of the M62 - that still harp on the same pathetic valuation of a player worth double what they’re suggesting. Of course, Baines remains priceless to Evertonians and the good news is that Martinez and everyone at Goodison feels the same.
Blues are ready to play ball
BASKETBALL is back on the agenda for the Blues.
Sefton Stars Basketball club this week announced a partnership with Everton in the Community to facilitate the growth of two major Merseyside community programmes. The venture will see free sessions take place weekly at The Hawthornes Centre on Fernhill Road, Bootle, the home of Sefton Stars. Tommy Walsh, Chairman of Sefton Stars said: “Engaging young people into a fast growing sport such as basketball, has been the ethos of the Sefton Stars charitable work since 2005 and continues to be pivotal in encouraging young people to stay active.” Everton in the Community’s Sports Development Manager, Jackie Twort, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have secured this partnership with Sefton Stars. “We are involved in, a number of sports including football, badminton and table tennis and we hope this exciting new venture will encourage more children to take up activities such as basketball.” The sessions will take place every Tuesday and Thursday between 5pm and 6pm. Contact Sefton Stars on 0151 933 7232 or Everton in the Community on 0151 530 5253.
Dives and drives work well for duo
IT’S NOT just the trend for athletes sporting intense beards that Tim Howard has translated across the Atlantic this season.
American commuters love to car-pool, and the USA international took great pleasure from uploading a photograph to Instagram showing Sylvain Distin driving him to training at Finch Farm recently. Few people would dare order the French man-mountain around, but ever the team-player, Distin is willing to be chauffeur for the greater good. “If he continues making saves like he did against Villa I’ll continue driving him to work,” he said. “Anyway he pays me well so I don’t mind too much.”
Have your say on the official fans forum
TIME is running out for supporters to apply to become the next member of Everton’s official Fans’ Forum. The club has been on the look-out for four new recruits - with the window for applications set to close on Wednesday (November 6). Everton’s Fans’ Forum offers the Toffeesinvaluable insight into the feelings of the fanbase, while also allowing supporters the opportunity to help shape the all-important decision-making process at the club. Season Ticket pricing, improving the matchday experience, providing feedback for the away fan initiative, the relocation of the Dixie Dean statue and the permanent lighting of the Everton tower are just some of the areas the Forum has focused on over the last 12 months. “The Fans’ Forum is important for supporters and the club,” said Fans’ Forum chairperson, Tony Bott. “The Forum continues to evolve and the club and fans are working together to achieve the best possible format.” The existing Forum members will meet in November to review applications alongside club officials. If you want to have your say, visit evertonfc.com/fans forumapplication.

AVB wary of ex-Chelsea charge Lukaku’s growing potential at Everton
Saturday, November 2, 2013
London24
Andre Villas-Boas admits that former charge Romelu Lukaku is showing his potential at Everton so knows his Tottenham side must keep the Belgian quiet when they visit Goodison Park tomorrow lunchtime. Lukaku has scored five goals in seven games since joining on a season-long loan from Chelsea, where he used to work under the Portuguese. The forward was furious with his treatment by Villas-Boas during his time at the Blues, but the two have since buried the hatchet.
The Spurs boss has been impressed with how he has developed since his successful loan spell at West Brom last term. “The player did extremely well last season and has continued to do well for Everton. The potential is there,” Villas-Boas added. “We all recognise he can become an influential striker in the future. “Chelsea’s standards are very, very high so the jump will be very difficult for him, but he has shown he can cope with the Premier League and it’s another step up for him at Everton.” Tottenham were in the midst of a strong run last season when they visited Goodison Park and all looked to be going well when the north Londoners took the lead halfway through the second half. Everton hit back with two late goals to steal the victory, however. Those three points would have been enough to edge Tottenham in to the Champions League last season, so Villas-Boas knows his team cannot afford to throw points away again this season. “We’ve spoken about [last year’s] result as the deciding factor for us not making it into the Champions League because everything changed quite dramatically,” Villas-Boas said. “It serves us as a lesson to be kept aware of and it’s not something we want to see again.”

Roberto Martinez reckons Everton can challenge big boys
ROBERTO MARTINEZ is hoping Everton can topple Tottenham – even though he reckons they’ve got the best squad in the Premier League.
By Steve Morgan 3rd November 2013
Sunday Star
The Toffees host Andre Villas-Boas’ side today at Goodison Park hoping to lay down a real marker of their top-four credentials. Spaniard Martinez reckons Spurs have the upper hand on squad depth – but still remains upbeat of beating a top side to the Champions League. “The way we’ve started shows we can challenge the top teams. We’re on the right path” Roberto Martinez
He said: “They have the best squad in the league. “The numbers and the options they have means they could easily field two different teams in exactly the same roles who can be as good as each other. In terms of individuals it is a very good squad. “The way we’ve started shows we can challenge the top teams. We’re on the right path.”

Everton hitman Romelu Lukaku learning from the legends
ROMELU LUKAKU has an all-consuming vice which keeps him up at night.
By Steve Millar 3rd November 2013
Sunday Star
And although it involves the F-word, no one at loan club Everton or ¬paymasters Chelsea should be worried that the Belgian striker has fallen into a world of debauchery.
Far from it. Lukaku doesn’t drink, on religious grounds. Flash cars aren’t a priority and with his huge wages he proudly ¬ensures that his family live a ¬comfortable life. No, Lukaku’s obsession is -football. He lives and breathes it. Spending every spare hour studying how he can become one of the greatest-ever players on the planet. Lukaku, who admits he’s a ¬football “freak”, has compiled his own exclusive video collection of world strikers to study. He did it so that he can learn the tricks of his trade by viewing his compilation of Didier ¬Drogba, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney in action. And when he’s not glued to the box, Lukaku is mad for PlayStation games – although his passion to be a winner is so intense that he admits he once trashed his gaming ¬console after his goalkeeper cocked up in an on-screen game. “I observe a lot of great players because if you want to be one of them you have to look and see how their improvement and ¬development as a player ¬happened” Lukaku said: “I’m like a ¬football freak. It’s true, I have videos. I like football. It’s my ¬passion. “I observe a lot of great players because if you want to be one of them you have to look and see how their improvement and ¬development as a player -happened.
“What they do on and off the pitch. I try to inspire myself by watching those clips.
“I also watch basketball players and American football players ¬because these are sports which are very demanding. “Far more demanding than ¬football because they play with ¬concussion and very bad injuries. But their determination and drive to be successful is very inspiring. “I watch Drogba. When he got older he got better and ¬better. “Some players, when they get older at like 29, 30, they have arrived at their peak. “But he was the best at 32. I ask the ¬question, how? But when you start ¬working with him you see the way he’s ¬preparing for games. The way he’s training. “Cristiano Ronaldo’s very impressive because I heard a lot of stories about him. I think Robin van Persie is somebody as well. He’s improving and improving. “He was a player who had a lot of injuries and became an injury-free player. He also became the top ¬scorer in the league for two years in a row.
“So those kind of players are quite inspiring because you want to be one of them. You want to be as ¬successful as them.” And that’s when Lukaku owned up to his console demolition with Everton’s media officer Darren Griffiths handing him a brand-new computer box to keep him happy at home.
Lukaku added: “Yes, I play ¬computer games as well but ¬sometimes I just use my time for watching football and trying to ¬improve my game. Did I smash a computer game? Yeah. It was a very bad game. “I got frustrated. We were playing a game and er…I don’t know what happened.
“My goalkeeper – I don’t want to say the name of the keeper – ¬committed an error in the last minute of extra-time and that did it. I twisted the controls around and it was game over.
“But in football I want to get there as quickly as possible. And I want to stay there as long as possible and then maintain it for the rest of my career. “It’s easy to get there. Staying there is the most difficult thing. I want to get there quickly. That’s why I am learning things, ¬trying to improve.
“You know the better it gets, the bigger it gets. The better a career gets the more money and the bigger house you get. The bigger car you get and blah, blah, blah. “But that is not my main -ambition.
“My main ambition is just being the best. At everything. Winning games. Scoring goals at the -weekend. That’s my thing. “The rest comes along with it. My goal, first of all, was to play football to make my parents proud. “Then the next priority was to provide for my family. With these two things I have succeeded ¬already. “But now it’s up to me to focus on my playing career and being one of the best. “My parents are fine. My family are fine. My brother is playing as well. “So now it’s about my career and my career is the most important thing. “And I know if I play well the good things will come anyway.”

Everton 0 Tottenham 0: Hugo Lloris still standing
By Kevin Francis/ 4th November 2013
Daily Star
Lloris looked completely out of it when Everton striker Romelu Lukaku accidently caught him with his knee. The Frenchman lay motionless with his face in the ground as he received medical attention. But as substitute keeper Brad Friedel prepared to replace him with 10 minutes to go, Lloris had other ideas.As he was being led off the pitch by medics and captain Michael Dawson, he simply refused to leave to the bemusement of just about everyone.He eventually won the argument, with Friedel putting his tracksuit back on before returning to the bench.And Lloris claimed his clean sheet in a game that needed nine minutes of injury time as a result of the bizarre episode. Lloris stayed on the pitch, with the eventual blessing of his miffed boss Andre Villas-Boas.And he even pulled off a great save in the closing minutes to deny Gerard Deulofeu and prove he may have been dazed but wasn’t confused.That kind of determination ran through a Spurs side who had Everton on the ropes much of the time.But, by failing to hammer home their advantage with goals, Spurs raised doubts over their chances of becoming realistic title contenders.Everton boss Roberto Martinez believes Spurs are in with a chance following the arrival of seven new signings in the summer, even after the departure of star man Gareth Bale.But despite a fine all-round display against a team unbeaten at home in the Premier League for 13 games, they could not deliver the killer blow.They came desperately close to gaining the win that would have taken them into second place.But Villas-Boas knows his side, who are now fourth, must translate this kind of domination into victory to pose a serious season-long threat.Tottenham’s desire to attack at every opportunity was clear from the start with Everton almost conceding a goal after just three minutes. Sandro managed to find some space 25 yards out and his low, right-footed shot forced keeper Tim Howard to stretch himself to save.Then a shot from Andros Townsend from just outside the penalty area spun off James McCarthy and ballooned over the bar to give Everton a let-off. “Lloris stayed on the pitch, with the eventual blessing of his miffed boss Andre Villas-Boas” Howard had to be at his sprightly best to punch out a fierce 18th-minute free-kick from Kyle Walker which whistled over the defensive wall and looked certain to find the net.That effort had Martinez looking animated in his technical area, urging his players to push forward. He was right, too, after an opening spell in which the Merseysiders had been pinned in their own half. Everton fans had to wait until the 27th minute for their team’s first real attempt on goal with Leon Osman’s rising, long-range shot flying over.Martinez’s men were off colour for lengthy spells and it was not until the 49th minute that they challenged next, no doubt after a half-time rollicking from Martinez. Lukaku played in Kevin Mirallas but Vlad Chiriches slid in with a perfectly-timed challenge just as the Belgian international was about to shoot.McCarthy was one of the few Everton players to rise to the occasion with some of his right-wing moves and crosses a joy to watch.He figured in one great run and low centre after 73 minutes but Lukaku just failed to clip home.Everton can claim they were unlucky after 66 minutes when Jan Vertonghen upended Seamus Coleman just inside the penalty area.But, with Everton players screaming for a penalty, referee Kevin Friend unbelievably failed to give it.Perhaps the honesty of Coleman in getting up straight away and shooting worked against him when other players might have stayed down.Everton have clearly improved this season but they hit something of a wall in this game and in the end, they were hanging on.They can thank McCarthy in particular for helping to stave off defeat.He was one of the few Goodison Park players to shine and Martinez will be trying to get them back to the kind of form he knows they possess.

Everton 0 Tottenham 0: AVB defends his shot-shy strikers
By Kevin Francis 4 November 2013
Daily Star
Despite firing in the goals in the cups this season, Spurs have scored just nine in 10 Premier League matches.Hull are the only side in the top 10 to score fewer goals than them.But after drawing a blank at Everton, Villas-Boas said: "I am still happy with the team. I don't think it is dramatic. We are on 30 goals in 17 games."It is the second-highest ever at the club, so I don't worry about that. Hull are sitting 10th and we are fourth. Chances are coming and sometimes they go your way and the opponent is not there to stop it.
“I am still happy with the team. I don't think it is dramatic. We are on 30 goals in 17 games” Andre Villas-Boas
“The team is creating more chances and more shots. I carry on about all the good statistics and others about all the negative and there will be debate.“At the moment it is results that have put us in fourth and in one of the spots in the Champions League."You can have more goals, less goals. We all want excitement but right now the team is doing extremely well.”Spurs dominated without reward at Goodison Park.But Villas-Boas claimed it was a valuable point and said: “I am not disappointed with that result.“In the end it was a good result and the only time Everton had a good go at us was in the last 25-30 minutes.”Injured goalkeeper Hugo Lloris refused to go off in the last 10 minutes, despite an accidental crack to the head from Romelu Lukaku.“Hugo still doesn’t recall everything about the incident,” said Villas-Boas.“It was a very difficult moment for us and I am happy he is well.“I made the call to keep him on the pitch because of the signs he was giving.“He was determined to continue and looked concentrated. He looked driven and focused enough for me not to make the call to replace him.“The saves he did after the incident proved that to be right.”Everton manager Roberto Martinez was also happy saying: “We showed the determination and focus to defend well against a team who attacked us.“We played a very good Spurs side and we got better in the second half, which is encouraging. All we want to do is to keep progressing.“We were good defensively but we lost the ball too cheaply.“In the second half we were completely different, imposed ourselves and forced Spurs to defend in their own half.”

Rhythm returning for Pienaar and Baines partnership
Liverpool Echo
04/11/2013 – Greg O’Keefe
Steven Pienaar insists his fearsome flank combination with Leighton Baines is close to recapturing its best.The pair have carved a reputation in recent seasons for being one of the Premier League’s most potent left-sided partnerships, based on their precision interplay and telepathic passing.However Pienaar, 31, has spent two months of the current campaign on the sidelines, and although he admits it is taking time, he believes his link-up with England man Baines will soon be bamboozling defenders again.He said: “The way we combine sometimes it’s about split-second decision making, it’s the timing. It is coming back, but I’m still getting into the rhythm of it.“It’s only my third game back from eight weeks off so it’s going to take a while. I was happy to get the 96 minutes against Spurs and my fitness is getting much better. It will take a while but I’m getting there.” And although the result was a goalless draw that kept Everton in seventh place in the Premier League, Pienaar reckons a share of the spoils against his former club was fair.“Thankfully we were much better second half and created more and more chances, even if they weren’t all clear openings,” said the playmaker who joined Tottenham in January 2011, and then returned to Merseyside a year later.“We couldn’t get close to them in the first half. The gaffer wanted us to put pressure on from the word go but we were always a bit off the pace. We were always a few seconds too late to close down. Second half we didn’t let them start from the back as much. That’s what we did much better.“In the end 0-0 against one of the teams also pushing for a Champions League spot is not the end of the world.“The game could have gone either way. They had a good penalty shout and so did we. We’ll take the positives of the second half.” Pienaar was impressed with the contribution of second-half substitutes Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu, who helped Everton push the visitors onto the back foot.He said: “Fresh legs gave us another dimension. They’re two young guys full of energy. You could see from the changes the manager made that they were positive and we wanted to win. Now we have to go again next week. It’s going to be hard to stay right up near the top. We need to take it step by step. We can’t talk too high to early. November will be a tough month and we’ll see where it brings us.”

Everton 0 Spurs 0: Little to separate sides in stalemate
4 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
Greg O’Keefe
Greg O'Keeffe's match report from Goodison Park
Perhaps Hugo Lloris won’t be the only one who struggles to recall this game, when the current Premier League season has run its course.The Spurs goalkeeper could barely remember where he was after colliding with Romelu Lukaku’s knee in the second half at Goodison yesterday, and he should probably be spared having to review the match DVD to catch up.In the end an encounter which promised the victors a chance to go second in the Premier League ended in stalemate, with very little to separate the two teams.Roberto Martinez spoke beforehand about the similarities between Everton and Tottenham, and duly both had the better of a half, both were denied strong penalty claims, and both missed out on the chance to make up ground on their rivals. The Toffees, with a derby showdown on the horizon, would have leapfrogged Liverpool with a win, while Andre Villas-Boas’ men would have had the added incentive of breathing down the neck of leaders Arsenal.And although neither quite did enough to surge up the table, it was perhaps Martinez who had greater reason to smile afterwards.
Not because his men had been flawless – far from it. In the first half they couldn’t cope with Tottenham’s aggressive pressing and surrendered the ball with uncharacteristic ease.Despite that they recovered to stage a fightback which on another day might have been enough to bag all three points, and the Catalan again underlined his ability to make decisive, influential changes from the bench when required. With the game in the balance he introduced two teenagers who helped Everton rediscover their attacking impetus.And if the Blues can stay in the mix with Tottenham throughout this campaign, it will be an immense credit to their popular manager.Martinez has had considerably less time than Andre Villas-Boas to shape his team, and considerably less resources so far too. While the Everton boss made good use of a chunk of the £27.5m the Blues received for Marouane Fellaini in the time available to him on deadline day, Villas-Boas had been busily investing £86m on an array of new talents in the wake of Gareth Bale’s departure.That they are within touching distance of the Londoners merely emphasises Everton’s impressive start to the season.That said, for the first 45 minutes yesterday there was only one side showing the wherewithal to push on in the table.Spurs piled on pressure with Jan Vertonghen over-lapping well down the Blues’ right flank.Tim Howard was easily the more active of the two keepers; diving to push an early Sandro pile-driver around the post, then having to be alert to deny Kyle Walker with a 25-yard free-kick.Villas-Boas’ men were comfortably on top; winning the midfield contest and tactically out-thinking the hosts, with Everton reduced to patchy counter-attacks which too frequently ended with the offside flag held aloft.It took half an hour for them to register a shot at goal, Leon Osman aiming a hopeful effort from range which flew over the bar.Even though the Toffees upped their tempo as the break approached it came to nought. Lukaku glided into the area and almost whipped a dangerous ball across the six yard box, but again the excellent Vertonghen was up to the task of clearing.It was a rare moment of incision, with Everton’s lacklustre first half encapsulated when Howard sliced a simple clearance moments before the whistle, causing his back four to panic as Spurs readied to pounce.A huge improvement was required, and gradually Kevin Mirallas and Lukaku began to see more of the ball after the break.That didn’t prevent Mirallas, who had been well-marshalled by Vertonghen, being replaced by Gerard Deulofeu on 63 minutes, as Osman also made way for Ross Barkley – who instantly gave Lloris the jitters with a powerful effort from distance only seconds after coming on.Deulofeu also made a quick impact, deftly setting Seamus Coleman free inside the area with a smart pass and although the Republic of Ireland defender turned his man he was knocked out of his stride by Vertonghen.Martinez insisted it was a penalty afterwards, and wondered when the cliché about decisions evening themselves out will benefit his men.They have now been denied spot-kicks against Manchester City, Aston Villa and now Spurs.Instead of waiting for the below-par official to give his side some impetus, Martinez provided it with those refreshingly attack-minded changes to galvanise Everton.They began to pile pressure on, and Steven Pienaar’s array of flicks and cute passes started to find his team-mates as he grew into the contest, while the consistently impressive James McCarthy almost picked out Lukaku at close range with a low cross that Michael Dawson just managed to clear.The big Belgian striker was a handful with more service, and he raced onto a wonderful long pass from Gareth Barry next but caught Lloris in the head with his knee on the way.There was zero intent, and likely very little he could have done about the impact but blundering Friend booked the Blues forward anyway.Martinez’s subsequent last throw of the dice was to replace Lukaku – who had hurt his thigh problem in the previous collision – with Nikica Jelavic, in the hope that the bereft of form Croat could rediscover his edge against a side he loves tormenting.But it was the home defence which had to be resolute for the remaining nine minutes of added time, as Spurs pushed back and sub Gylfi Sigurdsson twice went close; initially with an effort blocked by Phil Jagielka and then rifling a low daisy-cutter wide. Typically Jagielka and Sylvain Distin had been stoic all afternoon.It might not have been a classic to linger long in the memory.It was probably not a game upon which to base any definitive conclusions about Everton’s potential this term. But after the first quarter of the campaign has passed, the Toffees are hanging in there. Level on points with Manchester City, the only club to beat them so far, and only one behind Tottenham and Liverpool.They weren’t at their best but not for the first time they found a way to keep going. Just like their manager, they have a happy knack of embracing the positives whenever they can.

Everton are shown the level needed to compete for top four slot
4 Nov 2013 Daily Post
It wasn’t just a groggy Hugo Lloris who belatedly came to his senses at Goodison yesterday afternoon.Any Everton supporters giddy at their team’s impressive start to the season were given an indication of the level required to maintain a realistic challenge for Champions League qualification.The bare scoreline of a goalless draw against Tottenham Hotspur, a side tipped by many as title contenders this season, would seemingly represent a decent result.It is. But scratch beneath the surface and, as Martinez himself later admitted, this somewhat stodgy stalemate underlined why the Spaniard’s evolution remains very much in its formative stages.This was more a performance that, as with the home victory over Chelsea earlier in the campaign, harked back to Martinez’s predecessor.Comprehensively outplayed in the first half, Everton held firm before demonstrating character to rouse themselves for a second-half performance that, while much improved, rarely threatened a goal.Not even the introduction of Nikica Jelavic, the matchwinner in this fixture for the previous two seasons, and nine minutes of injury time following a sickening clash between Lloris and Romelu Lukaku could conjure a breakthrough.Food for thought, then, for Martinez, although the decision of referee Kevin Friend not to award Seamus Coleman a second-half penalty left a lingeringly bitter aftertaste.Results elsewhere meant victory yesterday would propel either side into second place, a position Everton last occupied in December 2004.That they instead remain in seventh underlines how close the chasing pack behind leaders Arsenal have become bunched, a point separating the six clubs in near pursuit.Drawing conclusions from yesterday’s fare is difficult. But it’s already clear Everton are once more punching above their weight among such company considering the comparative resources of the two teams yesterday.Flush with the funds from Gareth Bale’s mind-bogglingly expensive sale, Tottenham’s bench alone cost £78m. Everton, like most clubs, simply cannot compete with that.Yet it was the exuberance of youth brought by 19-year-old duo Ross Barkley – benched for the first time in the league Premier League this season – and Gerard Deulofeu that helped Everton ensure they have now lost only one of their last 28 home top-flight matches.For Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas, this was a first-ever league point on Merseyside at a venue where his ill-fated Chelsea tenure began to unravel with defeat, almost two years ago, the Londoners recording a seventh clean sheet in 10 top-flight games this season.That Everton – with Sylvain Distin excellent – managed a fifth of their own underlined their resilience in the face of intense first-half pressure that admittedly was in part their own doing, Martinez’s side uncharacteristically sloppy in possession to gift Tottenham the initiative.With a fitful Kevin Mirallas failing to prevent compatriot Jan Vertonghen from roaming forward from left-back, Coleman was stretched in keeping both the Belgian and a lively Aaron Lennon in check.It required a tremendous shift from both Gareth Barry and the again-impressive James McCarthy to plug the growing gaps in central midfield. And with barely any service of note, Lukaku barely had a sniff.Indeed, it wasn’t until the 28th minute that Leon Osman, recalled to the starting line-up after his Villa Park heroics the previous week, registered the home side’s first effort on goal with a shot from range that drifted harmlessly over.Tottenham had signalled their intent early on. Tim Howard turned behind a 30-yard Sandro effort, Roberto Soldado glanced well wide from a Lennon cross, Townsend’s shot was deflected over by a sliding block challenge from Barry before Kyle Walker’s free-kick was beaten out by Howard.Midway through the half, Vertonghen advanced on to Lennon’s return pass but fell to ground far too easily under the weight of Coleman’s challenge, referee Friend rightly waving play on.But the longer Villas-Boas’ side failed to make the breakthrough, the more Everton were allowed to rebuild confidence.And they had a glimpse of an opportunity three minutes after the interval when Everton had greater numbers during a swift counter-attack. However, with Osman free inside, Lukaku instead chose to feed Mirallas, who was well tackled by Michael Dawson.Martinez’s positive decision to introduce Barkley and Deulofeu on the hour ensured the initiative remained with the home side.Barkley struck a shot over before, in a reversal of their first-half tangle, Coleman fell to ground when challenged by Vertonghen before managing to release a shot. This time , though, replays suggested referee Friend was wrong to remain unmoved.On 72 minutes, Barkley fed McCarthy down the right wing but Lukaku couldn’t gain enough purchase when attempting turn in the Irishman’s cross at the near post.Another substitute, Tottenham’s Sigurdsson, then stung the palms of Howard before the game was held up by a sickening clash a Lukaku’s knee glanced the head of Lloris.It was accidental and painful – Lloris requiring lengthy treatment before being roused back to his senses – and didn’t warrant Lukaku being shown a yellow card.Lloris eventually played on and thwarted Deulofeu after the Spanish substitute skipped beyond four defenders into the area.Christian Eriksen frightened Everton in the closing stages with an inviting free-kick that only required a touch from a Tottenham player, and then a shot that was dragged narrowly wide.But a draw was the right result. Nothing could separate the teams on the day, but Everton know what is required to ensure such parity remains throughout the course of the season.

Martinez: Kevin proved to be no friend of Everton
4 Nov 2013
Daily Post
Roberto Martinez pointed the finger at referee Kevin Friend after Everton missed the opportunity to move into second place in the Premier League.Martinez was convinced his side should have been awarded a penalty during their goalless draw at home to fellow high-fliers Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.Seamus Coleman appeared to be brought down by Jan Vertonghen inside the area before getting off a shot, at goal, only for claims to be waved away.And having been unhappy with officiating in recent weeks, Martinez believes the Goodison outfit were once again forced to lament a poor decision.“They tell you that decisions level themselves out over the course a season, but clearly that doesn’t happen,” said Martinez. the Everton manager.“We had a similar situation at Villa last week, and at the Etihad the other week when we were punished with two penalties.“Seamus gets impeded but he doesn’t over-react or look for the penalty and gets back on his feet, and that allowed the referee not to make a decision.“But Seamus was clearly impeded and should have had a penalty. It doesn’t mean we would have scored it but it could have been a different matter.”
Martinez was also unhappy Romelu Lukaku was cautioned for the collision that knocked Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris unconscious.Lloris received extensive treatment after being accidentally caught on the side of the head by Lukaku’s knee.While the keeper could eventually continue, Lukaku was later substituted after suffering a thigh injury in the incident.And Martinez said: “We were glad to see Lloris back on his feet. There was nothing malicious, just two players, brave, fighting for the ball. “As a goalkeeper going to ground, the head is in a position where you are exposed. Romelu did nothing wrong going for the ball, so I was disappointed to see him punished with a yellow card. It was a strong but fair challenge. “He picked up a knock but we hope it will not be a big problem and that he will be fine in the next 48 hours.”Martinez added: “The referee was a bit picky. Sometimes the game should have been allowed to be a bit more fluent, some of the bookings for both sides were strange.”Yesterday’s stalemate means Everton remain in seventh, place, but the concertina at the top of the table means they stand only a point adrift of second-placed Chelsea.The Goodison outfit were outplayed in the first half but improved after the interval without truly threatening. to break the deadlock.And Martinez admitted: “I would have been delighted to have taken a point after the first half. It was two different halves from our point of view.“We defended well throughout the game with good intensity and you have to do that again a team like Tottenham.“But in the first half we lost the ball too quickly which encouraged Spurs to have possession, and it becomes a more difficult game.“The second half was completely different. We imposed ourselves better and we forced Tottenham to defend. Maybe a little bit of magic and a decision that went our way was needed.“I’m glad to show that focus and character to keep our clean sheet against a good side.”Meanwhile, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas defended his decision not to substitute Lloris despite some of the goalkeeper’s own team-mates imploring his substitution after being knocked out.“Hugo still doesn’t recall everything about the incident,” said Villas-Boas. “But we are happy he is well.“I made a call to keep him on the pitch because of the signs he was giving, he was determined to continue as he was concentrated, driven and focused.“It helped make the call not to replace him. The saves he made after the incidents showed the gamble was correct.”

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas branded 'irresponsible' for Hugo Lloris head injury decision
04 November 2013
London Evening Standard
Andre Villas-Boas put Hugo Lloris' long-term health at risk with his "dangerous" and "irresponsible" decision to let the Tottenham goalkeeper play on at Everton after being knocked unconscious by Romelu Lukaku.With 12 minutes of the 0-0 draw remaining, Lloris was accidentally caught on the head by the knee of Everton's Lukaku as he dived to collect a stray ball.The Frenchman required lengthy treatment after the incident, and looked set to be replaced by Brad Friedel, but he insisted he was fit to continue and Villas-Boas decided against making a substitution.The Tottenham manager's actions have been condemned by brain injury charity Headway."We are hugely concerned that a professional football club should take such an irresponsible and cavalier attitude to a player's health," said Luke Griggs, spokesperson for Headway."When a player - or any individual - suffers a blow to the head that is severe enough for them to lose consciousness, it is vital they urgently seek appropriate medical attention. A physio or doctor treating a player on pitch simply cannot accurately gauge the severity of the damage caused to the player's brain in such a setting as there may be delayed presentation of symptoms."By continuing to play, the player may have caused greater damage to his brain. He should have been removed from the game immediately and taken to hospital for thorough tests and observation."Villas-Boas conceded after the game that Lloris could not remember a single thing about the incident.But the Portuguese defended the decision to keep the player on the pitch, citing a good late save from Gerard Deulofeu as evidence that he was correct to do so.The Tottenham manager praised the goalkeeper's "great character" for wanting to continue, but Headway believes Lloris should have been withdrawn immediately and rested for three weeks."Guidelines from both Headway and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) state people should not play any contact sport for at least three weeks after suffering a concussion," Griggs said."Sports science has evolved significantly over the past decade and yet we're still faced with the antiquated concept that a player should be brave and try to continue at all costs."Mr Villas-Boas' comment that his player's determination to play on was proof of his 'great character and personality' is simply wrong and dangerous."You are not a hero if you play on after suffering a concussion; all you are doing is risking your health. Football has to react to this and bring in stricter measures to ensure no similar risks are taken in the future."Problems with concussion are not commonplace in football, but rugby players from both codes have to deal with significant blows to the head on a regular basis.The problem became so worrying for Dr Barry O'Driscoll that he resigned from his role as medical advisor to the International Rugby Board.O'Driscoll, uncle of Ireland player Brian O'Driscoll, resigned in protest at the decision to trial a new protocol for dealing with head injuries.The Rugby Football Union is so concerned about concussion that it is holding a conference at Twickenham this week with players' unions on the matter.In August Leicester fly-half Toby Flood had to be taken to hospital after being knocked unconscious in a game against Ulster. It was the second time in just over three months that he had been knocked out on the pitch.Australia's National Rugby League recently adopted the NICE and Headway protocols on concussion, advising that players who suffer concussion be immediately withdrawn and be given adequate time to recover before playing again.

Spurs stalemate shows how far Blues have to go
November 4 2013 Daily Post
By Ian Doyle
Martinez given ample food for thought
It wasn’t just a groggy Hugo Lloris who belatedly came to his senses at Goodison yesterday afternoon. Any Everton supporters giddy at their team’s impressive start to the season were given an indication of the level required to maintain a realistic challenge for Champions League qualification. The bare scoreline of a goalless draw against Tottenham Hotspur, a side tipped by many as title contenders this season, would seemingly represent a decent result.
It is. But scratch beneath the surface and, as Martinez himself later admitted, this somewhat stodgy stalemate underlined why the Spaniard’s evolution remains very much in its formative stages.
This was more a performance that, as with the home victory over Chelsea earlier in the campaign, harked back to Martinez’s predecessor. Comprehensively outplayed in the first half, Everton held firm before demonstrating character to rouse themselves for a second-half performance that, while much improved, rarely threatened a goal. Not even the introduction of Nikica Jelavic, the matchwinner in this fixture for the previous two seasons, and nine minutes of injury time following a sickening clash between Lloris and Romelu Lukaku could conjure a breakthrough. Food for thought, then, for Martinez, although the decision of referee Kevin Friend not to award Seamus Coleman a second-half penalty left a lingeringly bitter aftertaste.
Results elsewhere meant victory yesterday would propel either side into second place, a position Everton last occupied in December 2004. That they instead remain in seventh underlines how close the chasing pack behind leaders Arsenal have become bunched, a point separating the six clubs in near pursuit. Drawing conclusions from yesterday’s fare is difficult. But it’s already clear Everton are once more punching above their weight among such company considering the comparative resources of the two teams yesterday. Flush with the funds from Gareth Bale’s mind-bogglingly expensive sale, Tottenham’s bench alone cost £78million. Everton, like most clubs, simply cannot compete with that. Yet it was the exuberance of youth brought by 19-year-old duo Ross Barkley – benched for the first time in the Premier League this season – and Gerard Deulofeu that helped Everton ensure they have now lost only one of their last 28 home top-flight matches.
For Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas, this was a first-ever league point on Merseyside at a venue where his ill-fated Chelsea tenure began to unravel with defeat almost two years ago, the Londoners recording a seventh clean sheet in 10 top-flight games this season. That Everton – with Sylvain Distin excellent – managed a fifth of their own underlined their resilience in the face of intense first-half pressure that admittedly was in part their own doing, Martinez’s side uncharacteristically sloppy in possession to gift Tottenham the initiative. With a fitful Kevin Mirallas failing to prevent compatriot Jan Vertonghen from roaming forward from left-back, Coleman was stretched in keeping both the Belgian and a lively Aaron Lennon in check. It required a tremendous shift from both Gareth Barry and the again-impressive James McCarthy to plug the growing gaps in central midfield. And with barely any service of note, Lukaku barely had a sniff. Indeed, it wasn’t until the 28th minute that Leon Osman, recalled to the starting line-up after his Villa Park heroics the previous week, registered the home side’s first effort on goal with a shot from range that drifted harmlessly over. Tottenham had signalled their intent early on. Tim Howard turned behind a 30-yard Sandro effort, Roberto Soldado glanced well wide from a Lennon cross, Townsend’s shot was deflected over by a sliding block challenge from Barry before Kyle Walker’s free-kick was beaten out by Howard. Midway through the half, Vertonghen advanced on to Lennon’s return pass but fell to ground far too easily under the weight of Coleman’s challenge, referee Friend rightly waving play on.
But the longer Villas-Boas’s side failed to make the breakthrough, the more Everton were allowed to rebuild confidence. And they had a glimpse of an opportunity three minutes after the interval when Everton had greater numbers during a swift counter-attack. However, with Osman free inside, Lukaku instead chose to feed Mirallas, who was well tackled by Michael Dawson.
Martinez’s positive decision to introduce Barkley and Deulofeu on the hour ensured the initiative remained with the home side. Barkley struck a shot over before, in a reversal of their first-half tangle, Coleman fell to ground when challenged by Vertonghen before managing to release a shot. This time, though, replays suggested referee Friend was wrong to remain unmoved.
On 72 minutes, Barkley fed McCarthy down the right wing but Lukaku couldn’t gain enough purchase when attempting turn in the Irishman’s cross at the near post. Another substitute, Tottenham’s Sigurdsson, then stung the palms of Howard before the game was held up by a sickening clash a Lukaku’s knee glanced the head of Lloris. It was accidental and painful – Lloris requiring lengthy treatment before being roused back to his senses – and didn’t warrant Lukaku being shown a yellow card. Lloris eventually played on and thwarted Deulofeu after the Spanish substitute skipped beyond four defenders into the area. Christian Eriksen frightened Everton in the closing stages with an inviting free-kick that only required a touch from a Tottenham player, and then a shot that was dragged narrowly wide. But a draw was the right result. Nothing could separate the teams on the day, but Everton know what is required to ensure such parity remains throughout the course of the season.
MAN OF THE MATCH. James McCarthy. A hard-working performance in midfield from the Republic of Ireland international
EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Barry, McCarthy; Mirallas (Deulofeu 63), Osman (Barkley 63), Pienaar; Lukaku (Jelavic 85). Subs: Robles, Oviedo, Naismith, Stones. BOOKINGS: Howard and Mirallas (both dissent) and McCarthy and Lukaku (both fouls).
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-1-4-1): Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Chiriches, Vertonghen; Sandro (Dembele 61); Townsend, Paulinho, Holtby (Eriksen 86), Lennon (Sigurdsson 68); Soldado. Subs: Friedel, Kaboul, Lamela, Defoe. BOOKING: Paulinho (foul).
REFEREE: Kevin Friend.
ATT: 38,828.

Distin thinking positive after Blues' plus point against Spurs
5 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
By David Prentice
Reaction to stalemate shows how far we’ve come says defender
Sylvain Distin believes Everton’s frustration after their goalless draw with Tottenham is a sign of how much progress they are making. Victory over Spurs on Sunday would have taken Everton up to second in the table – the first time the Blues would have hit that spot in November since 1989.
But instead they had to settle for a draw which took the Toffees to 19 points and seventh.
Distin said: “When we draw at home against Spurs and feel disappointment, that shows where the team wants to go. It is great. “We feel like it is two points missed but I think it is a fair result.
“In the first half I think they dominated us and in the second half we were much better.” Distin’s assessment is a reasonable one. Spurs controlled possession and created the better chances before the break as Everton struggled to gain and retain the ball. The hosts commanded more control in the second half and Hugo Lloris was the busier goalkeeper. Distin said: “You have to learn from your mistakes and adapt your position. “They had a gameplan and we had to change our gameplan, and that worked fine. “It was still a good game. We had some great chances and didn’t concede a goal. At home, that is good.” Roberto Martinez’s enthusiasm for his task at Everton is obvious and Distin feels that has added to the strong culture already put in place by his predecessor David Moyes.
The veteran Frenchman, 35, said: “All players are different but it is nice to see – he is always very positive and honest as well. “To be honest it was the same with the previous manager. That is the mentality of the club, it has always been very positive. “The fans have always been very demanding, the players as well. That is just how it is here. “It is great. Even if we get results, we are still adapting to the new style of the manager, the new philosophy of playing. “We have had good results but nobody feels, ‘That’s it, we understand everything’. We don’t. We are still adapting. It takes a bit of time.” Distin believes Everton now just need to continue in the same vein. He said: “Everything is good so far. “It is very early, even if we had gone second it wouldn’t change anything. “It is a very long season but we are still up there. We are enjoying it.” Distin is also losing none of his enthusiasm for the game and is playing as well as ever. He said: “I enjoy playing, at my age you have to enjoy it. “I’m feeling good – physically I feel good. Everything is fine. “Game after game I don’t ask myself too many questions and so far so good. It’s perfect.”

Fortress Goodison! Martinez delight at Blues 'special' home record
5 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
By David Prentice
Blues take home comfort from ‘special’ atmosphere at the Grand Old Lady
Roberto Martinez believes there is ‘something special’ in the Everton dressing room.
But when the players leave the sanctuary of the changing rooms they join up with another special force – and it has helped the Blues compile one of the most impressive home records in the Premier League. Everton weren’t able to find their way through Tottenham’s expensively assembled rearguard on Sunday – but the goalless draw meant that they avoided defeat in front of their own supporters once again. The Blues have experienced just one Premier League defeat at Goodison in 20 months now – and even that was the undeserved and unlucky loss to Chelsea on the penultimate day of 2012. That’s a spell of 28 Premier League home games since Arsenal won 1-0 in March 2012 – a period of home rule punctured only once in cup ties too, the shock FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Wigan overseen by Martinez. It is a run that Martinez hopes to build on.
“I was looking at our run at Goodison Park for a long, long time and we expect to get wins and we expect to get positive results,” said the Blues boss after Sunday’s draw. “That’s what I want.
“I want to encourage that. We need to have those expectations. Increased expectations are good for us. “What’s important is that we know we have played against a very good Spurs side and without being at our best we were able to keep a clean sheet and then grow into something of a better level in the second half. That’s encouraging and that’s what we want as a squad.
“We all know that there’s something special in that dressing room and I do feel that it is evolving into something special. “All we want to do is fulfil our potential as quickly as we can and make sure that we can get into a position where in February or March then we can look at the competition and see where we are. “At the moment the attitude of the players, the competition that we have and the way they work on a daily basis is giving me an incredible feeling that we have got something special in the dressing room.” James McCarthy believes that the club has something special off the pitch, too. “The crowd were a different class,” he said. “As always they were brilliant. “Since I’ve been at the club they’ve been magnificent with myself and everyone else. They’ve been amazing and hopefully it will continue.” Team-mate Leighton Baines agreed with his assessment. “We’ve got to make it so that people don’t enjoy coming and playing here,” he added. “When people look at it and see that we’re not losing any games here – teams like Tottenham and Chelsea have come here and not got any results – then it’s going to make people think twice about how they approach the game. “Hopefully we can start winning a few more as well. It’s quite congested at the moment in those top six or seven positions so a win can do a lot for you at this moment in time. We need to stay in the pack and keep winning games.”
Everton's home record in number s 14 Everton’s current run of unbeaten Premier League home games. 1 Number of home defeats in Everton’s last 28 home league games. 6 Successive home wins at Goodison in March, April and May 2013. 50 Number of years since Everton went an entire league season unbeaten at Goodison Park – the title winning 1962-63 campaign.
39 Everton’s record run of unbeaten home league games. After losing 2-0 at home to Manchester City on September 6, 1961 Everton didn’t lose a home game until Burnley triumphed 4-3 two years and a day later – on September 7, 1963. 11 Number of successive home league wins Everton’s title winners of 1984/85 (managed by Howars Kendall, above) put together, plus one at the start of 1985/86. 1962 The only calendar year in which Everton did not lose a league game. They still have a chance of matching that in 2013!
Records to bear in mind
IN THEIR 2011/12 title season Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City won their first 15 matches before a 3-3 draw with Sunderland. Including five successive wins at the end of the 2010/11 season, that created a Premier League record of 20 successive home wins.
City’s former Blues defender Joleon Lescott said: “Our tactics aren’t that much different when we play at home. Maybe it’s the opposition who change, because we’ve done so well at home.”
THE last team to win every home league match in the English top flight was Sunderland in 1891/92.
FROM December 1998 until December 2000, Manchester united went 36 games unbeaten at home. Danny Murphy’s free-kick meant it was Liverpool who ended that sequence.
THE record for the longest unbeaten home run in Premier League history is held by Chelsea.
Jose Mourinho’s side went an incredible 86 home matches undefeated from March 2004 to October 2008.
Xabi Alonso’s deflected goal meant Liverpool finally ended that run as well.
THE last team to go through an entire English league season winning every home match was Brentford in the 1929/30 Division Three South. The Bees still missed out on promotion.
THE record for most consecutive top flight home wins of all-time is held by Liverpool. Bill Shankly’s side won 21 times in a row in 1971 and 1972.

McCarthy running Mersey derby suspension tightrope at Palace
5 Nov 2013Liverpool Echo
Midfielder just one booking away from suspension
Influential Everton midfielder James McCarthy will tread a derby tightrope at Selhurst Park on Saturday. McCarthy knows that a yellow card against Crystal Palace will rule him out of his first Merseyside derby. The 22-year-old collected his third yellow card of the season for Everton against Spurs – but a caution for Wigan on the opening day of The Championship season at Barnsley on August 3 means he is one away from a suspension. The amnesty for five bookings is not until December 31. The match official at Selhurst Park will be Craig Pawson, taking charge of just his fourth Premier League match. The South Yorkshireman has taken charge of six matches this season and shown 24 yellow cards and two red, including six cautions in Tranmere’s League One clash with Stevenage. Everton’s Premier League trip to The Hawthorns, meanwhile, has been put back 48 hours until Monday January 20 (8pm) for live screening by Sky TV, while the Anfield derby will be screened live on BT Sport on Tuesday January 28 (8pm).

Frustration at Spurs draw is sign of how far Everton FC have come
5 Nov 2013 Daily Post
Sylvain Disitn says side is in good spirits and feel like they missed out on two points, although draw was a fair results Sylvain Distin believes Everton’s frustration after their goalless draw with Tottenham is a sign of how much progress they are making. In what has been a fine start to their Premier League campaign, the Toffees claimed another creditable point as Spurs’ visit to Goodison Park ended in a stalemate. The result left the Merseysiders seventh in the table but a victory could have lifted them to second and further underlined the positive start to the Roberto Martinez era.
Distin said: “Right now we are in a spirit where we want to win every single game.
“When we draw at home against Spurs and feel disappointment, that shows where the team wants to go. It is great. “We feel like it is two points missed but I think it is a fair result. “In the first half I think they dominated us and in the second half we were much better.” Distin’s assessment is a reasonable one. Spurs controlled possession and created the better chances before the break as Everton struggled to gain and retain the ball. The hosts commanded more control in the second half and Hugo Lloris – who controversially played on after a nasty collision with Everton’s Romelu Lukaku
late on – was the busier. goalkeeper. Distin said: “You have to learn from your mistakes and adapt your position. They had a gameplan and we had to change our gameplan, and that worked. fine.
“It was still a good game. We had some great chances and didn’t concede a goal. At home, that is good.” Martinez’s enthusiasm for his task at Everton is obvious and Distin feels that has added to the strong culture already put in place by his predecessor David Moyes. The veteran Frenchman, 35, said: “All players are different but it is nice to see – he is always very positive and honest as well. To be honest it was the same with the previous manager. That is the mentality of the club, it has always been very positive. “The fans have always been very demanding, the players as \well. That is just how it is here. “It is great. Even if we get results, we are still adapting to the new style of the manager, the new philosophy of playing. “We have had good results but nobody feels, ’That’s it, we understand everything’. We don’t. We are still adapting. It takes a bit of time.”
Sandro, Roberto Soldado, Andros Townsend and Lewis Holtby all had early chances for Spurs before Everton began to get into the game. They eventually responded through Leon Osman and other chances fell to Kevin Mirallas, Steven Pienaar and Lukaku. Both sides had penalty claims after incidents involving Jan Vertonghen and Seamus Coleman at each end, but neither were given.
And Lloris , who argued for the right to play on after briefly being knocked out in the Lukaku clash, made a telling late contribution by saving well from Gerard Deulofeu. Distin believes Everton now just need to continue in the same vein. He said: “ Everything is good so far. It is very early, even if we had gone second it wouldn’t change anything. “It is a very long season but we are still up there. We are enjoying it.”

Ian Snodin: There's tough competition for first team places, why Everton FC must take care at Palace and why I hate diving
5 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
The Blue hero tackles Goodison's talking points
Everyone must put a shift in to earn their Blue shirt
THE sight of Ross Barkley on the substitutes’ bench this weekend, Leon Osman benched the week before at Villa Park – not to mention Steven Pienaar in our previous home game against Hull – underlines the competition for places we now have in the Everton squad.
And it means that everybody has to really put a shift in every single week if they are going to keep their place. There were a couple who were off the pace on Sunday – especially in the first half – and Roberto Martinez knows he has options he can turn to if necessary.
Kevin Mirallas is a player who has pace and the ability to go past players. On his day he can be an exciting talent, but if he is going to keep his place he has got to be on top of his game week-in week-out. We all know what Kevin is capable of going forward, but he also has to help out defensively a little more. On Sunday Jan Vertonghen was almost playing like an extra left-winger for Spurs and it left Seamus Coleman with an awful lot on his plate. Seamus did well handling the threat, but I thought Kevin could have done more to support him. I don’t like harping on about ‘back in my day’ but one of the best I ever saw at working up and down the flank was Trevor Steven. Going forward there were few better at gliding past players, putting terrific crosses in and scoring goals.
But Tricky was also excellent at tracking back, covering his full-back and putting a real shift in.
I would have loved to have seen Kevin Mirallas taking on Jan Vertonghen all afternoon, pushing him back and causing problems in the Spurs’ half – but the way the match went, in the first half especially, meant that there was more work to be done in Everton’s half.
In the second half – thanks in part to a couple of bold substitutions by Roberto Martinez – we started to see more of Everton as an attacking threat. Everton v Spurs - your player ratings
We might have pinched it, but in the end a draw was a fair result – and a scoreline I probably would have taken before kick-off. Spurs have spent a phenomenal amount of money in the summer and have genuine top-four aspirations. But considering that we didn’t get going until after half-time we still came away with something. Both centre-backs did well – although Soldado was pretty much on his own up front, while Spurs have plenty of pace on the flanks. There was one block by Phil Jagielka which was so good that the biggest compliment I can pay it is that it was the kind of interception I would expect to see somebody like Dave Watson making. That’s the kind of commitment Roberto Martinez will want to see from all of his players in every minute of every match. If he doesn’t get that, he knows he has the squad to change it. I'd rather see honesty than cheating Seamus Coleman proved on Sunday that honesty isn’t always the best policy.
But I would still applaud him for the way he reacted to Jan Vertonghen’s challenge.
Coleman was clearly fouled in the penalty area – but his instant reaction was to bounce back up as quickly as possible and try to get a shot off. Contrast that to the behaviour of a couple of other players at the weekend. Robbie Brady’s lunge at Adam Johnson was reckless, uncontrolled and deserved the yellow card it received. But he didn’t actually make contact and the way in which Johnson rolled over four or five times was designed purely to try and get an opponent sent-off.
Daniel Sturridge ran the ball out of play and dived at The Emirates, while Fraizer Campbell was certainly touched by Michel Vorm in the South wales derby, but he could easily have stayed on his feet had he wanted to score more than getting a player sent-off. Diving is a pet hate of mine – and while Seamus Coleman’s honesty effectively cost us a possible penalty kick on Sunday – I’d rather see that kind of behaviour all day long rather than rolling over, feigning injury or cheating – pure and simple. All the best, Joe I'd like to wish Tranmere FC's Joe Thompson all the best after the awful news last week that he has been diagnosed with cancer.
It’s a terrible shock, but I’m sure not just at Tranmere, but in football generally, that everyone will pull together and support him.
And there are examples like Stilian Petrov, Alan Stubbs and John Hartson, who have all successfully won their own personal battles, that Joe can take encouragement from. I am sure that everyone at Everton will wish him well in his own personal fight.
A new king at Palace should make Everton wary
Crystal Palace may have appointed a new manager in time for Everton’s trek to Selhurst Park on Saturday. We all know about the extra lift a team can get from the installation of a new boss.
But that doesn’t mean if Keith Millen is still in place as a caretaker manager that Everton will suddenly find it any easier. I know from my own career that players don’t suddenly start behaving differently when there’s no manager in place. It’s not like being at school when the teacher leaves the classroom. Players are professionals and always look after their own games.
I was at Everton when Jimmy Gabriel was a caretaker-manager for a spell and nobody behaved any differently in training or during matches. The players still had the same respect for him as a caretaker boss that they had for him as a coach. It will be the same at Palace, who are desperate for points because of their position at the foot of the table. They won’t be taking their foot off the pedal – caretaker manager or not – and neither can we afford to. I’d be expecting an Everton team to take all three points – but they’ll have to work hard to do it.
Kevin's no Friend of ours
Kevin Friend is usually one of our better Premier League referees – but he didn’t have a good game at Goodison on Sunday. When the home fans are waiting behind to boo him off at half-time AND full-time you know it’s not been a good performance. Kevin made quite a few strange decisions on the day – but none stranger than the yellow card he showed to Romelu Lukaku for a clearly accidental collision with Hugo Lloris. It was a poor performance and I can only hope Kevin gets back to his usual standards quickly.

McCarthy hoping Blues can make life even tougher for Palace
5 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg o’Keefe
Midfielder says it will be a test but EFC will 'have a right go at it' next weekend
James McCarthy has warned Everton FC to expect a tougher challenge on Saturday than Crystal Palace’s struggling form would suggest. The midfielder is quietly confident of a favourable result at Selhurst Park as the Toffees face managerless Palace in the capital. Winless since August and bottom of the league, the Eagles have endured a wretched start to life back in the top-flight.
But McCarthy, 22, stresses it will be far from the walkover that many are expecting.
He said: “It’s a tough place to go and it’s not going to be easy. They are looking to get a new manager and improve all the time but we will have a right go at it. “Crystal Palace will come at us and we will work on that this week. But we need to go there and try to get three points on the board.” McCarthy also revealed how a few stern words from manager Roberto Martinez prompted Everton’s much-improved second-half showing against Tottenham. The Blues were unable to stamp their usual home authority on Spurs in the first half of Sunday’s contest as the visitors set the pace prior to half-time. After scoreless stalemate, Martinez was critical of his team for surrendering possession too easily in the first 45 minutes before praising a more ‘imposing’ performance after the restart. And McCarthy says the manager’s half-time team talk was the catalyst for the second-half onslaught which very nearly reaped an Everton winner. He said: “To be honest it could have gone either way. In the first half they were the better team. The gaffer spoke to us at half-time and said that it wasn’t good enough. He said we needed to get on the ball more. “We showed Spurs too much respect [in the first half] and let them play. It wasn’t good enough from each and every one of us. But we made amends in the second half and had a go.”

Martinez: John Stones can stake a claim for a Everton FC place
6 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
Manager doesn't think teen needs a loan spell
John Stones does not need to go out on loan to boost his chances of becoming an Everton first team regular, says Roberto Martinez. The 19-year-old defender has yet to start a Premier League game for the Blues, but his manager believes he is good enough to push for a starting place without having to collect experience elsewhere first. England under-21s international Stones, who joined from Barnsley for £2.5m last January, has already improved from his impressive pre-season performance levels, according to Martinez – who started the youngster against Juventus during the club’s pre-season tour and was rewarded when his confident spot-kick during the ensuing penalty shoot-out saw Everton notch a memorable win. “I think he can develop here fighting for his place,” said the Catalan. “He’s earned that and I don’t think he needs to go out on loan and play. Here he is learning on a daily basis from Jags and Distin, and that’s exactly what he needs. “He’s not the same player from pre-season, he’s already gone to a different level. “He’s got an incredible future which we’re all excited about and we’re looking forward to him fighting to see how quickly he can get in the team.” Stones made 24 first team appearances in the Championship for Barnsley (right) before signing for David Moyes at the start of the year, and Martinez believes it is that experience which means he does not require another spell out of the top flight. “Every player is an individual and needs different things,” he said. “John has had first team experience. He played enough with Barnsley in the Championship to know what to expect.” Meanwhile, Leighton Baines reckons Everton must make the most of home games this term if they are to remain in touch with those teams vying for Champions League qualification. Martinez’s side are currently seventh but only a point behind second-placed Chelsea. “Hopefully we can start winning a few more,” Baines said. “It is quite congested in the top six or seven and a win can do a lot for you. “We have to stay with the pack and keep winning games.” Everton have not lost at Goodison in the league since December 30 and Baines feels that is where they can get the most value from their games. “I think we have to make it so that other people don’t enjoy coming here,” he added. “If Tottenham and Chelsea are not getting any results from us here then it will make other teams think twice about how they approach the game.”

John Stones doesn't need to go out on loan, says Everton FC manager Roberto Martinez
6 Nov 2013 Daily Post
Boss believes teen can make it into the first team
John Stones does not need to go out on loan to boost his chances of becoming an Everton first team regular, says Roberto Martinez. The 19-year-old defender has yet to start a Premier League game for the Blues, but his manager believes he is good enough to push for a starting place without having to collect experience elsewhere first. England under-21s international Stones, who joined from Barnsley for £2.5m last January, has already improved from his impressive pre-season performance levels, according to Martinez – who started the youngster against Juventus during the club’s pre-season tour and was rewarded when his confident spot-kick during the ensuing penalty shoot-out saw Everton notch a memorable win. “I think he can develop here fighting for his place,” said the Catalan. “He’s earned that and I don’t think he needs to go out on loan and play. Here he is learning on a daily basis from Jags and Distin, and that’s exactly what he needs. “He’s not the same player from pre-season, he’s already gone to a different level. “He’s got an incredible future which we’re all excited about and we’re looking forward to him fighting to see how quickly he can get in the team.” Stones made 24 first team appearances in the Championship for Barnsley (right) before signing for David Moyes at the start of the year, and Martinez believes it is that experience which means he does not require another spell out of the top flight. “Every player is an individual and needs different things,” he said. “John has had first team experience. He played enough with Barnsley in the Championship to know what to expect.” Meanwhile, Leighton Baines reckons Everton must make the most of home games this term if they are to remain in touch with those teams vying for Champions League qualification. Martinez’s side are currently seventh but only a point behind second-placed Chelsea. “Hopefully we can start winning a few more,” Baines said. “It is quite congested in the top six or seven and a win can do a lot for you. “We have to stay with the pack and keep winning games.” Everton have not lost at Goodison in the league since December 30 and Baines feels that is where they can get the most value from their games. “I think we have to make it so that other people don’t enjoy coming here,” he added. “If Tottenham and Chelsea are not getting any results from us here then it will make other teams think twice about how they approach the game.”

Everton FC will have a fight on their hands at Palace, warns McCarthy
6 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
Bottom club will have a point to prove, warns midfielder
James McCarthy has warned Everton to expect a tougher challenge on Saturday than Crystal Palace’s struggling form would suggest. The midfielder is quietly confident of ahead of the fixture which at Selhurst Park which will see the Toffees face manager-less Palace in the capital.
Win-less since August and bottom of the league, the put-upon Eagles have had a troubled start to life back in the top-flight. But McCarthy, 22, stresses it will be far from the walkover that many are expecting based on the Londoners’ woeful results, and believes they will be fired-up to grab their first taste of victory amid all the upheaval. He said: “It’s a tough place to go and it’s not going to be easy. They are looking to get a new manager and improve all the time but we will have a right go at it. “Crystal Palace will come at us and we will work on that this week. But we need to go there and try to get three points on the board.” McCarthy also revealed how a no-nonsense team talk from Roberto Martinez prompted Everton’s improved second-half diaplay against Tottenham.
The Blues were unable to stamp their usual home authority on Spurs in the first half of Sunday’s contest, as the visitors set the pace with relentless pressing. After the stalemate, Martinez was critical of his team for surrendering possession too easily in the first 45 minutes before praising a more ‘imposing’ performance after the restart. And McCarthy says the manager’s half-time lecture was the catalyst for that turnaround which might eventually have seen them grab a win.
He said: “To be honest it could have gone either way. In the first half they were the better team. The gaffer spoke to us at half-time and said that it wasn’t good enough. He said we needed to get on the ball more. “We showed Spurs too much respect [in the first half] and let them play. It wasn’t good enough from each and every one of us. But we made amends in the second half and had a go.”
Sunday’s draw was just the second time in the last 11 home league fixtures that Everton have failed to take maximum points. The Blues have also been in good form away from Goodison, winning two of their last three league fixtures on the road – at West Ham United and Aston Villa.

Kone to have knee surgery which could end his season
6 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
29-year-old striker yet to find net having arrived from Wigan in the summer
Arouna Kone 's season could be over for Everton after the striker was told he must undergo surgery on a knee injury. The 29-year-old forward has had a patchy start to his Blues career since making a £6m summer switch from Wigan, and was hurt when he came on as a substitute during the 2-1 win over Hull City at Goodison last month. Kone, who has already been dogged with injury concerns and is yet to score for the Toffees, needs a procedure to remove some dislodged cartilage, and while the full extent of his lay off is uncertain, Roberto Martinez told the ECHO he fears the worst.
He said: "We had to send him for a surgery and we need to see how long exactly he'll be out but it'll be a while. "I would say the worst fears were confirmed and he had some loose cartilage in his knee. We'll know in the next 48 hours. "He needs it repaired and the loose cartilage taken out. It takes a long time to recover. "We'll need to see how he gets through surgery but it's a really difficult injury in terms of time. "He'll be fine long term but it's disappointing because I felt he showed against Hull he was ready to be himself and enjoy his football. "We'll make sure he gets back fit and strong as ever." Martinez added that the problem is as severe as the cruciate injury suffered by Darron Gibson , who went under the knife last week, but he has not entirely ruled out seeing both players return before the current campaign ends. "It's similar to Darron (Gibson) although Darron had already surprised everyone with how he's recovering because he's been around and put weight on his knee," he said. "He's very positive. If we could get them both back before the season ends it would be the best two signings."

Everton on alert as Aiden McGeady admits he wants to play in the Premier League
7 Nov 2013 Daily Post
By Ian Doyle
Republic of Ireland international McGeady has spent the last four years playing in the Russian league for Spartak Moscow
Aiden McGeady has put Everton FC on alert by admitting he wants to play in the Premier League – as Arouna Kone faces up to a long spell on the sidelines. Republic of Ireland international McGeady has spent the last four years playing in the Russian league for Spartak Moscow after a surprise move from boyhood club Celtic. The 27-year-old is approaching the end of his contract and is prepared to turn down a lucrative new deal that would reportedly make him one of the highest earners at the club. Everton manager Roberto Martinez is an admirer of McGeady, who has won 61 caps for his country. And the Spaniard will have been encouraged by the winger’s insistence on leaving Spartak.
“When I am with the Ireland squad sometimes I look at the guys who are playing in England and feel a bit jealous,” said McGeady, who is also being tracked by Newcastle United and Fulham.
“I feel I could be in the back of people’s minds now, that I could be forgotten about. People ask me: ‘Where are you playing now?’ Oh are you still there?’ “I have made no secret of the fact that one day I would like to play in England. I would be disappointed if I never get the chance to do that.
“I didn’t think I would be here this long, I didn’t see myself being here longer than a couple of years. But no footballer really looks four or five years ahead.” Martinez has surplus funds from his summer transfer dealings following the £27million sale of Marouane Fellaini. The Spaniard is hopeful of strengthening his squad during January with Spartak likely to look to sell McGeady in the New Year transfer window given he could walk away for nothing next summer. “I only have until next summer left on my contract,” said McGeady. “The club have offered me a new one but I’m not of a mind to sign it. “It is in my mind to get back somewhere closer to home. I have told the club that and they are fine with it.” Martinez may be forced into the market for a new striker in January after it emerged yesterday that £6m summer signing Kone may not play again this season.
Scans on a cartilage injury suffered during the 2-1 win over Hull City last month have revealed the damage to be worse than first feared and required surgery. And Martinez admits that, as with cruciate ligament injury victim Darron Gibson, the Ivory Coast international, who has yet to score for Everton, faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. “It’s going to be a long spell out and that’s disappointing,” said the Spaniard. “We need to give him a lot of support because he was enjoying his role when he came on against Hull and then he got a nasty incident that is going to keep him away for a long time. “He had a loosened body, a bit of cartilage in his knee, so we need to repair that which will take time. “We had to send him for a surgery and we need to see how long exactly he’ll be out but it’ll be a while. He’ll be fine long term but it’s disappointing.” Martinez added: “It’s similar to Darron (Gibson) although Darron had already surprised everyone with how he’s recovering because he's been around and put weight on his knee. “He’s very positive. If we could get them both back before the season ends it would be the best two signings.” Martinez had better news concerning Romelu Lukaku, who is expected to recover from a thigh injury in time for Saturday’s Premier League visit to Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, Leighton Baines is on a six-man shortlist to be player of the year at the Football Supporters' Federation Awards 2013.

Blues to hit January sales in bid to bolster squad
7 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
Martinez will seek to fill gaps left by Kone and Gibson injuries
Roberto Martinez will try to boost his striking options in January along with a midfield reinforcement in the wake of long-term injury set-backs for Arouna Kone and Darron Gibson .
The Blues will have to cope without both £6m summer recruit Kone, 29, and influential playmaker Gibson for most of the season after both suffered serious knee problems. Yesterday the ECHO revealed that Ivory Coast international Kone is likely to miss the rest of the current campaign , following the confirmation that he needs surgery to remove damaged cartilage from his knee.
The striker, who is yet to score for the Toffees and has been plagued with other injury problems during his brief spell on Merseyside so far, was injured during the 2-1 win over Hull City at Goodison last month. Everton medics will have a clearer idea of how long he is facing on the sidelines before the weekend, but Martinez admitted it was a serious blow – coming so soon after Republic of Ireland international Gibson also underwent a procedure to repair his torn knee cruciate ligament. He said: “Arouna and Darren are two unexpected absences and we need to be as strong as we can be in the final third of the season, so we’ll have to look into it. “We’re always looking, and in January we’ll have to see where we are. What’s important though is we never bring in players for the sake of it.”
Martinez wants to have three forwards competing for a starting spot in his side, and with the Ivorian now sidelined for the long-term he has only Romelu Lukaku and Nikica Jelavic as senior goal-scorers.
However, the Catalan insisted he will not feel pressured to bring in players who do not improve the quality of his squad, and may look to the club’s U21 set-up if he cannot find suitable targets.
“It won’t be a case of getting someone just to make up the numbers,” he said. “If we find the right players we’ll look into it but if not I will look at the U21s and younger players here and make sure someone steps up because I’ve been impressed in that regard and it’s important we keep that in mind.” Meanwhile, Martinez insists James McCarthy’s potential Merseyside derby suspension will not bear any influence on his team selection this weekend. The midfielder is currently on four bookings for the season and a further caution before the New Year would enforce a one-game ban.
A yellow card at Crystal Palace on Saturday would therefore mean the Republic of Ireland international would miss Martinez’s first meeting with Liverpool on November 23.
But asked if the circumstances would affect the 22-year-old’s involvement at Selhurst Park, he said: “Not really, no. At the moment, we need to take every game step-by-step and the focus now is on Crystal Palace. “It doesn’t matter who you play, you only get rewarded three points for a win and one for a draw and that doesn’t change. “In that respect, we look at preparing for Crystal Palace and not any further than that.”

Blue Boys: Youngsters clip Canaries' wings
7 Nov 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greeg O’Keefe
Sheedy's youngster avenge last season's Youth Cup defeat
A solitary Courtney Duffus goal helped Everton U-18s complete their revenge mission in Norwich.
The Young Blues were charged with getting one over the Canaries at the weekend after Norwich subjected them to their most galling defeat of last season with an FA Youth Cup quarter final reverse at Goodison Park. And while the East Anglian outfit were still tough opponents, a Duffus strike just before half time was enough to carry all three points back to Merseyside. Skipper George green created the opening for the former Cheltenham town academy starlet, who broke from the edge of his own box and slid home. Coach Kevin Sheedy said: “We passed the ball well and created a number of opportunities so we deserved to get the goal. “I was pleases at how we went from defending a corner via a powerful defensive header from Callum Dyson, to breaking through George Green and then Courtney’s great run upfield was rewarded. “Pleasingly we also defended solidly against a side which still has some of the players who went on to win the FA Youth Cup.
“Curtis Langton cleared one off the line and the other shot was over the bar, but our keeper Russell Griffiths had it well covered. “He is coming on really well and his distribution has been a real plus to the way we’re trying to play with a passing game. “Russell was one of the key performers in the win, as was Courtney and special mention also goes to his brother Tyrone who is doing well for us in midfield. He has a good engine and breaks things up nicely. “Overall it was a determined team performance and just what we wanted.”
Sheeds: Keep up good work
KEVIN Sheedy will tell his young Blues to produce more of the same when Wolves visit Finch Farm on Saturday. With his side quickly back to winning ways, the Blues coach is keen for them to stand up to the test against a physical Wolverhampton Wanderers who will pose an aerial threat for his side.
He said: “They are a big strong team but I want us to follow our win at Norwich with another victory at home just to prove the Reading defeat really is out of our system. “I’ve already told them the best sides don’t lose back to back games now I’ve told them the best sides don’t lose back to back games at home. “We have some big games coming up with Manchester United on the horizon, so I’d like us to carry on progressing and playing the passing football we’ve been doing well so far.”
U21s face trip to Boro
EVERTON Under-21s will head to Middlesbrough for their first involvement in the Under-21 Premier League Cup. The new competition is already underway, with clubs holding Category One academy status – of which Everton are one – entering at the round of 32 stage. The Blues were handed an opening trip to Teesside in last week's draw and details of the tie have now been confirmed. Boro will welcome Alan Stubbs' side to the Riverside Stadium for a 7pm kick-off on Monday November 18.

Everton FC eye move for former Celtic man Aiden McGeady
7 Nov 2013 Daily Post
By Dan Owen
Roberto Martinez keen on the current Spartak Moscow forward, as Arouna Kone face a long spell on the sidelines
AIDEN McGEADY has put Everton on alert by admitting he wants to play in the Premier League – as Arouna Kone faces up to a long spell on the sidelines. Republic of Ireland international McGeady, 27, has spent the last four years playing in the Russian league for Spartak Moscow after a surprise move from boyhood club Celtic. McGeady is approaching the end of his contract and is prepared to turn down a lucrative new deal that would reportedly make him one of the highest earners at the club. Everton manager Roberto Martinez is an admirer of McGeady, who has won 61 caps for his country. And the Spaniard will have been encouraged by the winger’s insistence on leaving Spartak.
“When I am with the Ireland squad sometimes I look at the guys who are playing in England and feel a bit jealous,” said McGeady, who is also being tracked by Newcastle United and Fulham.
“I feel I could be in the back of people’s minds now, that I could be forgotten about. People ask me: ‘Where are you playing now?’ Oh are you still there?’ “I have made no secret of the fact that one day I would like to play in England. I would be disappointed if I never get the chance to do that.
“I didn’t think I would be here this long, I didn’t see myself being here longer than a couple of years. But no footballer really looks four or five years ahead.” Martinez has surplus funds from his summer transfer dealings following the £27m sale of Marouane Fellaini.
The Spaniard is hopeful of strengthening his squad during January with Spartak likely to look to sell McGeady in the New Year transfer window given he could walk away for nothing next summer.
“I only have until next summer left on my contract,” said McGeady. “The club have offered me a new one but I’m not of a mind to sign it. “It is in my mind to get back somewhere closer to home. I have told the club that and they are fine with it.” Martinez may be forced into the market for a new striker in January after it emerged yesterday that £6m summer signing Kone may not play again this season. Scans on a cartilage injury suffered against Hull City last month have revealed the damage to be worse than first feared and required surgery. And Martinez admits that, as with cruciate ligament injury victim Darron Gibson, the Ivory Coast international, who has yet to score for Everton, faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. “It’s going to be a long spell out and that’s disappointing,” said the Spaniard. “We need to give him a lot of support because he was enjoying his role when he came on against Hull and then he got a nasty incident that is going to keep him away for a long time.
“He had a loosened body, a bit of cartilage in his knee, so we need to repair that which will take time.” “We had to send him for a surgery and we need to see how long exactly he’ll be out but it’ll be a while. He’ll be fine long term but it’s disappointing.” Martinez added: “It’s similar to Darron (Gibson) although Darron had already surprised everyone with how he’s recovering because he’s been around and put weight on his knee. “He’s very positive. If we could get them both back before the season ends it would be the best two signings.” Martinez had better news concerning Romelu Lukaku, who is expected to recover from a thigh injury in time to face Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Leighton Baines is on a six-man shortlist to be player of the year at the Football Supporters’ Federation Awards 2013.

Lukaku has no reason to apologise to Hugo Lloris follow clash says Martinez
7 Nov 2013 Liverpool Daily Post
Martinez instead pointed to an incident caught on camera when Soldado deliberately elbowed Phil Jagielka
Everton's Romelu Lukaku checks on Tottenham Hotspur keeper Hugo Lloris after an unfortunate clash at Goodison Park Photo by James Maloney Everton FC boss Roberto Martinez insists Romelu Lukaku has no reason to say sorry to Hugo Lloris – and believes Tottenham Hotspur striker Roberto Soldado should instead be made to apologise. The fall-out has continued to rumble following the collision between Lukaku and Lloris during Everton’s goalless home draw against the Londoners last Sunday. Tottenham have been criticised for allowing Lloris to play on despite suffering concussion, prompting manager Andre Villas-Boas to defend the actions of his medical team and also attack Lukaku for not avoiding the goalkeeper and then failing to apologise. And that raised the ire of Martinez, who instead pointed to an incident caught on camera when Soldado deliberately elbowed Phil Jagielka during the match. “There are situations that require an apology, yes,” said the Everton manager. “But Hugo was fine.
“Romelu did nothing wrong. If you look at the body Romelu has, he can’t really get away from those situations, but he didn’t do anything on purpose. “If it’s an incident where somebody should apologise, then maybe Robert Soldado should for where he gets a bit frustrated and reacts by elbowing Phil in his chest. That’s an action you can avoid, maybe, and would have to apologise for.
“With Romelu, it’s not a situation where you would expect a player to apologise. You would expect him to find out how the other player is, because you don’t want anybody to get injured.
“But Hugo wasn’t.” That his unprovoked reproach for Lukaku came days after the game and not in the immediate aftermath has led to suggestions Villas-Boas was attempted to distract from the criticism of Tottenham’s handling of Lloris. And Martinez added: “I hope it isn’t a situation where he is using this to deflect from something else. They were telling me what Andre said, but if you watch the incident you can see that Romelu doesn’t do anything wrong. “But I don’t think Romelu could do anything to avoid it. We are glad it didn’t cause a serious injury to either of the players, because remember, Romelu had to go off. Hugo Lloris was able to carry on. “I know Andre well. If he had a problem, he would tell me straight after the game. “We had a good chat after the match and spoke about many things, and he never mentioned he was disappointed with what happened on the pitch. I don’t think there is any need for me to now speak to him about it.” The incident has prompted a debate over concussion in sport, with growing calls for players who are knocked out to be automatically prevented from continuing. Back in September, Lukaku himself was involved in a clash of heads with West Ham United defender Joey O’Brien that left him so dazed he had to be informed he had scored the winner. And Martinez admits players cannot be allowed to make decisions about their own fitness in such cases. “I’ve never seen a player who wants to come off, even if they can’t walk, but that is the moment when the medical advice has to take the most important part of the decision,” said the Spaniard. “I don’t think it should be a manager’s decision whether you take a player off or not. “If there is a strong view from the medical side that when a player gets concussed he should come off I think we should look into it and make it a rule. “If it comes as a rule with an understanding for everyone that if that happens the player should come off and it shouldn’t count as a substitution that would be a lot easier.” Meanwhile, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka and Ross Barkley have all been named in the England squad for the forthcoming friendlies against Chile and Germany at Wembley later this month.