Everton Independent Research Data
Gazza under observation
Sep 4 2001 By Ken Rogers, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON will monitor the form and fitness of two high profile stars tonight when Paul Gascoigne and Abel Xavier turn out for the reserves at Sheffield Wednesday. But Walter Smith will not risk striker Tomasz Radzinski whose hamstring injury continues to give cause for concern.
The Blues' boss said: " We kept thinking Tomasz was close last week, but he is still feeling it. You don't take a chance with that kind of injury and we don't need to at the moment with Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell both fit and doing well." Even if Gazza comes through at Hillsborough tonight, there is no certainty that he will be risked at Manchester United on Saturday. Smith will not make a decision until he sees how the player reacts to another full 90 minutes, but pointed out: "This will be only his second full match in something like nine months. "He finished last October and effectively didn't play another game for us. "Paul has been looking better in training and has been coming up to something like the level of fitness he needs. We will just have to keep monitoring it."
Thomas Gravesen could be out for as long as two months, but said: "I feel good and no longer have any pain. I'm just waiting to see what the specialist says."
Radzinski injury fears increase
Sep 4 2001 by Andy Hunter, Daily Post
TOMASZ RADZINSKI'S longawaited Everton debut is unlikely to arrive at Manchester United this Saturday - as fears grow over the extent of the £4.5million signing's hamstring injury.
The former Anderlecht striker has still not started a competitive match for the Blues since his summer transfer due to the hamstring problem he aggravated in a pre-season friendly at Tranmere.
Radzinski has subsequently missed Everton's unbeaten start to the new Premiership season and had ear-marked Old Trafford as the venue for his longawaited Blues bow. But despite returning to training last week the 27-year-old is still feeling the effects of the problem, leaving Walter Smith little option but to stick with the productive partnership of Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell against the champions. "I will not take a chance on him," said the Blues boss last night. "But we are now getting to the stage where something that was not meant to be a full-blown hamstring injury is beginning to cause concern." Thomas Gravesen is also expected to remain on the sidelines against United, dashing his hopes of making a speedy recovery from the horror tackle that saw him stretchered off against Tottenham on August 20. There were fears the Danish midfielder could be out for up to eight weeks after having 30 stitches inserted in a leg wound, but he remains on course to return after the initial diagnosis of four weeks. Gravesen said: "I feel good and I don't have the pain any longer but I'll have to wait and see what the specialist says now." Paul Gascoigne and Abel Xavier will take another step towards a first-team comeback tonight when they play for the reserves at Sheffield Wednesday. The duo returned to duty, after injury and illness respectively, in last week's 1-1 draw with Aston Villa reserves and could claim a place on the substitutes bench at Old Trafford if they prove their fitness against the Owls. Everton's home game with Chelsea, scheduled for November 17, has been moved to Sunday, November 18, for pay-per-view coverage, kick off 2pm. The Blues, meanwhile, have parted company with longserving press officer Alan Myers.
Blues duo eye United recall
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
Sep 5 2001
PAUL GASCOIGNE and Abel Xavier boosted their hopes of an Old Trafford recall when they took another step towards full fitness last night. The Everton duo completed their second 90-minute run-outs in a week in the reserves' 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday, increasing their chances of taking part in Saturday's Premiership clash with Manchester United. Manager Walter Smith will delay his decision until closer to the game but the scarcity of his first-team pool means both Gascoigne and Xavier are in line for a swift return, possibly on the substitutes' bench. Smith said: "Paul came through okay. He got through the 90 minutes and now we will have to see for the weekend."
Gascoigne, who has not started an Everton senior game since November 5 last year, had been sidelined by further thigh trouble this season while Xavier is looking to make his first start since the 4-1 defeat at Arsenal in April after recovering from a virus. Smith will be anxiously watching Scotland's clash with Belgium tonight - and not just to see whether his beloved Scotland can keep their World Cup hopes alive. Gary Naysmith is due to play his second successive game in five days for Craig Brown's side, despite being restricted to just one brief substitutes' appearance for Everton this season because of a calf injury. The former Hearts defender impressed in Saturday's goalless draw with Croatia but another World Cup display in Brussels would make him a doubt for the trip to Old Trafford due to a lack of recovery time. Naysmith, Thomas Gravesen and £4.5million striker Tomasz Radsinski are more likely to return for the Merseyside derby on September 15. Meanwhile, the Football Association video advisory panel have advised that Tottenham defender Mauricio Taricco should be charged following his challenge on Gravesen during the recent clash at Goodison Park.
Taricco caught Gravesen on the shin with a high tackle, which went unseen by referee David Elleray, who dismissed two Spurs players in the 1-1 draw.
* THE Blues' Boxing Day clash with Manchester United is to be the third pay-per-view game at Goodison this season. Home games with Liverpool and Chelsea are already on subscription television and the United match will remain at the original kick-off time of 3pm.
Christian's a chip off the family block
Sep 5 2001 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON'S Under-17s have a Joey Jones and a Mark Hughes in their line-up. But it was the son of an Everton old boy who deserved the plaudits from Saturday's 1-0 win over Ipswich. Christian Seargeant became the youngest player ever to turn out for the Blues' Under-17 Youth Academy side - at 14-years of age. Christian is the son of 70s' star Steve, who made 90 appearances for the Blues before joining Detroit Express, and he performed like a chip off the old block. "We put out a very young side against a very strong Ipswich team," said coach Alan Harper, "and they showed a great attitude. "But Christian was giving away two and a-half years to a lot of the other lads and he did very well." Seargeant joined Mark Hughes and Paul Hopkins as one of three under- 15 players in the Blues' line-up. After enduring incessant pressure from the visitors, the Blues' broke and an excellent Joey Jones pass gave Andy Gerrard the opportunity to score a late winner. "On the balance of play, we didn't deserve to win," added Harper, "but the boys deserved some reward for the attitude they showed." Wayne Rooney also struck a blow for the young guns when the 15-year-old opened his account for the season for Everton's Under-19s. Rooney had been introduced as a 10th minute substitute for the injured Colbeck and struck to give the home team the lead, also against Ipswich.
The Blues held the lead to half-time, but after Ipswich levelled early in the second half, missed a great opportunity to restore the lead then collapsed. "We defended very badly in the second half," said coach Colin Harvey. "Ipswich are a very strong side but we are not hiding behind that. Having taken the lead and having played quite well to get there, we should have done better in the second half." Both Youth Academy sides have a tough trip this weekend to Nottingham Forest.
FA UNDER-17 YOUTH ACADEMY:
Everton 1 (Gerrard), Ipswich Town 0. EVERTON: Sly, Flood, Potter, Gerrard, Hughes, Cain, Barry, Seargeant, Jones, Hopkins, Lynch. FA UNDER-19 YOUTH ACADEMY: Everton 1 (Rooney), Ipswich Town 4. EVERTON: Pettinger, Colbeck (Rooney), A Moogan, Schumacher, Garside, Beck, Brown, B Moogan ( Martland), Symes, Carney, Crowder.
Gazza in the clear
Sep 5 2001 Liverpool Echo
PAUL GASCOIGNE will be hoping for at least a place on the bench when Everton take on Manchester United this weekend after completing another 90 minutes of football. Gazza made his second appearance within a week for Everton Reserves in last night's 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday. He played the full game and looked as though he had finally put behind him the thigh injury which has dogged his Everton career. Portuguese defender Abel Xavier also played the whole match to give a further boost to watching manager Walter Smith. Everton came back well to secure a point in an otherwise drab game after Owen Morrison had given the home side the lead on 34 minutes.
The Blues lost possession in attack and Ashley Westwood sent a long ball downfield and Morrison evaded the challenge of Steve Simonsen and fired goalwards. Peter Clarke and Xavier were unable to prevent the ball from going over the line. Everton's only real effort of note in the first half was Nick Chadwick's low drive which Chris Stringer saved. The second half produced a much brighter performance from Andy Holden's side and Gascoigne came close to levelling on 57 minutes with some magic on the edge of the box, only for his cheeky chip to hit the top of the goal.
The Blues eventually found an equaliser on 69 minutes when Matt McKay and Gazza played a one-two and the former England man then put in Chadwick for the youngster to finish coolly.
The Blues should have won the game after that, but Peter Clarke sent a clear header from Alex Cleland's cross wide and the same player missed with two minutes to go from the penalty spot.
Chadwick was felled by the Wednesday keeper but Stringer redeemed himself by saving Clarke's spot kick.
EVERTON RES: Simonsen, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Xavier, Clarke, McKay, Cleland, Hibbert, Chadwick, Gascoigne, McLeod. Subs (not used): Eaton, Pettinger, Kearney, Schumacher.
Blues striker tells of assault deceit
by Richard Elias Crime Correspondent, Daily Post
Sep 6 2001
EVERTON striker Danny Cadamarteri admitted he "misled" family and friends over his whereabouts when a woman was allegedly assaulted. He told Liverpool Crown Court he " panicked" after being told he was wanted by police in connection with the incident. The player, whodenies punching the woman during a night out, went into the witness box yesterday. Cadamarteri recalled how the Blues' then player coach Dave Watson told him that police had been asking about his whereabouts.
The defendant added: "I thought I was going to be branded as someone who goes round punching people in town, not just people but a female. I panicked and thought the best thing to say was that I was not there." But in July or August of this year, he had decided to tell the truth, he said.
Cadamarteri said: "It was starting to get on top of me a lot. It was affecting my training and my home life with my fiancee. "Eventually, I got the bottle to tell my fiancee what had happened. I think she was worried that I would actually assault a female. But she gave me the backing. I got the confidence to tell everybody what happened.... that I had misled my family, my friends and Everton Football Club." At first, the player had asked the two friends, Peter Fletcher and Denny Patterson, who had been with him that night to "back up" his version of events but later decided not to continue with this deceit, he claimed. On Tuesday, the alleged victim, Joeline Joel, told the court how she and a friend had been followed by three men, one of whom was said to be Cadamarteri. She claimed the men abused them, demanding they join in an orgy and perform sex acts on them. She broke down as she recalled hearing one of the men say: "Just give her a dig, Danny." But Cadamarteri rejected this story and said that he would not have been drinking because of training the following day.
He added: "It would matter to myself. I am a professional footballer. I pride myself on being professional." Miss Joel, 25, alleged the next thing she saw was Cadamarteri's fist coming towards her before she ended up dazed on the floor. She denied claims by Cadamarteri's barrister that her recollection of events was wrong. Ian Harris, defending, claimed the incident, which occurred during the early hours of Sunday, October 1, last year, arose when comments between the two groups of people " deteriorated". He said his client had only acted in selfdefence after one of his friends was struck first by Miss Joel. Mr Harris told Miss Joel: "You lost your temper. You lost your self-restraint. It was a loss of temper, together with too much alcohol. "You, in response to some banter, reacted aggressively and you actually hit one of Mr Cadamarteri's friends." Questioned by Mr Brian Cummings, prosecuting, Peter Fletcher, 21, said he had first been asked to be a witness about a week after the incident when he was telephoned by Cadamarteri and he went around to see him.
Mr Fletcher admitted the footballer had told him he had been arrested and charged in connection with what had happened in Hardman Street that night and that he had lied to the police by claiming he had not been there. Further questioned, Mr Fletcher said he had not expected it to come to court "taking into consideration the police would listen to Danny's story and mine and Denny's."
"So you thought that once the police heard that you, Danny and Denny were not there it would be enough to kill off the charge?" asked Mr Cummings. "Yes," replied Mr Fletcher. Cadamarteri, 21, of Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, denies assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The case continues.
Becks may sit it out against Blues
Sep 6 2001 By Claire Gray, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON will hope that David Beckham's World Cup exertions will work in their favour as they prepare to face champions Manchester United this weekend. Beckham ran the show last night as England took a step closer to the Far East with a 2-0 win over Albania. The midfielder was troubled by a groin injury prior to his country's doubleheader, but has shown no ill-effects. However, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has talked about introducing some freshness to his side and the Blues will be hoping that may lead to Beckham enjoying a timely rest. Ferguson has plenty of options available to him and may opt to reshuffle with so many of his players having been away on international duty this past week. Walter Smith will look to the safe return of his World Cup campaigners today.
The Blues' boss watched his native Scotland's hopes of reaching the finals disintegrate as Craig Brown's side went down 2-0 in Belgium last night. But equally worrying for the Scot was the need for Gary Naysmith to leave the field Prior to Scotland's World Cup double header, Naysmith had played just two minutes of competitive action following a long-standing calf problem - an injury that had also ruled him out of most of the pre-season campaign. He did, however, go on to complete the full 90 minutes. David Weir was also in action for the Scots last night, while Niclas Alexandersson was part of the Swedish side that secured their place on the plane to the Far East next summer with a 2-1 win over Turkey. Paul Gascoigne, meanwhile, has one eye on Saturday's clash with Manchester United as he continues his comeback. The midfielder came through his second reserve team runout in a week on Tuesday night. Gascoigne said: "I would love to be involved at some point at Old Trafford. I am just pleased to be back. I have got a couple of games under my belt and my fitness is going along great."
Gascoigne: 'I'm ready to return for Blues'
Sep 6 2001 by Andy Hunter, Daily Post
PAUL GASCOIGNE believes he is ready to make his first Premiership start in ten months at old Trafford on Saturday. The Everton midfielder came through his second reserve run-out in a week on Tuesday night as he continues his comeback from the thigh and fitness problems that have plagued him since November last year. And despite his lack of competitive action, the former England midfielder is confident he can return at the home of premiership champions Manchester United.
Gascoigne said: "I would love to be involved at some point whether it's at the start or during the game at Old Trafford. " I am just pleased to be back. "I've got a couple of games under my belt and my fitness is going along great. I have proved my fitness to myself and to the gaffer as well."
Abel Xavier also played in the 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday reserves and could come into the reckoning for the Old Trafford squad. But manager Walter Smith is remaining cautious about the duo's involvement. "It's good that Gazza is talking so positively," said Smith. "To be honest reserve games are not going to give us much indication now one way or the other. "We will continue to monitor his progress but both Paul and Abel Xavier could be back in contention. With the squad of players we have they could be involved again at some stage."
Smith rules out Scotland job
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
Sep 7 2001
EVERTON manager Walter Smith would not quit Goodison Park if he received the call to replace Craig Brown as Scotland manager. The Blues boss was yesterday touted as a possible replacement for Brown, who is under intense pressure after his side's likely failure to qualify for the 2002 World Cup following Wednesday night's defeat in Belgium. Sir Alex Ferguson has emerged as another shock target for the Scottish Football Association if the current incumbent leaves the job when, or before, his contract expires in December. Both the Manchester United and Everton managers would be in the running for the post having teamed up together at international level at the 1986 World Cup following the death of the legendary Jock Stein. But Ferguson's move 'upstairs' into an ambassador's role at Old Trafford is likely to scupper the SFA's interest. That would increase Smith's chances of being offered the position, with his assistant at club level Archie Knox already involved in the Scotland set-up, but the Blues boss has privately indicated he does not want to be considered as Brown's replacement. The two SFA targets meet at Old Trafford tomorrow, when Smith will be without Thomas Gravesen, Tomasz Radzinski and Gary Naysmith who was injured in Scotland's-2-0 defeat. The Blues boss said: "Gary took a slight knock to his knee but it is nothing serious and he should be fit for the Crystal Palace game next week. "I doubt he would have played at United anyway with playing two matches in five days after being out for a while." Duncan Ferguson and Mark Pembridge will be fit to face the champions after the pair shrugged off calf strains they picked up in the win over Middlesbrough.
Everton prepared to defeat old rivals
By Chris Wright, Daily Post
Sep 7 2001
EVERTON renew old rivalries with Nottingham Forest tomorrow in the FA Premier Academy League (11am). Colin Harvey's under-19s will be looking for their first win of the campaign after last Saturday's defeat by Ipswich, while Alan Harper's under-17s will hope to build on their 1-0 win over the same side. Both Everton and Forest won their respective regional under-19s league titles last season, but Forest beat the Blues at the national semi-final stage in Nottingham. The East Midlanders also knocked Everton out of the FA Youth Cup in a replay at the City Ground, while the Blues won 3-1 in a League match. Academy director Ray Hall said: "Both sides are away to Forest so they will be tough games. Their U17s drew with Wimbledon 0-0 and their U19s beat Wimbledon 2-0.
"We will be looking to put in an improved performance, but we've got more than half a team encountering U19 football for the first time so they've got to adjust to that level." Nick Chadwick continues to impress at that higher level. He hit another goal in the reserves on Tuesday in the 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday. The 18-year-old striker could also feature in tomorrow's first-team squad to face Manchester United at Old Trafford. The Blues have one or two injury worries ahead of tomorrow's Academy matches. Craig Penman is still out while Franklyn Colbeck was taken off last Saturday with a knock to his foot. Steven Beck is also a injury doubt. He was struggling earlier in the week with blisters on his feet.
Verdict could end career of Cadamarteri
Sep 7 2001 Liverpool Echo
THE guilty verdict could spell the end of Danny Cadamarteri's career as a Premier League footballer.
The 21-year-old is in the final year of his contract at Everton and it is considered unlikely the Blues will offer him an extension. Ian Ross, club spokesman, said: "Everton FC has been informed of the court's decision with regard to Danny Cadamarteri. The matter will be discussed by the manager Walter Smith and board of directors in the very near future. "It would be inappropriate to make any further comment." Cadamarteri burst on the scene in glorious fashion in 1997. A striker with an explosive turn of pace, he made his debut against Chelsea in May as a fresh-faced, dreadlocked 18-year-old. But it was in his first Merseyside derby that Cadamarteri made his name, netting Everton's second in a 2-0 victory over the Reds at Goodison. That completed a run of five goals from six starts and earned the Yorkshireman a lucrative new contract from manager Howard Kendall.
His amily background makes him eligible to play for five different nations, including Italy, Jamaica and England. He chose the country of his birth and has won England Under-21 caps. He was sent on loan to Fulham last season but the spell ended in controversy when he was sent off and returned to Goodison, where his career has since been dogged by inconsistency. He has shown, with stunning solo strikes at Wimbledon and Charlton, that he is still capable of becoming a high-class Premiership striker, but has struggled to reproduce that form consistently.
Cadamarteri found guilty of punching woman
Sep 7 2001 By Paul Kennedy, Liverpool Echo
Everton star Danny Cadamarteri was today found guilty of punching a woman in Liverpool city centre. But Judge David Lynch said the player will NOT go to jail when he is sentenced next week.
Cadamarteri, 21, punched Joeline Joel so hard she suffered a suspected fractured cheek bone.
Cadamarteri looked stoneyfaced at the verdict. He smiled as he walked out of the dock with his arm around fiancee Simone Tighe, who had wept at the verdict. Judge Lynch told Liverpool crown court: "I accept the evidence that the complainant was very much under the influence of alcohol.
"I have no doubt he punched her to the ground and that was excessive force." During the three-day trial, the court heard how Cadamarteri had been on a night out with pals when he met Ms Joel in Hardman Street. Words were exchanged and the 25-year-old woman slapped one of the footballer's friends. She then went to hit Cadamarteri but he struck out first.
Niclas looks to cap dream week
Sep 7 2001 By Claire Gray, Liverpool Echo
THIS COULD prove to be the perfect week for Niclas Alexandersson. On Wednesday night he became the first Everton player to book his place on the plane to next summer's World Cup Finals. Now he's hoping he and his teammates can see off Manchester United on home soil for the first time in nine years and maintain the Blues' promising start to the season. Scoring the goal, or goals, that make that happen tomorrow would be the icing on the cake. After all it's a feat he's achieved before, and history has a habit of repeating itself. "I scored two goals for Sheffield Wednesday when we beat them 3-1 at Hillsborough at 1998," recalled Alexandersson. "But I haven't scored against them at Old Trafford. That is not an easy thing to do." Peter Beardsley, Mo Johnston and Robert Warzycha did it for Everton in the first year of the Premiership but only Duncan Ferguson, Francis Jeffers and Don Hutchison have found the back of the net there since. "If we won tomorrow then it would be almost a perfect week for me," he declared. "But while it was difficult to go to Turkey with Sweden the other night, it is probably even more difficult to go to Old Trafford. "United are favourites. They are always favourites, especially when they play at home. "But we have done well so far and we don't have much pressure on ourselves, especially with the points we have already got. "Having those under our belt makes it easier to go into the game. There is nothing worse than going to Old Trafford when you have only a few points." It's rare that Everton can head down the M62 in a healthier league position than their Manchester rivals, but two wins and a draw so far have afforded them that luxury. They find themselves perched just below early leaders Bolton Wanderers in the Premiership with two points more than their opponents this weekend. Duncan Ferguson's form has been a major contributor to what has been Everton's best start in eight seasons, as have the displays of his striking partner and captain Kevin Campbell. The two have looked a powerful combination so far and with Ferguson never one to shy away from a clash with Alex Ferguson's men, you'd suspect new boy Laurent Blanc could be in for a stormy debut in the heart of defence. "We can go there in a positive frame of mind," Alexandersson declared. "We have created chances so far and the two up front will always cause problems. So we have a chance." Whatever the result tomorrow, the mild-mannered Swede can reflect upon a more than satisfactory week. While the home nations - Wales and Northern Ireland excepted - must wait at least another month before discovering their World Cup fates, the Blues' Interview by CLAIRE GRAY midfielder can relax and start developing a taste for sushi. Two goals in the final two minutes ushered Sweden through to a date with the Far East after they had fallen behind to a 51st minute Turkish goal. "We went 1-0 down even though we had played quite well, and really that was their only chance," he said. "We left it late and we were a bit lucky to get the goals as late as we did. "When we equalised in the 88th minute we would have been happy to get the draw and secure a place in the Finals when we played at home in the last game. But we got another chance and we took it, so it was even better." "It was great for us," he said with a smile of satisfaction. "And it feels really good to have qualified already. We don't need to play any play-offs, we have the place secure." With Scotland's bid for a World Cup ticket all but shattered, Goodison's international eyes will now turn to Thomas Gravesen and Joe-Max Moore, who with Denmark and the United States respectively, look well poised to increase the traffic from Merseyside to Japan and South Korea next summer. First things first, though. After Manchester United tomorrow there's the small matter of the Merseyside derby. Six points out of six sounds easy enough though, doesn't it? "That would put us in wonderland," grinned Alexandersson. "That would be terrific but if we got four points I would settle for that."
Postbag
Sep 7 2001 icLiverpool & Daily Post
icLiverpool has teamed up with the Daily Post to publish the best of your opinions. So if you missed Wednesday's Post, here's another chance to read the views that count:
Feed off Ferguson
I AM AN Everton season ticket holder and I would like to confess my disapointment at the start Kevin Campbell has made to the season. I don't think he is making a big enough impact up front and should be making more of Ferguson's flick-ons, but worry that he simply lacks the pace now.
Tim Stopforth, Liverpool
Blues make profit
MR KENWRIGHT indicated that during the close season Everton would have to wheel and deal in the transfer market as no funds were available. He also indicated that he was very adept at wheeling and dealing. I would like to congratulate him so far as a profit of about £13m has been made.
Unfortunately for Everton fans, the fact that one of the smallest and weakest squads in the Premiership has been both downsized and downgraded and doesn't appear to be an issue.
EW Sutton, Merseyside
Hire young guns
I WOULD like to see youngsters Kevin McLeod and Leon Osman given a chance to show their capabilities? They have impressed no end in the reserve team, and I feel it is talent being wasted while we continue to pin hopes on the injury-prone Gascoigne returning to the starting line-up.
You just have to look at the success of Steven Gerrard at Liverpool since being given his chance in their first team to be convinced that Everton should be doing the same.
James Fazal
Too Early for Gazza
I reckon that Saturday's game would not be the best time for him to make his return. A mauling at the hand of their powerful midfield might irreperably damage his confidence at a time when he needs some stability in his life. We're not expected to get anything out of the game, so let's stick to the side that's done quite well for us so far and then bring him on to showboat when we're 3-nil up.
David Whitehill, London
We're fine as we are
I think Everton are doing just fine without Gazza at the moment.
If he's ready to get back to playing I think Walter Smith should start him but not let him have a full ninety minutes - that could be a bit risky. I'm not too sure who Gazza will replace but I'm sure however long he plays there will be an impact but it's not the best time to come back after being out of the game for 10 months to playing Man United. Although Everton are playing alright at the moment we haven't played the toughest teams, Man United, Liverpool and Leeds will be a challenge especially altogether, but I'm sure we can win if we played our best. As for Liverpool and Man United, they both have a lot of players in the England squad and Champions League matches so they're under more stress than Everton so it's a better time to play them. Not that there's ever a good time to play United.
Becki Reynolds, Knotty Ash, Liverpool
Man Utd 4 Everton 1
Sep 7 2001 by Claire Gray, Liverpool Echo
Arrows point only one way
ONLY one aerial threat upset the air of serene confidence which enveloped the Old Traford faithful this afternoon - and it wan't Duncan Ferguson. The Red Arrows jet which roared over the stadium at five to three caused many a Manchester United fan's heart to flutter. After that, their pulses were racing from the quality of their team's performance as Ferguson never received a cross worthy of the name. The Scot had made a habit of scoring spectacular strikes against his namesake's team in the past, but this time he cut a frustrated and forlorn figure as the champions produced all their party pieces. MANCHESTER UNITED left David Beckham on the bench, but he was hardly missed as first half goals from Juan Veron and Andy Cole ensured Everton suffered a torrid first half against the champions. The afternoon had started on an optimistic note for the Blues as Walter Smith's men headed for Old Trafford after collecting seven points from a possible nine so far, leaving them in second place in the Premiership. Boss Smith named the same starting 11 which had beaten Middlesbrough a fortnight ago, while Abel Xavier was fit enough to make his first appearance in the Blues' 16. Laurent Blanc was handed his debut in the United defence but several of their international stars were rested. Beckham, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs were on the bench but Paul Scholes was not even in the squad. Luke Chadwick, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole and Quinton Fortune were all given their first starts of the season. The match had a frantic start and less than 50 seconds had passed before Gary Neville fired in the first shot of the afternoon but by the third minute the Blues had crafted a guilt-edged opportunity of their own. Steve Watson dinked in a cross from the right which Niclas Alexandersson, the initiator of the move, guided into Campbell's path but Barthez was able to gather. Wes Brown then hit his own post from a Mark Pembridge corner. A minute later, Paul Gerrard beat away a Dwight Yorke shot and the United striker blasted the rebound several yards high. United, despite the absence of some of their star names, were teasing their way in and around the Everton box. But while the Blues rocked slightly they were able to press forward on occasions. Ferguson's volley on 10 minutes was charged down by Brown, Luke Chadwick's effort from 18 yards was blocked by Pistone and then the youngster's run was halted out by the Italian as United piled on the pressure. With a quarter of an hour gone, United moved up a gear. Fortune forced Gerrard into a fine reaction save, Veron whistled a free-kick inches wide and Chadwick fizzed a low drive just past the post as Everton were battered from every angle.
If you get the chance to see Veron in the flesh this season then jump at it. The quality of the midfielder's all-round play needs to be seen to be believed. As the half progressed, United were allowing the Blues some space to play but were limiting their impact in the final third. David Weir was booked for a bodycheck on Yorke. Everton were firmly on the back foot and unable to do much about it. At least as the clock ticked down they were had more success in stemming the flow and with 10 minutes of the half remaining Ferguson was at last able to get a header in on goal and a David Unsworth through ball almost found Campbell, but new boy Blanc averted the danger.
But almost immediately the action returned to the other end and the Blues were 2-0 down. Chadwick collected a Gary Neville throw and skipped past Unsworth and Stubbs before squaring ther ball to Cole,who hammered home his first goal of the season. Half-time: Man Utd 2 Everton 0.
If the Blues thought there would be any let-up after the break then they were almost immediately proved wrong. United taught them otherwise when they made it 3-0 just 22 seconds after the restart. Gary Neville floated in a cross towards| the| edge of the box which Yorke headed down and Fortune coolly looped the ball over Gerrard. To their credit, after the initial shock, Everton tried to play their way back into the game but United could afford to sit back and let them do so.
On 57 minutes, Steve Watson stretched to head a cross from Kevin Campbell goalwards but took a smack in the face for his troubles. In any case, the ball sailed well wide. United replaced Gary Neville with Mickael Silvestre. The pace had understandably slowed down by this point but while Everton continued to try to get something out of the game United stroked the ball around to the roars of approval from the majority of the 67,000 strong crowd. Veron's chip into the box on 65 minutes was wasted by Cole and Keane could only blast his long range effort skywards. Everton replaced Weir and Alexandersson with Xavier and Joe-Max Moore. Everton's refusal to lie down was to pay off on 67 minutes - in bizarre fashion. Scott Gemmill made a tremendous 30-yard run into the box and found Campbell charging in. The big frontman hit a tame shot which cannoned off a United defender to trickle into the back of the net. United played out the final 20 minutes with realtive ease but with the introduction of David Beckham the Champions sealed the game. The England star let leash a shot from over 25 yards which hit the post and into the back of the net - game over.
MAN UNITED: Barthez, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Brown, Blanc, L Chadwick, Keane, Veron, Cole, Yorke, Fortune. Subs: Carroll, Beckham, Giggs, Silvestre, Van Nistelrooy.
EVERTON: Gerrard, Watson, Pistone, Stubbs, Weir, Unsworth, Alexandersson, Campbell, Ferguson, Pembridge, Gemmill. Subs: Simonsen, Tal, Moore, Xavier, N Chadwick.
Referee: Dermot Gallagher.
Fergie hails new hero
September 08, 2001
Manchester Evening News
SIR Alex Ferguson hailed Manchester United’s £28m British record man Juan Veron after the Reds thumped Everton at Old Trafford. Former Lazio midfielder Veron opened his Premiership scoring account as United beat the Merseysiders 4-1. ‘‘Veron was marvellous. He was top drawer. Once he learns to relax in games he’ll be all right!’’ said Ferguson. ‘‘He was great. I am really pleased with him. He and Keane set such a standard of control in the centre of midfield it was hard for Everton. ‘‘People talk about him settling down in the Premiership but Veron had five years in Italy. Unless we think Italian football is rubbish, which it’s not, then he’s come out of a type of football which is ideal for the English game. ‘‘Maybe the build up there at times is slower than ours and it is more rapid here, but the quality of defending in Italy is very good and he’s had to play at that level for five years. So coming here is not a problem. ‘‘To be honest he’s not got a goalscoring record which makes you jump up, but he had four strikes at goal in the first half and he scored a good goal. He’s capable of goals. ‘‘And he’s got the confidence and balance to pull off the little trick he showed. ‘‘He is enjoying the English game. He likes the football here. There is an honesty about the football in England and players coming into it from the likes of Italy like that. ‘‘His wife has managed to join him today over here. She’s here now and has got a house and he’s settled. ‘‘Our fans are good at building up heroes quickly. That’s the kind of player who has always impressed our supporters.’’
Man Utd 4 Everton 1
September 08, 2001
Manchester Evening News
MAGICAL Juan Veron conjured a 45-minute spell of football which sent out a powerful message to the rest of Europe. The man known as the ''Little Witch'' scored a super opening goal to break through a rugged Everton defence - and then inspired the Reds to a display which showed how football can be a thing of beauty rather than just another sport. Further goals flowed from Andy Cole, Quinton Fortune and late substitute David Beckham, and there were several highly impressive United performances - but it was Veron's wand of a right foot which weaved the pattern of this match. Perfection from Veron In the first half, every touch of the Argentinian bordered on perfection, every shot was a threat, almost every pass was spot-on - despite the kind of swirling wind which can make monkeys of the very best players. The Olympiakos scout sitting in the stand will tell his manager that Veron has to be stopped at all costs on Wednesday as a weakened United proved far too good for the Merseysiders. He will also report, with a quaver in his voice, that this top-class United display came without Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy for 77 minutes of the match, and also without Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. But for all the precise, pretty football United produced in midfield and attack, Sir Alex Ferguson was looking most carefully at his back four, where Laurent Blanc was making his debut. Brown was imperious That the Frenchman was good is undeniable, but the man alongside him - a certain Wes Brown of Longsight - was better still. Ferguson bought Blanc to help bring the best out of his young defender and on this showing the canny Scot has pulled off another masterstroke. Blanc's first taste of the action came in the sixth minute when, after seeing a Mark Pembridge corner swirl into the post, he calmly freed Roy Keane, who in turn fed Dwight Yorke to shoot first at Paul Gerrard and then row z. Veron, perhaps inspired by watching his Argentina team-mates play Brazil in midweek, then decided to take the game by the scruff of the neck. He was instrumental in an attack which ended with Fortune hammering a shot against the post, and then the Argentinian himself whipped in a 25-yard drive which Gerrard brilliantly turned to safety. Beckham impersonation With Beckham on the bench, he also took on the dead-ball duties and duly whistled a 35-yard free kick inches past the other post. Those two were merely sighters. On 22 minutes, he strode forward from midfield and slipped a neat pass in to Keane inside the box - the skipper's control and return pass was excellent and Veron swept his shot unerringly past Gerrard for 1-0. With Veron imperious in midfield, it soon became a question of how many United would rack up as Luke Chadwick, Cole and Fortune all went close. Five minutes before the break Gary Neville's precision throw-in picked out Chadwick on the right and he worked his way inside marker David Unsworth and pulled the ball back for Cole to plant in the corner. Veron decided it was exhibition time and produced a running back-heel to Chadwick which had the adoring United fans melting into their seats. It was the kind of moment which is cheapened by description, a moment of high art rather than mere football. The supporters were loving this, and 20 seconds into the second half they had a third goal to celebrate as Gary Neville's raking long pass picked out Yorke and his header sent Fortune in for a lob over Gerrard. Pace dropped Perhaps with Wednesday in mind, the tempo dropped and the Toffees got a wholly undeserved consolation when Kevin Campbell's shot bobbled over the line. That goal lifted Everton and with their forwards now posing a real threat Duncan Ferguson hit the post and Fabien Barthez was forced to make a good save from American Joe Max Moore. Coup de Grace But when you have substitutes of the calibre of David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy to call on the opponents' periods of pressure are normally brief. As the game slipped comfortably into injury time, Beckham picked the ball up 25 yards out and from nothing whipped in a shot which bounced off the post and into the net. It was a fitting end to a fabulous game.
Gascoigne set to storm Palace
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
Sep 10 2001
PAUL GASCOIGNE will return to senior action for Everton this week as Walter Smith seeks an immediate reaction to the Blues first defeat of the season at Manchester United.
The Blues boss was concerned at his side's limited attacking threat at Old Trafford on Saturday where the Premiership champions strolled to a 4-1 victory. And in a bid to bring more creativity to the Everton midfield, Smith will include Gascoigne in his squad for the Worthington Cup second round tie at home to Crystal Palace - despite weekend reports claiming the former England star was heading to Notts County on loan. County officials claimed they had been offered the 34-yearold but were unable to pursue the deal because of Gascoigne's wages and unwillingness to drop down to Division Two. But those reports have been rubbished by Everton and Gascoigne-will get the chance to put a troubled year behind him at Goodison Park on Wednesday, albeit initially from the substitutes' bench. Gascoigne failed to make Saturday's squad despite two recent reserve outings, and watched from the sidelines as the Blues relinquished their unbeaten start to the season with a disappointing display against United. Juan Sebastian Veron, Andy Cole and Quinton Fortune put Sir Alex Ferguson's side into a comfortable lead and, although Kevin Campbell pulled a goal back for the Blues, David Beckham compounded their afternoon with a 90th-minute strike. "I don't think it was a question of us giving United too much respect," said Smith. "The quality of their players means they can dictate games at will at times. "It was not a case of us sitting back, when they impose themselves on a game you will always be under pressure and they did that from the start against us.
"But we didn't get close enough to them to cause them any problems of our own. "In previous games this season we have created as many chances as the opposing team but we didn't do that at Old Trafford and you cannot just blame our forwards for that." The Blues boss added: "I didn't think we deserved to get any more than we did. Manchester United were better than us from the start.
"There was only one period in the second half where we managed to get going for a while but apart from that we were disappointing. "I was particularly disappointed with the goals we gave away. They were far too easy, although I couldn't dispute they were the better team. "Before the game, from a media critic's point of view, there was a question mark over Manchester United but if they are not the best team in the league then I refuse to believe it. They are still the team everyone else will have to beat. "They were able to rest a few key players against us but still reached as high a level as I've seen."
Manchester United 4, Everton 1
Blues fall back to earth with a bump
By Andy Hunter, DailyPost
September 10 2001
THEIR ascent was hardly meteoric, but had Everton landed back on planet earth with a bit more force on Saturday the emergency services would still be trying to lift them out of a crater.
Another comprehensive Old Trafford defeat led Walter Smith to admit his team were now 'back to reality' after the novelty of an unbeaten start to a Premiership they briefly topped was shattered by an awesome Manchester United first-half performance. That reality must also include the fact that for all United's enviable class and embarrassing superiority over Everton, the visitors aided and abetted their hosts with a quite dreadful display of their own. The Blues' impressive start to the season defied expectation and caused a few nose-bleeds when they glanced down on the cast of multi-million pound organisations below them. It did not overinflate Evertonian hopes rather than suggest the forecast of impending doom was unlikely. Therefore it would be churlish to suggest one heavy defeat has brought Armageddon back on course with Goodison Park. But what that three-game unbeaten run did generate in the Blues camp was belief and a fair assumption that while victory on the champions' home turf remains a distant dream - as it will for most teams this season, the side could at least travel to United confident of posing some threat. They never did. Their promise of "in-your-face" football to introduce Laurent Blanc to the Premiership failed to materialise as a "hide-your-face" afternoon for Everton - on and off the pitch - saw them welcome the French World Cup winner to England with tea and scones instead. Faced with the Blues 'Bruise Brothers' of Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell on his English debut, the 35-year-old defender coasted through proceedings wondering what all the fuss was about. It was not until Everton finally produced a sustained spell of pressure around the hour mark that Blanc enjoyed the opportunity to show his worth as Jaap Stam's replacement. But even then the evidence pointed to United complacency instead of Everton endeavour as the reason for his employment, with the contest effectively over 20 seconds after the restart once Quinton Fortune had chipped in his side's third goal without reply. Prior to the break the gulf in class between the sides had been illuminated thanks to two displays from opposite ends of the Premiership scale. United's 'weakened' team settled into their slick, polished stride inside the first minute, intent on swatting Everton aside so they could all enjoy the luxury of an afternoon's rest, as Sir Alex Ferguson had granted David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs after their international exertions of the previous seven days. Ferguson's selection suggested overconfidence. Events on the pitch proved his instinct well-placed. Rival manager Smith identified the need to reinforce his midfield in the summer but has been powerless to act because he is not allowed to spend any money. Precisely what he didn't need to emphasise that particular weakness, therefore, was to run across a doubleact as potent as the destructive Roy Keane and the majestic Juan Sebastian Veron. To be fair few teams will match the drive, the accuracy and the all-round sublime talents of these two world class players, with the Argentine Veron showing exactly why United bought him for what Bill Kenwright got an entire football club for, debts and all. But what was particularly galling for the Blues bench and travelling support were the terms of their team's capitulation. While United moved with pace and at will through the Everton rearguard the visitors responded with aimless clearances up field, poor control, static defending and a sluggish first-half approach. Whereas many had hoped to see a gritty performance attempt to stem the Manchester procession, the Blues duly served up a brand of petrified football that paradoxically saw most attacks head backwards and few of their players wanting the ball. Fodder for United and, after 22 minutes of toying with the opposition, Veron accepted it was time to start the kill, receiving a lightning one-two with Dwight Yorke on his chest and driving the ball under Paul Gerrard. The Everton keeper had already produced two fine saves from the architects of United's opener, with Veron also inches away with a 25-yard free kick, while Fortune struck a post and clipped another chance wide of the Blues goal. Incredibly the Blues could have found themselves level instead of two goals down when David Unsworth slipped a pass in for Campbell but, not for the first time, his poor control allowed the chance to escape. A minute later Andy Cole doubled United's advantage with a goal that highlighted Everton's subdued despondency - coming straight from a throw-in. The Blues stood and watched as Keane and Gary Neville discussed who should take it, enabling Luke Chadwick to receive the ball as it dropped over Unsworth's head, twist inside Alan Stubbs and offer Cole a simple finish. More bad defending allowed Fortune to finish matters before Smith had even reached the dug-out for the start of the second half as Yorke outjumped David Weir to Neville's long ball and the South African charged through the gap to apply a delightful finish. United accepted it was game over but had they been facing a more devastating side than Everton they could have paid the price for lowering their guard with a nervous finale.
As it was a succession of sloppy final passes and touches from the Blues, though enlivened by the introduction of substitutes Joe-Max Moore and Idan Tal, with Abel Xavier also looking sharp in defence, allowed the home side to remain in the comfort zone. Campbell did pull a fortunate consolation back on 67 minutes after being startled to receive the ball from the industrious Scot Gemmill, who had only Fabien Barthez to beat as he raced on to Steve Watson's pass but decided he could not shoot himself. Ferguson should have added a second when Campbell created a clear opening on the edge of the box but poor control enabled Keane to make an important interception. Moore's goalbound volley was blocked by Mikael Silvestre and the Scot's deflected shot struck the post with Barthez well beaten. Further consolations would have been cosmetic however, and Beckham gave the scoreline a more accurate reflection when he seized on Gemmill's error and drilled a 20-yard shot in off Gerrard's right hand post in the final minute. To end his side's brief troubled spell the United boss had opted to throw on the England captain as a late substitute together with £19.5million forward van Nistelrooy, who moments earlier had been warming up alongside Everton's own striking substitute, youth team player Nick Chadwick. Which takes us from one huge gulf to another - that which clearly exists between the ears of some of Everton's travelling support. In the first half they had been the only encouraging aspect of the visitors, offering constant vocal support to the team which was not reciprocated. How sad, then, that when the inevitable anti-Scouse jibes came from the home crowd, the visiting support could only respond with a Harold Shipman song before a complete lack of originality brought out the tired and pitiful 'Munich 58' chant from the dark ages. Embarrassment all round then.
MANCHESTER UNITED: (4-4-2): Barthez, G Neville (Silvestre 58), Blanc, Brown, P Neville, Chadwick (Beckham 76), Keane, Veron, Fortune; Yorke (van Nistelrooy 76), Cole. Subs: Carroll, Giggs.
EVERTON (3-5-2): Gerrard; Weir (Xavier 65), Stubbs (Tal 75), Pistone; Watson, Alexandersson (Moore 65), Gemmill, Pembridge, Unsworth; Ferguson, Campbell. Subs: Simonsen, Chadwick.
BOOKINGS: Everton's Weir.
REFEREE: Dermot Gallagher. ATT: 67,534.
Academy: Blues grab away point
by Chris Wright, Daily Post
Sep 11 2001
IT WAS back to basics for Everton under-19s as they earned a hardearned point in a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday in the FA Premier Academy League. Colin Harvey's side had been beaten 4-1 the previous week by Ipswich Town so they needed to tighthen up, which they did.
Both teams had chances to win the match but in the end a draw was a fair result. And although Harvey was pleased with his players' reaction he is looking for more improvement over the coming weeks. Harvey said: "The overall performance wasn't brilliant but at least we defended better than the previous week. "We had made quite a few silly mistakes the week before but we tighthened up and consequently we did well defensively without playing particularly well in terms of passing the ball about. We defended well as a team." A looping headed goal in the last 15 minutes from a long ball by the home keeper denied Alan Harper's U17s a point, as they went down 1-0 at Nottingham Forest. It has been a tough start for the Blues, who again fielded a young side with U15 players Christian Seargeant - son of former Everton defender Steve Seargeant, Mark Hughes and Paul Hopkins performing well. Coach Harper said: "We have got a lot of young players playing for us at present. And it is difficult physically when they are facing players who are older and full-time. But it is good for the young lads because they are getting the experience of playing in the league."
Someone getting experience at a higher level is striker Nick Chadwick, who was again on the substitute's bench for the first-team on Saturday at Old Trafford. Academy director Ray Hall thinks is an example to all his colleagues. He added: "Again we've had Nick Chadwick on the bench for the first-team and he still qualifies for this level. "You would think that he must be close to playing for the first-team. Whether it's got anything to do with the injuries the manager has got, you know if he's on the bench there is always the opportunity to come on. "That gives the rest of the younger players a big lift because they are training with him and they were playing alongside him last season."
Taricco claims: 'I won the ball'
Sep 11 2001 by Andy Hunter
MAURICIO TARICCO has claimed he won the ball in the horror tackle that left Everton's Thomas Gravesen needing 30 stitches in his shin last month. The Tottenham defender last night pledged to fight to clear his name after the Football Association's video advisory panel recommended he should be charged for his controversial lunge on the Blues midfielder. Rival managers Walter Smith and Glenn Hoddle were united in their condemnation of the Argentinian after his foul forced Gravesen to be stretchered off during the 1-1 draw at Goodison Park. But incredibly Taricco believes he has been made a scapegoat over the affair and claimed: "I have looked at the incident on video and I even get the ball." The incident, which occurred in the first half of last month's Premiership clash, went unpunished by referee David Elleray. However, following the video panel's review of the game, the FA are waiting for a reply from Taricco before deciding whether to charge him with violent conduct, and a guilty verdict could lead to a three-match ban. "Everyone has made a big meal out of this," said Taricco. "I try not to be a dirty player and I have received many bad tackles during my career, but it is football. "Sometimes you have to make a decision very quickly on the pitch. I don't want to hurt anybody and my intention in that game was always to get the ball. "These tackles happen and you can see them in the game every week. I don't know whether being judged by a video panel is fair or not but I will let people do what they think is right. If I get banned, it is something I will have to live with. "I have not replied to the FA but I will give them my view of the situation. I will tell them I tried to get the ball. I am not saying this just to try and defend myself, but because it is the truth."
Continued Taricco: "I didn't want to hurt the guy. I didn't even know who it was. I just went in for a challenge in a split second. I have looked at the incident on video and I even get the ball.
"I will feel very upset if I am banned because nobody wants to miss any games." Gravesen has not played since the incident but has given Everton manager Walter Smith a boost by declaring himself fit for Saturday's Merseyside derby. The Danish international said: "I expect to be fully fit for the derby. Actually I am probably in better shape now than before the injury. I just have to watch out so the wound is not opened up again." Gravesen will not be considered for tomorrow night's Worthington Cup second round tie with Crystal Palace, when supporters will be admitted for £10 adults, £5 concessions. And he is likely to be joined on the sidelines by Alessandro Pistone, Niclas Alexandersson, Gary Naysmith and Mark Pembridge.
Terrace buzz
Sep 11 2001 icLiverpool
Easy does it
I am so glad that Gascoinge did not make his return on Saturday. A mauling at the hands of United's powerful midfield would have irreparably damaged his confidence at a time when he needs some stability in his life. We weren't really expected to get anything out of the game, so now that it is out of the way lets get back on track and bring on a fit Gazza gradually - ideally when we are 3-0 up against Crystal Palace and look forward to a bit of his showboating.
David Whitehill
Exciled Blue
London
No complaints
I think Everton are doing just fine without Gazza at the moment. If he's ready to get back to playing I think Walter Smith should start him but not let him have a full 90 minutes, that could be a bit risky.
I'm not to sure who Gazza will replace but I'm sure however if he plays he will make an impact. I am so glad that he did not come back against Manchester United. Everton are playing alright at the moment (forgetting Saturday) - Liverpool and Leeds will be a challenge especially together but I'm sure we can win if we play our best. As for Liverpool and Leeds they both have a lot of players in the England squad and Champions League matches so they're under more stress than the Blues so it's a better time to play them.
Becki Reynolds
Knotty Ash
Liverpool
L14
The future's bright...
Having watched the game on Saturday I was heartened by the fact that Everton still kept fighting despite being overrun for most of the match. If Campbell could have taken some of the chances presented to him who knows? The Blues are not in as bad a state as some of the doom-mongers made out at the start of the season. Losing to the Champions who spent £50 million in the summer is no disgrace. Everton and Walter must stay positive and soon Gazza will be back along with Radzinski. The future is bright the future's Blue.
Peter Johnson
Runcorn
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You can go
Sep 11 2001 Liverpool Echo
DANNY CADAMARTERI will be told to start looking for a new club at the end of this season - but the Everton striker will escape the sack after his conviction last week for punching a girl. The Blues will make a statement on Friday once sentence has been passed on the 21-year-old. But judge David Lynch has already confirmed the star will not be sent to jail. Cadamarteri's contract expires at the end of this season and will not be renewed, which leaves him free to seek a new club from January 1. Despite the small size of Everton's current squad, he has not been named in a senior squad once this season. Teenage forward Nick Chadwick has moved ahead of him in the pecking order with four successive appearances on the substitutes' bench. With Thomas Gravesen, Gary Naysmith, Niclas Alexandersson, Alessandro Pistone and Mark Pembridge all doubtful for tomorrow night's Worthington Cup visit of Crystal Palace, Cadamarteri cannot even be guaranteed a place in the squad then. And Everton were handed a further injury scare today when David Unsworth was sent home from training ill. If he is also ruled out Paul Gascoigne could be pressed forward for his first senior start since last November. Gazza was expected to be introduced from the substitutes ' bench against Palace, but may now start. Manager Walter Smith will watch Tomasz Radzinski in training today before deciding whether to name him as a substitute, but the likelihood is that the Canadian will be held back for Saturday's derby match.
Derby day celebration
Sep 11 2001 by Kevin Ratcliffe
I SAT down and watched an old Everton video the other day - and cringed at some of the tackles I saw going in during derby matches. There's no doubt that derby matches today still bring out the most intense emotions - although last season's 11 yellow cards and one red had more to do with Jeff Winter's performance than the players on the day. But the fact remains that there is intense needle between both fans and players and the fact that both clubs are involved in midweek matches may actually help defuse the usually volatile build-up. I played in around 30 derby games - and can barely remember much about any of them. The pressure, the intensity and the importance of the occasions meant that you were concentrating so hard throughout the 90 minutes that you never had time to actually think about what was going on around you. I can remember other games vividly, but not derbies - so hopefully the brief build-up will enable both sets of players to switch off a little and produce an entertaining football match. It would also be nice if Paul Durkin allowed the match to flow a little. Pierluigi Colina completely exposed the myth that continental referees are no better than our own when he officiated the Germany- England game superbly last weekend. There are few greater rivalries in football than Anglo-German collisions, but there was never any possibility of it exploding into controversy such was his command of the game. Let's hope for the same again on Saturday ... without the five Liverpool goalscorers that is! Blues must be weary of Palace bogeymen
EVERTON versus Crystal Palace fixtures have never held the happiest of memories for me.
Neville Southall wasn't the only Evertonian who left his medal behind at Wembley after the 1991 Zenith Data Systems Cup Final. The tournament may have been much maligned at the time, but I was told before the game by Howard Kendall that he was dropping me and it hurt just as much as if it had been a major Cup Final. I was brought on as a substitute after Martin Keown had been carried off, but we were physically battered, lost 4-1 and I have to say the loser's medal meant absolutely nothing to me. That Palace team was all fists, elbows and physical aggression, who posed a formidable threat at set pieces. They actually ended that campaign third in the top flight, and obviously the current Palace set-up is not as potent a force. They're a club in transition, but they appear to have their financial problems under control now and forked out £1m last week for Bradford goalkeeper Matt Clarke. They also showed last season by beating Leicester, Sunderland and Liverpool in the same competition that they are no mugs on one-off occasions.
It's a match Everton should win, but as I know to my own personal cost Crystal Palace are well capable of upsetting Evertonians.
Gazza's ready to take starring role
Sep 12 2001 By Paul Walker, Liverpool Echo
STEVE WATSON hopes tonight's Worthington Cup clash with Crystal Palace can reignite Paul Gascoigne's Everton career. Gascoigne is in line to make his first appearance since March, having come through two reserve team runouts unscathed in recent weeks. The midfielder is desperate to return to action after a difficult 10 months of injury and, should he impress at Goodison Park tonight, may force his way into contention for a place in Saturday's derby battle with Liverpool.
Like most Evertonians, Watson cannot wait to see his fellow Geordie back in the thick of things.
He said: " Having Gazza back is great for us. He has had a rough few months on and off the pitch. The main thing about Gazza is that he's happiest just playing football and he wants to get some games under his belt. "The fans just love him and they'll be right behind him, and that will be very important to him. "Everybody who has watched Gazza over the years knows that when he's fully fit, or even near to being fit, he's exciting. "He always wants the ball, whether or not he's got a player marking him. He is a great help to defenders because you know you can always just give him the ball and he will create something or take the heat out of a situation for you." Gazza, who spent time this summer in America at a clinic to help him overcome his drink problem, has also picked up continual injuries since then. Watson said: "He has been so frustrated. He's been so close to a comeback so many times after picking up so many injuries. UEFA have postponed all this week's remaining Champions League and UEFA Cup ties as a "mark of respect" to the victims of yesterday's terrorist attacks in the United States. But Everton's match against Crystal Palace tonight, along with all the other Worthington Cup ties, WILL go ahead. " He will probably agree that when he's injured he tries to get back too quickly. "That's because he's the type of person who just can't sit about and rest. But he's not feeling the injury at all now and, touch wood, I hope he gets the chance this week to make that comeback." Everton have suffered cup upsets to lower division teams like Oxford, Bristol Rovers and Tranmere in recent seasons, and aim to make amends for those embarrassments.
Watson said: "This cup has to be taken seriously, it's very important and also to helps us to prepare for the derby. "We are very determined to do well in this cup. Last season this tournament was a stepping stone to greater success for Liverpool. "After the disappointment of losing at Old Trafford, i t ' s very important that we get a good result straight away to give us confidence going into the derby at the weekend." There was due to be a full schedule of ties in the Champions League tonight and the UEFA Cup on Thursday which involved both English and Scottish clubs. Manchester United were in Greece to take on Olympiakos, while Celtic were playing Rosenborg tonight.
Tomorrow's UEFA Cup games should have seen Leeds play Maritimo in Madeira, while Chelsea, Ipswich, Aston Villa and Kilmarnock all had home ties. "The scale of this tragedy and the pain and sorrow which it brings should cause us all to reflect," said UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner in a statement. "UEFA feels it is right that the European football family should respect the loss."
UEFA spokesman Mike Lee said that postponing last night's ties, which involved Liverpool and Arsenal, at the 11th hour could have caused problems of their own. "We were advised there could be more security issues and problems if we postponed last night," he said. A minute's silence will be observed before the match at Goodison tonight. The Premier League confirmed that this weekend's domestic matches - which includes the derby clash between Liverpool and Everton - will go ahead as planned.
Smith looks for impressive cup start
Sep 12 2001 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
WALTER SMITH hopes that the new sudden death shoot-out can help Everton avoid another Worthington Cup calamity tonight. The two-legged second round format has been dropped for the first time since 1978, with extra time and penalties deciding tonight's Crystal Palace clash, if necessary. And the Blues' boss believes that could help his side avert the kind of upset Bristol Rovers, Oxford, York City, Millwall and Portsmouth have inflicted in recent years.
"The home tie is a bonus," he explained. "The two-legged games were a burden for everybody, and away teams would come and defend. That made things difficult for everyone. "We have suffered a bit over the past seasons, so it is about time that we changed that." Tonight's match kicks off at 8.00pm, not 7.45pm as advertised elsewhere, and will be preceded by a minute's silence in respect of the thousands who lost their lives in yesterday's American atrocities. The Blues hope that reduced admission prices (£10 adults, £5 concessions) - and as full strength a side as possible - will attract a large gate. "In the Worthington Cup over the past couple of seasons we have changed the team about a fair bit, largely because we haven't got a very big squad and we were protecting players for league matches," added Smith. "But our record is not good, and we want to change that this season. We will be playing the best players that we have available this time." Smith will have Paul Gascoigne back in his squad, although there are injury doubts over Alessandro Pistone, Niclas Alexandersson, Mark Pembridge and David Unsworth. Palace boss Steve Bruce could reshuffle his defence after his side conceded three goals against Millwall.
Blues at full strength
Sep 12 2001 by Andy Hunter, Daily Post
WALTER SMITH has pledged to field his strongest possible line-up in the Worthington Cup tonight as Everton seek to make amends for recent failures. The Blues take on first division Crystal Palace at Goodison Park at the second round stage they have not overcome in the past two seasons, when both Bristol Rovers and Oxford United caused major upsets. Smith rested a number of key players on both those occasions and though his hand may be forced tonight, the Everton boss is determined his side lay the club's League Cup bogey to rest against Steve Bruce's Palace. "We lost Francis Jeffers for five months after the Bristol Rovers game last season and though the squad is still not big enough to cope with such losses we will take a chance this season," said Smith, who saw David Unsworth miss training yesterday through illness. "Our record in this competition is not too clever over the last few seasons. The Champions League and other developments have meant other teams do not place the same importance on it now but that is not the case for Everton. "We will give it a good shout this season. I've been here three years now and I've had reason in previous years for not playing our full team but this year I will play everyone who is available subject to injury."
That injury list is likely to force a number of changes on Smith, with Alessandro Pistone, Niclas Alexandersson and Mark Pembridge all struggling after Saturday's defeat at Old Trafford.
Thomas Gravesen, Tomasz Radzinski and Gary Naysmith are still out, with the Scottish international suffering from a groin strain. But Smith hopes to have all three back for Saturday's Merseyside derby and believes £4.5million summer signing Radzinski could be on the bench against Liverpool.
"Hopefully Tomasz will be alright for the Liverpool game," he said. "We want to make sure his injury has completely cleared up rather than push him back in. "Normally a hamstring injury takes four to six weeks to heal. We didn't think it was that serious at first but it certainly looks that way now.
"The six weeks are nearly up now so hopefully he will be okay for the derby. A hamstring injury is a concern especially with a player who relies on pace, and he felt it again after training for three days. But he is back in training and hopefully he should be okay now." Paul Gascoigne is likely to get his first run-out of the season against Palace and Smith added: "Gazza is back in the squad but it will depend on our injury situation whether he is on from the start or on the bench." Steve Bruce could reshuffle his defensive pack for Crystal Palace's trip to Everton. Bruce was unhappy after his side conceded three goals against Millwall and forced the team through a extra training session. He said: "We've got to eliminate the silly errors. Playing Everton is a massive cup tie, but if we stop making mistakes we will be okay." Everton have reduced admission prices for tonight's game (kick off 8pm) to £10 adults and £5 concessions.
Everton 1, Crystal Palace 1
Blues' penalty heartbreak (icLiverpool)
Sep 12 2001 By David MacBryde, icLiverpool
Yet again, Everton fell foul to the dreaded penalty shoot-out in a competition that has rarely smiled kindly upon them. Now Crystal Palace join the likes of Millwall, York, Oxford and Bristol Rovers - all of whom have ensured the Blues exit this competition at the earliest stage possible. A 5-4 shoot-out defeat at the end of 120 minutes of sometimes frustrating football saw Goodison's silverware-starved fans deprived of at least one trip to Cardiff this season. For Kevin Campbell - bravely stepping up to take the first penalty - his miss relived his spot-kick horror at Bristol Rovers only a year ago. That no other penalties were missed - and indeed were dispatched with some aplomb - will make it even harder for the Everton skipper. It had all started so positively, with the home side in the lead after only six minutes. As Campbell was brought down by the Australian Popovic inside the area, the referee duly pointed to the spot. Up stepped Duncan Ferguson to slam home his third goal - and third penalty - of the season. However, Evertonian joy was short-lived, as the visitors were themselves awarded a penalty three minutes later. This time it was the lively Dougie Freedman being upended as he rounded Paul Gerrard. Freedman himself came forward to equalise from the spot. An intriguing contest looked on the cards - but it never really developed.
Tal and Gascoigne delivered powerful efforts from distance, but could not get past the steady Matt Clarke in the Palace goal. Just past the half-hour mark, freedman again made his mark - slipping past Xavier as the Portuguese defender committed himself early - and firing at Gerrard from 12 yards.
While Paul Gascoigne marked his return with by putting himself about in the opening half, chasing every ball, the team as a whole lacked any real cohesion. Indeed, as Everton began to show signs of sloppiness - their distribution letting them down on more than one occasion - the Londoners picked up their game accordingly. There were chances just before the break for both sides.
Max-Moore and Campbell went close for Everton, while Kirovski fired a ferocious effort over the bar for the visitors. The second half began somewhat scrappily, with neither side displaying any creativity. Youngster Kevin Mcleod fired just wide as he turned sharply, while Kevin Campbell fired into the side netting. The crowd's frustration grew as extra-time and the dreaded penalty shoot-out appeared increasingly likely. Paul Gascoigne was booked somewhat dubiously for a foul on Clinton Morrison after 71 minutes, following a stirring and injury-free display. Idan Tal showed great promise down the left, but was at times dispossessed too easily. Palace themselves posed a constant threat on the counter attack and from set pieces - Dougie Freedman curling his free-kick just over the bar on 69 minutes. Despite late Everton pressure, the winning goal would not come.
However, just as the 21,128 inside Goodison Park were about to get ready for extra-time, Freedman - again undoing Xavier with his pace - wrapped a shot against the crossbar, so nearly winning it for Palace in normal time. As it was, a cagey half an hour followed, with both teams determined not to be beaten. Ferguson and Max-Moore were replaced by youngsters Hibbert and Chadwick as Walter Smith rang the changes. Not even their exuberance could turn the game though and so again Everton were faced with a penalty shoot-out. The groans around the stadium were justified, with many fearing the worst. Where Kevin Campbell failed, Watson, Xavier, Tal and Gascoigne succeeded. It was the five assured penalty takers from Crystal Palace though, who maintain that Everton's dismal record in this competition gets no better - Clinton Morrison's decisive fifth penalty sending the visiting fans wild. Indeed, Everton's record in the League Cup is nothing to boast about. Although runners-up to Aston Villa and Liverpool in 1977 and 1984, they have fared poorly ever since, with just one semi-final appearance against Arsenal in 1988. For now though, the season must not be allowed to turn into another one of relegation dogfights as before. Saturday's Merseyside derby could provide the perfect spark, as the Blues face an uncertain Liverpool team with only one win in their three league games to date.
Everton 1 Crystal Palace 1 (5-4 aet pens)
Sep 13 2001 by Andy Hunter, Daily Post
EVERTON 1 CRYSTAL PALACE 1
(After Extra Time - Crystal Palace win 5-4 on penalties)
PREMIERSHIP clubs are forever following Manchester United's lead, so perhaps Everton should now steal a march on their rivals and withdraw from a cup competition altogether next season.
Only that way can they be sure to avoid the annual agony and embarassment that is their involvement in the League Cup. No matter what guise this competition takes it appears fated that the Blues will exit early or on penalties, usually both, and Crystal Palace last night joined the likes of Bristol Rovers, Oxford United, York City and Millwall in the Goodison Hall of Infamy.
Everton may have dominated possession, but the fact they did little with it all evening ensured penalties were the only way they ever looked like scoring. But spot-kick shoot-outs are another aspect of footballing life Everton simply cannot deal with. They may be a lottery but to the Blues that is only true because they never win, and it didn't need Kevin Campbell's miss to provoke a sense of impending disappointment once extra time had failed to separate the sides. And so for the third time in four attempts under Walter Smith, the Blues exited to lower league opposition on penalties and failed to clear the first hurdle of the Worthington Cup for the third consecutive season. A truly terrible, abysmal record. Smith had pledged to field his strongest possible line-up for the tie, a diversion from recent seasons when Everton's familiar Worthington Cup upsets were inflicted on almost reserve sides. But injuries - serious or otherwise - and illness kept seven senior stars on the sidelines and with the Blues boss unable to resist the temptation to rest Scot Gemmill ahead of Saturday's derby, that pledge was severely tested. Enforced changes brought a new look to the Everton midfield, however, and a welcome introduction to an old and young face in that department, Paul Gascoigne and Kevin McLeod. For Gascoigne his first appearance of the season signalled the end of ten months utter frustration while for McLeod it was his long overdue chance to offer the directness and ammunition both Campbell and Ferguson require with his senior debut.
The two 'new' Blues were at the heart of the home side's first serious threat when McLeod, playing as a more advanced left wing-back, surged through the Palace midfield before being brought to an abrupt halt. As Palace discussed their wall formation Gascoigne took an impudent quick free-kick that forced a scrambled save out of Matt Clarke. Two minutes later the more direct approach paid off for the Blues. Paul Gerrard launched a long free-kick and Duncan Ferguson soared above Dean Austin to flick the ball through for Kevin Campbell, who turned his marker Gregg Berhalter - a one-time Goodison trialist - and would have been clean through had the American not dragged him back.
Penalty, but no card from referee John Brandwood, and Everton's new spot-kick king Ferguson stepped up to convert his third such effort of the season. That should have offered some cure for Goodison's League Cup allergy, but instead they gave away a needless, clumsy penalty of their own less than four minutes later scored by Palace's own DF, Dougie Freedman, latched on to a hopeful punt and heading away from goal he collided with keeper Gerrard for a daft, but legitimate penalty decision that again failed to result in any cards and a successful kick as the Palace striker beat the Blues keeper for a second time. The equaliser clearly took more out of the Blues than it did the first division visitors, who posed the greater threat for the remainder of the first half in the face of consistently shaky Everton defending. Despite the promptings of the influential Gascoigne and his fellow central midfielders for the night Joe-Max Moore and Idan Tal, the home side struggled to work a way through the Palace rearguard. Moore turned a clever Steve Watson cross goalwards but was denied by Clarke, who blocked Campbell's follow-up and then watched Tal drive a 25-yard shot a yard over his crossbar. But otherwise it was the Crystal combination of Freedman and Clinton Morrison who twisted and turned their way through the Blues' back line almost at will before half-time. Had their shooting matched their intricacy Everton would have been in serious trouble but three times they engineered space on the edge of the area only to shoot straight at the alert and overworked Gerrard. The second half demanded an improved home display, and the Blues initially delivered as they opened up the Palace defence only to fail to find their final touch was badly missing. McLeod, growing in confidence, hooked a half volley just over from 20 yards and twice set up Campbell with inviting crosses from the left but one was headed over and the other the striker couldn't connect with first time. Campbell's control let him down yet again on 56 minutes when Alan Stubbs' precision pass split through the Palace centre-halves, but worryingly he stood on the ball instead of even troubling keeper Clarke. That miss was the cue for match to slide downhill rapidly, with even the reduced admission price of 10 extortionate for what was on offer in the closing stages. Aimless balls lumped to no-one became the order of the day for Everton as their lack of movement in the final third matched their lack of imagination and with Liverpool on the horizon, Evertonian fears were justified and loudly expressed. The Blues display was summed up perfectly in the final minute when a corner fell invitingly to Gascoigne on the edge of the area and his shot went out for a throw-in 20 yards from the corner flag. Palace so nearly ended Everton's misery in stoppage time with the best move of the game, as Freedman skimmed Abel Xavier, received a neat back-heel from his strike partner Morrison and struck the bar from 20 yards to ensure extra time.
An additional 30 minutes was not what Smith needed three days before a derby and with that in mind he brought off Ferguson to hand Nick Chadwick another run-out. Tony Hibbert also came on at right wing-back, with Watson moving to midfield, as a more compact Everton side began the desperate search for the goal that would render penalties redundant. Chadwick missed the best chance of both periods when he failed to connect properly with Tal's and then McLeod's inviting deliveries, while Palace midfielder Simon Rodger was close to stealing victory for the visitors when he burst threw in the final minute and blazed inches wide. Campbell followed suit in front of the same goal minutes later, but unfortunately the penalties had started and he capped a miserable display by skying his effort well over the bar. All the subsequent penalties were superb - Watson, Xavier, Tal and Gascoigne all converting for Everton - but that also applied to Palace's and when Morrison beat Gerrard with the final kick the Blues were out. The sorry thing is the Goodison crowd didn't seem in the least bit surprised. After a decade of such blows it is no wonder.
EVERTON (3-5-2): Gerrard; Xavier, Stubbs, Weir; Watson, Moore (Hibbert, 91 mins), Gascoigne, Tal, McLeod; Campbell, Ferguson (Chadwick, 91 mins). Unused subs: Simonsen, Cleland, Clarke.
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-4-2): Clarke; Smith, Austin, Popovic, Berthalter (Riihilahti, 58 mins); Mullins, Kirovski (Thomson, 93 mins), Rodger, Gray; Freedman, Morrison. Unused subs: Kolinko, Harrison, Black.
REFEREE: J.Brandwood
BOOKINGS: Everton's Xavier and Gascoigne (fouls), Palace's Smith (dissent), Rodger (foul)
ATTENDANCE: 21,128
MAN OF THE MATCH: Paul Gascoigne. Not yet match fit but showed he still has plenty to offer this Everton side with the best moments of a dire contest.
Everton hoodoo strikes again
Sep 13 2001 by Andy Hunter, Daily Post
WALTER SMITH admitted Crystal Palace were worthy winners as Everton's Worthington Cup misery continued at Goodison Park last night. The Blues' appalling record in the competition continued as they were beaten 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out by the first division side to exit at the first hurdle for the third consecutive season. Kevin Campbell missed the crucial spot-kick after the contest had finished 1-1 after extra time, and Palace converted all five to reach the third round with Clinton Morrison scoring the all-important winner. And manager Smith offered no excuses for his team's dismal performance as they lost a Worthington Cup shoot-out for the third time in four years of his managerial reign. The Blues boss, who locked his team in the dressing room afterwards, said: "To be honest I don't think we deserved much better than what we got. "It was disappointing to lose on penalty kicks but we didn't deserve any more. "Territorially we had the better of the game, but Crystal Palace had the better opportunities to score and I can't argue with the outcome in that respect." Duncan Ferguson fired Everton in front after only five minutes with his third penalty of the season, only to see Dougie Freedman equalise from the spot for Palace four minutes later. And the Blues' performance became gradually worse as they were beaten by a lower league team in the cup for the 11th time in eight seasons. Smith added: "After getting off to a good start I expected us to impose ourselves more on the game but we didn't. "We had a good 20 minutes' start without creating anything while Palace created a number of good chances on the break. "With penalties they can go either way and they went against us for the third time in four seasons. "It's disappointing to lose that way but they deserved to shade it. Everyone is disappointed."
New Palace boss Steve Bruce shared Smith's view and paid special tribute to his defence who kept both Ferguson and Campbell subdued all night. The former Manchester United defender said: "I know what it's like marking those two and it is not easy so I am delighted with my defence's display.
"We worked very hard for this and I thought we were the better footballing side on the night.
"I don't think the victory flattered us put it that way."
Weekly Postbag
Sep 13 2001 icLiverpool & Daily Post
Derby is for taking
IT IS time to silence the rantings of Liverpudlians after they did the double over us last season and there could be no better time. Despite our minor blip at Old Trafford last weekend, I reckon that Liverpool are there for the taking in the derby. Buoyed by our best start since 1993, Everton should have the psychological edge over Liverpool who are enduring a terrible time. Following two defeats and a disappointing draw against unknown Boavista, the last thing Houllier will want right now is to face the Blues. Walter Smith was at Anfield as Liverpool struggled cope with the Portuguese side. No doubt he has taken on board the reasons for their poor form and is ready to take advantage.
I, for one, can't wait.
Susan Geddis, West Derby
Everton v United
THE performance from Everton against Man United on Saturday was, to put it nicely, poor.
There was hope when Everton "finally" scored to make it 3-1. Everyone thought they'd make a comeback but it never happened as Blanc defended very well stopping Big Dunc.
I was thankful that a lot of United's main players were on the bench as the score could've been so much worse. If we lose against Liverpool on Saturday there are definite questions to be asked. Liverpool have more important games than Everton but they will still want to win this one because the derby is always important in the city. Fans should look forward not back and if Liverpudlians laugh at you losing to Man United, they lost to Villa and there's a bit of a difference.
Becki Reynolds, Knotty Ash
Height weakness
EVERTON'S strength became their weakness against Man United as the dependency to loft balls up to Big Dunc made their defence look watertight, which we all know isn't the case these days.
The pace of Wes Brown meant the young England defender had Kevin Campbell in his back pocket for the best part, while new signing Laurent Blanc must have wondered what all the fuss about the self-proclaimed bruise brothers was about. Despite our great start to the campaign, Walter Smith really needs to look to other options in varying the Blues style of play. If Everton remain as one dimensional as they currently are, it won't take long for the whole Premiership to get wise to us and we could go into freefall. Lets hope the pace of Radzinski can provide a few more options.
Frank Skelton, Eastham
Ban Taricco
IT MAY seem old news now, but the Thomas Gravesen/Mauricio Taricco affair has really angered me. Just as Gravesen is about to make a comeback following the Argentine's horror tackle on him at the start of the season, Taricco chooses to declare his innocence despite the fact that the injury needed 30 stitches. A devout Evertonian, I rarely praise a Liverpool player, but following what was an equally bad tackle on Aston Villa's Boateng, Steven Gerrard went out of his way to get the player's telephone number so he could apologise the next day. Taricco on the other hand, took over a week and that was after his manager Glenn Hoddle had publicly condemned his challenge to even acknowledge the incident and even then declares his innocence. I think that his actions on the day and thereafter have been an utter disgrace and believe he should be banned for as long as Gravesen was injured.
Derek Hughes, Waterloo
Everton 1, Crystal Palce 1
Blues worthy shame goes on (Echo)
Sep 13 2001 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON . . . . . . . . . .1 C PALACE . . . . . . . . . . 1
(AET, Palace win 5-4 on pens)
ANGRY Evertonians want answers to some simple questions. Some are incomprehensible. Why they can't beat lower league opposition in the Worthington Cup or why they can't ever win penalty shootouts is probably beyond even Einstein's comprehension. Why they insist on kicking off at eight o'clock is irritatingly obscure also. But there is one man who can answer one much more fundamental question. The Blues are clearly bankrupt of ideas on the field. Last night's almost predictable penalty shootout exit to Crystal Palace highlighted that. But do they have the funds off the field to rectify that situation? Bill Kenwright has been rightly praised in these pages for taking on a dead duck that no-one else wanted to touch with the biggest barge pole in Britain. But if he continues to delude, deceive and deprive those fans of information, he will also lose their support. And following last night's garbage, now would be a good time to start delivering. Everton's present squad is pitifully thin. They were apparently taking the Worthington Cup seriously this season.
So seriously that their midfield last night consisted of two free transfers and a £700,000 Israeli.
So seriously that their most influential midfielder, the £200,000 Scot Gemmill, was omitted from the squad entirely. And so seriously that their best striker, Duncan Ferguson, could not be risked in extra time with a derby match just 59 hours away. The manager will, no doubt, be criticised. But while his hands remain financialy tied his culpability will, in this quarter anyway, be limited.
Just look at Everton's squad now. Then before you break into a cold sweat think of the ramifications for the future. Four players will be leaving next summer for nothing, that is unless Abel Xavier, Danny Cadamarteri, Alec Cleland and Thomas Myhre are all suddenly offered new contracts in the next six months. But is there any cash available to replace them, let alone add to the current numbers? Way back in 1983, Everton's board was big enough to tell the fans they couldn't afford to add Terry Curran to their squad. The truth hurt, but the fans understood, and respected them for it.
So when Bill Kenwright appears in front of Sky TV cameras, as he did recently, and said his manager hadn't actually asked him for any money for new players, it was clearly hogwash. The manager hasn't asked him because he presumably knows there isn't any. My very amateur accounting tells me that Smith's transfer dealings are around £7m in the black. Around £14.5m has just been banked from the sale of two young stars. So where has it all gone? The fans contribute much of the cash which sustains the most talked about overdraft in football, so they deserve to be told how large it is and what is being done to reduce it. Last night's result hurt those fans bitterly. Presumably it hurt the coaching staff, too, who locked the players in for half-an-hour after them 10.45pm finish.
Kids like Kevin McLeod and the excellent Tony Hibbert did their reputation no harm. And a man whose career had apparently ended, Paul Gascoigne, got through 128 minutes of football, showed imagination and skill, and slotted in a penalty at the end of it. Duncan Ferguson had a go, too, but to look beyond that quartet would be stretching it - a lot. Even the referee started sloppily.
Mr Brandwood correctly pointed to the spot for Gregg Berhalter's bid to swap jerseys with Kevin Campbell - before the Everton captain had even got it sweaty - but chose not to show even a yellow card. But after Ferguson had confidently tucked away his third spot kick of the season, he awarded another for a blatant act of gamesmanship that could be spotted 60 yards away in the press box.
Dougie Freedman took a dive when Paul Gerrard pulled himself up short of the Scot's dart into the box. Brandwood was conned and Freedman's penalty taking prowess proved the equal of his compatriot's. Everton did have halfchances after that. Matt Clarke made a superb double save from Moore and Campbell and both Campbell and Nick Chadwick miskicked in front of goal.
But so, too, did Palace. Freedman severely embarrassed Abel Xavier to charge through on Gerrard's goal, before shooting straight at the keeper, while seconds before the end of normal time Freedman crashed a 20-yarder against the bar. Palace also went closest in extra-time, courtesy of Simon Rodger, before the almost expected Everton penalty shoot-out curse. The Blues have won shoot-outs in the past 30 years, but pre-season friendlies and the 1988 Mercantile Credit Centenary Challenge don't count. It's a shocking 30 years since Borussia Moenchangladbach were beaten in one that counted. It seems equally as long since Everton were known as the Mersey Millionaires.
Can we have an explanation please . . ?
EVERTON (3-5-2): Gerrard, Weir, Stubbs, Xavier, Watson, Moore (Hibbert 90), Gascoigne, Tal, McLeod, Ferguson (Chadwick 90), Campbell. Unused subs: Simonsen, Cleland, Clarke.
CRYSTAL PALACE (3-5-2): Clarke, Austin, Berhalter (Riihilati 58), Popovic, Smith, Mullins, Rodger, Kirovski (Thomson 92), Gray, Morrison, Freedman. Unused subs: Kolinko, Harrison, Black.
Referee: Mr M Brandwood.
Bookings: Xavier (10 mins) foul, Smith (30) dissent, Rodger (59) foul, Gascoigne (71) foul, Thomson (117) dissent.
Attendance: 21,128.
GOALS: Ferguson penalty (5 mins) 1-0, Freedman penalty (9) 1-1.
PENALTY SHOOTOUT: Campbell (missed) 0-0, Austin (scored) 0-1, Watson (scored) 1-1, Freedman (scored) 1-2, Xavier (scored) 2-2, Riihilati (scored) 2-3, Tal (scored) 3-3, Mullins (scored) 3-4, Gascoigne (scored) 4-4, Morrison (scored) 4-5.
MAN OF THE MATCH. PAUL GASCOIGNE. Looked remarkably full of running and has lost none of his imaginative edge.
Everton legend 'Chico' Scott dies at 64
Sep 13 2001 Liverpool Echo
EVERTON legend Alex Scott died last night at the age of 64. The Falkirk born right-winger made 176 appearances for the Blues between 1963 and 1967. Known as 'Chico' to the fans, the curly-haired Scot (pictured right) was gifted with lightning pace which tormented defences throughout the First Division and provided a constant supply of goalscoring chances for Alex Young, Roy Vernon and Derek Temple. The international was not blessed with supreme skill, but he didn't need it. His speed ensured he was a potent weapon for the Blues, as Colin Harvey recalls. The Everton coach and former club boss played alongside Scott during the early part of his career. He said today: "It has come as a shock. "Alex was a nice man and I'm very sorry to hear of his death. "I played with him for about two or three seasons and he was a very good player. He had a fantastic season the year we won the FA Cup in 1966. " He was outstanding that season. "As a person, he was affable and easy to get on with. He was a quiet man and a true gentleman." Scott was not a prolific scorer for the Blues, netting just 26 times, but it was his passing and his creativity which was the key. Bought by Harry Catterick from Rangers for £40,000 in February 1963, he was the ideal replacement for the ageing Billy Bingham and helped the Blues to the League Championship that season. He joined Hibernian for £15,000 in 1967 and went into business with his brother Jim after retiring.
Derby daze
Sep 13 2001 by David Prentice
EVERTON found themselves in derby disarray this morning as Walter Smith revealed that last night's depleted Worthington Cup line-up was the strongest he could have fielded. The Blues were embarrassed yet again by lower league opposition, with free-transfers and teenagers making up their squad for the penalty shoot-out defeat by Crystal Palace. But Smith said: "I am being honest when I say that team was the strongest we could have put out on the night. "We wanted to have a go in the Worthington Cup this season, but we are struggling for numbers in the squad at present."
Scot Gemmill missed the match with a back injury, while Niclas Alexandersson, Alessandro Pistone and Mark Pembridge were also absent with a combination of knocks. More worryingly, all remain severely doubtful for Saturday's derby. David Unsworth came into training today for the first time since falling ill on Monday, but was in no condition to train and is also a doubt. Gary Naysmith and Thomas Gravesen could return, with Tomasz Radzinski a possibility for the substitutes' bench, but the absences merely point to the pitifully small size of Everton's senior squad. The only bright spot for the Blues was that UEFA's decision to postpone this week's European ties means that next week's scheduled trip to Leeds United has now been postponed.
Goodison faithful praised
Sep 13 2001 Liverpool Echo
EVERTON have thanked their fans for the loyal support provided at last night's Worthington Cup second round tie. A crowd of 22,128 watched the Blues lose to Palace on penalties.
Spokesman Ian Ross said: "The club would like to send its heartfelt thanks to our supporters for turning out in such numbers last night. "Bearing in mind the appalling weather and the general feeling nationwide after the American tragedy the attendance was magnificent."
Gemmill is the Juan for Blues
Sep 13 2001 by Claire Gray, Liverpool Echo
IT'S Merseyside derby time again, and this weekend's game looks an impossible one to call.
To the more optimistic Evertonians, last Saturday's clash with Manchester United was supposed to be close. Only it wasn't really, was it? And the reason? Juan Veron. His £28m worth of party tricks are getting a frequent airing and his team-mates will be as appreciative of the fact as those who pay for the privilege. This isn't meant to be a draft of the newsletter for the Juan Veron fan club - of which I am a fully paid up member. It simply illustrates a point. When Walter Smith smiled wryly at the post match press conference when asked to sum up the Argentinian's performance at Old Trafford that day, he grinned: "Aye, he's a good player." You suspect, Smith may well be forced to utter such words come Saturday afternoon after another 90 minute reminder of Steven Gerrard's capabilities. A week prior to the United mauling, it had been the teenager's display of midfield genius in Munich that had been grabbing the plaudits. Like Veron, he is a middle man of outstanding quality, capable of turning a game on its head. Equally capable of doing just that is Scot Gemmill.
In the absence of Paul Gascoigne, Gemmill carries the mantle of most talented midfielder on Everton's books - and for an outlay of £27.8m less than that paid for Veron. Rarely will you see him misplace a pass while his footballing brain is as alert as any other you'll find. He holds the key to the Blues' progress this season in a similar vein Veron and Gerrard do for their respective clubs.
But like Jordan, adequate support is crucial if we are to see the best of his assets. Now is the time for the Everton midfield to show they can, when necessary, exhibit some steel. If they find that physical dimension on Saturday, then Gerard Houllier's midweek declaration that he was glad his side had stopped losing because "confidence suffers on the back of two defeats", may soon be wheeled out again.
Star back in business
by Jonathan Mcevoy, Daily Post
Sep 14 2001
PAUL GASCOIGNE will send a defiant message to his critics by completing his rehabilitation against Liverpool tomorrow. The Everton midfielder will take part in the Merseyside derby at Goodison - just three days after playing 120 minutes of football on his return to firstteam action after 10 months out. Gascoigne saw his controversial career written off as his move to Merseyside was hit by a series of injury and off-field problems which limited him to only 10 league starts last season.
But the 34-year-old made an impressive contribution as Everton crashed out of the Worthington Cup to first division Crystal Palace on Wednesday, and he is now set for his first Premiership action since November 5 last year. Boss Walter Smith said: "I was surprised Gazza lasted for 120 minutes but he's one of those players who's always had natural fitness. "I was pleased with him. He was one of the brightest spots on a disappointing night. He did well. "Of course he will feel the effects of playing right through the game but he will be involved against Liverpool." Gascoigne scored a spot-kick in Wednesday night's demoralising penalty shoot-out defeat and Smith is confident the former England star can play a major role this season. The Goodison boss added: "When he plays in front of the crowd it brings something out of him. He certainly showed he is far from finished.
"It would not have mattered how he played but he did well. It showed how much he wanted to get back - you could see that from the start." Thomas Gravesen is also pencilled in for a role against the Reds after receiving the allclear from a specialist to play again. The Danish midfielder, 25, needed 30 stitches in his leg after a horror tackle by Tottenham defender Mauricio Taricco in last month's 1-1 home draw. Smith is grappling with an injury crisis ahead of tomorrow's local showdown.
Nine players were sidelined for Wednesday's match, with Mark Pembridge, Scot Gemmill, Niclas Alexandersson and virus victim David Unsworth all doubtful for the derby. Gary Naysmith is likely to return while Tomasz Radzinski could be included, probably on the bench. Radzinski, Smith's showpiece £4.5million summer buy from Anderlecht, has missed the start of the season after injuring a hamstring against Tranmere Rovers in pre-season. Smith added: "It is a little bit early to tell if Tomasz will be fit but we are hopeful he will be ready in time."
* EVERTON are mourning former Blues star Alex Scott, who died on Wednesday night, aged
64. Known as 'Chico', the Scotland international helped Everton to the Division One title in 1963 and the FA Cup three years later. Right-winger Scott, signed by Harry Catterick from Glasgow Rangers for £40,000 in February 1963, scored 27 goals for the club before joining Hibernian in 1967.
Leeds tests for young Blues
By Chris Wright, Daily Post
Sep 14 2001
WHILE all eyes are on Goodison and tomorrow's big derby clash with Liverpool, Everton's Academy sides welcome Leeds to Merseyside in the FA Premier Academy League. Colin Harvey's under-19s play the Yorkshire side at Bellefield at 11am, while Alan Harper's under-17s are at Netherton, kick-off 11.30am. It's been a tough start to the campaign for both sides, with the U19s still looking for their first win after two draws and a defeat. And Harvey said: "Our problem this season is going to be scoring goals. Last season we had four or five players who were going to weigh in with goals from different positions. "And we also had Nick Chadwick who could score goals from everywhere.
"The way the league is set out and the way the teams are you never get any easy games. But first and foremost if you defend properly it gives you a chance of getting a result. "Obviously for the younger players in the side it will be different from last season. But they are just going to have to adjust." On Leeds, Academy director Ray Hall said: "We played them last year at U17s level and we drew 1-1. "All the games at this level are tough. But that's what being in an Academy programme is about. You are playing in order to develop the best players. To do that you've got to playagainst the best players. "All the sides have their own systems of play and there are now a number of foreign boys coming into the sides. So there are different players just as there are in the first teams.
"So you might find for example Chelsea, who played in the first match of the season, had four foreign players in their squad. A couple were Italian defenders and they enjoy defending, so for the boys who are playing up front it's a different set of problems that they've got to try and solve."
Everton have a number of injury worries. Franklyn Colbeck has fractured a bone in his foot and will be out for three to four weeks. Craig Penman is still missing while Robert Southern didn't play last weekend but the Blues are hopeful he will be available tomorrow. Alan Harper's U17s were beaten 1-0 last week and with a number of players unavailable they will find tomorrow's match another tough proposition. Harper said: "We've got a couple of injuries and a few lads who are on holiday so we are a little bit light at the moment. But they will hopefully be back soon so we should have a full squad. "So it could be a struggle for a few weeks until we get everyone back." Everton defender Sean O'Hanlon has been named in the England U19 squad for their two Nationwide friendly matches against Iceland and Russia as they prepare for the UEFA qualification tournament in November.
The team will face Iceland at York City on Monday, October 1 and Russia at Barnsley on Thursday, October 4. Both matches will kick-off at 7.45pm.
Farewell, Chico
Sep 14 2001 by Howard Kendall, Liverpool Echo
LIKE all Evertonians I was stunned yesterday to hear the sad news of the death of great Sixties rightwinger Alex Scott. I remember in 1966 when I was a young player at Preston North End. I went to Wembley to see the FA Cup Final between Everton and Sheffield Wednesday. Alex Young was playing and the crowd was going through this remarkable rhythmic clapping routine, finishing with the shout . . . CHICO! I knew Young was the big hero of the fans and assumed it was his nickname. It was actually Alex Scott they were saluting. Alex was one of a long line of Scottish stars who made a massive impression on Everton. He will be greatly missed.
Kevin tables a derby motion
Sep 14 2001 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON skipper Kevin Campbell tabled a motion of resolve today - which he hopes can fire his side to the unlikeliest of derby wins. Wednesday's woeful Worthington Cup exit, and another Everton injury crisis, will see Liverpool installed as firm favourites for tomorrow's 165th League clash.
But Campbell has pointed out one important factor ahead of the High Noon shootout. "It's important that we focus on the positives," he said, "and the most positive aspect is that we are currently above Liverpool in the Premiership table. "That is a position we want to preserve for as long as possible." With only three points from their opening three games, even a Liverpool victory wouldn't see them overhaul their injury stricken neighbours tomorrow. But Campbell is keen to recreate the kind of home record which took the Blues to midtable respectability 18 months ago.
"We enjoyed an excellent home record at Goodison Park the season before last," added Campbell. "If we could take three points tomorrow that would give us a huge lift. " The Liverpool match is always special. I made my Everton debut at Anfield and have scored a derby match winner down at the Kop End. "We were beaten fairly and squarely at Anfield last season, although we felt we definitely deserved something from the Goodison game. "The point is that being favourites in a derby match means nothing." Depth of squad, however, usually does - and Everton are struggling to an alarming degree to name a recognisable starting line-up. Young Nick Chadwick had started only seven reserve team games before this season, but has been a regular in Everton's senior squad so far and played for half-an-hour against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night. "To be involved on Saturday would be brilliant," said Chadwick. "I played in the mini-derby last year, though missed a few chances, but if I did get the chance on Saturday I would love it. "Everything has happened quite fast. In fact at the start of the season I thought I might be still down at the Academy. "Last year I played in a few reserve games and this season I have started quite well. Hopefully I can keep my place within the squad. "You can't help but learn from Kevin Campbell and Duncan Ferguson.
"They are two great strikers. Danny Cadamarteri is back in training and Tomasz Radzinski should be fit soon, and with me being still only 18 I can only learn from them. "I am not one for setting targets, but I will just try as well as I can and hopefully first team appearances will come."
Reds must go for it - Sharp
Sep 14 2001 By Graeme Sharp, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON are coming into the game on the back of two defeats and they will be wanting to put things straight. After their success last season Liverpool will be wanting to mount a challenge for the title, but you cannot afford to lose more than three or four games if you want to challenge Manchester United. Because of that, Liverpool need to go for it. Gerard Houllier will have to make some tough decisions on team selection, because they have to go to Dortmund on Wednesday in the Champions League. Both games are of vital importance.
The friendly derby
Sep 14 2001 by David Randles
DERBY weekend is here again, but despite your footballing leanings, fansites 'Toffeeweb' and 'Red All Over The Land' bring you the chance to cast aside your differences in the name of charity.
Last April's Merseyside derby was marred by the shameful breaking of the minute's silence to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. From bad comes good however, and the two opposing fansites showed how things should be done by playing the inaugural 'mini derby' in memory of the 96 victims and their families. Outlining the fans' intentions to mark each Merseyside derby with a fundraising event, Toffeeweb's player manager, Stephen Clegg said: "Ourselves and Red All Over The Land got together last season to try and improve the atmosphere between both sets of fans. "Unfortunately, the growing tension of recent years culminated in the breaching of the minute's silence back in April, but our game, which was played in the morning, went really well and was a true example of how fans of either persuasion can get together and do something positive for a good cause. "We plan to play a match on or around every derby and hope to raise money for various club related charities such as the Hillsborough Justice campaign or the Blueblood foundation." The Blueblood Foundation is better known as the Everton Former Players Foundation which is a fund, set up specifically, to help former Everton players and staff who may need assistance with medical costs and such like. While the Hillsborough Justice Campaign will have benefited from the first two min-derby's, it is likely that the fans will be raising money for the Blueblood Foundation when Everton make the short trip to Anfield on February 23.
In forgetting allegiance's, last April's charity match raised over £300 for the Hillsborough Justice Campaign and took great strides towards improving relations between the two sets of supporters.
That day, RAOTL ran out 2-1 winners in a contentious but good spirited game as Toffeeweb had a last minute equaliser disallowed. However, the result itself pales to insignificance when weighed against the cause. And the same will apply this Sunday as both teams line up on Stanley Park in the shadows of Anfield and Goodison. Kick off is 1:30pm.
Everton 1, Liverpool 3 (icLiverpool)
Sep 15 2001 By David Randles, icLiverpool
EVERTON'S week of misery was compounded at Goodison Park today as local rivals, Liverpool claimed the points in the 165th Merseyside league derby. Despite two wins and a draw from their opening three games of the campaign, three straight defeats in the space of seven days has brought the Blues back down to earth with a heavy and painful bump. Before last April, the last time Liverpool had beaten Everton at Goodison was in 1990. During the Joe Royle era, Liverpool's 'Spice Boys' were easy meat for the Blues' 'Dogs of War', but under Gerard Houllier's French Revolution, Walter Smith has been left to lick his wounds for the third consecutive time. However, if this performance has dispelled any early season fears following the Reds' stuttering start to the campaign, their ability to concede early goals remains something of a concern for Houllier.
On the dictates of television's paymasters, the kick-off was brought forward to mid-day and, as against Boavista on Tuesday, Liverpool's back four appeared to be wiping the sleep from their eyes when Kevin Campbell(pictured) pounced after just five minutes. As Gary Naysmith pulled back for David Unsworth to whip in the cross, it was the tried and trusted 'Bruise Brothers' formula which woke Liverpool from their slumber. Once Duncan Ferguson's flick-on fell to the feet of his strike partner, there was still plenty of work to be done. However, the Blues' captain turned superbly before powering his drive past the helpless Dudek to send the home crowd into raptures.
That early wake up call sent alarm bells ringing among Houllier's charges, but despite Everton enjoying much of the opening exchanges, Liverpool drew level seven minutes later through a Steven Gerrard classic. From the characteristic derby day melee that ensued, Gregory Vignal found space on the left to send a cross into the box. But what should have been a routine clearance from David Unsworth turned into a vital assist for Liverpool as Gerrard picked up the poor header to steady himself before stepping past Naysmith to unleash a thunderous drive past his namesake in the Blues' goal to draw the tie level. If that error was unfortunate for Unsworth his next major contribution was simply disastrous. On 29 minutes it was Vignal again who found Heskey inside the box.
They call Unsworth(pictured) the 'rhino' at Goodison Park, and it was with the subtlety of his analogy that he brought the England striker down in front of goal. Robbie Fowler missed a penalty back in April, but watching from the bench thi stime, he saw Michael Owen register his 13th goal of the season, and first against Everton, as Liverpool took the lead. By this point, the game had settled to a steady pace as Liverpool took the initiative to calm things down after what was a frenetic start.
Thomas Gravesen, back in action wearing a protective sock - a legacy of the 30 stitches he received from Tottenham's Mauricio Taricco four weeks ago - showed the steel expected of him in midfield, but it was Everton's lack of creativity in the final third which let them down. If Liverpool have a weakness at present, it is their inability to defend the second ball inside the box. With this being Everton's strength going forward, their failure to utilise the width of Alexandersson was mind-boggling. Instead, the Blues persisted to loft high balls down the centre which even Liverpool's shaky rearguard took pleasure in clearing as defences across the country are getting wise to Walter Smith's route one tactics. The second half saw an improvement for Everton courtesy of Paul Gascoigne's steadying influence in midfield. With the less than impressive Abel Xavier making way for Tomasz Radzinski, Unsworth was the obvious fall guy for Gazza. However, despite the improvement of play on Gazza's introduction, there was nothing he could do about Liverpool's third.
With Liverpool most dangerous when on the edge of their own penalty box, the last thing the Blues want to do is give the ball away there. But on 52 minutes that is exactly what they did, allowing Riise(pictured) to stride upfield, skip past Steve Watson and bury the ball across the face of Paul Gerrard and into the bottom corner. Three minutes later however, the game could have changed shape again, as Henchoz headed valiantly off the line from a Ferguson header. Dudek was then called into action, producing a marvellous point blank save from Campbell to highlight why Houllier has put his faith in the Polish No 1. Thereafter, Everton's frustration became Liverpool's forte as each time the Blues pressed, the Reds threatened on the counter. With McAllister on for a tired Danny Murphy on 76 minutes, a last ditch match-winning free-kick would not be needed today.
Where Radzinski showed flashes of skill to explain the Blues' £4.5m outlay on him, the 37-year old freebie simply bolstered the Red's midfield to shut up shop as the vistors played the game out.
This was never the most endearing displays of football, but a delighted Gerard Houllier will not be too concerned about that. As Liverpool look to kick-start their campaign on the back of a morale boosting victory, Walter Smith will be left to ponder on how he can lift his team to avoid tumbling towards a relegation battle that so many predicted at the start of the season.
EVERTON (3-5-2): Gerrard, Weir, Stubbs, Unsworth (Gascoigne 45), Watson, Alexandersson (Hibbert 75), Gravesen, Xavier (Radzinski 45), Naysmith, Ferguson, Campbell. Unused substitutes: Simonsen, Tal.
LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia, Henchoz, Vignal, Gerrard (Smicer 85), Murphy (McAllister 77), Hamann, Riise, Heskey, Owen. Unused substitutes: Fowler, Wright, Arphexad.
Referee: Paul Durkin. Booking: Murphy (75 mins) foul. Goals: Campbell (5 mins) 1-0, Gerrard (12 mins) 1-1, Owen penalty (29) 1-2, Riise (51) 1-3.
Attendance: 39,554
Smith slams defensive errors
By Ian Doyle, Daily Post
Sep 17 2001
WALTER SMITH bemoaned his side's defending after watching Everton slip to their third consecutive derby defeat on Saturday. The Blues were still very much in the game at 1-1 when two moments of slack play at the back handed Liverpool a 3-1 lead they rarely looked like surrendering. "Both the goals in the early part of the game were terrific goals for either side, but I was disappointed in the other two we conceded," said Smith. "We are disappointed we lost the second goal because from our point of view that was a bad one. Then we made changes at half-time and almost straightaway gave away an equally bad goal." After Kevin Campbell's opener had been cancelled out by Steven Gerrard, Everton fell behind from a Michael Owen penalty after David Unsworth had clumsily brought down Emile Heskey in the box. And Smith admitted: "There are no complaints about the penalty. In that situation, any contact with the player and the referee is going to give a penalty, and contact was made. It was one of those ones you could see coming, unfortunately. "It was a strange game for us. We got off to a great start and we were the better side for the early part of the game. Liverpool then got back into the game and probably played the more controlled football for the remainder of the first half." John Arne Riise then sealed the Blues' fate soon after the interval with a breakaway third goal. "Last week we lost a goal early in the second half against Manchester United and the same thing happened here," continued Smith. "We changed things around to take a chance, but we never gave ourselves a chance by conceding the early goal in the second half. "We had had a couple of warnings before it, and some set-pieces ourselves-where we didn't put in good enough balls, and Liverpool are always a dangerous team attacking on the break." As well as berating his side's defending, Smith also pointed to a lack of killer instinct up front which ultimately led to Everton slipping to a third defeat inside a week following the defeat at Old Trafford and last Wednesday's Worthington Cup exit at the hands of Crystal Palace. "We didn't play to any great level in the second half but strangely we probably created two or three good opportunities to score, but whereas Liverpool took theirs, we didn't," added the Blues boss. Amid the gloom there was one bright point for Smith - the performance of Paul Gascoigne. Following his comeback against Palace in midweek, the former England international played the second half as substitute on Saturday and produced an encouraging display. "We did better with the ball once Paul Gascoigne came on," said Smith. "I felt it would have been unfair on him to start the game after playing for two hours on Wednesday night. "But he wants the ball and it gave us a better opportunity to get things started in midfield. "Losing Scot Gemmill - who has been doing really well in the middle of the park - was a blow and we can't really cover for his loss. "He and Gascoigne together would give us something different because at the moment we are a little reliant on the ball to Duncan Ferguson, although it's been fairly successful for us so far." And Smith backed Gascoigne to recover fully from the various setbacks which have restricted him to just one first-team start in 10 months. "He still has a bit to come in terms of match fitness but he does make a difference," insisted Smith. "He is two or three games away from being fully fit, and now that he is playing we can give him some extra training, but he's still showing he can play a part in the game and today will have given him confidence."
Everton 1, Liverpool 3
Blues outgunned at high noon (L.Echo)
Sept 17, 2001 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
WHILE the exasperated, the indignant and the downright angry of Everton were queueing at Goodison's main entrance to ask Bill Kenwright to explain the hurt which had just been inflicted upon them, Gerrard Houllier was three floors up, unwittingly twisting the knife. After a three year spending spree, during which he has invested in the region of £55m, he beamed around a packed press room and suggested he was still four years away from completing his Reds revival.
"I hope my board will be patient," he joked. It was a joke which would have fallen flat on those front door dissenters. Walter Smith is around £7m in credit on his transfer dealings. Consequently he is no further on than when he took over at Goodison Park. If money cannot buy success, and Bryan Robson and John Gregory are good examples, then it can certainly help you to have a go.
A relic from England's past was Everton's only inspiration during Saturday's 165th derby - and predictably, he cost nothing. But while Paul Gascoigne did all he could to cajole a second half response from his fast-fading side, England's modern stars overshadowed his efforts with ease.
While vision, poise are skill are assets to admire in the modern game, only three qualities really count. Power, pace - and even more pace. Steven Gerrard, Emile Heskey and Michael Owen possess all three in abundance, and they were enough to wipe away even the irritation of conceding an early goal to stroll to victory. It was the one-sided manner of the success that Evertonians found hardest to bear. The humiliations and disasters of the past decade have been soothed by a far better record against their neighbours than their league record deserved. But after last season's at times fortuitous double over the Blues, Liverpool won Saturday's High Noon shootout at a canter.
Everton managed to get enough of their injured stars out on the pitch to create a solid enough looking unit, on paper at least. Unfortunately for them football is played on grass. The midfield trio of Gravesen, Alexandersson and Xavier was hopelessly outclassed. And Liverpool still had class like Gary McAllister, Nick Barmby, Vladimir Smicer and Jari Litmanen waiting in reserve. Litmanen's name was mentioned to Walter Smith by an agent, before he was offered to Anfield.
So too, was goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek's. But while Everton can't currently afford the wages of a Middlesbrough skipper who quit Anfield years ago, talk of stealing current international stars from under their neighbours' noses must remain a frustrating pipe dream. The prospects for Everton are grim. Their squad is short on quality and even even shorter on quantity. We asked Bill Kenwright on Thursday if the Blues were really as broke as the evidence appears to point. The deafening sound of silence in response suggests they are. Some prefer to point the finger of blame in Walter Smith's direction, and it is true that managers like George Burley and Alan Curbishley have fashioned capable sides on a shoestring. But both were allowed to build gradually after suffering relegation to the First Division, and both are now enduring the reality of a second season in the big league with star players suddenly demanding star wages. Smith has been forced to build three teams, one after the other, as excellent players were attracted to Goodison - then either decided the grass was greener elsewhere or had to be sold to appease an anxious bank manager. The appalling reality is that Olivier Dacourt, Marco Materazzi or John Collins wouldn't look twice at Everton now.
As always, a fight to remain in the Premiership remains Everton's only achievable target.
Their neighbours can afford to be altogether more ambitious - and if Manchester United are still the team to beat, then Liverpool's championship credentials may not be as laughable as their neighbours would like to think. At present both clubs possess striking similarities. Liverpool and United attack with verve, pace and power. Neither look capable of defending their dinner. Everton were beaten comfortably, yet still created three excellent second half opportunities - all falling to the head and feet of Kevin Campbell. Stephane Henchoz managed to resist the temptation to palm a close ranger header over the bar and used his head to thwart Campbell's 55th minute effort. Ironically goalkeeper Dudek used his body then his feet to block another double-Campbell effort two minutes from time. In between he sprang superbly to make a more traditional goalkeeper's stop from Campbell. Tony Hibbert also headed an excellent opening inches wide of his right hand post, but if this all creates an illusion of an Everton cavalry charge, don't be misled. Liverpool were always in control once John Arne Riise had slalomed around Steve Watson before drilling a shot through Paul Gerrard's body. That made the score 3-1 just six minutes after half-time, while Liverpool's acquisition of a reliable shot-stopper at the other end simply rubbed salt into festering Blue wounds.
Campbell had spun superbly onto Duncan Ferguson's head down to give Everton an unlikely lead.
My Blue pal, marooned in Las Vegas and missing his first derby for 25 years, provided a suitably fatalistic reaction. Asked for text-message news of the match, his reply was simply 'Oh dear!' - or words to that affect. The reaction was justified. Liverpool's extra quality in all areas meant that Gerrard's stunning 12th minute equaliser was almost unpreventable once Unsworth and Naysmith had failed to head solidly clear. Gerrard's celebration might have earned him a yellow card had Jeff Winter been officiating, but Paul Durkin proved an outstanding derby day official.
The only decision he got wrong all afternoon hardly saw Evertonians complaining, when Heskey was denied another penalty an hour after Unsworth had crudely barged him to the ground for a first.
Michael Owen converted that one, to worryingly break a derby duck, and Everton were effectively out of it. Duncan Ferguson endured his most lacklustre derby for years, while even the bold tactic of going 4-3-3 with a first sighting of Tomasz Radzinski in Royal Blue was spiked by Riise's early second half strike. The good news was that Everton don't now have to go to Leeds on Wednesday.
The bad news is that there's nothing else good to relate.
EVERTON (3-5-2): Gerrard, Weir, Stubbs, Unsworth (Gascoigne 45), Watson, Alexandersson (Hibbert 75), Gravesen, Xavier (Radzinski 45), Naysmith, Ferguson, Campbell. Unused substitutes: Simonsen, Tal. LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia, Henchoz, Vignal, Gerrard (Smicer
85), Murphy (McAllister 77), Hamann, Riise, Heskey, Owen. Unused substitutes: Fowler, Wright, Arphexad.
Referee: Paul Durkin. Booking: Murphy (75 mins) foul. Goals: Campbell (5 mins) 1-0, Gerrard (12 mins) 1-1, Owen penalty (29) 1-2, Riise (51) 1-3.
Attendance: 39,554
MATCH STATS EVERTON: Shots tn target 5. Shots off target 5. Corners 4. LIVERPOOL: Shots on target 7. Shots off target 4. Corners 2.
Radz - I must forget unhappy derby debut
Sep 17 2001 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON striker Tomasz Radzinski admits he will be 'haunted' by his Everton debut during Saturday's derby defeat. The Canadian forward was one of the Blues' brighter performers when he was introduced as a half time substitute. But he said: "I can't change the result. It is something that is going to haunt me for the next week or two, but I have to forget it. "The whole team has to forget it and try and get back on track. "It was not really the greatest start for me and it is a little bit disappointing losing, especially to Liverpool, but I am glad and happy that I have the 45 minutes under my belt. Hopefully, it can kick-start from now. "It was not easy coming on, especially as we were down 2-1 and because Liverpool are known as a great counter-attacking side and they closed in at the back. "But from my point of view it was a taste of the Premiership and I have to pick up from there so I can be useful to the team." The Blues reported no new injury worries, and will be hoping that Alessandro Pistone and the influential Scot Gemmill especially can shake off knocks in time for Saturday's trip to Blackburn Rovers. Walter Smith hopes that the combination of Gemmill and the fit again Paul Gascoigne could add a new dimension to his line-up. "Paul Gascoigne took the ball for us and passed it well," he said, "but I felt it would have been a little unfair to ask him to start a derby match after playing two hours on Wednesday. "He is still two or three games away from full match fitness, but having him and Scot Gemmill together could give us something a bit different other than the ball to Duncan Ferguson, which we have been reliant on."
Gazza - Cool Dude kept out Kev
Sep 17 2001 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
PAUL GASCOIGNE saluted Liverpool's new number one on Saturday - after goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek made two stunning stops which halted an Everton fightback. The Pole twice denied Blues skipper Kevin Campbell with the score at 3-1 and Gazza explained: "Kev's a perfectionist who wants to win every game and he's a bit down about the two chances. "He feels he should have scored, but I told him that the keeper made two great saves. "The first was a tremendous stop and the other was a great double block." The saves helped to seal a 3-1 Liverpool win, with one of the few Everton bright spots the second half performance of Gascoigne just three days after playing two hours in the Worthington Cup defeat against Crystal Palace. "I am pleased to be back, especially as people have been writing me off," he admitted. "I am back playing now and enjoying my football. It's just a matter of training and working hard to get back into the squad. "The gaffer gave me an opportunity in the week and it was nice just to be a part of things on Saturday. It was nice to get on for the whole of the second half and I was pleased that I got through it. "I was down because of my injury and my career is getting shorter and shorter so I am trying to enjoy it as much as I can. "I worked hard pre-season and then I got another little injury to my thigh but I was really pleased to be involved on Saturday, even though I am not happy about the result." Gascoigne even managed to delight the home fans with a piece of vintage showboating - on the edge of his own six yard box!
"I knew Heskey was behind me and chasing me," he explained. "I could feel him breathing down my neck and I could see Paul Gerrard coming towards me and I didn't want to get sandwiched, so I brought it inside and carried on playing. "There are parts of my game that are coming back now and after a few more games I will be back on song and pushing the gaffer for a place."
Unsworth to sign new deal
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
Sep 18 2001
DAVID Unsworth is set to end months of speculation over his future by signing a new Everton contract in the next 48 hours. The Blues defender is in the final year of his existing contract and only a few months ago thought he would have to leave Goodison Park as no extension had been offered.
However, Everton opened talks with the 27-year-old in the summer and he is now expected to accept the club's offer of a three-year deal and put pen to paper later this week. Unsworth has been on Everton's books since his schoolboy days, but for one season with West Ham and a brief dalliance with Aston Villa after he was sold by former boss Howard Kendall in the deal that brought Danny Williamson to Goodison. He was anxious to stay with the Blues and the news will provide-a timely lift after his disappointing derby display. Manager Walter Smith, meanwhile, still has a number of fitness doubts to contend with ahead of this Saturday's Premiership trip to Blackburn. Scot Gemmill, Alessandro Pistone and Mark Pembridge are all struggling to be bit for the game after missing the 3-1 defeat by Liverpool with back, knee and calf injuries respectively. Everton will have two youngstersin the England under-17 squad to play Spain in a friendly at Bristol City next month.
Striker Wayne Rooney and midfielder Scot Brown have both been included in the squad for the October 3 game and are joined by former Everton youth player Sean Doherty, now of Fulham.
* Everton's reserve game at home to Manchester City next week has been rescheduled from Tuesday, September 25 to Monday, September 24, kick-off 7pm.
Gutsy Blues' reward
By Chris Wright, Daily Post
Sep 18 2001
EVERTON under-17s earned a hard-fought point at home to Leeds United on Saturday in a goalless draw at Netherton in the FA Premier Academy League. The Yorkshire side had won all three of their matches so far this season but Alan Harper's young side matched them all the way.
Both teams had their chances to win - with the visitors twice hitting the bar - but the Blues battled hard for their point. Harper said: "The lads worked really hard to be fair to them in bad conditions. It was very windy and the two teams didn't really get the ball down and play. "In the end our lads deserved a draw because they worked very hard and defended really well. Neither side really created a lot of chances because the wind spoilt the game. But we are pleased with the 0-0 as Leeds were a strong side and again the younger players did well." Academy director Ray Hall added: "It was a creditable result. We defended well and the discipline and shape was good. "It was disciplined and hard-working performance. We can't fault the commitment and work-rate of any of the players but we need to put a bit more subtlety into our game and finish teams off." Colin Harvey's under-19s are still looking for their first win this season after a 2-0 defeat against Leeds at Bellefield.
Michael Symes and David Carney both had chances to open the scoring in a goalless first half in which the Blues were the better side. But Leeds opened the scoring 10 minutes into the second period when slack marking allowed the visitors' to score form a cross. Wayne Rooney had two chances to equalise but failed to take them and with ten minutes left Leeds broke away to add a second and seal the points. Colin Harvey, while disappointed with the result, took some encouragement from the performance. said: "We could have taken the lead and had chances to equalise. "The lads worked hard but in the end Leeds probably deserved their victory. The performance wasn't too bad but we are having problems with scoring." Ray Hall added: "I thought we certainly did enough in the first half and created an awful lot of problems for a team who are again physically stronger. "It was generally a good all-round performance. We defended very well in the first half and limited the chances Leeds had but a lack of concentration in the second half cost us."
Terrace Buzz
Sep 18 2001 icLiverpool & Liverpool Echo
Too congested
IT is evident to all but the Everton backroom that, besides there being a small squad, tactically the management have got it all wrong. It is clear that the tactic of playing 5-3-2 has led to the midfield becoming swamped. However, Smith persists in this formation. There is clearly a lack of pace throughout the team, which is exemplified particularly in the defence. There appears to be no game plan other than to fire deep crosses from our own half for the front two. It is patently obvious that the transfer pot is being starved in favour of raising the necessary funds for the new stadium. I'm afraid to say that Smith has run out of ideas and clearly needs to go!
Mark McCausland (by e.mail).
Walter, GO!
IT is obvious what Walter Smith must do to improve matters at Everton. Leave! After three years and a bit we are in a worse state than before he came. The problems we had when he arrived - a poor defence, an unimaginative, uncreative midfield and a blunt strike force - remain.
Peter Fearon, West Derby
What is it with Dunc
IT is about time Smith got rid of Duncan Ferguson. He didn't set the world alight the last time he was here and the team plays better football without him in the team. Constant long balls directed down the middle are a waste of all the other talent we have at the club.
Anthony Todd, Canada (by e.mail).
From the Park End
I WAS hoping Paul Gascoigne and Tomasz Radzinski might have been used from the start.
In fact, this was the talk of the lads around me on the final whistle. We definitely had more balance when they came on. Radzinski found himself out wide right most of the time. I'm sure he will be more effective as a striker when he can play down the middle off one of our two big front men.
At present, it looks as if that individual will be Kevin Campbell. He scored our early goal and had other great chances in the second half. I thought the scoreline flattered Liverpool, but at the same time it was clear to everyone that they have more youth and class than us. Thomas Gravesen had his best game in a Blue shirt before he was injured against Spurs. He came back in this game, but was not as effective which is possibly only natural when you reflect on the injury he sustained.
When Gazza came on he was much more positive as a central midfielder. Clearly he hasn t got the pace any more, but he uses the ball well and somehow links up moves and keeps things going. I really hope he can push on from here. The Gerrard goal was a stunner. Wouldn't it be nice to see a young Blue, as he was as a kid, scoring for us and celebrating with us instead of against us? The irony of Michael Owen, whose dad played for us, slotting home the penalty also wasn't lost. Just think about those kids who all had blue hearts as youngsters. Imagine an Everton side featuring Owen, calm boss, Tottenham's Glenn Hoddle, was screaming blue murder after Chelsea's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink went down like the proverbial sack of spuds after being touched in the back by Ledley King. Hasselbaink mis-kicked and then hit the deck. The answer to all this, of course, is trial by TV. If the Referees' Association can't or won't get to grips with it, then TV can provide replay justice for those on the receiving end. Of course, there was no argument in the Mersey derby where Everton's David Unsworth charged into Emile Heskey to regain his "Rhino" nickname in the most unfortunate of circumstances for the Blues. Gerrard, Ball, Jeffers, Carragher. After the controversies of the past, dare I also say Fowler? Maybe not!
An. Other (via e-mail)
Fergie faces the axe
Sep 18 2001 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
DUNCAN FERGUSON, so often the hero of derby match clashes, could become Everton's derby day scapegoat this weekend. Tomasz Radzinski's return to action last Saturday means the Blues' boss finally has three strikers to select from for his two forward positions. And after the weekend's depressing defeat by The Reds the Canadian could be handed a starting place at Blackburn on Saturday. "We waited all of last season for a situation when we could choose from three strikers," said Smith today. "Tomasz showed no reaction from his second half run-out against Liverpool and he is in line for a start. "I will have to make the decision on who plays later in the week, but it is a good position to be in." Kevin Campbell is the Blues' skipper and in addition to the three Premiership goals he has scored - has won three penalties for strike partner Ferguson. The Scot, however, is more akin to the giant Czech, Jan Koller, who Radzinski formed such a fruitful partnership with at Anderlecht. Smith is already resigned to the continued absence of Scot Gemmill, Alessandro Pistone and Mark Pembridge at Blackburn, who are in Premiership action tomorrow against Bolton.
The Blues were scheduled to meet Leeds United, but the game has been postponed until shortly before Christmas because of Leeds' reorganised UEFA Cup tie against Maritimo. The Elland Road clash will be played on Wednesday, December19 (7.45pm), unless Leeds are knocked out of the Worthington Cup by Leicester City on October 8, in which case the game will be staged a week earlier on Wednesday, December 12. Next week's reserve team match against Manchester City, meanwhile, has been brought forward 24 hours to Monday night.
Too soon to press panic button
Sep 18 2001
WALTER SMITH had every reason to lock his players in the dressing room after Saturday's derby defeat and read the riot act. He didn't, because he'd done exactly that after the previous two matches against Manchester United and Crystal Palace - and what everyone at Everton needs now is the chance to place matters into perspective. Losing to two of your nearest local rivals hurts. But what Evertonians have to accept now is that Manchester United and Liverpool are not merely likely to finish in the top six of the Premiership, they are near top three certainties. And the gulf between that part of the Premiership and the rest these days is immense. Everton created goalscoring opportunities in both games - but quality counts in the end and United and Liverpool both possess greater quality in all departments than Everton. The best thing Blues can do is focus on the positives from Saturday, and there were a couple. Their best player by some way was Paul Gascoigne and his return to fitness is a huge boost. Walter Smith was obviously hoping his side could keep things tight for an hour, then in the final 30 minutes introduce the likes of Gazza and Radzinski in a bid to pinch something. In the event they couldn't keep things tight for 20 minutes. The Blues need to mix things up more, but with the players they had available on Saturday that wasn't possible.
At least Gascoigne showed that his pride and his passion for football still burns as brightly as ever, and we need that to rub off on some of the players around him. Duncan Ferguson gave one of his most subdued derby match displays I can remember, while Liverpool's local lads like Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen and Danny Murphy were buzzing with points to prove.
Alarm bells might be ringing among Evertonians at present, but it is still too early to panic.
They have been beaten by two top class sides, but have seasoned pros like Scot Gemmill and Mark Pembridge to return - for the more realistic challenges which lie ahead against Blackburn and West Ham. Blackburn have tons of pace, and that is something Everton clearly lack at present.
They will have to compete at Ewood Park as if it were a derby match if they are to bounce back the way we all want.
A Mersey divide
THE vast gulf in quality that currently exists between the Premiership 'haves' - Liverpool and Arsenal, and the 'have nots' - Everton, was underlined by Saturday's squads. Nick Barmby and Francis Jeffers have been Everton's Players of the Year in recent seasons. They would not only be guaranteed starting places in Walter Smith line-ups, they would be integral first choice regulars.
But on Saturday, Gerard Houllier decided he could risk a trip to his fiercest local rivals without Barmby even in his squad, while Arsene Wenger decided to use Francis Jeffers from the start at Fulham for the first time this season. Jeffers actually watched The Gunners' last match from the press box! Title chasing clubs are spending £8m and £6m on fringe squad players, while Everton's transfer record still stands at £5.75m and was set five years ago. A strip of parkland may separate Anfield from Goodison, but in financial terms, the clubs are miles apart.
Danny will be shown Goodison exit door
By Jonathan McEvoy, Daily Post
Sep 19 2001
EVERTON have pushed Danny Cadamarteri towards a Goodison Park exit after the player was found guilty of punching a woman. Cadamarteri will leave the club "when suitable arrangements can be made", the Blues revealed last night. The 21-year-old was fined £2,000 for punching a young woman in the face during a late night fracas last October. Cadamarteri escaped an immediate sacking but the club is now looking to off-load the controversial player before his contract expires at the end of the season. Everton's decision to dispense with Cadamarteri's services throws the striker's career in top-flight football into doubt. His latest setback represents the lowest point of a career which promised so much when he made his Blues debut as an 18-year-old against Chelsea in 1997.
Cadamarteri underlined his potential in his first Merseyside derby, taking his scoring tally to five goals in six starts by firing Everton's second in a 2-0 win over Liverpool. He was rewarded by manager Howard Kendall with a lucrative new contract but, despite winning England under-21 caps, his progress has not met the early expectations. Cadamarteri spent a period on loan to Fulham but returned in controversy after being sent off playing for the Londoners and has not figured in Walter Smith's side this season. Everton's official statement said: "In the light of last week's decision by Liverpool Crown Court, the board of directors and manager of Everton Football Club have discussed the position and future of Danny Cadamarteri. "The player acknowledges that his actions brought discredit to himself, his family and his club resulting in unnecessary and potentially damaging publicity and he wishes to offer a full, public apology. "The player has agreed that he will immediately donate to local charities a sum equivalent to the amount of legal aid he received to fight this case. "Furthermore, he has offered to devote a substantial amount of time to assisting Everton's Football in the Community Scheme. The player will also be the subject of internal disciplinary action. "It has been decided that in the interests of his footballing career, the player will be allowed to leave Goodison Park when suitable arrangements can be made." Tomasz Radzinski, meanwhile, is poised to make his long-waited first Premiership start against Blackburn on Saturday.
Everton's Canadian international striker sat out the start of the season with a hamstring injury but returned in last weekend's Mersey derby. Now Radzinski, 27, is pencilled in for the Ewood Park trip after making an impressive contribution as a second-half substitute in the 3-1 defeat at Goodison.
Boss Smith said: "We waited all of last season for a situation when we could chose from three strikers. Tomasz showed no reaction from his run-out against Liverpool and he is in line for a start. I will have to make the decision on who plays later in the week." Duncan Ferguson could be forced out to allow skipper Kevin Campbell to partner Radzinski. The Blues' Premiership clash with Leeds United scheduled for tonight has been re-arranged for Wednesday, December 19 (KO 7.45pm) at Elland Road. However, the game will take place a week earlier - Wednesday, December 12 (KO 7.45pm) - if Leeds lose to Leicester City in the Worthington Cup third round.
Rooney boosted by national call-up
Sep 19 2001 Inside Goodison by David Prentice
WAYNE ROONEY has been called up to England's under-17 squad for next month's Bristol friendly against Spain. But the 15-year-old forward is still the only young gun to hit the target for Everton's under-19s this season, following Saturday's goalless draw with Leeds. Rooney missed a couple of second half chances at Bellefield, but the Blues were already trailing by then. Michael Symes and David Carney had already passed up a chance apiece in the first half, which Leeds took advantage of with a goal five minutes after the interval. "Leeds deserved their victory," declared coach Colin Harvey. "We didn't play badly, but we are having problems scoring goals at present." Scott Brown was also in action for The Toffees, and he will join Rooney in the England party for the October 3 international - along with winger Sean Doherty who recently quit Goodison for Fulham.
Mixed injury news for the under-19s is that Craig Penman is back after missing most of last season with a foot injury, while Robert Southern has shaken off a groin strain. But Franklyn Colbeck has fractured a bone in his foot. Alan Harper's under-17s, meanwhile, grabbed a creditable goalless draw against Leeds at Netherton. The visitors twice saw shots strike the crossbar, but the Blues had chances too and deserved their point. "The lads worked incredibly hard in difficult conditions," said Harper. "Leeds were strong physically and our younger players did very well." Both Youth Academy teams are away at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
RESULTS FA Premier Youth Academy Under-19: Everton 0, Leeds United 2.
Everton: Pettinger, Garside, A Moogan, Schumacher, O'Hanlon, Carney, Brown, B Moogan, Symes, Rooney, Crowder. Not used: Beck, Jones.
FA Premier Youth Academy Under-17: Everton 0, Leeds United 0.
Everton: Cole, Flood, Wilson, Hughes, Gerrard, Thorbinson, Jones, Cain, Lynch, Barry, Martland. Not used: Seargeant, Sly, Hopkins, Wynne.
Unwanted man...
Sep 19 2001 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
DANNY Cadamarteri has been told he is no longer wanted at Everton after being found guilty of punching a woman. But he has not been placed on the transfer list and will still be available for selection. Cadamarteri's contract expires at the end of this current season but the Blues have taken the decision to act now in the best interests of both club and player rather than wait until the striker's time at the club comes to a natural end. The 21- year- old was fined £2,000 by the courts last week but escaped a custodial sentence for his actions in a city centre incident last October.
The former England under-21 international could also be charged with perverting the course of justice after admitting lying to the police during their investigations. An official club statement read: "In light of last week's decision by Liverpool Crown Court, the board of directors and the manager of Everton Football Club have discussed the position and future of Danny Cadamarteri. "The player acknowledges that his actions have brought discredit to himself, his family and his club resulting in unnecessary and potentially damaging publicity and he wishes to offer a full, public apology.
"The player will also be the subject of an internal disciplinary action. "It has been decided that in the interests of his footballing career the player will be allowed to leave Goodison Park when suitable arrangements can be made." Cadamarteri must now search for a new club and is unlikely to continue his career in the Premiership. In any case, he is facing a huge cut to his wages, reported to be £10,000 a week. Former Everton defender Michael Ball, meanwhile, has set his sights on banishing the derby blues next weekend by beating Celtic. Ball has been battling against a knee injury since his move to Rangers but came through 70 minutes for the Under-21s on Monday and is hopeful of making his debut in the Old Firm match. He said: "Beating Celtic would make up for Everton's defeat."
Postbag
Septemberb 20 2001
Double trouble
First off all Dunc and Kev partnership just does not work, they are too much alike, they are slow, their work rate is not there. With those two up front, we are not playing any football whatsoever.
For our midfield, we've got no ball players that can take control of the midfeild and make us play some good football no flare whatsoever. We have not got one midfielder that you can say is going to be a regular goal scorer. We might have Gazza but we don't know how long he is going to last.
We have got a very ordinary midfeild, we need some big changes.
Tom Hardy,
Childwall
Liverpool
Derby despair
In all the years I have been following Everton, I cannot remember a time when the gulf between us and Liverpool has been so great. In the Derby match we were outplayed in every department, but particularly in defence where Abel Xavier was a lumbering disgrace and Unsworth looked amateurish to say the least. Only Watson and Weir seemed to have anything like what it takes to stand up to a highly mobile front line (and even then, they were caught out on occasion). Ferguson started well, but flagged in the second half, as you got the feeling that smart defences can learn quickly how to combat his ariel threat. Campbell should have scored a couple more than he did, but we didn't deserve anything out of the game. Only Gascoigne and Radzinski hinted that better things might be possible. What can we do about it? Not a lot. The gulf in class is entirely down to the funds available to the clubs. Liverpool have all the money they need, and a quality squad that refletcs it.
Everton are broke and have to make do with second best in all departments. That's the reality of the modern game, and not even the passions roused by a derby match can do much to counteract it.
Paul Connolly
Cookham
Berkshire
War of words
I don't know if I am alone in this, but I am getting fed up with Mr. Houllier making public his views about Evertonians and in effect demonising decent supporters. His most recent comments appeared in the press on Saturday morning before the game with Liverpool. Apparently, he had decided Evertonians would give Barmby such abuse that it was "unsafe" for him to even travel to Goodison. This outrageous statement in National newspapers was compounded further by comments which suggested that Evertonians would not have sufficient gravitas given the tragedy in the USA last week. Liverpool supporters, by implication, are the personification of tact (especially when they play Man Utd). I do not deny that Barmby has been villified by a small MINORITY of Evertonians, but Houllier has tarnished us all with the same brush (there was no qualification of his remarks in the articles I read). Apparently he did not consult with his Chairman before making his comments or dropping Barmby. I think he would have been wise to have done so. Not only has he pandered to the mindless minority, he has directly contributed to what seems to be an ever deepening enmity and he has raised still further the temperature in a negative way for future games.
He would be much better employed working with his management team and that of Everton's to reverse the poor spirit in which recent games between the clubs have been played (starting with eradicating the "over the top" behaviour of players like Steven Gerrard: who did not seem to have been told of his manager's desire for everyone to play with the due respect the occasion merited and who instead acted in a moronic fashion, having scored what was in truth an excellent goal).
I for one condemn Mr. Houllier's comments as insensitive, inappropriate and plain propaganda.
Steve Guy
Liverpool
Ferguson out
Get rid of Ferguson, he did nothing the last time we had him! Long balls directed down the middle all the time is a waste of all the other talent we have on the club... utilize it...
Anthony Todd
Canada
Smith out!!!
It is obvious what Smith must do to improve matters at Everton. Leave! After three years we are in a worse state than before he came. The problems we had when he arrived - a porous defence, an unimaginative, uncreative midfield and a blunt strike force - not one of them have been solved.
He has built a second rate squad playing amateurish football. We never even got out of first gear on Saturday and never looked likely to. The last three years, which should have been a period of transition, have been completely wasted while Smith flounders.
Peter Fearon
West Derby
Liverpool
Game of chance
We cannot be expected to beat any team with two under performing players and on Saturday we had four. Walter must give Simonson a chance, he has to be better then Gerrard, who looks and plays as if he's no confidence. Unsworth shouldn't play again for us. Alexanderson doesn't give us any thing going forward, and defensively!! Some one please explain that part of the game to him.
Please don't replace him with Tal as he's even worse. Xavier, now I know it's his first match back but he went AWOL after the first five mins!!. Walter must give the likes of Hibbert, Chadwick, Mcleod, and Clarke a chance before someone else does, your days, if you don't, as manager are numbered
Phil Arundel
Castleford
Out of shape
What a game, I/we travelled all the way from Southampton this weekend to see the blues stuff the kopites and what happens Smithy plays a defensive team with his oh so familiar wingbacks !!
Walter when are you going to revert back to the good old fashion 4-4-2. A formation Everton know and play best. Poor old Dunc was so frustrated everything was being lumped up to him from the centre... so what's the point of the wingbacks? Even Kevin Campbell was getting frustrated at one point and started to jump with big Dunc. Kev your job is to hit the net...and not the keeper.
Come on Walter and Archie lets get back to basics and stop playing all these defensive players. With Gazza (what a show), Radzinski and young Hibbert on at half time we started to make a play well and could have won it. Lets get busy Walter, listen to the Evertonians, 4-4-2's the game and maybe we will finish in the top half of the League
Tom Carr
Southampton
Keeper trouble
Everton desperately need a top quality goalkeeper, a creative midfielder (other than Gazza, who is surely in his last season), and players who actually want to receive the ball, and won't treat it like a hot potato to be got rid of as soon as possible.
Dean King
Neath
(Exiled Blue)
Reality bites
The Liverpool game was a reality check for us Evertonians who through our blue blood and dream believing, were brought down to earth with a sickening thud!! No vision, no guile, no creativity (except the latter years of mr gascoine) no strength in squad depth... two injuries and we are a mess.
But most of all no money. I feel all we have is the undying devotion to our club by all true blue noses...and hoping through all this collective hope and energy, we can make something happen!! But all that hope and energy was sapped from us against the old enemy of all people, and reality has certainly now set in... Even to our most die hard blues... my message is now a simple one, yes directed at the board... rejuvenate this club now with some verve just as passionate as those true fans !!!
Exciled Blue
John Connor
New Jersey, USA.
Money matters
How long will Evertonians whine over the lack of money our club has. There are numerous clubs who are successful who have not had millions pumped into them. Ipswich is the classic example of an excellent manager/coach who can get the best out of his players. Everton need a manager/coach with the ability to produce a team that can utilise the players at hand, and encourage young new talent to emerge. Smith prefers the experienced option at every turn, and his reluctance to rely on the emerging young players is worrying. Why not move to a coach who has proved himself, Wim Jansen, the ex-Celtic coach. He brought the end of Rangers dominance in Scotland with limited resources, and Wim Jansen could excel where Smith has been mediocre.
Howard James
Leeds
Warning signs
So the optimism of the early games has, predictably enough, evaporated. At least we have beaten the teams we must beat to reach mid table respectability and the buffer of seven points should carry us through to the next sequence of winnable fixtures, if such things exist. A few things are very obvious to me at this early stage; 1/ This may sound flippant but it is not intended to be.Why can't we get rid of those ridiculous long, baggy shorts.They make our players look like slovenly sunday morning hackers and this must give an immediate psychological boost to our generally more sensibly attired opponents. I believe that these shorts must be an impediment to the mobility of all players who wear them.I don't advocate a return to the swimming trunks of the early eighties, merely to a more sensible cut that give free rein to the natural athleticism of premiership footballers.
2/ Too many of our players seem uncomfortable in possession and unable to kill a ball dead upon receipt of it.This should not be happening on what presumably, is a very true surface.It is difficult to credit that such presumably top grade players cannot receive, coax and distribute a ball with anything like the facility displayed by a rusty Gasciogne on Saturday.The disparity between ourselves and Liverpool in this department was frightening. 3/ The general lack of creativity by our midfielders has been much remarked upon over recent seasons.Clearly, financial restraints prevent us from recruiting a Veron or anything like him. However, within our meagre resources we must continue to scour the market for a player who is capable of doing at least a few unpredictable things in 90 minutes.For the moment, we must always look to play Gascoigne when fit.Additionally, Radzinski looks worth a start more often than not. I still believe that a European place is not beyond us, HONEST!
David Cutting
Unsworth could get testimonial
Sep 20 2001 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
DAVID UNSWORTH signed a new three year contract yesterday, which could see him claim a slice of Everton history. The defender could become the last Evertonian to enjoy a testimonial match, after signing a deal which could extend his Goodison service to 12 years. He made his Everton debut as a goalscoring substitute in April 1992 - and apart from a single season at West Ham and an ill-conceived month at Aston Villa - has spent the whole of his career in a Royal Blue jersey.
The last Everton star to celebrate a decade's service at Goodison was John Ebbrell - and fewer and fewer players in the modern era are devoting their careers to one club. Unsworth said: "It would be sad if I was the last to do that. "The days of individuals spending their whole career with one club seem to be in decline and I don't think that's necessarily a good thing. "I can't really explain why Everton has appealed to me so much. I am as ambitious as anybody else, and I want to win things as much as anyone else - but I want to do that with Everton rather than any other club. I've also been fortunate enough to have already enjoyed an FA Cup win while I've been here so there's nothing to say that staying at Everton means you can't achieve those ambitions." Unsworth will be in the Blues' squad for Saturday's trip to Blackburn Rovers, who drew at home to table-topping Bolton last night.
Mark Pembridge, Niclas Alexandersson and Alessandro Pistone are all unlikely to recover from injury in time to face Graeme Souness's side.
Has the Fergie fire gone out?
Sep 20 2001
A HEADLINE in the ECHO this week caught my attention, if only because the words seemed to predict a significant moment in the development of Everton Football Club. It said: "FERGIE FACES THE AXE." The suggestion, penned by our Everton correspondent David Prentice, was that a Goodison Park icon, former captain and the man who was once the first name pencilled in on any Everton team sheet would be the first casualty of a watershed derby defeat that highlighted the massive gulf between the squads of Merseyside's arch-rivals. Now let me say straight away that I have no inside information as to Walter Smith's team plans on Saturday. But the simple fact that we are talking about a fit Duncan Ferguson possibly being overlooked is massively significant. The big man wasn't just another name on the team sheet. He was Everton's standard bearer, leading by example, stirring up those around him and getting inside the hearts and minds of the fans who roared his name louder than any other player. So will he be edged out to accommodate the lively, pacy Tomasz Radzinski while current skipper Kevin Campbell leads the line? Will Duncan be kept on the bench, a not so secret weapon to introduce when the Blues need to bombard opponents late in the game? I watched Ferguson at Man Utd. Yes, the Blues were outclassed and the service to the front men was poor. But I walked away questioning the movement and the enthusiasm of Ferguson, something that was unthinkable when he was at his awe-inspiring best. He wasn't winning every header. He wasn't being an influence on those around him. At present, it's all Duncan can do to focus on his own game. In the derby, I felt his movement, or lack of it, was significant. The word you keep hearing when the fans discuss the fundamental differences between Everton and Liverpool right now is pace. The Reds had it in abundance, especially up front. The Blues looked much brighter for Radzinski's introduction. Whether he ultimately develops into a Premiership force remains to be seen. But that movement was a breath of fresh air for Everton. Route one is the inevitable end game when you partner two big strikers. It has its place and powerful target men on top of their game can exploit it, but not every time you get the ball. Evertonians think back to the likes of Andy Gray and Graeme Sharp. They revel in the memories of Duncan Ferguson strutting through matches, so powerful and intimidating. Derby games were once food and drink to the giant Scot.
He played a part in the opening goal on Saturday, but didn't intimidate Liverpool after that.
Where there would once be an outcry at the thought of Duncan Ferguson being axed, there is now a sense of inevitability. It highlights more than anything else that the Blues are very much at the playing crossroads. French farce SHOULD France be allowed to whisk a string of Premiership players away in November for a meaningless friendly in Australia? Arsene Wenger has had a stand-up row with French coach Roger Lemerre over it. Manchester United, Chelsea, Fulham, Newcastle and Leeds have all voiced their concern. A string of other top European clubs are infuriated.
So how can the French justify it? Their only declaration so far is that it is within the rules. But why are they going? What possible technical benefit will their coaches and players get in a friendly against the Aussies? Will they come back better equipped to deal with their next Championship challenge, more fulfilled and fuelled with fresh ideas? No. They'll come back knackered. Wenger and his allies should take it all the way, refuse to release their stars and force UEFA to give a more relevant explanation than rules are rules. There are times when you've got to say: Enough is enough.
Don't put the boot in on the art of tackling DOWN the years the game's great tacklers have excited fans as much as any goalscoring striker. I'm not talking about people who bullied their way into the headlines. For instance, Vinnie Jones was renowned as someone who would get stuck in, but you could not put him on a playing par with Mark Lawrenson, for instance. Lawrenson had such perfect timing that you would happily see him go for the ball in the box without the hairs standing up on the back of your neck in anticipation of a costly penalty. Of course, the legendary hard-men of the game like Tommy Smith and Norman Hunter could tackle solidly AND mix it. One of this very special breed was Everton's Eighties hero Peter Reid. His timing was linked with his positional play, getting close to opponents and striking with a rock solid challenge before they had any chance to get a pass away. Reid and his influential partner Paul Bracewell hunted together to help the Blues dominate games. The logic was simple. If the first tackle didn't get you, the second would wipe you out. The fans loved it. It was one of the reasons why they poured through the turnstiles. But suddenly the tackle is an endangered species. Reid, leading from the managerial hot seat these days, has found Sunderland at the top of the so-called dirty play league, having committed 115 fouls so far this season.
Reid, of course, interprets this statistic in a different way. He believes football is in danger of becoming a non-contact sport. He's convinced whistle-happy referees are ruining the game. And you have to agree with him. There are too many stoppages. There is no continuity of play at times. Referees have a responsibility to to protect players, but with diving now an integral part of every attacker's armoury, it's time that the tacklers got a fair crack. And if those forwards who cheat squeal, tough!
Smith plans Radzinski return
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
Sep 21 2001
WALTER SMITH is considering adopting a safety-first approach to Tomasz Radzinski's introduction to Premiership life. The Everton manager indicated earlier this week he was planning to hand the £4.5million striker a full debut at Blackburn Rovers tomorrow after the summer signing from Anderlecht made his first appearance of the season in last weekend's Merseyside derby.
However, Smith is keen to see the ex-Canadian international gradually-build up his fitness after being sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring injury and may opt to bring striker Radzinski on from the substitutes' bench as he did against Liverpool. That would give the Blues 'Bruise Brothers' of Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell another chance to push their claims for a regular place at Ewood Park as Everton look to end a miserable run of three successive defeats. Ferguson and Campbell, with three goals apiece this season, have both come under-fire as Everton's bright start has come off the rails in recent weeks. Smith will delay a decision on his strike partnership until tomorrow, when he will also discover whether a host of first-team players have shaken off injury.
Scot Gemmill, Mark Pembridge and Alessandro Pistone all missed the derby defeat and could also be sidelined at Blackburn, though Smith said: "It remains to be seen whether they will be fit for Saturday but hopefully one of them will be available." Swedish international Niclas Alexandersson is also struggling to be fit for tomorrow's encounter. David Unsworth, meanwhile, has now officially put pen to paper on a new three-year contract with the Blues.
It's impossible to defend
Fanscene by Mark O'Brien, Daily Post
Sep 21 2001
WELL THEN, who is going to be the first to defend that? Saturday's home game against Liverpool - usually the best chance the club get to sweep their inadequacies under the carpet - was nothing short of a disgrace. In fact, disgrace doesn't do it justice. There was no debatable refereeing or other distraction from the plain and simple truth: a Liverpool side which has stuttered at the start of this season was allowed to batter us without any sort of resistance whatsoever. We caught them cold once with the long ball but after that it was obvious we had no chance. They worked hard to press the ball and support each other while we were directionless and had no other weapon in our armoury than endless balls pumped up to our isolated and dispirited strikers. As one guest said: "Why do you pay for a season ticket when you can look up and see the ball from the street for most of the game?" We are, quite simply, one of the worst coached teams in the Premiership. You can talk all you like about a lack of money but nearly every Everton player on that pitch on Saturday has represented their country at some level at some point in their career. So is someone going to take responsibilityor are we still blaming Peter Johnson for the Everton players' inability to string two passes together? We all know it's not Walter Smith's fault. Is his highly-paid position as manager merely to express 'disappointment at defensive errors' following our countless humiliating defeats?
He provides 'stability' you see. Heaven forbid we should get someone like the manager of Lille who has never spent more than a million pounds on a player and yet whose skilful, organised outfit ran Manchester United close in a Champions League game in midweek, or one of those other aberrations like George Burley or even Alan Curbishley. Walter Smith's managerial successes north of the border were all as a result of throwing money at his problems, however there is no money at Everton, so what's the point of keeping him on? Another sad tale of unfulfilled potential ended this week with the news that the club is releasing Danny Cadamarteri. His recent legal problems obviously hastened this decision, but it's been obvious for a while that he wouldn't be renewing his contract at the end of the season. It's a shame that a player with so much potential should go off the rails as he seems to have.
Blues' goal quest
By Chris Wright, Daily Post
Sep 21 2001
GOALS are the main aim for Everton's Academy sides as they travel to Middlesbrough tomorrow.
Everton under-19s and under-17s both face the north easterners in the FA Premier Academy League (kick-offs 12noon). Both teams have found goals hard to come by this season with Colin Harvey's U19s having only scored one goal in four matches. They will also be looking for their first win after two draws and two defeats. Although the U17s have themselves only scored twice, with two wins and a draw they have being doing well considering they have fielded a number of schoolboy players.
Franklyn Colbeck had an operation on a broken bone in his foot on Tuesday and is likely to be out for six to eight weeks, while Robert Southern should be fit to return if not tomorrow then next
week after his minor operation on his knee. Craig Penman is back in light training but is still a few weeks away from a return to action. Everton have had a number of players selected to play for their countries. Sean O'Hanlon is in the England U19s squad and Scot Brown and Wayne Rooney have been selected to play for the U17s against Spain at Bristol City on October 3. Craig Garside will be away with Wales U17s on October 24 as they face Scotland at home. But the Blues should not be weakened by the call-ups as the matches are midweek.
Best of friends, best of enemies
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
Sep 21 2001
MANAGEMENT is a lonely pursuit. Even a friend in need of three points cannot turn to his closest ally in football for help at times - as Walter Smith will know only too well tomorrow. Anxious to end a three-game losing streak that has drenched Everton spirits after their impressive start to the season the Blues boss heads to Blackburn Rovers and straight into a reunion with one of the game's natural born winners, Graeme Souness. Looking for favours from the ex-Liverpool player and chief is a futile exercise, as Smith understands better than most after working alongside Souness for five years as they launched their own management careers in spectacular style together and relaunched Glasgow Rangers in the process. Their paths have crossed many times since Souness accepted the call to replace Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool and tried but failed to bring Smith to Anfield as his assistant, but never on a football pitch. All that will change in 90 minutes at Ewood Park tomorrow. "It will be a bit strange standing across from Graeme," admits Smith, who fulfilled a lifetime's dream when he replaced Souness as Rangers manager in 1991. "It's a decade since we were a team together and we have obviously kept in touch but it will still be a little weird. "I probably know him as well as anyone in football and we shared some great times together at Rangers. They were times when I was happy to be with him rather than against him. "It's a little bit different now right enough but the challenge is still there for both of us and the determination and passion to do well is still there on our part.
"It is a different type of pressure from the one we were under at Rangers when the expectation was on you to win every single game. You just get on with it though and do the best you can."
The Smith and Souness double-act delivered instant success to Ibrox, winning the Scottish title in their very first season at the helm as they dragged a giant out of the doldrums in 1986-87 and eventually on to sustained success. As the now-Everton boss recalls: "At Rangers it wasn't a gamble to appoint someone like Graeme. He has an aura about him and his persona made him perfect because he was always someone you thought would go into management. "At the time Rangers weren't just lagging behind Celtic; they had been overtaken by Dundee United and Aberdeen and hadn't won a championship for nine years. "That's a hell of a long time for a team like Rangers to go without a title but as soon as he walked through the door Graeme lifted the place. " People say he changed the face of Scottish football and I wouldn't disagree with that. "He reversed the trend. Where it had been the norm for English teams to sign Scottish players he took established England internationals to Ibrox. "Chris Woods and Terry Butcher signed and I don't think many men other than Graeme could have pulled that off. "It says everything about his standing in the game and the respect he can command. "He was feted by the Rangers support. They love him and they always will." After spells at Benfica, Galatasaray and Southampton, Souness is now enjoying arguably his most successful managerial stint since those Rangers days at Ewood Park. Yet despite the variety of clubs and cultures and serious heart problems, Smith believes Souness the Blackburn manager is identical to t h e supreme competitor he first worked with during Scotland's 1986 World Cup campaign. Smith added: "I think Graeme has handled things really well and is doing an excellent job at Blackburn Rovers. "Winning promotion last season completed the first part and while it is not like winning a championship it is success nevertheless. "He hasn't changed. People have this perception of him as being a firebrand or whatever but that is just what he shows in public. He is actually far worse! "I get asked if he is calmer now than when he started off at Rangers but I can honestly say I haven't noticed any great change." Ironically the Blues boss could so easily have teamed up with Souness at Liverpool a decade ago. And while he obviously doesn't regret his decision not to take up the offer, Smith believes his friend and tomorrow's foe has been given a raw deal over his Anfield reign. Smith explained: "He asked me to go to Liverpool with him but their backroom staff was remaining in place and I couldn't really see how I would fit in. "It was nice of him to ask me but Rangers offered me the chance to replace him and that was an ambition for me. "Everyone looks on his time at Liverpool as a failure but he won the FA Cup there. It was a difficult time to take over as well. "If you look at it, it has taken two more changes at Liverpool to bring back the success Gerard (Houllier) is enjoying now. Graeme had to make changes and that proved difficult. "His reputation took a knock, unfairly in my opinion, but he's built it up again since."
Blues in the pink
Sep 21 2001 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON will unveil a revolutionary new away strip at Ewood Park tomorrow, hoping to be pretty in pink! The Blues will wear a salmon strip for the first time, looking for history to repeat itself.
They unveiled a salmon and blue striped kit strip to their supporters almost nine years ago to the day at Blackburn. After two successive league defeats they triumphed 3-2. This time the shirt is predominantly salmon, and will supplement the Blues' official silver away strip. An historical precedent was set at the turn of the century when Everton wore ruby shirts with navy blue shorts.
Walter Smith has still to decide who fills those jerseys, with the striking positions offering the biggest dilemma. Tomasz Radzinski is fit and ready for a full debut, but with Craig Short, John Curtis and Martin Taylor all out injured Blackburn lack height in central defence and that could convince Smith to stick with the powerful F e r g u s o n - C a m p b e l l partnership. He will decide tomorrow.
The trio of Scot Gemmill, Alessandro Pistone and Niclas Alexandersson, however, all look likely to miss out again. That could offer David Unsworth a starting place in midfield, while Paul Gascoigne seems certain to start alongside Thomas Gravesen.
The Enforcer!
Sep 21 2001 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
DAVID UNSWORTH wants his football career to end where it began - and he doesn't mean Everton Football Club. Unsworth, who signed a three-year deal this week which will take him up to testimonial status at Goodison, came to the club as a teenage midfield star. And that's where he would like to see out his playing days. After 250 matches at either centre-half or wingback, Unsworth has a hankering for an anchor role in midfield. It's a position he has filled occasionally in the past, most notably in an FA Cup quarter-final at Newcastle when he volleyed an Everton goal of the season contender. The strike and his performance was largely overlooked by the Blues' 4-1 exit, but it is something Unsworth wants to recreate. "I'd love a regular midfield role," he said. "I have always enjoyed it in there and I actually came to the club as a midfielder, but have been gradually put back and back. Every time I've played in midfield I've enjoyed it and I actually look forward to it."
With Everton's squad resources notoriously thin, Unsworth may get more and more opportunities in midfield, four years after his Everton career appeared to have ended. "I left the club in the summer of 1997 when Howard Kendall was in charge for the third time," he explained. "The circumstances were laid out for me at the time. I was fourth or fifth choice centre-half at the time and it was made clear that if I stayed I wouldn't be playing. "So I went to West Ham. It was a good year for me, but it's fair to say I wasn't exactly happy about leaving." He returned little more than a year later, after a year at Upton Park and an infamous month in the claret and blue of Aston Villa. It was Everton's interest which persuaded him to quit Villa just days after he had signed. "It's difficult to explain why Everton means so much to me," he said. "When you've come through the ranks you obviously have an affection for the place because you've been here so long. "Then, when we had a little success, winning the Cup and getting an England call-up, I developed a strong affinity for the place. We even play golf with the groundsmen - that's how close the lads are here. It's just a very friendly, family club. "I'm as ambitious as anybody else and I want to win things as much as anyone else, but I want to do that with Everton rather than any other club. "I've also been fortunate enough to have already enjoyed an FA Cup win while I've been here, so there's nothing to say that staying at Everton means you can't achieve those ambitions." Unsworth's latest ambition is to secure a new role as a midfield enforcer. The idea of locking horns with Gary Flitcroft, Damien Duff and Alan Mahon at Ewood Park tomorrow appeals. "I haven't really seen them much this season, but last year they looked very solid at the back and have some quality players like Matt Jansen, Damien Duff and David Dunn," Unsworth explained. "Duff is a cracking player while for me and Jansen is the key to everything they do. But if we can get at them and close them down quickly we can impose our own will on the game." Unsworth hopes that's where he comes in . . .
Blackburn Rovers 1 Everton 0
Sep 21 2001 by Matthew Chambers, icLiverpool
DEFENCE: Everton get men behind the ball as Blackburn's Grabbi tries a shot on goal.
EVERTON were made to pay the penalty for a host of missed chances as they left Ewood Park pointless. The talismanic Duncan Ferguson suffered from a jinxed afternoon as he failed to find the back of the net time and time again, even missing from the spot having already scored three penalties this season. Paul Gascoigne and Thomas Gravesen made a return to the Blues' midfield which looked far stronger following last Saturday's annihilation at the hands of arch-rivals Liverpool.
Gascoigne, the former England midfielder, looked full of running and was the one highlight of dour afternoon from Everton's perspective. He set up Kevin Campbell and Duncan Ferguson all day with his beautifully intuitive passing but the finishing touch was nowhere to be found. Blackburn's winner came in the 34th minute, against the run of play, through Italian striker Grabbi, his first goal for his new club. Turkish international Tugay made an impressive run through the heart of the Blues' midfield eluding two challenges before sliding a sublimly weighted pass to Grabbi who had time to pick his spot and side-foot the ball past a stranded Paul Gerrard. The game flowed from end to end but it was the Blues who had the best chances to open the scoring as Blackburn were forced to throw everything back in defence. Gascoigne was clearly fired up got into his stride straight from the whistle and had soon got to grips with a heavily watered pitch. The first real opening came after nine minutes as the veteran midfield floated in a free-kick to the far post to find Ferguson.
The Blues striker rose to meet the ball but his header was blocked by ex-Reds keeper Brad Freidel who managed to reclaim the ball as Campbell came charging in. Blackburn were resilient in defence and were content to soak up the pressure and counter through ever dangerous Damien Duff. The home side went close moments later as Nicolas Alexandersson committed a rash tackle on Duff to earn himself a yellow card. From the resulting free-kick Grabbi rocketed a shot off the crossbar with Gerrard stranded. This seemed to buoy the home side but Everton did well through Weir and Naysmith to hold them at bay. Everton youngster Tony Hibbert was also finding his stride and looked dangerous down the right. He made a super challenge on 14 minutes to turn defence into attack. Gascoigne picked the ball up and played in an inviting ball to Ferguson who should have replied with a goal but blasted his shot into the side netting with the goal at his mercy.
Blackburn went on the attack immediately and after some patient build-up play Flitcroft, unmarked as the Everton defence went AWOL, headed wide. Everton were finally rewarded for their effort as Alexandersson made an incisve forward run to be brought down by Stig Bjornebye. Ferguson placed the ball but his nonchalant run up was only a prelude to a half-hearted kick which failed to impress Freidel or the visiting supporters and the chance went beckoning. Six minutes later Everton paid the price for so many missed chances as Grabbi opened his Ewood account. Everton made no changes at half-time and Gascoigne started the second-half as he did the first. Everton again enjoyed plenty of possession and came close to an equaliser as the Blues played a short free-kick to Stubbs who blasted the ball goalwards which Freidel did well to hold on to. Everton were controlling the play and Tony Hibbert was starting to come to the fore as he hit a great shot which Friedel could only flap at but unfortunately for Blues fans the ball was cleared. With Gascoigne in the ascendancy a goal only seemed inevitable but wanton finishing was to cost the Blues dear as Blackburn started getting men behind the ball making the life all the more difficult. The Campbell bangs the ball into the back of the net but the whistle goes as Ferguson is adjudged to have fouled Freidel. Smith made two changes 20 minutes from time taking off the impressive Hibbert along with Gravesen and replacing them with David Unsworth and Joe Max-Moore, much to the dissatisfaction of the visiting fans.
The subsitution caused a massive re-shuffle in the Everton line-up but it made no impact on the final outcome as the Blues suffered their fourth defeat in four games.
Blackburn Rovers 1, Everton 0
What more could the Blues expect
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
September 24 2001
Teams who refuse to spend money in the Premiership don't win anything. Teams who create a wealth of chances and miss every one don't win football matches. Two obvious, pertinent but seemingly ignored facts about Everton at Ewood Park on Saturday. In many respects defeat by Blackburn marked a turning of the tide for Evertonians and Walter Smith, as growing discontent with the Blues manager erupted into the first fullblown protest over his tactics and future position at the club before and after the final whistle. Losing to an understrength Rovers side was the final straw for many of the travelling support, whose patience snapped at a fourth successive defeat, but also a clear sign that after more than three years in charge Everton have not improved under the former Glasgow Rangers chief. With another season of struggle seemingly on the cards that's an assumption few will disagree with. It's only when you ask the question "Why?" that the debate really livens up. So, why are Everton no better off now than when Smith first accepted the Goodison job in 1998? Apparently there is only one culprit so let's start with the manager himself, who many feel should go because he cannot turn Everton into anything else but a team of struggling also-rans.
That's true. He can't. And with the materials Bill Kenwright, Sir Philip Carter et al have put at his disposal it's no wonder. Everton may have stagnated on the pitch for the three years of Smith's reign but off it they have gone from bad to worse. The gap between the Blues and their Premiership rivals has grown by the year, proved in recent weeks by the gulf in class between themselves and the likes of Manchester United and now Liverpool. Painful though it is, it is now becoming a bigger achievement just to keep Everton in the top flight than to mould them into a half-decent outfit and without serious investment that scale will only widen. It's probably at this point the Smith dissenters switch off because they know the old lack-of-money line is coming. Well, here it is. Yes, it's tired and been heard countless times, but that doesn't stop the Blues' financial state remaining the crux of the issue. A table of Premiership managers released over the weekend showed that Smith has, with over £5million in credit, spent less in real terms than any other manager in the division, including George Burley and Alan Curbishley. Surely it couldn't have been lost on everyone that as Everton pushed in search of a late equaliser on Saturday and the away end's understandable frustration turned on the manager that down in London £10m Francis Jeffers was poaching his first senior goal for Arsenal. £10m! Whatever happened to that? Smith is not blameless. He has presided over some awful, negative performances and this is not his stonewall defence. But it is worth considering the bigger picture before Goodison erupts en masse if, God forbid, West Ham take the lead in the first six-pointer of the season this Saturday. Bakayoko and Nyarko were costly mistakes and now Tomasz Radzinksi is threatening to go the same way with an Everton appearance record second only to Peter Johnson's. But with so little to spend and so small a squad, every Smith transfer error - which all managers make - is magnified to a greater extent than at any other club. Tactically the Everton boss often bemuses, though not on Saturday where his correct decision to haul off Thomas Gravesen was the incredible spark that lit the Blues' touchpaper. Here it is a no-win situation. For tactics to work a team needs quality throughout, which is why Howard Kendall was so successful in his first stint at Goodison Park but not on his second or third coming. For some the desire to get rid of Smith is now so strong that the name of his replacement is irrelevant so long as he is connected with the glory days of the mid-Eighties. Apart from Peter Reid noone of that era has proved himself capable at this level but that doesn't stop the endless list being paraded on the Saturday phone-ins, where a dream-team of Kevin Langley and John Clinkard is now surely only a few calls away. The fact is few managers of proven quality or experience would touch Everton at the moment because they know the club will not make genuine investment on their behalf. It's a selling club. Had Everton played as badly as they did against United and Liverpool on Saturday then the fans' ire would have been easier to understand, but the truth is they outplayed Blackburn and blew it. The Blues would have had this game sewn up within 30 minutes but for appalling finishing and the blame for what happens out on the pitch, as the superb Paul Gascoigne made clear in this paper on Saturday morning, rests with the players. It was Duncan Ferguson's dreadful penalty and overall sluggishness in front of goal, Gary Naysmith's two scuffed shots, Gravesen's wild volley and pedestrian forward line that was ultimately responsible for Everton misery on Saturday. Naysmith should have put the visitors in front within four minutes when Gravesen's excellent through ball put him clear, but with only Brad Friedel to beat he missed the target horribly. Ferguson and Kevin Campbell both headed at the ex-Liverpool keeper as the Blues, with their wing-backs venturing forward at last and Gascoigne dominating midfield - but also carrying Gravesen and Niclas Alexandersson throughout - gave an encouraging reaction to recent defeats. After putting one good opening into the side-netting Ferguson was then upended by Lucas Neill inside the area, but the Blues were forced to wait a further 11 minutes for a spot-kick as referee Graham Barber waved away the initial appeals before making amends when Alexandersson was tripped by Stig Inge Bjornebye. But Ferguson, buoyed by his record of three consecutive conversions, placed the penalty straight at Friedel and the doubts began to scratch at Everton's fragile confidence. The pre-match fears of 'Goodison Law' arriving again, whereby any player or team desperate to end a negative run breaks the sequence when they face Everton, pounced just before the interval when Graeme Souness' £7m summer signing Corrado Grabbi grabbed his first Premiership goal. Ex-Rangers midfielder Tugay was the instigator, feigning a shot on the edge of the Blues area that drew the committed Tony Hibbert out of defence before reversing a pass into the Italian who side-stepped Abel Xavier and slotted home. Thereafter Everton remained the better team but created less, prompting Smith to make the double substitution that sparked such outrage. Gravesen, who after his third minute pass did not show again until encouraging the fans' fury at the manager's decision, was rightly hauled off though Hibbert could count himself unfortunate. Their replacements, David Unsworth and Joe-Max Moore, ironically combined to create the Blues' best chance of the second half when the latter seized on the former's free-kick only to see Friedel push his effort on to the pass. Then Alexandersson, moved out wide in the reshuffle, delivered his one good cross of the afternoon over to the unmarked Ferguson, who headed yards wide. The final whistle prompted an obvious reaction to a muchimproved performance but much more worrying result. Though this time, amid the growing cries for the manager's sacking, the guilty men were allowed to slip away unnoticed.
BLACKBURN (3-5-2): Friedel; Neill, Berg, Bjornebye; Johnson, McAteer (Hignett 77), Tugay, Flitcroft, Duff (Mahon 44); Grabbi (Hughes 63), Jansen. Subs: Bent, Filan.
EVERTON (3-5-2): Gerrard; Xavier, Stubbs, Weir; Hibbert (Moore 73), Alexandersson, Gascoigne, Gravesen (Unsworth 73), Naysmith; Campbell, Ferguson. Subs: Clarke, McLeod, Simonsen.
REFEREE: Graham Barber.
BOOKINGS: Everton's Alexandersson and Moore (fouls), Blackburn's Neill (foul).
ATT: 27,732.
Smith accepts fans' frustration
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
Sep 24 2001
WALTER SMITH admitted he understood the Everton supporters who rounded on him after Saturday's defeat at Blackburn Rovers and called for his dismissal. The Everton manager was heckled for a double substitution he made during the 1-0 loss at Ewood Park and there were chants demanding Smith's sacking on the final whistle as the Blues slipped to their fourth consecutive defeat. But despite the increasing pressure on his job Smith, who deputy chairman Bill Kenwright pledged would see out the final two years of his contract in the summer, has no intention of walking away from Goodison Park and revealed he accepted the fans' frustrations. "It is expected when your team isn't winning," said Smith, who saw Duncan Ferguson miss a penalty and his team waste a host of chances before Corrado Grabbi scored his first Premiership goal to win the game for Rovers.
"When the team is on a run like this it is the manager who gets the blame," he added. Smith lost £4.5million Tomasz Radzinski with a groin strain just before the game and was left to rue the striker's absence as the Blues dominated Rovers, but failed to find the target for the first time this season.
And the Blues boss reflected: "It's difficult to understand how we lost. "In the first half-hour we created enough chances to have won a couple of games. We missed one penalty and had another good claim turned down, but even without those we created the chances to have settled the game in that period. "We've only got ourselves to blame for not beating Blackburn. We created so many chances and paid a heavy price for not taking them." Smith was subject to fierce criticism when he replaced Thomas Gravesen and Tony Hibbert with David Unsworth and Joe-Max Moore on 73 minutes. But Graeme Souness, Rovers' manager and long-time friend of Smith's since their time in charge at Glasgow Rangers, defended the decision and backed the Everton boss to halt the team's recent slide. Souness said: "I think the fans got on Walter's back unfairly and I'm not just saying that as his pal. Everton were chasing the game and needed to do something at 1-0 and I would have done exactly the same. "Everton should have got something from the game and we know we were bloody lucky." The Rovers boss added: "They were criticised for not matching Liverpool last week but that was certainly not the case against us. They showed they have the right spirit and on another day they would have won."
Corrado grabs a word with Gascoigne
By Alan Easel, Daily Post
Sep 24 2001
CORRADO GRABBI was an admiring young teenager living in Turin when Paul Gascoigne had the world of football at his feet during Italia '90. Some 11 years later, Grabbi, known by all as Ciccio, not only found himself playing on the same pitch as the man he had idolised for so long, but even stealing his thunder. All eyes had been on Gascoigne, making his first Premiership start since November last year, but it was Grabbi, a stylish Italian striker who turned down the chance of playing for AC Milan, Torino and Udinese to come to Blackburn in the summer for £7million, who really caught the eye. Not only did he finally score his first goal for Rovers, but he showed enough panache and expertise to suggest that Graeme Souness could well have landed himself a prize catch.
As for Gascoigne, the former Lazio and England midfielder's display for a full 90 minutes was the one thing with which Everton manager Walter Smith could console himself. The fitness is not there, not yet, but if the 34-year-old can stay injury-free that may come. What is there is a brilliant and instinctive touch, a lovely weight on passes, and a few tricks that made one hark back to those heady days of the 1990 World Cup. His month in a rehabilitation clinic in Arizona in June appears to have worked wonders. It is now almost four months since he last had an alcoholic drink. Certainly Grabbi will not forget his meeting with Gascoigne. "I told him 'Gazza, when you were in Italy I collected stickers of you and put them in an album and now I'm playing with you'," said Grabbi. "I asked him for his shirt but when the match finished someone else had taken it. "For me Gazza is a fantastic player. I like him because he's a little bit crazy." "It was a good day for me," added Grabbi, 26, who spent several years at Juventus where he struggled to make an impact before joining Ternana, for whom he finished top scorer in Serie B last season. "It's very important for Blackburn and the first goal for me. "When the supporters chanted my name before the match it felt very good. I played well but when I hit the post from a free-kick I thought 'okay, today is not going to be a good day'.
"I wanted this goal and it meant we won the match. I wasn't worried about not scoring though. English and Italian football are very different, they are both very good but they are very different.
"I try to work hard all the time but it's possible that I don't score. My name is Grabbi, not van Basten!"
Unsworth given reserve run-out
Sep 24 2001 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
DAVID UNSWORTH will celebrate signing a new three-year deal at Everton in their reserves tonight.
The defender put pen to paper last week, but was axed for Saturday's defeat at Blackburn Rovers.
And tonight he is named in the second team squad to face Manchester City at Widnes' Autoquest Stadium. "He only played 20 minutes on Saturday so he needs a run out tonight," explained manager Walter Smith. The Blues have a free week to prepare for next Saturday's visit of West Ham, which has already assumed huge significance in the wake of Saturday's defeat.
Despite a good performance by the visitors everywhere but in front of goal, the travelling fans turned on boss Walter Smith. He said: "You expect it. If your team is not winning the manager gets the blame, doesn't he?" Smith dismissed talk of a bust-up with Tomasz Radzinski before the match. "He didn't play because he injured his groin in training on Friday. We'll see how he is this week.
"Steve Watson missed out because he injured his ankle. We lost two players on Friday, but if you create the amount of chances we did and don't take them you only have yourselves to blame."
Blackburn Rovers 1, Everton 0
Wasteful Blues' spot of bother
Sept 24 2001 Liverpool Echo
GRAHAM STUART has been widely credited with taking the most important penalty kick in Everton's history. Fortunately he scored. Duncan Ferguson's fluffed spot kick on Saturday may have lacked the immediate importance of that 1994 relegation saver, but its significance may be just as far reaching.
For the first time since Peter Johnson's pernicious presence presided over Goodison Park, the supporters voiced loud and open protest. And it came on an afternoon when their team performed well. Everton dominated Blackburn utterly, but wasted chance after chance after chance, and when the frustration levels finally reached brain boiling levels it was the boss who was turned upon.
The circumstances of the revolt were strange. The double substitution of Gravesen and Hibbert on 72 minutes was hardly controversial. Hibbert had performed well, but tired, while the second of Gravesen's two meaningful contributions to the match had come in the 43rd minute. But it was a symbol the fans could hang their resentment and frustration on. Their replacement drew loud boos and chants of "You don't know what you're doing!" which was harsh. Gravesen's ability to con the crowd has been aired here before. A fully paid up member of the badgekissing, fan rousing, charge-aroundmidfield- without- ever- actuallymakinga-tackle club, he couldn't have complained at his substitution. His two contributions on Saturday were a lovely third minute pass slipped into Gary Naysmith's path which should have yielded a goal - and a disappointingly mistimed volley on the stroke of half-time. Other than that he was utterly anonymous. But he strode off the pitch applauding the crowd reaction enthusiastically. The crowd reaction was more a symptom of the intense frustration felt on the away terrace, one which manifested itself in "Smith out" chants at the final whistle. That won't happen, yet. We are led to believe Everton are broke. Utterly and absolutely penniless. So they can't afford to sack Smith and pay up the remaining two years on his contract. But if they did, which manager in the world would come in and agree to work with another manager's players, without the luxury of even a free transfer signing of his own? Because despite generating a £7m profit on his three years of transfer dealings that's the situation Walter Smith presently finds himself in. Like it or loathe it, those fans are stuck with the Scot, and there were enough signs for those prepared to look for them that Everton aren't at the brink of the abyss yet.
They dominated Blackburn from ..TEXT: start to finish - and only powderpuff finishing and one carefully crafted Grabbi goal prevented them taking the three points they so richly deserved.
Just look at the stats for the opening half-an-hour. Three minutes: Gary Naysmith played clean through but scuffed a shot into the side-netting.
Nine minutes: Ferguson headed across goal and inches away from a far post Campbell tap-in.
11 minutes: Ferguson's towering header beaten out by Friedel who then gratefully clutched Campbell's follow-up.
14 minutes: Gascoigne played Ferguson through down the inside-left channel who shot powerfully into the side-netting.
16 minutes: A stonewall penalty for Neill's foul on Ferguson denied.
26 minutes: A penalty was awarded, but Ferguson's weak penalty kick was saved by Friedel.
29 minutes: A Ferguson volley blocked by a defender.
31 minutes: Campbell's near post shot was scrambled away by Friedel.
Ferguson and the outstanding Paul Gascoigne were everywhere. Whether Ferguson had been inspired by threats of being dropped earlier in the week was unclear, but Tomasz Radzinski's training ground injury on Friday left it an empty threat anyway. After dominating for so long, it was inevitable that Everton would concede - and equally inevitable that Corrado Grabbi would score.
The Blues are supremely benevolent when it comes to ending lean spells for strikers. They have a record second to none for gifting foreign strikers first goals in the Premiership. Just ask Estaban Fuertes. And thank your lucky stars that Juan Pablo Angel broke his Villa duck before their looming visit to Goodison. Everton were never as dominant after the interval, but Gascoigne's influence was still huge and the visitors still created chances. Tony Hibbert had a close range volley blocked, Ferguson steered an unmarked header wide of the target from Alexandersson's cross, then Friedel flapped Joe-Max Moore's shot onto the inside of a post and smothered the rebound. It's too early in the season to be talking six-pointers. But next Saturday's visit of West Ham represents just that. If Everton play terribly, but win, would the supporters celebrate?
Of course they would, modern football is all about substance over style, and the Blues have neither right now.
And Walter Smith was getting the message on Saturday.
BLACKBURN ROVERS (3-5-2): Friedel, Neill, Berg, Bjornebye, Johnson, Flitcroft, Tugay, McAteer (Hignett 76), Duff (Mahon 43 mins), Grabbi (Hughes 62), Jansen. Unused substitutes: Bent, Filan.
EVERTON (3-5-2): Gerrard, Xavier, Stubbs, Weir, Hibbert (Moore 72), Alexandersson, Gascoigne, Gravesen (Unsworth 72), Naysmith, Ferguson, Campbell. Unused substitutes: Clarke , McLeod, Simonsen.
Referee: Graham Barber. Bookings: Alexandersson (11 mins) foul, Moore (80) foul, Neill (93) foul. GOAL: Grabbi (36 mins) 1-0. Missed penalty: Ferguson (28 mins).
Attendance: 27,732.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Paul Gascoigne: Everton's brightest, most inventive and most energetic performer by a mile. It's a pleasure to watch him.
We struck lucky, admits Souness
Sep 24 2001 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
GRAEME SOUNESS admitted his Blackburn team got lucky on Saturday - and defended his old pal Walter Smith from a barrage of criticism from Everton fans. The Blues dominated at Ewood Park, but lost 1-0, and Souness said: "In every game we have played this season I have said how unlucky we have been and how we should have got something from the game. "Today we have to consider ourselves as lucky. "We got the luck we haven't had in the past. We looked tired. "We had a long trip to Ipswich last weekend and were chasing for long periods of the game against Bolton in midweek.
"But give Everton credit. They were criticised by certain people for not matching Liverpool last week.
"They showed their supporters and their manager that was not the case this time. "We carried our luck today, and it's about time!" Duncan Ferguson's missed first half penalty was one of a number of wasted Everton opportunites and Souness added: "The penalty was not a great penalty, but Brad (Friedel) still had to read it and go the right way. "The save he made in the second half from Moore was outstanding. "I told Walter he should have got something from the game. His team will play badly on another day and get something. "I think the fans' reaction was unfair, but you would expect me to say that. I am his pal. "As for the substitution, you are losing 1-0 but having lots of the ball. You make a change and if it comes off you get all the plaudits. "I would have done exactly the same thing. If his team plays the rest of the season the same way they will be fine." Smith said: "It was difficult to understand how we lost. In the first half hour, especially, we created enough chances to have won a couple of games. "We missed one penalty and had a claim for another, but still had enough chances to have wrapped up the game in that period. "The penalty save gave Blackburn a bit of a lift and they came into the match after that." Smith refused to elaborate on the angry fans' reaction, merely saying: "You expect it. If your team is not winning the manager gets the blame, doesn't he?
Gascoigne admits: 'I'm an alcoholic'
Sep 24 2001 By Julia Holmes
PAUL Gascoigne last night publicly admitted for the first time that he is an alcoholic.
The Everton soccer star insists he is in recovery and has not touched alcohol since he went to a rehabilitation clinic in Arizona earlier this year. "It was really hard. You get a lot of stuff off your chest there. I had to accept I was an alcoholic, that was the main thing. I think you've got to.
"But I try not to say that I'm alcoholic. I prefer to say that it's a disease I've got," he told a Sunday newspaper. Gascoigne started his first match for Everton in 11 months on Saturday in the 1-0 defeat against Blackburn Rovers - and played brilliantly. He has admitted he has only just emerged from deep depression "in the last few weeks". He said: "I never felt suicidal but it was a breakdown in a way. It wasn't just the drink. The drink only eased the pain for a bit. "If I wasn't playing, I would drink Saturdays, then Sunday then Monday. It was a horrible cycle. I felt so close to having to pack the game in. "I just live day by day. I didn't drink yesterday, I am not drinking today and I'll try not to drink again tomorrow." Since returning he has been seeing a therapist in London once every two weeks and regularly attends AA meetings. He joked: "There are millions of AA meetings up here in Liverpool." Speaking about his hopes for the future, he said: "I'm waiting for my life to get better. It is footballwise but otherwise I can't quite see it at the moment. "But at least I'm doing something now that I couldn't do a few months ago, which is getting up in the morning, and I'm happy to come to training. I've got a year left here now and I'm wanting to enjoy every day of it. "At the end of it, I'll maybe do a coaching badge. I do want to be a manager one day. It might be ten years, I don't know when." Gascoigne's heavy drinking and wayward behaviour has dogged his career.
He started out as an apprentice with home club Newcastle United in 1983 and became an instant hit with the fans. But, after moving to Spurs, a badly-timed tackle on Nottingham Forest's Gary Charles in the 1991 FA Cup led to him being stretchered off with a serious cruciate ligament injury only minutes into the fixture. That did not stop Lazio buying him for £5.5m in 1992. After three years, Lazio sold Gascoigne to Glasgow Rangers. He was notorious for his involvement in the " dentist's chair" prank during a drinking session with other England players in a Hong Kong nightclub as part of the build-up to Euro 96. Gascoigne answered his critics by scoring a stunning goal against Scotland at Wembley in Euro 96. His then wife Sheryl told newspapers that her husband had been physically violent. He was then devastated to be left out of the England squad for the 1998 World Cup
Radzinski in fitness race
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
Sep 25 2001
TOMASZ RADZINSKI will look to bring goal-shy Everton's losing run to an end against West Ham on Saturday - providing the £4.5million striker can prove his fitness. The Blues' summer signing from Anderlecht was due to make his Premiership debut at Blackburn Rovers at the weekend only to be ruled out by a groin strain picked up in training on Friday. Manager Walter Smith was forced to stick with the partnership of Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell at Ewood Park and saw his side miss a procession of chances before going down to £7m Corrado Grabbi's first goal in English football.
Radzinski's omission from Saturday's squad sparked rumours of a bust-up with the Blues boss, but the ex-Canadian international missed out purely because of the injury - as was the case in last night's reserve team 1-1 draw against Manchester City. However, if the 27-year-old shows no ill-effects from the strain in training this week he is likely to make his longawaited debut against the Hammers.
"The problem is he needs games to build up his fitness," said Smith, who lost Radzinski for the first six weeks of the season with a hamstring injury-He has hardly played this season and we need to get him games, but hopefully both Tomasz and Steve Watson will be alright for the West Ham match."
Watson suffered an ankle injury in training that opened the way for 20-year-old Tony Hibbert to make only his second Premiership start for the Blues. And Smith added: "Tony has handled himself well when he's been involved for us. I'm pleased for him. "He started off as a midfielder but played as a fullback for most of last season in the reserves and he's progressing well." Smith's midfield problems are set to continue in the pressure-clash against West Ham with both Scot Gemmill and Mark Pembridge again expected to miss out through injury. Defender Alessandro Pistone could return, however, after a knee problem. Everton youngster Ryan Valentine has been named in the Wales under-21 squad to face Belarus at Ninian Park on October 5. Former Blues boss Mike Walker, meanwhile, has been sacked as manager of Cypriot first division side Apoel. In a near-repeat of his time at Goodison, Walker was fired ten months into his tenure and only two games into the new season, the end coming after a 3-2 defeat by top of the table Anorthosis.
Blues' reserves slip up against City
Daily Post
Sep 25 2001
EVERTON Reserves recorded their third successive 1-1 draw as they let all three points slip against City. The Blues, with Danny Cadamarteri playing his first game since his court case, took the lead mid-way through the first half. American Joe Max Moore won possession 25 yards out, and played a 1-2 with Nick Chadwick and buried a right foot shot past Carlo Nash. Chadwick should have increased their lead minutes later but finished high and wide from Pilkington's long ball.
City worked hard for the equaliser and were rewarded on 70 minutes when Paul Dickov's cross was headed down by Leon Mike and young Joey Barton smashed home from outside the box.
EVERTON: Simonsen, Valentine, Unsworth, Pilkington, Clarke, Kearney, (Curren 62), Cadamarteri, ( Eaton 69), Moore, Chadwick, McKay, McLeod Subs: Not used; Pettinger, O'Hanlon
Blues claim crucial win
By Chris Wright, Daily Post
Sep 25 2001
STRIKER Gavin Lynch scored the only goal to seal Everton under-17s' 1-0 win at Middlesbrough in the FA Premier Academy League on Saturday. A hard-working performance by Alan Harper's side saw them claim their second win of the season. Both sides had chances but Lynch's effort after 20 minutes was just reward for the Blues. Harper said: "Everyone of the players were smashing. There was no one who stood out - it was just a good overall team performance." Colin Harvey's under-19s again drew a blank in a goalless draw at Middlesbrough. 18-year-old keeper Andrew Pettinger made a couple of crucial saves although the Blues probably had the more clear-cut opportunities. Striker Wayne Rooney had a couple of chances and defender Sean O'Hanlon could also have won the game for the Blues but again they had to settle for a point. It was a hard-working performance and was almost a re-run of last season U17s fixture between the sides, which Middlesbrough won 4-1. But this time it was a different story. The Blues are hard to beat at U19 level but with one goal in five games their finishing must improve. Harvey said: "It was a hard-working performance more than anything and I think a draw was a fair result. "The defending was OK but we are just not scoring enough at the moment. We are getting chances and on another week they'll go in."
Craig Garside was in international action yesterday for Wales U17s at Rhyl in their 2-0 defeat by Scotland. And tomorrow Wales complete their friendly double-header against the Scots at Wrexham. Steve Hardwick has moved from working with Everton's first-team to become head of the Academy's physiotherapy department. And Ray Hall said: "Steve worked with the first team but he is relishing the opportunity of working within the Acade
Everton Reserves 1 Manchester City Reserves 1
September 25, 2001
Manchester Evening News
MANCHESTER City left it late to preserve their unbeaten start to the FA Premier Reserve League campaign, but they got there in the end. Glen Whelan capped an eventful 48 hours with a 79th-minute equaliser at the Autoquest Stadium in Widnes. Paul Dickov and Nicky Summerbee were both involved in the build up that led to Whelan shooting home from the edge of the box. It was a happier ending for the young Irish midfielder than 48 hours earlier when he'd been sent off in the Under-19 Academy game at Sunderland. Off-day The first half was disappointing with City below par. And it wasn't surprising when they went behind after 29 minutes. Terry Dunfield was dispossessed and American international Joe Max-Moore ran into the box and scored past Carlo Nash making his return from injury. City showed more purpose after the break with both Terry Cooke and Leon Mike going close before Whelan got the Blues out of jail. Everton: Simonsen, Valentine, Unsworth, Pilkington, Clarke, Kearney (sub Curran), Cadamatri (sub Eaton), Max-Moore, Chadwick, McKay, McLeod. City: Nash, Summerbee, Paisley, Whelan, Day, McCarthy, Barton, Dunfield, Dickov, Mike, Cook.
Smith denies striker bust-up
Sep 25 2001 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON boss Walter Smith rubbished rumours of a bust-up with striker Tomasz Radzinski today.
The Canadian striker has yet to start a match for the Blues and wasn't even in the squad on Saturday at Blackburn, where some supporters reported seeing him walk away from the ground before kick-off. But Smith said today: "Any talk of a bust-up is absolute garbage. "Tomasz missed the game because he injured his groin on Friday. But he will be fit for this weekend. "He was with us on Saturday at the final whistle, and if he left the ground at all before the game it was only to see his family and give them some tickets. "Talk of a bust-up is ridiculous." Radzinski could be joined in the comeback club by Alessandro Pistone on Saturday, but Scot Gemmill and Mark Pembridge are still labouring to overcome back and calf injuries. David Unsworth, Danny Cadamarteri and Joe-Max Moore, who scored, all played in last night's reserve match against Manchester City in Widnes.
Smith gets the derby hangover
Sep 25 2001
THE fall-out from derby match defeats can take days and sometimes weeks to settle.
But when it does, someone suffers. When we lost 5-0 at Goodison in 1982, Glenn Keeley never played for the club again while Neville Southall was dropped for almost a year. Ten years on Kenny Dalglish resigned as Liverpool boss after a derby because of the intense pressures he had been subjected to, and he hadn't even lost that one! On Saturday it was Everton's fans who were feeling the pressure - and I can't help think that it was the derby match defeat which had plenty to do with their reaction. Everyone I have spoken to tells me Everton played well at Blackburn and would have been unlucky to only draw, yet alone lose. Graeme Souness said that himself. But the fans' frustration got to them so much that they booed a double substitution. I've never, ever understood the mentality of booing while the match is in progress. That kind of reaction does get through to players and makes them more tentative and apprehensive. When you're a goal down and chasing a game that's the last thing you need. If a team had played badly and deserved to lose, by all means make your feelings known at the final whistle. But don't do that while a game still has 20 minutes to run. Not being at the match, I can't say whether Tony Hibbert or Thomas Gravesen were unlucky to be substituted. But looking at the team-sheet you wouldn't have identified either player as likely to grab you a goal or pose a goal threat. Joe-Max Moore is a forward and David Unsworth is always willing to have a pop, and it was ironic that both combined within seconds of coming on to create one of the Blues' best chances, which Brad Friedel turned onto a post. Other than that only two unproven youngsters were left on the bench in Kevin McLeod and Peter Clarke. But it seems that resentment and discontent at Goodison has been simmering since the derby. We might have created a few chances in the second half, but Liverpool were in second gear by that time and the gulf between both clubs was clear. That's very, very difficult for an Evertonian to admit. There were no excuses after the derby. There was no dodgy ref to blame. We were beaten by a better side and that frustration manifested itself on Saturday at Blackburn. Fowler will fill Owen's England boots
WITH Robbie Fowler and Jari Litmanen to turn to, Gerard Houllier will not be unduly traumatised by Saturday's injury to Michael Owen. But it's a far greater blow for Sven Goran Eriksson.
Candidates for the right to partner Emile Heskey in the crucial qualifier with Greece are hardly queuing up. Kevin Phillips has been constantly overlooked by the new coach, Andy Cole is not first choice at club level, let alone international level, while there has even been talk of Tord Grip watching Chris Sutton in action for Celtic this week. Which leaves Eriksson having to do what Houllier will almost certainly do, and use Fowler. I personally rate Robbie as probably the best out and out finisher in the Premiership. He will also have that familiarity with Heskey which could be important. I don't think Andy Cole deserves the criticism he has received for his displays.
But as far as the England v Greece game goes, I don't think you can look any further than Robbie Fowler.
Smith gets the derby hangover
Sep 25 2001
THE fall-out from derby match defeats can take days and sometimes weeks to settle.
But when it does, someone suffers. When we lost 5-0 at Goodison in 1982, Glenn Keeley never played for the club again while Neville Southall was dropped for almost a year. Ten years on Kenny Dalglish resigned as Liverpool boss after a derby because of the intense pressures he had been subjected to, and he hadn't even lost that one! On Saturday it was Everton's fans who were feeling the pressure - and I can't help think that it was the derby match defeat which had plenty to do with their reaction. Everyone I have spoken to tells me Everton played well at Blackburn and would have been unlucky to only draw, yet alone lose. Graeme Souness said that himself. But the fans' frustration got to them so much that they booed a double substitution. I've never, ever understood the mentality of booing while the match is in progress. That kind of reaction does get through to players and makes them more tentative and apprehensive. When you're a goal down and chasing a game that's the last thing you need. If a team had played badly and deserved to lose, by all means make your feelings known at the final whistle. But don't do that while a game still has 20 minutes to run. Not being at the match, I can't say whether Tony Hibbert or Thomas Gravesen were unlucky to be substituted. But looking at the team-sheet you wouldn't have identified either player as likely to grab you a goal or pose a goal threat. Joe-Max Moore is a forward and David Unsworth is always willing to have a pop, and it was ironic that both combined within seconds of coming on to create one of the Blues' best chances, which Brad Friedel turned onto a post. Other than that only two unproven youngsters were left on the bench in Kevin McLeod and Peter Clarke. But it seems that resentment and discontent at Goodison has been simmering since the derby. We might have created a few chances in the second half, but Liverpool were in second gear by that time and the gulf between both clubs was clear. That's very, very difficult for an Evertonian to admit. There were no excuses after the derby. There was no dodgy ref to blame. We were beaten by a better side and that frustration manifested itself on Saturday at Blackburn. Fowler will fill Owen's England boots
WITH Robbie Fowler and Jari Litmanen to turn to, Gerard Houllier will not be unduly traumatised by Saturday's injury to Michael Owen. But it's a far greater blow for Sven Goran Eriksson.
Candidates for the right to partner Emile Heskey in the crucial qualifier with Greece are hardly queuing up. Kevin Phillips has been constantly overlooked by the new coach, Andy Cole is not first choice at club level, let alone international level, while there has even been talk of Tord Grip watching Chris Sutton in action for Celtic this week. Which leaves Eriksson having to do what Houllier will almost certainly do, and use Fowler. I personally rate Robbie as probably the best out and out finisher in the Premiership. He will also have that familiarity with Heskey which could be important. I don't think Andy Cole deserves the criticism he has received for his displays.
But as far as the England v Greece game goes, I don't think you can look any further than Robbie Fowler.
Ferguson's injury worry
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post
Sep 26 2001
DUNCAN FERGUSON could force Walter Smith into a striking reshuffle on Saturday by missing the clash with West Ham United through injury. The Everton manager is considering giving Tomasz Radzinski his Premiership debut providing the £4.5million striker shows no ill-effects from the groin strain that forced him out of Saturday's defeat at Blackburn Rovers. Both Ferguson and captain Kevin Campbell are under pressure following recent disappointing displays, giving Smith the dilemma of who to leave out against the Hammers. However, the big Scot may force Smith's hand after he suffered a slight hamstring strain in the game at Ewood Park. Ferguson has not been ruled out of the Goodison game yet but is still receiving treatment on the injury. Radzinski, meanwhile, returned to first-team training yesterday to boost his hopes of finally making his Premiership bow after being sidelined for most of this season through hamstring-trouble of his own. Alessandro Pistone could also return against Glenn Roader's side as the Blues look to end a miserable run of four consecutive defeats. But Mark Pembridge, who is also likely to be withdrawn from the Welsh squad for their World Cup qualifier against Belarus next week, and Scot Gemmill are still expected to be missing.
Smith unlikely to move for 'free' star Ince
Sep 26 2001 By David Prentice
MIDDLESBROUGH have told Paul Ince he is not wanted at The Riverside.
And that will renew speculation that Everton may try to add the former Anfield Guv'nor to their squad. The 33-year-old Ince is available on a free transfer in the summer, and Boro are trying to cash in now. But his £35,000 a week wages will instantly cool any potential Everton interest.
Ince still lives on Merseyside and would relish a switch to Goodison, but Everton's financial position is only one factor which makes a move unlikely. With supporter unrest increasing at Goodison a bid for a player who is hugely unpopular with Evertonians would only increase pressure on the manager and board. Duncan Ferguson, meanwhile, has been receiving treatment for a slight hamstring strain this week. It is too early to gauge his fitness for Saturday's visit of West Ham, but Tomasz Radzinski has trained normally after missing the 1-0 defeat at Blackburn. Steve Watson and Alessandro Pistone are also close to full fitness again, but Scot Gemmill and Mark Pembridge look likely to sit out another weekend on the sidelines with back and calf injuries.
Post Soapbox
icLiverpool, Daily Post
Sep 27 2001
SINCE BEING admitted to the Football League as one of the 12 original members in 1888, Everton have an illustrious history with only four seasons spent outside the top division. I remember well the last two seasons spent in the old second division (1952-53 and 1953-54) when I attended practically every home game. Under Cliff Britton's managership Everton played some marvellous football orchestrated on the field by master playmaker Wally Fielding and scored goals aplenty, mainly through John Willie Parker and David Hickson. In promotion season 1953-54, 91 League goals were scored (Parker 31, Hickson 25). There have been previous instances of poor management at both boardroom and managerial level, especially in the immediate post-War years when Tommy Lawton and Joe Mercer were transferred for little or no reason and TG Jones, the club's greatest centre-half, was allowed to depart to non-League football while still in his playing prime. Nothing, however, compares to the gross ineptitude and mismanagement of the last four years which really do represent the nadir of Everton's history.
Dr Gareth Williams, Wrexham
Too defensive
YET AGAIN we come up with a defensive line-up. The idea is to win games and not look for draws. Duncan Ferguson might be blamed for missing chances but at least he is getting into positions . . . where was Campbell on Saturday? Meanwhile good old Gazza, the old man of the team, working his socks off. Things have to change!
Warning shot
SUMMER after summer we have sold our best players and this leads only to one thing - relegation (witness Coventy City). Add to this the bewildering team selections of the manager and you have a recipe for disaster. Mr Kenwright is placing great store in the move to the Kings Dock - but most Evertonians fear this will only mean we have the best ground in the first division.
Carl Roper, Liverpool
Tom Carr, Lydiate
Blues target Ince's Italian hint
by Andy Hunter, Daily Post
Sep 27 2001
FORMER Liverpool skipper Paul Ince has revealed where he wants to finish his top flight career - and it is not at Goodison Park. The Middlesbrough midfielder is on the look-out for a new club after the Teessiders announced he will not be getting a new contract at the end of this season.
Everton manager Walter Smith, who has confirmed Tomas Radzinski will start against West Ham on Saturday, wanted the ex-England star in the summer but he would be unable to revive his controversial-interest due to the club's financial-position, even though Boro want to cash-in now rather than lose the 33-year-old for nothing next summer. And last night Ince, who still lives on Merseyside, revealed he would prefer to see out his career in Italy. The former West Ham and Manchester United man is keen to return to Serie A after spending two years with Inter Milan and, having seen his hopes of staying at The Riverside dashed, plans to sign a pre-contract agreement with an Italian club in the new year. "Paul would have preferred to finish his playing career at Middlesbrough, where he has a great relationship with the players and supporters, but has been told his contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of this season," said Ince's agent Steve Kutner. "Paul still feels he can play at the top level for another couple of years," added Kutner.
"It is now likely that Paul will look to sign a pre-contract after Christmas, and that he will end his playing days with an emotional return to a Serie A side in Italy." The Blues boss, meanwhile, will welcome back Steve Watson and Alessandro Pistone for this Saturday's game with West Ham but is monitoring the progress of Duncan Ferguson's hamstring strain which could keep him out for up to three weeks.
Striker set for first Blues start
Sep 27 2001 By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
BARRING any late training ground mishaps, Canadian striker Tomasz Radzinski will finally make his Everton debut against West Ham on Saturday. But boss Walter Smith is likely to be spared a striking selection dilemma because of a Duncan Ferguson hamstring injury. "Duncan hasn't been ruled out yet," said Smith "but he is rated doubtful. Tomasz has trained all week and will be included."
Radzinski had been pencilled in to start at Blackburn last week, until he tweaked his groin in a Friday morning session. His return is also bolstered by
By DAVID PRENTICE the availability of Mark Pembridge and Alessandro Pistone, too.
Both have missed the last three games - two defeats and a draw - with a calf strain and a back injury but have now declared their fitness. Blues fans breathed a sigh of relief, meanwhile, when Paul Ince's agent claimed the Guv'nor would be heading to Italy next summer. "Paul would have preferred to finish his playing career at Middlesbrough where he has a great relationship with the players and the supporters," said Steve Kutner. "But he has been told that his contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of this season. "Paul still feels he can play at the top level for another couple of years. "It is now likely that Paul will look to sign a pre-contract after Christmas and that he will end his playing days with an emotional return to Serie A."
Radzinski eyes Blues start
By Ian Doyle, Daily Post
Sep 28 2001
TOMASZ RADZINKSI is poised for his first Premiership start for Everton against West Ham United tomorrow. But fellow striker Duncan Ferguson is losing his battle to be fit for the showdown with Glenn Roeder's side as he struggles with a hamstring problem. Ferguson picked up the injury during the Blues' 1-0 defeat at Blackburn last Saturday and has been receiving treatment throughout the week. Radzinski, in contrast, has recovered from the groin strain that forced him out of the game at Ewood Park and he could be asked to partner Kevin Campbell in attack. "Tomasz has recovered from the groin injury and will be involved at the weekend against West Ham," said Walter Smith.
"Duncan is still suffering with the hamstring problem a little bit and we will have to leave it as late as possible before we make any decision on whether he'll be available to us." Steve Watson and Alessandro Pistone also return but midfielders Scot Gemmill and Mark Pembridge are almost certainly out, despite responding to treatment. Meanwhile, defensive duo David Weir and Gary Naysmith have been included in the Scotland squad for their World Cup qualifier with Latvia at Hampden Park on October 6. The Scots need to score a healthy victory and hope Belgium thrash Croatia to have any chance of qualifying for the finals in the Far East next summer.
* EVERTON outcast Alex Nyarko, currently on loan at French side Monaco, has decided to retire from international football. The Ghanaian midfielder was the centre of controversy last year when he announced he wanted to quit the game altogether after a fan confronted him at Highbury in the Blues' 4-1 defeat to Arsenal and aggressively questioned his commitment to the cause.
The decision was reportedly due to the embarrassment he felt at Ghana's failure to qualify for the World Cup finals, although Nyarko refused to make public the reason for his decision.
Everton 5, West Ham 0
By David Randles
Sep 29 2001
TOMASZ RADZINSKI completed a fine goalscoring display at Goodison Park as Everton fired five past West Ham to bounce back from the disappointment of four straight defeats. With Duncan Ferguson sidelined by a hamstring injury, it was Radzinski, making his first full debut since his £4.5m summer move, who was called in to fill the breach. And the Canadian international looked worth every penny as his pace, vision and hold up play provided a new dimension to Everton's game which has been so lacking in recent weeks. Before today, West Ham had only conceded 5 goals in the Premiership, but the Blues doubled that tally with goals from Campbell, Gravesen, Watson and an own goal from Don Hutchison before Radzinski rounded off a five star display. Making three changes from the side which lost at Blackburn last week, Abel Xavier slotted into a 5-3-2 formation which saw Pistone back from injury as Stubbs and Hibbert dropped to the bench. With new Hammers signing Tomas Repka suspended following his debut dismissal at Middlebrough a fortnight ago, former Liverpool defender, Rigobert Song was the only change from the team which beat Newcastle 3-1 last week. It may be slightly premature to talk about must-win games at this stage of the campaign, but Walter Smith's pre-match talk appeared to instil the fear of relegation into his side as the Blues came out all guns blazing. Within the first five minutes, Everton had created three worthy chances while the visitors were still stretching their legs. From the kick-off, only a last ditch block from Song could prevent Campbell scoring the quickest goal of the season thus far, before Gascoigne and then Naysmith both came close. But if the early flurry was a sign of things to come, the home crowd were dismayed on 8 minutes to see that Gazza would not be involved after limping off following an innocuous looking challenge with Kanoute. With the pace of Radzinski an obvious target for Gazza's intuitive play, the veteran midfielder's removal would surely be a blow for the Blues. Enter Mark Pembridge. The Welsh Wizard, courageous if not creative, proceeded to fill the void following his three week absence through injury with a display of tenacious tackling while covering every inch of the pitch which was Everton's forte against an out of sorts West Ham side.
And on 22 minutes Pembridge's persistence nearly paid off as Hislop tipped his drive from outside the box over the bar. Despite a sixth minute drive from England prospect Michael Carrick, the visitor's would have to wait until the 24th minute for another opening such was Everton's industrious will to win the ball by closing the down the opposition. Last season it was Paulo Di Canio's decision catch the ball instead of scoring as Paul Gerrard lay injured on the ground which stole all the headlines. But in what was a lack lustre display for the illustrious Italian, his phobia of scoring at Goodison was confirmed as he somehow steered his effort wide from 6 yards out after some good work by Schemmel. A minute later it was Radzinski who started to come into his element, linking well with Pembridge before the Welsh midfielder fired wide of the post.
Appearing as a breath of fresh air to the Everton side, it was the former Anderlecht man's involvement which inspired the Blues to their best performance of the season so far.
On 26 minutes he was unlucky to see Song block his shot after turning well inside the box, and five minutes later Radzinski held the ball up well before Naysmith fired wide with his right foot.
Everton captain, Kevin Campbell linked up well with Radzinski on 40 minutes before the Canadian fired wide but this proved simply as a pre-cursor to the goal which saw the Blues one up at the break. As Gravesen spread it wide, Radzinski's attempted cross came back to him before laying it wide to Alexandersson. And as confirmation of why Everton should utilise their width more, the Swede's perfect cross was glanced in off the head of Kevin Campbell. If the halftime score was slender, it took just 10 minutes from the restart for Everton to exact a more realistic margin.
On 53 minutes a once familiar but unlikely scorer got his name on the sheet. Last season, former Everton midfielder, Don Hutchison marked his return to Goodison with a sending off for Sunderland, and his only contribution today was to concede an own goal on another disastrous return.
As Mark Pembridge swung a freekick into a crowded penalty area, Hutchison was helpless as the ball deflected past Hislop to double the lead. Since Hutchison's departure to Sunderland over a year ago, Everton have struggled to find a replacement of the guile and grace he provided. But the goal of the match from Thomas Gravesen suggested the Blues need look no further as he strode 40 yards with the ball before unleashing a fierce drive from outside the box which ricocheted off the upright and into the back of the net to make it three. A Kanoute effort against the bar aside, it was all Everton from here on in. With Carrick and Hislop exchanging harsh words, West Ham simply crumbled under constant Everton pressure. Another Hislop tip over, this time from Campbell, preceded Everton's fourth in which the captain was involved again. Holding the ball up well, Campbell simply waited for bodies to arrive before sending in a low cross which Naysmith stepped over allowing Steve Watson to convert. Five minutes later goal-scorer turned goal-provider as Watson put a strong challenge in for the ball to spill to Radzinski. Getting his just reward, the impressive striker remained composed to step past Hislop to complete the rout and get Everton's season back on track.
September 2001