Everton Independent Research Data
Everton FC defender Joseph Yobo in Fenerbahce loan as Steven Pienaar happy to stay put
Sep 1 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
JOSEPH YOBO is today expected to join Fenerbahce on a season-long loan – as Steven Pienaar expressed his relief that speculation has ended over his Everton future.
On a quiet transfer deadline day for the Goodison outfit, the only major business was the imminent departure of Yobo to Turkey. Everton have agreed a package that gives Fenerbahce the option to make the transfer permanent when the loan ends next summer for a player who remains under contract at Goodison until 2014.
The deal is dependent on Yobo, who flew to Turkey last night, passing a medical and agreeing personal terms. The 29-year-old was David Moyes’s first signing as Everton manager, arriving on a season-long loan in 2002 before the move was made permanent, and has made more than 250 appearances for the club while also enjoying spells as captain. But Yobo has fallen behind Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin and John Heitinga in the pecking order at the heart of defence, and has made only three starts this calendar year while not being involved at all since returning from skippering Nigeria at the World Cup. While Yobo is poised to depart, his international colleague Yakubu has stayed put after West Ham United refused to increase an offer for the forward that was dismissed as derisory by Everton earlier in the month. And also remaining at Goodison is Pienaar, who was heavily linked with an exit after entering the final 12 months of his Everton contract with talks having stalled over a new deal.
Tottenham Hotspur were desperate to sign the South Africa but their attempts were rebuffed by the Everton board, with Moyes having previously stated he has no qualms in allowing the player to run down his contract this season. Tottenham had offered a swap deal with David Bentley and Robbie Keane for Pienaar and Louis Saha, which was rebuffed by Everton. And Pienaar said yesterday: “The transfer deadline is over and it’s nice to be able to be focused on continuing at Everton.” Meanwhile, Everton will find out later this week the extent of Jack Rodwell’s ankle injury with fears growing the midfielder could face an extended spell on the sidelines. Rodwell limped out of Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa with an ankle injury, and was yesterday withdrawn from the England under-21 squad for their forthcoming UEFA U21 Championship qualifying double header against Portugal and Lithuania. The 19-year-old has now returned to Finch Farm where will be further assessed this week to establish the degree of the damage. Phil Jagielka, who also suffered an ankle problem at Villa Park at the weekend, sat out training for the full England squad yesterday.
Jagielka was joined on the sidelines by Peter Crouch, Scott Carson and Ben Foster for Fabio Capello’s first session of the week. The Everton centre-back began England’s friendly against Hungary last month and, should he regain fitness, is a strong contender to start Friday’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria at Wembley.
Ian Snodin: Howard Webb such a down to Earth bloke
Sep 1 2010 Liverpool Echo
I’VE known Howard Webb for a long time and had to laugh when I saw his comeback game after the World Cup was refereeing a Sunday League cup game between Thrybergh Working Men’s Cub and Wickersley Social. Thrybergh was the village where I grew up, and his last game before the World Cup was a Doncaster U-16 schoolboys match my son Jordan played in. Howard is a good bloke, who I’ve got along with since I met him when I was Doncaster manager in the 1990s. He always likes to have a game to warm up before he starts taking the big ones again, and this was typical of his down to earth ways.
Ian Snodin: Everton need to solve striking problems
Sep 1 2010 Liverpool Echo
I BET David Moyes was scouring the transfer market for a striker yesterday.
Although he didn’t bring anyone in at the last minute, you can understand why he might have felt another forward was needed. I thought we had enough strikers on the books, with Beckford, Saha, Yakubu, Vaughan and Anichebe but it does seem like they could do with a further addition. I would like to see Vaughan and Anichebe get more chances, but their fitness issues are ongoing so it means Moyes might have felt the time was right for a last dip into the market. Jermaine Beckford has never played at this level before, and deserves time to adjust to this level of quality defences. His signing wasn’t a gamble in the slightest, but it’s a big step up and he must be granted patience. Yakubu is more perplexing. He’s one who Moyes might have considered cashing in on, but he has proven goals if he can get back to fitness.
Ian Snodin: Everton deserved to take something from Villa
Sep 1 2010 Liverpool Echo
I HAD to watch the entire Aston Villa defeat twice on telly before it even began to sink in. How Everton lost a game in which they had 67% possession and 18 corners away from home I will never really understand. The Blues played some terrific stuff, and looked completely like they were at home. Apart from scoring that crucial goal, I can’t see what more they could have done. You’ve got to wonder if they’ll start getting some luck in front of goal soon because Steven Pienaar’s marvellous curling effort really deserved to go in. The worrying conclusion is that, even with only three games gone, we’re slipping behind the leaders and the clubs with top four ambition.
Manchester United aren’t the perfect team to face when you’re still looking for three points, but there are plenty of positives. Steven Pienaar and Leighton Baines clicked back into that magical combination against Villa, one of the best left sides in the top flight which will always cause defenders headaches. Also, I believe that Sylvain Distin has been outstanding this season. John Carew is no easy customer to deal with, and he dealt with him comfortably for practically the entire game. His distribution has improved massively, and he is currently keeping John Heitinga out of the defence so he must be doing something right. Before he went off to the World Cup, Heitinga was in superlative form. It can’t be long before results start to go in Everton’s favour. They might not have started as well as we’d all hoped, but if they carry on dominating games it will surely come. Let’s hope that the lunchtime kick-off on a Saturday against United inspires the Blues to turn back the clock to their glorious 3-1 victory last season.
Ian Snodin: Mikel Arteta should not play for England
Sep 1 2010 Liverpool Echo
I WOULD pick Mikel Arteta for any team he is that good – just not for England.
Call me a dinosaur but I want to see English players representing the national side. There just wouldn’t be something right about Mikel playing. Even though you could argue that English players have been turning out for Ireland and Scotland for decades, due to a grandparent from one of those countries, at least there is some genetic link somewhere. That is taking nothing away from Mikel, I’m his biggest fan. I know Spain’s midfield oozes class but I still think he is worth a place in the squad, even if a route into the team might be blocked for now. I don’t think Evertonians will be particularly bothered if Capello doesn’t ask Mikel to switch allegiances either. Merseyside footy fans just aren’t as bothered about the national team on the whole, they prefer their clubs to do well. The fear would be that more games would only risk Mikel to injury, or perhaps the greedy eyes of moneybags clubs in other leagues.
Deep down I can’t see the man himself having his heart in it either. He wants and deserves international football - for Spain.
Stability key to Everton FC’s long term vision
Sep 1 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES oversaw a summer of stability at Everton with few changes in personnel due to satisfaction with his squad and ongoing shortage of funds.
Joseph Yobo’s last-minute departure to Turkish giants Fenerbahce was the only high profile exit on deadline day yesterday, following Dan Gosling’s controversial switch to Newcastle United in July and fellow youngster Lucaz Jutziewicz’s move to Coventry City. Moyes was willing to listen to offers for Yakubu, with West Ham United keen on the Nigerian striker, but the Hammers were unable to offer enough and the 27-year-old remains at Goodison. More promisingly for the Everton boss, he was able to see the deadline draw to a close without losing Steven Pienaar and with new deals for Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta, Jack Rodwell, and Seamus Coleman long completed. The Goodison boss might have liked to find a right-sided midfield player, experienced cover for Leighton Baines at left-back, and another striker, but with little money available his main priority was holding onto his biggest assets. Now he has achieved that, Moyes, who has admitted he is always happier when the window has closed and he can focus on management, will carry on preparing for Manchester United’s visit on September 11 without disturbance. He was able to recruit some new blood earlier in the summer. Jermaine Beckford scored the goals which clinched promotion for Leeds United, and his availability on a free transfer was too tempting for the Blues. The 26-year-old proved he can mix it with the top sides by scoring against Manchester United and Tottenham in the FA Cup, and he has featured regularly in the opening three games of the season. Beckford started against Aston Villa, and Moyes views his pace and work-rate as an asset, while he continues to adapt to top-flight football. Attempts were made to add Craig Bellamy to the set-up, but the Blues could not cover his £75,000 per-week salary demands and he joined Cardiff City. Elsewhere, Moyes was able to spend £900,000 on the capture of French U-21 attacking prospect Magaye Gueye from Strasbourg, and continued his investment in youth by signing Portuguese striker Joao Silva, 20, from Aves.
Slovakia World Cup keeper Jan Mucha arrived from Legia Warsaw to provide competition for Tim Howard’s number one spot, with three other goalkeepers departing. Free agent Carlo Nash joined Stoke City, youngster John Ruddy left for Norwich City and highly-rated Iain Turner was allowed to join Coventry on a season-long loan.
Joseph Yobo set to join Turkish side Fenerbahce on loan today
Sep 1 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
JOSEPH Yobo is set to join Turkish side Fenerbahce on loan today with a view to a permanent deal. The 29-year-old flew to Istanbul last night to meet prospective new boss Aykut Kocaman ahead of the Turkish transfer deadline today. David Moyes could now use the funds freed-up by the Nigeria captain’s removal from the Goodison payroll to strengthen his squad in January. Fenerbahce have secured the option of a permanent deal at the end of the season, although the switch hinges on a medical and reaching agreement on personal terms. The centre half has been a fixture at Goodison Park since 2002 when he arrived from Marseille as Moyes’ first signing, and has made more than 250 appearances for the club. Yobo, who became the first African to captain Everton and had previously been the club’s top earner, was considered a key player until Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin's good form forced him out of the first team. With John Heitinga also an experienced centre-back, and Irish youngster Shane Duffy progressing through the ranks, Moyes agreed to sanction Yobo’s departure in a move that could become a permanent £5million transfer – providing a further boost to Goodison coffers. Yobo only signed a new five-year deal with the Blues in May 2009, and was the first player to break the club’s wage structure at the time. A member of Everton’s African contingent who will remain a Toffee for now is Steven Pienaar.
The deadline closed without any offers for the South African, despite links with a last-minute bid from Tottenham, and his lucrative new contract offer remains on the table.
Pienaar, who is away training with South Africa’s national team, used his Twitter account to announce he is happy to spend the next four months focusing on his Everton career. He wrote, “Good day of training with Bafana. “The transfer deadline is over and its nice to be able to be focused on continuing at Everton.” Reports also surfaced which linked West Ham United with a renewed bid for Yakubu, but a suitable offer failed to materialise and the 27-year-old striker stays on Merseyside.
Yakubu, who missed the trip to Villa with an ankle injury, will now face an increased fitness schedule as Moyes attempts to speed up his return to action since the World Cup. Meanwhile, Jack Rodwell has been withdrawn from the England Under-21 squad. The Blues midfielder had reported for international duty ahead of the European Championship qualifying double-header against Portugal and Lithuania, but yesterday returned to Finch Farm for treatment on his ankle injury. Rodwell picked up the knock during Everton’s defeat at Villa Park on Sunday and he will be further assessed this week to establish the extent of the damage. Phil Jagielka also missed England's training session yesterday. The defender is still recovering from an ankle knock which he picked up in the Midlands. l EVERTON Reserves beat Wolves 2-0 at Widnes last night. Jose Baxter gave Blues the lead on the hour before he was sent off 12 minutes from time for two yellow cards. But Conor McAleny sealed the victory in injury time as Magaye Gueye delivered his second assist.
Everton submit 21-man squad for Premier League campaign
Sep 1 2010 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
Everton have comfortably met the new Premier League rules after submitting 21 names in their official squad list. The large number of English players at Goodison and the youthful nature of David Moyes' squad means all of the Blues' registered players will be eligible for action. Top flight clubs were allowed to name a maximum of 25 players, including at least eight 'home grown' players in their squad - meaning they have spent at least three years at an English or Welsh club between the ages of 16 and 21. As well as the 21 players named, Moyes will also be able to call on any player who was under 21 on January 1 this year. This includes Magaye Gueye, Jack Rodwell, Joao Silva and Shane Duffy. Everton's 21-man squad: Tim Howard, Jan Mucha, Iain Turner, Seamus Coleman, Tony Hibbert, Phil Neville, Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin, John Heitinga, Leighton Baines, Marouane Fellaini, Leon Osman, Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar, Diniyat Bilyaletdinov, Tim Cahill, Louis Saha, James Vaughan, Victor Anichebe, Yakubu, Jermaine Beckford. Eligible players under the age of 21: Jack Rodwell, Shane Duffy, Shkodran Mustafi, Joao Silva, Jose Baxter, James Wallace, Magaye Gueye.
Everton FC meet new squad rules with ease
Sept 2 2010 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON have comfortably met the new Premier League rules after submitting 21 names in their official squad list. The large number of English players at Goodison and the youthful nature of David Moyes’ squad means all of the Blues’ registered players will be eligible for action. Top flight clubs were allowed to name a maximum of 25 players, including at least eight home grown players in their squad. The definition of home grown is that they have spent at least three years at an English or Welsh club before they turned 21. As well as the 21 players named, Moyes will also be able to call on any player who was under 21 on January 1 this year. This includes the likes of Magaye Gueye, Jack Rodwell, Joao Silva and Shane Duffy. Everton’s 21-man squad: Goalkeepers: Tim Howard, Jan Mucha, Iain Turner. Defenders: Seamus Coleman, Tony Hibbert, Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin, John Heitinga, Leighton Baines. Midfielders: Marouane Fellaini, Leon Osman, Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar, Diniyat Bilyaletdinov, Phil Neville, Tim Cahill. Strikers: Louis Saha, James Vaughan, Victor Anichebe, Yakubu, Jermaine Beckford. Eligible players under the age of 21: Jack Rodwell, Shane Duffy, Shkodran Mustafi, Joao Silva, Jose Baxter, James Wallace, Magaye Gueye.
FIFA rules appear to rule out Mikel Arteta playing for England
Sep 2 2010 Liverpool Echo
MIKEL ARTETA’S dreams of playing for England are destined to end in disappointment. In recent weeks there has been a campaign growing around the Everton midfielder, who had been led to believe he would be eligible for England after completing five years residency in the United Kingdom. Because Arteta has never played for Spain, it appeared he would be able to switch national allegiances once he had been granted UK citizenship. Earlier this week, the Football Association stressed they had not been asked to investigate the matter by Fabio Capello, although it was thought the England coach had spoken briefly to Arteta, who was said to be enthusiastic about the prospect. However, it now transpires Arteta is almost certainly not eligible at all. “Under our understanding of FIFA rules the player is ineligible to play for England,” an FA spokesman told Press Association Sport this evening. While world governing body FIFA are anxious not to pre-judge any request from the FA, it has been pointed out the rules on previously appearing for national sides do not cover full internationals alone. The little known Article 18.1.a within the FIFA statutes outlines that any player who has represented their country in an official competition, at whatever level, would at that time need to have held a passport for the country they later wish to play for in order to be permitted to make the switch. In Arteta’s case, because he played for Spain in the Under-16 European Championships and then in the FIFA World Championships at Under-17 level, the only way he could satisfy the current criteria is if he held a UK passport at the same time. It hardly seems likely a 28-year-old from San Sebastian would have gained such a document over a decade ago, which means that even if an application to FIFA was made on the FA’s behalf, it would automatically be rejected. This news is bound to come as a blow to Arteta, and maybe even Capello. However, it does save an awful lot of controversy, not least because Scotland boss Craig Levein recently pointed out a gentleman’s agreement between the four Home Nations where they have all vowed not to exploit eligibility loopholes.
Everton FC fans' jury - Blues supporters on the season so far
Sep 2 2010 Liverpool Echo
DEBBIE SMAJE, Upholland
ONE goal in three league games is a pretty pitiful record, and maybe it’s ironic that I think the solution to our goalscoring problem is to drop the only player who has scored in the league for us this season! I love Tim Cahill, but I think our midfield has progressed to a level where he is no longer guaranteed a start. Or at least he shouldn’t be. The midfield three that played against Huddersfield – Osman, Fellaini and Rodwell – showed that even without a specifically attacking midfielder behind the striker, we have players who can make us play better football and make more chances if Cahill isn’t one of those three. While the performance and football was a big improvement at Villa last week, there was still no support for Beckford up front, just a big gap between him and Arteta and Fellaini, with Cahill floating.
TONY SCOTT, Walton
ANOTHER transfer window goes by and Bill Kenwright provides David Moyes with a League Two striker and a French second division player. Yes, we kept hold of Arteta but so what? Is it Everton’s ambition to just keep hold of players? Could you blame Pienaar for seeing his contract out and joining a club with more ambition? While Sunderland, Wolves, Birmingham and Stoke all continue to outspend us, do we really think Bill is searching 24/7 for investment? The word Kenwright continues to use is “investment” and not “takeover”. He wants someone to pump money in while he's still in charge, but who in their right mind would give money to a football club without having any say? Kenwright did a relatively good job stabilising Everton during the early part of his reign, but he is in danger of allowing this club to slide into obscurity.
COLE FRASER, Litherland
THREE games into the new league season and only a single goal to show for ourselves. We’re looking very shy up front at the moment, until that changes we won’t be climbing the table. Jermaine Beckford hasn’t impressed so far, though hopefully he just needs time to adjust at this level. Louis Saha has also had a slow start, however I think he should be starting matches ahead of Beckford. Louis can be explosive at times, he has the ability to grab a goal from nothing, as we’ve seen him do.
Now that the whole Yakubu/West Ham saga is over, I’d like to see him involved in some first team duties. We know that the Yak can put the ball in the net when he’s given the chance to. The forwards are not solely responsible for our current dry spell in front of goal though. We have effective and creative forces, who are currently warming the bench. Seamus Coleman, for one, is a player whom David Moyes should be starting with.
MIKE DRUMMOND, Speke
THERE is only so many times that you can accept that we have played well despite losing a match and already our patience is wearing thin. Where has our end product gone? We have strikers who have a proven record for scoring goals. Yakubu, he always seems to be injured yet we don’t hear of it. Saha, the phrase ‘he is world class on his day’ gets mentioned far too much for my liking. Can we afford to accept ‘someone on his day’? Beckford, there is no doubt he can score but at the end of the day he is unproven in our league so should he really warrant a staring place three games in? Now is also not the time to throw a midfielder up there because we have too many but I fear that may be the next step. I’m not the manager, I do not see the team train day in day out but surely something is going on? Whatever it is, it needs sorting soon.
Everton FC striker Louis Saha uses leeches to help knee injury rehabilitation
Sept 2 2010 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
LOUIS SAHA has revealed how blood-sucking leeches have helped to ease his long-standing knee injury. The Everton striker, who is set to play for France in tomorrow night’s opening Euro 2012 qualifier against Belarus in Paris, insists having the ancient treatment has paid dividends. Leeches’ saliva acts as an anti-inflammatory and applying them to his knees has enabled the 32-year-old to secure a return to the international squad. “You’re never going to believe how I treated my swollen knees,” Saha said. “I went to visit my grandparents, who live in Guadeloupe, and I put leeches on my knees. “Since then I have had a knee that is not normal, but given what happened before to my ligaments I have to accept it. It swells up less and I feel fine now.” Saha, who has not played for France since November 2006, is desperate to feature in Laurent Blanc’s first competitive game in charge tomorrow.
“My luck has been terrible in the past,” he added. “I would be fine for six months, then the day the France squad would be announced I’d get injured. It has been hard to take. I would not wish a similar fate on anyone and I have struggled to overcome these setbacks. “But I’m well prepared both mentally and physically now. I have the legs and hunger of a 20-year-old.” Meanwhile, Blues centre-back Joseph Yobo has completed his season-long loan move to Fenerbahce. The Nigerian international passed a medical yesterday and the Turkish club have an option to make the transfer permanent next summer. Yobo has been at Goodison since 2002 and has made 259 appearances, but he has slipped behind Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin and John Heitinga in the pecking order and hadn’t featured so far this season. Blues coach Alan Stubbs, who played alongside Yobo, believes his departure underlines the strength in depth of David Moyes’ squad. “The gaffer wouldn’t have let him go if he thought it would have left him short in that department,” Stubbs said. “The gaffer must be comfortable with that situation and we have a strong squad now.“He wasn’t playing and was finding it hard to maintain a first team place. To be fair the lads that have been playing have been doing a great job. “He will go there and it will be a different type of football there. It won’t be as competitive as the Premier League but it is a big club. He has been here a long time and served the club really
FIFA rules dash Mikel Arteta England hopes
Sep 2 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
MIKEL ARTETA’S hopes of playing for England have been dashed after it emerged FIFA rules prevent the Everton midfielder from representing his adopted country.
A campaign has been growing in recent weeks for Arteta to be given a call up by Fabio Capello with the player believing he would be eligible after completing five years residency in the United Kingdom. Having never appeared for Spain in a competitive international – despite representing his homeland at Under-16, U17 and U18 and U21 level – it appeared to pave the way for Arteta to switch allegiances. However, further investigation of FIFA’s statutes make it clear that Arteta cannot play for England. “Under our understanding of FIFA rules the player is ineligible to play for England,” a Football Association spokesman confirmed yesterday. The little-known article 18.1 (a) imposes the condition that “at the time of (a player’s) first full or partial appearance in an international match in an official competition for his current Association” he must already have “the nationality of the representative team for which he wishes to play”. Arteta has always been Spanish, and having appeared for Spain in the European U16 Championships and then the FIFA World U17 Championships, any chance of being eligible for England would seem to have been extinguished even if he becomes a naturalised UK citizen. The Spanish midfielder will instead concentrate his energies on Everton, and admits the team are desperate to kickstart their stuttering Barclays Premier League campaign when they resume at home to Manchester United on Saturday week.“It’s a must-win for us now,” said Arteta. “We can’t drop points at home and we know how important it is to get some consistency at Goodison Park. “We’re now looking to prepare, rest some players, hope the international players get back fresh and start winning. “To be honest, we’re not happy with the start of the season. “We wanted to start bright and we wanted to start winning. “We haven’t done it and it puts more pressure on us because we want to get our first three points.” Among those international players is Louis Saha, who was handed surprise recall to the France squad for the forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Belarus and Bosnia. And the 31-year-old striker has revealed the dramatics lengths he has taken to ease a succession of knee problems that have hampered his game in recent years. “You’re never going to believe how I treated my swollen knees,” said Saha. “I went to visit my grandparents, who live in Guadeloupe, and I put leeches on my knees. “Since then I have had a knee that is not normal, but given what happened before to my ligaments I have to accept it. It swells up less, and I feel fine now.“I’m well prepared both mentally and physically. I have the legs and hunger of a 20-year-old. “My luck has been terrible in the past. I would be fine for six months, then the day the France squad would be announced I’d get injured. “It has been hard to take. I would not wish a similar fate on anyone, and I have struggled to overcome these setbacks.” Joseph Yobo yesterday completed his season-long loan move to Fenerbahce, a deal which includes an option for the Turkish side to make the transfer permanent. Everton have confirmed their Carling Cup third round tie at npower League One side Brentford will take place on Tuesday, September 21 with a 7.45pm kick-off. Meanwhile, Everton have submitted a 21-man Premier League squad in accordance with new rules which have come into force this season. The rules state the squad must contain at least eight ‘homegrown’ players, with that term meaning they have spent three years at an English or Welsh club between the ages of 16 and 21. Clubs are also allowed to call up an unlimited number of under-21 players of any nationality.
EVERTON’S SQUAD. HOMEGROWN: Tony Hibbert, Phil Neville, Tim Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Jermaine Beckford, James Vaughan, Victor Anichebe, Leon Osman, Leighton Baines. OTHERS: Tim Howard, Mikel Arteta, Jan Mucha, Steven Pienaar, Iain Turner, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Seamus Coleman, Louis Saha, Sylvain Distin, John Heitinga, Yakubu, Marouane Fellaini. ELIGIBLE U21s: Jack Rodwell, Jose Baxter, Shane Duffy, James Wallace, Shkodran Mustafi, Magaye Gueye, Joao Silva.
Dave Prentice: Footballers who were suckers for miracle injury cures
Sep 3 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
SOMETIMES, just sometimes, the life of a footballer doesn’t seem to be the greatest career a man could live. And yesterday’s Echo back page revealed one such moment.
“You’re never going to believe how I treated my swollen knees,” smiled Louis Saha, before revealing a treatment we thought had gone out of fashion with ducking stools.
Everton’s French international applies leeches to his joints, because leech saliva is apparently an excellent anti-inflammatory. Can’t see Ibuprofen manufacturers running scared. But before I reached for a couple to cure an increasingly queasy stomach, I stumbled across another condition which restored my faith that football really is the greatest profession since Jennifer Lopez hired a personal “nipple tweaker” for photo shoots. The New Scientist reported in 1999 that footballers were particularly susceptible to SARA. Not a new WAG wannabe, but an acronym for sexually acquired reactive arthritis. It seems that footballers have so much sex, they develop SARA, which in turn makes them more susceptible to knee injuries. Perhaps someone should show the report to John Terry. Now there’s absolutely no evidence that SARA led to Saha’s knee problems, but the Blues striker isn’t the only footballer to turn to bizarre forms of treatment for injuries. Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie flew to Serbia to have placenta fluid dripped onto an injured ankle. It worked. Paul Rideout used to sit in an oxygen chamber at Ellesmere Port Boat Museum to speed recovery from a muscle tear, while athlete Paula Radcliffe rubbed oil from the belly of an emu to ease injuries sustained in a collision with a cyclist. St Johnstone striker Peter MacDonald once approached Bayern Munich’s club medic Dr Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt for a little help in recovering from a troublesome hamstring injury and was prescribed a course of goats’ blood injections. Without stopping there, Muller- Wolfhart also claimed that an extract from the crest of cockerels, called Hylart, helped lubricate knee injuries and take away the pain. When Bolivian football team Blooming struggled to perform at altitude when playing away in La Paz the club’s physiotherapist Rodrigo Figueroa prescribed Viagra to cure their ills. It was unrecorded whether they rose to the occasion or not. Poor old Glenn Hoddle, of course, remained resolute in his belief in the power of faith healers – especially Eileen Drewery. Until he was sacked. And according to a report in the Sunday Times a number of Premier League footballers have taken the highly unusual step of storing stem cells from their newborn babies. The process involves freezing cells taken from the umbilical cord blood of their babies and can be used to treat – and even cure – cartilage and ligament problems. One player – unsurprisingly anonymous – explained: “We decided to store our new baby’s stem cells for possible future therapeutic reasons... as a footballer, if you’re prone to injury it can mean the end of your career, so having your stem cells – a repair kit if you like – on hand makes sense.” As much sense as applying blood sucking slugs to your sore knees I suppose.
Dave Prentice: Stadium of Fright sealed Joseph Yobo exit
Sep 3 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
FOR a man who made 259 Everton appearances, who enjoyed the distinction of being David Moyes’ first signing and who captained the first team as recently as last October, Joseph Yobo’s fall from grace has been both swift and dramatic. But the writing has been on the wall since last autumn, ever since Yobo decided a head injury sustained before a match at Stoke meant he couldn’t board the plane for the trip to Benfica. Physio Mick Rathbone pointedly said at the time: “Joseph’s injury was so, so minor, but if you do an injury like that the night before a game it doesn't give you a lot of time to recover. “He’s gone off with the Nigerian squad as they’ve got a very important game against Mozambique on Sunday and I think he’ll be fit for that.”
He was – and David Moyes took note. As a result of Yobo’s no-show in Portugal, Moyes was forced to play Tony Hibbert at centre-back and hand a baptism of fire to Seamus Coleman, out of position, at left-back. The rest, of course, is very, very painful Goodison history. Yobo made just nine starts after that, proving that hell hath no fury like a Scottish manager scorned. If Joseph Yobo has played his last match for Everton, it’s a sad way for such a once trusted servant to go. But it underlines once again Moyes’ desire for total dedication and unswerving loyalty to the Royal Blue cause. Yobo’s Everton contract runs to 2014, and after his loan move to Fenerbahce this week he said: “I leave knowing there is always a reunion in the future.”
If I was Joseph, I wouldn’t be holding my breath.
Howard Kendall: Everton FC must learn to turn possession into goals
Sep 3 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
SPIRITS were low after the opening day defeat at Blackburn and the disastrous second half against Wolves, but I honestly think there was no need for gloom after the Aston Villa result. When the home goalkeeper is man of the match it speaks volumes. Everton went there and totally dominated the opposition, so – goals aside – there isn’t much more you can ask from them. Of course there is no avoiding that fact that goals need to start going in quickly. It’s nice to hear Louis Saha talk so confidently of his fitness and desire. Nobody doubts his ability. Sometimes you find, even with the world-class centre forwards, that they just need one to go in, even of their shin, and they are fine. Off they’ll go on a scoring streak. I think that’s how it’ll pan out with Louis again this season. The corner count of 18-4 to Everton at Villa Park is interesting. Maybe they need to take a leaf out of Villa’s book from last season. Martin O’Neill’s then side had the best record in the Premier League of scoring from corners. They were pretty good at defending from them too. It’s an important knack to have, and maybe Everton need to be a bit more imaginative from their corners.
If you worked out over a season how many crucial goals come from corners, I’m sure it would be a lot. Without mixing it up a bit, you’re in danger of playing to centre halves strengths, like at Blackburn where Christopher Samba looked like he could head it all day. Goodison is where the Blues can get going again, and it’s nice to see two home games in quick succession on the horizon.
Everton FC star Phil Jagielka set to answer England’s call
Sep 3 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
PHIL JAGIELKA has received the backing of Fabio Capello as he prepares to stake his claim for a regular starting place in the England team. The Everton centre-back is poised to start tonight’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria after shaking off an ankle injury he picked up at Villa Park last weekend. Jagielka, who narrowly missed out on a call up for Capello’s ill-fated World Cup squad, has featured in subsequent friendlies and trained yesterday ahead of the crucial double header. Capello was pleased with Jagielka’s performance in the 2-1 victory over Hungary, and will be relieved he is set to recover and ease his injury problems in defence at Wembley tonight. And he backed Jagielka and West Ham’s Matthew Upson to settle into a solid partnership at the back quickly. He said: “The training was really good, the players are OK and some problems we had in the last two days are getting better. “Jagielka is fit, he trained well, there is a little bit of pain but I think for tomorrow he will be 100%.
“I'm not concerned but I know that the central defenders will play for the first time together tomorrow. I hope they will be really focusing every moment of the game and I hope Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson will help these two players, and also the midfield.” The players will be keen to make amends for a disappointing World Cup, and Capello is confident England will regain the form which saw them qualify for the tournament with nine wins from 10 games. “It's part of a manager's job,” Capello said concerning the pressures facing him. “When you win, you're the best. When you lose, you're the worst. “I learn something after a new experience. I changed something, but not a lot. We have to play without fear. I thought the players trained very well, with confidence, and I hope tomorrow we can see the same during the game. “Bulgaria will not be an easy game to play, they are really good technically, they defend with nine players – one forward – and they play on the counter, really fast. Their quality is good but we have to win, we have to play well, and I hope also the fans will support us during the game.” Jagielka has already admitted that making the squad for the qualifiers has been a huge motivating factor for him as he battles to fire Everton’s underwhelming start to the season. He said: “It's supposedly a new era and he’s changing things round, but the manager might bring a few people back for the qualifiers. “But I was desperate to get in this squad and try and stay in it. The squad is quite different with about ten different people in it since I was last in.”
England World Cup flop is in past, says Everton FC's Phil Jagielka
Sep 3 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Daily Post
PHIL JAGIELKA has told his England team-mates to put their World Cup flop behind them if they are to qualify for the European Championships in 2012.
The Everton defender is expected to recover from an ankle injury in time to win his fourth cap tonight against Bulgaria. After appearances in friendly matches against Trinidad, Spain and then Hungary last month, this will be his first competitive appearance for his country in England's first Euro 2012 qualifier at Wembley.
Jagielka was not part of the World Cup failure, but he said: “It was a frustrating time for all the lads who were out in South Africa, but we’ve put that behind us now.”
And the 28-year-old admits that nothing less than a home win before next Tuesday’s clash with Switzerland will be good enough. “We have to do what we did in the build to the World Cup and win all our home qualifiers. “We all know that we have to get the squad together, put in some good performances and then hopefully we will do better in the European Championships.” Jagielka received an unlikely message of support in the build-up to tonight’s match – from across Stanley Park. Jamie Carragher, who effectively took Jagielka’s place in South Africa, was asked yesterday if he had received an emergency call from Fabio Capello. “No, England will be alright,” he said. “I think Jagielka is a great player, Dawson has done great for Tottenham and Upson is back in the squad now.” Jagielka returned to training with the Three Lions squad only yesterday after sitting out sessions earlier this week with an ankle knock he sustained in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa. And manager Fabio Capello said: “He’s fit and trained well. The pain is a little better and tomorrow he will be at 100 per cent. “I'm not concerned but I know the players I select tomorrow will play for the first time together. I hope they will be really focusing every moment of the game and Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson will help these players. “The keeper Joe Hart, and Wayne Rooney, Steve Gerrard, Gareth Barry, Cole, Johnson and Jagielka, yes. I know 10 or 11 who will play, with a little confusion about one wing.”
Barry Horne: Quiet transfer window not a surprise
Sep 4 2010 by Barry Horne, Liverpool Echo
I WAS not surprised that Everton, unusually by their recent standards, did not do some late business in the summer transfer window. After deadline day raids for the likes of James McFadden, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Sylvain Distin and Marouane Fellaini in recent years, Goodison Park was a lot quieter this time around. David Moyes ensured that his business was done early, with the signings of Jan Mucha, Jermaine Beckford, Magaye Gueye and Joao Silva, and everyone accepts that the squad is in good shape. The time to judge the summer’s business as a success or failure will come as the season progresses. Having said that, perhaps the best time to add to a squad is when you don’t necessarily have to. It allows a manager to be selective in who he targets and not to pay over the odds or take unnecessary risks.
That’s why, from an Everton point of view, it would have been nice to see a constant trickle of additions to the squad, to keep the side moving forwards, keep the squad fresh and perhaps bring the average age down - which is something Moyes has clearly been keen to do. I look at a few other sides who did some pretty good business this summer; I was very impressed by Wolves’ transfers for example, and I think Stoke got one of the bargains of the window in Mark Wilson - a player who would have suited Everton to a tee in my opinion. But Moyes’ record shows he is to be trusted. If he felt there was no-one out there who was affordable and could have made a difference to the side, then his decision should be respected.
Royal Blue: Good to see Lee Carsley back in blue of Everton FC this weekend
Sep 4 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
TOFFEES who make the short trip to Anfield for Jamie Carragher’s testimonial today will have at least one reason to smile. Royal Blue is a fully signed up member of the Super Lee Carsley fan club, so there will be melancholy twinges aplenty at seeing the midfielder back in the Everton ranks. Overall let’s hope it’s a game worthy of a player who, although not exactly Mr Popular at Goodison, deserves enormous credit for his long career and donation of all the proceeds to charity.
Barry Horne: Arteta’s England dream never likely to happen
Sep 4 2010 by Barry Horne, Liverpool Echo
The rules of eligibility for national representation are, as you would, expect, quite clear, and whenever people criticise nations such as the Republic of Ireland for ‘expoliting’ them, it is grossly unfair. Yes, the ‘grandparent rule’ ensures that there is a link between player and country, and enables smaller nations to increase their pool of players, whilst giving players who wouldn’t otherwise be good enough to play regularly for larger countries (such as England) a chance to play international football.
It does occasionally backfire of course. What would England give to have been able to call upon Ryan Giggs or, currently, Gareth Bale? Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, has spent the past five years playing his way through, and around, opposing midfields with a composure, confidence and ability rarely seen in this country. It is just as well he dealt with the long-running saga surrounding his possible England selection with the same thoughtfulness and maturity. The FA have courted Mikel publicly, and presumably privately too, about playing for England, and he responded wisely and in as neutral a manner as possible. Just as well too, else he could have been very embarrassed to ultimately learn of his ineligibility. The rule that excludes him has been described in many reports as being ‘obscure’. Yet while it is unreasonable to expect you or I to be aware of rule 18.1(a). It is there, in the same place, in the same font and size as all the other rules and regulations, and as such should certainly not be seen as ‘obscure’. There has been an individual, or possibly a team of individuals, investigating this matter for more than enough time; it is certainly not unreasonable to expect them to know of this rule from the start, and therefore to have avoided the recent speculation, distraction and embarrassment. The rule is, however, unlikely to be needed again any time soon. How long will it be before a player of Mikel’s enormous ability not only stays put in one place long enough to acquire citizenship, but also fails to represent his own country at any level in that period? Yet for all the praise for his ability, the adjective most commonly attached to Arteta is “Spanish”, and it would have been incongruous to see him in an England shirt, to the point that I am not even convinced he would have accepted the invitation anyway. Despite the fact that he is up against the most incredible competition for midfield places with Spain, in football you never know what is around the corner, and I would love one day to see him in a Spanish jersey. It would certainly be a shame if he were to join the likes of our very own Howard Kendall as a great player never given the chance to represent his country.
Royal Blue: Joseph Yobo’s exit from Everton FC was on the cards
Sep 4 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
JOSEPH Yobo may have departed Everton on an initial loan deal but seasoned observers of the club would be surprised to see him back in a blue shirt. David Moyes is not exactly over-burdened with centre halves, so the fact that Yobo was available for sale or loan all summer suggests a parting of the ways was inevitable. The Nigerian’s refusal to make the journey to Benfica for that disastrous Europa League tie at the Estadio De Luz was a terminal moment in his relationship with the manager, and his subsequent relegation to a periphery figure was the outcome. In some ways it was a sad situation for a former Everton captain to find himself. Yobo has had some impressive games during his lengthy spell in Liverpool, since he became David Moyes’ first signing as the Blues manager. Yet it was ironically when he did make a trip to Portugal to face Sporting Lisbon that he showed the other side to his game. Bereft of fit defenders Moyes asked Yobo to partner the on-loan Philippe Senderos. While neither was outright to blame for the ensuing capitulation, Yobo showed his tendency for costly lapses in concentration and trying to play his way out of trouble at the wrong times. His departure is a shame, but won’t have led to many tears at Finch Farm.
Royal Blue: Everton FC might be champions of fair financial league but they play in the real world
Sep 4 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
Everton FC might be champions of fair financial league but they play in the real world
ANOTHER transfer window closes with the girls at the club shop who print names on shirts relieved they have no new exotic spellings to get their heads around. The rumour mongers were in over-drive as the Sky manufactured clock ticked down, but in reality any incomings to Goodison depended solely on outgoings. Despite an arguable shortage of strikers, cover at left back and right-sided midfielders the coffers were simply too diminished to recruit anyone of the requisite quality in those areas.
Everton have long moved past the ‘bring bodies in’ for the sake of it phase, and progressed into the ‘if it ain’t quality then it ain’t worth it’ ideology. But this summer the murmurs of discontent towards the board were muted. The reason? Most supporters recognise that, as ever, the manager’s gradual investments have built up a level of quality which proved too much for some of the top sides last season. Bill Kenwright provided an insight recently into the problems he faces trying to find a new owner for the club, as charlatans increasingly lead him down the garden path to further their own murky agendas. But nobody can afford to rest on their laurels about the quality of the current squad too much, at least until it has achieved tangible success. Sunderland’s signing of Asamoah Gyan for £13m and Birmingham’s capture of Alexander Hleb, Martin Jiranek and Jean Beausejour from Club America, must be disquieting for followers of the blue faith. Not because Everton don’t have good players themselves, but because clubs who finished below them last season are consistently capable of investing in building their squads to try and overhaul the ground between them and the top five. Consider this. A new study hails Everton as the champions of the Premier League in the 2009/10 season based on financial fair play.
The research, carried out by Dr Sue Bridgwewater from the University of Warwick, balances teams’ performance over the 2009/10 season against their financial circumstances. It was based on a formula which takes into account wages and transfer expenditure in relation to points gathered, with the Blues coming out top of the league. David Moyes’ men come out ahead of Blackburn, Arsenal and Tottenham in the standings. In contrast, Manchester City, Liverpool and West Ham would have been in the relegation zone. The research, suggested by The Times, prompted their chief football correspondent Patrick Barclay to write: “The findings are very much in line with the view of managers of how Barlcays Premier League clubs are run.
“If football were anything to do with fairness, Goodison Park would have been a blue sea of celebration at the end of last season and David Moyes a champion manager.”
Dr Bridgewater has written several books on football business and runs a course for current and aspiring managers at the University of Warwick. All well and good, but taking anything more than cursory satisfaction from studies like this is missing the point. Football has not existed on a fair financial level in the Premier League for a long time. Taking too much consolation from the statistics is like kidding oneself Everton deserved to finish third last season because of their form from January to May. It was top three form indeed, but not for a long enough period to matter much more than a footnote. Let’s hope this season can yet prove that steady, sensible investment is the right way. But if it doesn’t – where to then?
Yakubu will answer doubters back eventually says Graeme Sharp
Sep 4 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
THERE was a time that the Super Eagle goal celebration synonymous with African footballers was a regular sight at Goodison Park – usually after Ayegbini Yakubu had made the net bulge. The Nigerian’s double against Newcastle United in a 3–1 win at Goodison on the last day of the 2007–08 season helped clinch fifth place and European football. The Yak looked set to write his name into the rich tapestry of Everton goalscoring folklore, finishing his first season with 15 Premier League, and 21 strikes in all competitions. It was his highest goal tally for a single season, and the £11.25m signing from Middlesbrough had just became the first Everton player since Peter Beardsley to net 20 goals in a season. Consider the contrast. On Tuesday, the striker was on the brink of an inglorious exit from Goodison with those glory days receding fast in the memories of supporters. With David Moyes’ team suffering from an early dry patch in front of goal, Yakubu is unfit to offer any solution – still not back in shape despite his World Cup duties ending more than eight weeks ago.
By comparison John Heitinga, who played in the final, returned against Wolves.
It has left frustration seething in some quarters, and no doubt led Everton to listen to offers for the 27-year-old, with a swoop for Wolfsburg star Grafite said to have been considered. But with the window closed and reinforcements a long way, or four months off at least – can The Yak turn it around? Legendary former Everton centre forward Graeme Sharp maintains it’s not too late for Yakubu to resurrect his once promising career. “It’s plain to see from the start of the season, and how results have stuttered along, that Everton are lacking a cutting edge in the final third,” he says.
“Then you’ve got a natural goal scorer like The Yak who hasn’t played yet. He is a fantastic asset to have and you can’t afford to write him off yet. “I would have been disappointed to see him leave Everton this summer. I can genuinely still see a place for him in this side and I can still see him having an impact on this season. “He’s the type of player who can score scrappy goals. It’ll got his backside and go in. He just knows where the right place is to score. With Louis Saha liking to drop deep and join up play, there’s room for someone who can be a real predator in the box.” Despite his admiration for the former Portsmouth hit-man Sharp acknowledges he has to work harder to get match-fit, and should have been able to feature by now. “It’s disappointing that he’s still not fully fit,” he says. “But you’ve got to think about how Everton would have gone about finding a replacement. It takes a lot of money to get a goal scorer in these days. Everyone wants one. “When you’ve got one on your books maybe it’s better to sit tight and show some faith in him. Hopefully the boy has still got the hunger to get in great shape and get back in action. “All players are individuals and have differing levels of natural fitness but with Yak being out for a long time through injury, then returning and going to the World Cup, he probably didn’t do himself any good by not coming back early and getting more pre-season with Everton.
“That went against him. He was entitled to a break but Nigeria didn’t go beyond the group stages.” Sharp is quick to emphasise the devastating impact of the Achilles tendon tear Yak suffered in November 2008 at White Hart Lane. “It was a severe career threatening injury make no mistake. It would be enough to finish some players off entirely and the frustrating thing is that Yak seemed to have bounced back. he even scored in his comeback game against Hull. “But David Moyes was first to say that we wouldn’t see the best of the Yak for a while, maybe even 12 months after that injury. He has got plenty to offer and maybe it’s just a case of nursing him back into the fold.” Sharp insists that the cause for persevering with Yakubu is strengthened by question marks over the other strikers currently at Moyes’ disposal. “We’ve got to be careful in expecting too much too soon from Jermaine Beckford,” says the man who scored 159 goals for the Blues. “Don’t underestimate the size of the step up he has attempted to make from League One to the Premier League. It’s massive and he deserves patience and a lot of room for adapting. “I think he’ll be fine but we can’t ask him to lead the line non-stop. Then you’ve got Louis Saha who is in a bit of a slump even though he’s got tremendous quality. “You have got to believe that one way or another the goals will come soon. The domination against Villa suggests that it will all click into place. “Then there’s Victor Anichebe to come back and James Vaughan. “I’d love to see the Yak back flying and fit as well to finally offer a goal threat from all of Moyes’ strikers.”
Sylvain Distin backs Everton FC to find their first win quickly
Sep 4 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
SYLVAIN DISTIN believes Everton can handle the pressure of raised expectations this season despite struggling to find their rhythm in the Premier League so far.
The 32-year-old defender admitted he has mixed feelings about the Toffees’ start to the campaign, with goals hard to come by and domination against Aston Villa last weekend going unrewarded. But the veteran insisted that victory is close for Moyes’ men, and nobody is panicking at Goodison yet. He said: “It’s a mixed feeling for us. It’s frustrating because the results are not really what we expect. Altogether though I think we’ve played quite well. “We haven’t scored enough and conceded a goal each game but it’s strange because everyone feels like we are doing OK. “We are missing one or two little things to get the end result but playing decently. “Sometimes it needs just a lucky goal. “Last weekend they scored but then Steven (Pienaar) could have levelled with a great strike and it hit the bar. That’s football. “It seems like we have had to ‘pay cash’ for the mistakes in our games. “We know that day when we win is going to be very soon and we all want it badly. “We feel comfor-table it is close.
“We don’t enjoy it so far, that is for sure but there is no need for any pressure.
“I am annoyed because the defence have conceded a goal a game, but I’m getting older and trying to relax about it a bit more.” Meanwhile, David Moyes has welcomed the opportunity to use the friendly-rivalry with local neighbours Liverpool to benefit charities in the city during Jamie Carragher’s testimonial today. Familiar faces of the present and the past will be in action for both sides – with proceeds from the match going to Carragher’s charity, the 23 Foundation, as well as a special donation of £25,000 being made to The Everton Foundation. Moyes relishes the local rivalry but also believes it is important to channel that rivalry in the right way.
He said: “I think their rivalry doesn’t change so lets not see it in any other way, but I also think everybody in Liverpool will work together and help each other to help the charities. “There are a lot of families touched by it, whether you be an Everton supporter or a Liverpool supporter. “So it’s credit to Jamie that he’s given up the proceeds to that. “I think he recognises that he’s had a really good career, he’s got the supporters to thank for coming and watching him over a period of time. And giving the money back, it hopefully goes back to the people in Liverpool who will benefit from it.” Moyes has agreed with Carragher that only players still playing professionally will be selected. Liverpool will include the likes of Michael Owen and Emile Heskey, whilst Franny Jeffers and Lee Carsley are amongst the names scheduled to be lining up for the Blues alongside several members of current senior squad not on interna-tional duty. He said: “Jamie said he wanted supporters to come and see a game, so I think both of us have agreed that basically that we’ll only try and pick players who still play, who the supporters can come and see. “There’s more ex-Liverpool players than there is Everton players – we’ve found it a real struggle to get many ex-Everton players to come who are still playing. “And the ones who would have done it – the likes of David Weir have been recalled for Scotland again and Kevin Kilbane and one or two like that – we’ve found that they’ve all been back on international duty so we’ve found it a bit difficult to get them. “With it being international week it obviously limits your numbers, but I think we’ve agreed we’ll mainly play a lot of the younger players as well. “Tony Hibbert, Leon Osman and Leighton Baines, they’re keen to show willing in some part of the game to support it because their families are from the surrounding areas.”
Toffees ready to part with Vaughan
04/09/10 By Alan Nixon
Everton boss David Moyes is ready to let striker James Vaughan go - with Sheffield United and Burnley keen to take the hit man on loan. Vaughan missed out on a move in the window but is available as Moyes wants to get him out of Goodison and playing first-team football ahead of a sale. The Toffees are looking for a club to pick up Vaughan's £15,000-a-week wages and both the Blades and Clarets are doing their sums before making an official approach. Vaughan hoped to go to Blackpool for the season but the Seasiders went for cheaper options, leaving him facing life in the reserves unless he can get a Championship move.
Carraghers Testimonial
Sunday Express 05/09/2010
THERE were little more than three minutes on the clock when the Kop launched into its first rendition of one of its favourite songs: “We all dream of a team of Carraghers.” They didn’t quite get their wish, but they did get four teams for Jamie Carragher. They got Everton in a rare display of unity on Merseyside. They got the Liverpool sides of 2001, 2005 and 2010, or some of their most distinguished members, to pay tribute to one of the last homegrown heroes. And they got two goals from him – one for the club he has served selflessly and superbly, the other for the side he grew up supporting. The last time he took a penalty, England’s 2006 World Cup campaign came to an abrupt end. His two goals yesterday were rather different. The first came from the spot, dubiously awarded by referee Mark Halsey, and sidefooted home by Carragher. But his parting contribution was rather different. This time Everton were given the penalty. Once again, however, Carragher scored it.
He said: “I was an Everton fan as a kid and I always dreamed of scoring against Liverpool.” And, for once, a player with more own goals than goals in his career, he took pleasure from putting the ball in his own net. Carragher’s contributions for Reds and Blues alike yesterday, in front of 35,631 fans, raised money for his 23 Foundation, which supports community projects on Merseyside – bringing two halves of a city and Liverpool’s past and present together. A place in history is fitting. He is a throwback, a local lad and a one-club man with the age-old virtues of doggedness and defiance – no frills, no flair but no surrender. This is the footballer who, over 15 seasons, went from unsung hero to the epitome of Liverpool; the player who, from childhood Evertonian, has played 636 times for Liverpool; the boy from Bootle who, by the end of the season, should rank second only to Ian Callaghan for appearances for Liverpool.
Callaghan was at Anfield to pay tribute. So were Tommy Smith, Ian St John and Phil Thompson. And so, too, were team-mates of old. Liverpool rarely need an excuse to reminisce. But they had one anyway. This was a nostalgia trip to enjoy, a journey back through Carragher’s career. A decade ago, he won a treble of FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup. Yesterday, with Gerard Houllier back in the Anfield dugout for the first time since 2004, he was reunited with Danny Murphy, Gary McAllister, Emile Heskey and Michael Owen on the pitch. The defector to Old Trafford was the pantomime villain. Roundly booed for joining Manchester United (can you imagine Carragher doing that?) – he turned up for the defender. “He’s my best mate in football,” said Carragher. “I wanted him to score. It took a lot for him to come back.”
Carragher never left. In 2005, he mounted monumental rearguard actions against Chelsea and AC Milan to win the Champions League. From the immortals of Istanbul, there were comebacks for Steve Finnan, Jerzy Dudek and Luis Garcia. The Spaniard scored a sublime second-minute goal. And then, from today’s team, were the debutant Paul Konchesky and Joe Cole, who volleyed in Liverpool’s third goal before youngster Nathan Eccleston added the fourth. And, fresh from captaining England at Wembley, there was Steven Gerrard. Going via Liverpool is not the obvious route from London to Switzerland, for Tuesday’s Euro 2012 qualifier, but there was no need for Fabio Capello to worry. Gerrard played 10 minutes in cruise control before being substituted. But his presence was a sign of the esteem in which he holds his fellow Scouser. So, too, were his comments. “I’m so close to Jamie, both as a team-mate and a friend, that I wanted to be here,” he said. “Carra is a leader who never needed an armband. He’s a winner, and he’s also a top lad. It was a nice way for the club to say thank you to him.” Thousands said it, and they said it loudly and gratefully.
Liverpool 4-1 Everton: Carragher nets for both sides during testimonial
05/09/10 By Bill Mills (Daily Mirror)
There aren’t too many Liverpool players who would have marked his testimonial by realising the dream of scoring a penalty against his own keeper for his boyhood heroes Everton. But, then again, there aren’t too many players like Jamie Carragher.
In normal circumstances, the generous spot-kick Mark Halsey awarded yesterday afternoon would have seen provoked a wild response from the veteran defender; the arms would have been flailing, the voice would have been shrill and the referee would have been harangued. This, however, was Carragher’s chance to do something he had envisaged during his childhood – the chance to score a goal for the Blues was too big to turn down and he duly made no mistake from 12 yards before leaving the field to a rapturous ovation. With Michael Owen pulling on a Liverpool shirt once again, many will have wondered whether him being cast into the role of pantomime baddie would detract from Carragher’s big day yet that was not the case. Though Owen had to endure some predictable booing early, he slowly reclaimed The Kop’s approval with the majority clapping his every touch – but, had he taken the first penalty of day, the good feeling might not have lasted that long. Carragher was in a minority of one in wanting the Manchester United man to take charge of the situation but the mischievous grin that Owen sported instantly lightened the mood and left the way clear for his old pal. “I’d asked the referee to give us a penalty before half-time and as I was trying to get Michael to score in a Liverpool shirt again, as he’s my best mate in football – it took a lot of courage for him to come back,” said Carragher, after Liverpool had run out 4-1 winners in front of 35,682 crowd. “I thought the reaction he got was fantastic and I thought it would be nice for him. But then it dawned on me that I had to take it and I was terrified of missing it. “Although that’s all people would remember me for.” There is absolutely no chance of that; having played 636 times for Liverpool since making his debut as a substitute at Middlesbrough in 1997, Carragher’s whole-hearted performances have carried him in the pantheon of Anfield legends. It said everything about the esteem in which he is held that aside from Owen, former Reds Emile Heskey, Luis Garcia, Danny Murphy, Stephen Warnock and Gary McAllister – and old boss Gerard Houllier – returned to celebrate Carragher’s big day. What’s more, Steven Gerrard was given special dispensation by The FA to play for 10 minutes following England’s 4-0 win over Bulgaria on Friday and he was only too happy to make a flying visit back to Liverpool to take part. “The idea was to have a warm down with England but I asked for permission to fly in and out and have a small cameo,” said Gerrard. “Fabio was fine with it but I’m sure his decision was the fact we’d beaten Bulgaria first. I’m just glad the day went perfectly for Carra.” It certainly did. Carragher was aware Liverpool had never beaten Everton in a testimonial but that record was in never danger of continuing once Garcia had scored after 83 seconds. Further goals arrived from Joe Cole and Nathan Eccleston but, really, the day was just about a true Red legend.
Louis Saha fitness concerns Everton FC – as Gary Neville says Blues’ poor start won’t last
Sep 6 2010 by Philip Kirkbride, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON are today sweating on the fitness of Louis Saha – as a major rival predicts the Blues’ poor start to the season will not last. French striker Saha played just 10 minutes of the national side’s European Championships 2012 qualifying defeat at home to Belarus on Friday night before a knee injury ended his involvement.
Saha has long been plagued with troublesome knees and this latest setback, after the 32-year-old came on as a late second half replacement at the Stade de France only to substituted himself, will concern the Goodison Park club who have struggled to find the net so far this campaign. France go to Bosnia-Hercegovina in their Group D match on Tuesday night with Everton hoping star striker Saha recovers in time for Saturday’s home Premier League showdown with Manchester United (12.45pm kick-off). United defender Gary Neville is anticipating a battle at Goodison over the weekend and believes the Blues will emerge from their early season slump, which has seen them pick up just one point from three games, soon enough. “Everton always seem to be slow starters but they will come strong,” said Neville. “I know a bit about them because my brother Philip plays there and they are a fit and talented bunch of lads. I’ve never been to Goodison Park when it has not been difficult. “Everton have a team that could challenge for the top four. “Their problem is there are now six or seven teams that are very, very strong, which is making it harder to get into the top four, but they are a very good side and they could push if they have an outstanding run.” Meanwhile, it was not all bad news on the international front for Everton this weekend with defender Phil Jagielka putting in a solid display for England as they dispatched Bulgaria 4-0 at Wembley and Steven Pienaar helped South Africa defeat minnows Niger 2-0 in their African Nations Cup 2012 qualifying match. “It was disappointing that we did not score more goals, but I am happy with my form,” offered Pienaar.
Everton FC striker Louis Saha in race to be fit to face Manchester United
Sep 6 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
LOUIS SAHA faces a race against time to be fit for Everton’s showdown with former club Manchester United on Saturday. Saha limped out of France’s shock 1-0 Euro 2012 qualifying defeat at home to Belarus on Friday after suffering a right calf strain.
The 31-year-old, who was making his first international appearance in four years, had only emerged as a 69th-minute substitute before being forced off just 10 minutes later.
Scans later revealed the damage was sufficient enough to rule Saha out of France’s qualifer in Bosnia tomorrow, and the player was released from the national team’s Clairefontaine training base at the weekend. Saha will now undergo intensive treatment at Finch Farm with Everton manager David Moyes sweating on the fitness of the forward ahead of Premier League battle being resumed with the visit of United on Saturday morning. Should Saha not recover in time, and with Yakubu still short of match fitness, Jermaine Beckford – whose goal knocked United out of the FA Cup last season – could lead the line against the Old Trafford side. Everton are still seeking their first Premier League win of the season after a stuttering start of a single point from their opening three games. But centre-back Sylvain Distin is confident Moyes’s men can soon find their stride and has reassured supporters there is no sense of panic among the squad. “It’s a mixed feeling for us,” said the Frenchman. “It’s frustrating because the results are not really what we expect. Altogether though, I think we’ve played quite well. “We haven’t scored enough and conceded a goal each game, but it’s strange because everyone feels like we are doing okay. “We don’t feel down because we have more than enough to reverse the situation quickly. We think we are doing the right things and if we carry on like that it can only be a positive. There’s not too much pressure at the moment, we know it can change. But we are not enjoying it, that’s for sure.” An Everton XI lost 4-1 to a Liverpool XI in Jamie Carragher’s testimonial at Anfield on Saturday. While Leighton Baines, Mikel Arteta, Tony Hibbert, Leon Osman, Yakubu and Beckford all played some part, Moyes relied heavily on youngsters for the fixture. Congolese teenager Toto Nsiala, Hope Akpan, Zak Thompson and Ross Barkley were all given a taste of senior action with Jose Baxter, Luke Garbutt and Shane Duffy also appearing. And Alan Stubbs, Everton’s reserve team manager, hopes the youngsters will take something from the experience.
“Liverpool had a pretty strong team out to be fair, with quite a few guests,” said Stubbs. “It was a decent enough game and a tough game for some of our younger boys. It was a lesson for them and hopefully they will learn from it. “The manager has had a smallish squad over his time here. When you look at Liverpool there has been a lot of to-ing and fro-ing and Jamie has had a lot bigger choice to pick from.”
Liverpool beat Everton 4-1 in Jamie Carragher’s testimonial at Anfield
Sep 6 2010 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
A REFEREE giving the thumbs up to the away section, a penalty scored by a Red for the Blues and a Manchester United striker who ended up having his every touch applauded. This, clearly, was no ordinary Merseyside derby but, then again, the reason this latest good-natured tussle between Liverpool and Everton took place was to pay tribute to a player whose career at Anfield has been anything but ordinary. Jamie Carragher's place in Liverpool legend has long since been secured but, on Saturday, it was heartening to see a crowd of 35,682 turn up to watch the city's two top-flight teams lock horns in his richly-deserved testimonial. Though there was a time in the past when Carragher's qualities were overlooked by those on the Kop, the ovation he received after he fulfilled the schoolboy dream of firing in a penalty for Everton – and again when taking a bow after the final whistle – shows the esteem in which he is now held. With every penny raised from the game and subsequent gala dinner going to charities in the area via his 23 Foundation, it was a day for all Reds to indulge in nostalgia. Yes, many will have smiled at the fact Liverpool ran out 4-1 victors – thus correcting the quirky anomaly of them having failed in four previous attempts to win a Merseyside derby testimonial – but, really, the outcome was inconsequential.
“It wasn't just about me, it was for the people of Liverpool and what we are trying to achieve,” said Carragher. “That was what it was about and I am glad everyone got involved and enjoyed the day – and I am glad it went well.” It was never going to go anything other than well once Liverpool scored with the first attack of the game after 83 seconds; Luis Garcia was always a man to rely on in the big occasions and he showed that he still has that happy knack. A break involving Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole ended up reaching the feet of Emile Heskey and he cushioned a perfectly weighted pass into Garcia, who cut on to his favoured left side before curling an unstoppable shot beyond Iain Turner from 20 yards into the top corner of the Anfield Road net. There was a delicious irony to it all; Garcia used to be on the receiving end of some frightful ear-bashings from Carragher when he was playing for real. Equally, though, Carragher recognised that Garcia did as much as anyone to help him claim that Champions League winners' medal in 2005. Sentiments which also apply to Michael Owen. Some will have feared prior to his return that his allegiance to Manchester United would cast a shadow over the day, he only had to contend with some pantomime booing. By the end of his 45-minute cameo, many had taken to clapping each time he received possession and while, sadly, it is unlikely he will ever enjoy the kind of reception his goals and achievements should guarantee, it would be wrong to forget the good times Owen provided. Mind you, he almost caused a diplomatic incident when shaping as if he was going to take the first penalty of the afternoon; while Carragher wanted Owen to score, the world and his wife demanded the Reds' number 23 take the honours. Certain wags claimed Carragher would have been more anxious ahead of that spot kick than he was when he last sat a 12-yard test – for England in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals against Portugal – and there is no doubt he felt some butterflies. “I was trying to get Michael to score in a Liverpool shirt again,” Carragher explained. “But then it dawned on me that I had to take it and I was terrified of missing it. I thought that's all people would remember me for.”
There is no chance of that. As someone who has put his body on the line for Liverpool since January 1997, Carragher will be remembered for playing a massive role in an era that saw the club win four European trophies and a similar total domestically.
He will also be remembered for the fact he was a rabid Blue during his youth, so it was no surprise he put through his own net here after Joe Cole had put Liverpool three up with a sweet half-volley. To say Mark Halsey's award was generous would be a gross understatement – James Vaughan could not stop laughing when he fell over with nobody around him – but it provided Carragher with a chance he was never going to miss. Unfortunately for him, it will be credited in the record books as another own goal and he can rest assured that nobody in Liverpool's history are ever going to get close to having a double figure tally of putting through their own net. It is some achievement. On a serious note, however, the statistics that matter also make for incredible reading. By the time he hangs up his boots, Carragher should be clear in second place on Liverpool's all time list of appearances and, who knows? There may even be another medal or two. But he will never forget the day Merseyside came out in force to acknowledge his efforts. There can be no bigger compliment.
Liverpool 4 Everton XI 1
06 Sep 2010 The Sun
MICHAEL OWEN was denied one last goal for Liverpool when Jamie Carragher's testimonial turned nasty.
Owen pulled on a Reds jersey for the first time since quitting the club in Carragher's charity game against an Everton XI. But the Manchester United man was given a hot reception at Anfield and Carra had to shelve plans to let him have a go from the spot. Carragher said: "I asked the referee to give us a penalty before half-time because I was thinking about Michael as I wanted him to score. "He's my best mate in football and I think it took a lot of courage to come back today and do it for me knowing he would take a lot of stick. "But I think the crowd would have killed him if he'd taken the penalty listening to their reaction." Carragher took the penalty instead but cancelled it out with another spot-kick — this time scoring AGAINST his own side. The 32-year-old explained: "As an Everton fan as a kid I've always dreamed about scoring against Liverpool so that is why I did that." Steven Gerrard made a ten-minute cameo at the start while Luis Garcia, Joe Cole and Nathan Eccles scored the game's other goals.
And Carragher thanked the FA for allowing Gerrard to turn out less than 24 hours after England's win over Bulgaria. He added: "A big thank you to the people at the FA because it is not easy as they had two massive games — but I think it helped they won last night. "He is the best player I've ever played with so I'm delighted he was involved. "England always have to do a warm-down the day after so that was his warm-down." Carragher hopes to raise over £1million for his 23 Foundation charity.
Phil Jagielka aims to become regular fixture in England team
'I can put real pressure on Rio Ferdinand and John Terry'
Everton centre-half assured starting role against Switzerland
The Guardian, Monday 6 September 2010
The Everton centre-half Phil Jagielka was overlooked for the England World Cup squad this summer. Phil Jagielka is convinced he can dislodge either Rio Ferdinand or John Terry to hold down a regular place in Fabio Capello's England side having impressed in the national team's first two fixtures of the new campaign. The Everton centre-half, who was overlooked for the World Cup this summer having returned from a long-term knee injury in the new year, started last month's friendly against Hungary initially alongside Terry, and was technically the senior centre-back in the qualifying victory over Bulgaria on Friday. England travel to Switzerland today with only three fit centre-halves, and Jagielka's position in the starting line-up is assured. That represents something of a rapid rise for the 28-year-old, who now boasts five caps and is confident he could yet become a regular in the side even when Terry and Ferdinand recover from hamstring and knee injuries respectively. "It's always hard to displace players like JT and Rio," he said. "But I would like to think I can. If Rio and JT come back fit for the next squad and are in form and get picked, they are not bad players to be behind. "But I'd like to put real pressure on them, that's what it's all about, and I'm sure the manager wants that as well. He's always said he wants to pick from players who are in form, so if I can keep playing international football and keep keeping clean sheets then, hopefully, it cranks up the pressure a bit." Jagielka had been suffering through last week with a badly bruised foot which required treatment three times a day and granted him only one opportunity to train, on the eve of the Wembley match. Yet his pace was still noticeable against Bulgaria and will be needed again in Basle, where he will be partnered either by the experienced Matthew Upson or Gary Cahill, who replaced the injured Michael Dawson on Friday to make his international debut.
Fabio Capello has opted against calling up a fourth centre-half, and will retain the Under-21s' Scott Loach as third-choice goalkeeper with Scott Carson granted leave after a family bereavement. Joe Hart will continue as first choice after another fine display frustrated the Bulgarians, though the England manager admitted the 23-year-old had needed the reality check provided by the past two years to further his development. "He is good, he is young, he can improve," said Capello. "He has to work. I remember when I selected him two years ago [for a friendly in Trinidad] he was not the same player. He did not have the same focus on the games or the training. He probably started to play in the first XI too early and started to think: 'I am the best.' You have to understand what happens in the mind of the young player, and sometimes this can happen. "But in two years he has come back. He has improved a lot because of the one season he played in the Premier League last year at Birmingham. It was very important. He played every game. It was really important for him, and he improved a lot in that time." Hart, like Jagielka, will expect to be tested more rigorously in Basle against a Swiss side who beat the eventual world champions Spain in their opening group game in South Africa. Their campaign petered out thereafter, but Ottmar Hitzfeld's side arguably represent England's sternest challenge in Group G.
"It's massively important that we kick on from the Bulgaria game now," said Jagielka. "The build-up to the Hungary and Bulgaria games was a little bit negative, but we had a bad World Cup. There's nothing we can do about that, it's gone, but the win on Friday did take some pressure off. Now we have to go to Switzerland with the same mentality – we want to go and win that and qualify in style again."
Everton Fc’s Tim Cahill won’t Jack it in for anyone
Sep 7 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
TIM CAHILL is relishing the challenge for his place presented by the development of Jack Rodwell at Everton. The clamour for 19-year-old Rodwell to be selected more regularly at Goodison is growing, with the teenager making his first Premier League start of the season at Villa Park last weekend. And Cahill’s place seems the most under threat with David Moyes warning: “I see Jack, in a way, pushing Tim Cahill at the moment.” But the 30-year-old Cahill seems unconcerned. “I have been with the manager a long time,” he said. “Whether it is tongue in cheek or whether it is true, I am not bothered because I am a professional and I have been around the block a few times. “It is just something that comes with the territory.” Cahill is currently on international duty with Australia – they play in Poland tonight – and after playing largely up front on his own during a frustrating World Cup tournament under Pim Verbeek, Cahill says the Socceroos are embracing new coach Holger Osieck’s more attack-minded game plan. Osieck showed his hand in his opening game in charge by playing Cahill and Scott McDonald up front together. Ironically the match against Switzerland in St Gallen ended 0-0, but Cahill admitted to enjoying the extra company up front. “I enjoyed it, to be honest to you,” he said. “I think for us to know that we can drive forward to know that and really try to penetrate teams. “You saw a lot of switching of play and we tried to be very direct. “Sure sometimes we made mistakes but overall I think everyone can be really happy.” Cahill is hoping the new attacking policy can help him add to his own impressive international tally - he has a strike rate of 21 goals from 43 internationals. Former Everton striker Francis Jeffers, meanwhile, is back at Finch Farm – but don’t expect to see him in a Blues squad again any time soon. Jeffers, who played for an Everton XI in Jamie Carragher’s testimonial at Anfield on Saturday, has been told by David Moyes he can train with the Blues while he is in between clubs. Jeffers, 29, was released by Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last season.
Ian Snodin: Time for Everton FC's Yak to get his best back
Sep 7 2010 Liverpool Echo
YAKUBU has been a big player for Everton in the past – and he can be equally as influential in the future. But he’s got to get himself back into the first team quickly and start scoring goals again. His absence from the first team squad so far this season has been disappointing and it’s no coincidence that we’ve struggled for goals.
It’s time for the Yak to have a little look at himself, say to himself ‘let’s have a good go at this’ and try and repay the support he’s always had from the Everton fans.
Evertonians love their goalscorers and they have always loved the Yak ever since he arrived at Goodison. We need him back in action as soon as possible.
Ian Snodin: Everton FC defender Phil Jagielka can keep established stars out of England side
Sep 7 2010 Liverpool Echo
PHIL JAGIELKA can give Fabio Capello a major headache in Switzerland tonight – but this time the kind of problem the England coach will be happy to wrestle with.
Jags was very good against Bulgaria last Friday. He was also decent against Hungary in the game before that, and if he can produce another sound performance tonight I simply can’t see how Capello can automatically recall his regular first choice pairing of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand when they’re available again. For a start I don’t think Terry is quite the commanding, inspirational leader that he was 18 months ago.
A few things have gone wrong for the former captain, quite apart from his off-field antics, and Jags certainly looks the more pacy player now. And it could be months before Rio Ferdinand is ready to return to the international fold again.
The Everton player is in the driving seat now and if he can perform as well this evening as he did last Friday he could take some dislodging. The great quality that Jags has is that he produces a consistent level of performance week in, week out – and that kind of reliability is invaluable at international level. I was shocked when he wasn’t selected for the World Cup squad – no-one was more disappointed than I was – but he can force Capello into making another shock decision very soon by securing his own England place for the foreseeable future. Results matter more than anything at international level and you can’t argue with the last two results that Jags has been a big part of. Another good result tonight and Capello would be hard pressed to change things too dramatically for the next international double header.The extent of England’s defensive injury problems at the moment means that if Capello starts with the defence that finished the game on Friday, he will be the senior central defensive partner – with just four caps to his name! But Jags has masses of experience in the Premier League and it’s been noticeable this season how much more talking he’s been doing on the pitch at Everton. He will be expected to do the same again tonight and he’s confident enough and mature enough to do that. I think Jags is a terrific player and it’s up to him now to show the rest of the nation just how good he is.
Fabio Capello will have seen plenty of him in training and clearly likes what he sees. Another performance like last week’s and so too will the rest of the country.
Of course Evertonians have bitter-sweet memories of players performing well for England before being snapped up by other clubs, but Jagielka has already spoken of his commitment to Everton. He was aware of Arsenal’s interest in the summer, said he was flattered but that he loved it at Everton. That’s just what Blues fans wanted to hear and his experiences with England can only make him a better player.
Tim Cahill relishing challenge of Jack Rodwell at Everton FC
Spt 7 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
TIM CAHILL is relishing the challenge for his place presented by the development of Jack Rodwell at Everton. The clamour for 19-year-old Rodwell to be selected more regularly at Goodison is growing, with the teenager making his first Premier League start of the season at Villa Park last weekend. And Cahill’s place seems the most under threat with David Moyes warning: “I see Jack, in a way, pushing Tim Cahill at the moment.” But the 30-year-old Cahill seems unconcerned. “I have been with the manager a long time,” he said. “Whether it is tongue in cheek or whether it is true, I am not bothered because I am a professional and I have been around the block a few times. “It is just something that comes with the territory.” Cahill is currently on international duty with Australia – they play in Poland tonight – and after playing largely up front on his own during a frustrating World Cup tournament under Pim Verbeek, Cahill says the Socceroos are embracing new coach Holger Osieck’s more attack-minded game plan. Osieck showed his hand in his opening game in charge by playing Cahill and Scott McDonald up front together. Ironically the match against Switzerland in St Gallen ended 0-0, but Cahill admitted to enjoying the extra company up front.“I enjoyed it, to be honest to you,” he said. “I think for us to know that we can drive forward to know that and really try to penetrate teams. “You saw a lot of switching of play and we tried to be very direct. “Sure sometimes we made mistakes but overall I think everyone can be really happy.” Cahill is hoping the new attacking policy can help him add to his own impressive international tally - he has a strike rate of 21 goals from 43 internationals. Former Everton striker Francis Jeffers, meanwhile, is back at Finch Farm – but don’t expect to see him in a Blues squad again any time soon. Jeffers, who played for an Everton XI in Jamie Carragher’s testimonial at Anfield on Saturday, has been told by David Moyes he can train with the Blues while he is in between clubs. Jeffers, 29, was released by Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last season.
ACADEMY FOOTBALL: Everton FC under-18s beat Newcastle United to stay unbeaten
Sep 7 2010 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post
THREE first-half goals helped Everton Under-18s continue their unbeaten start to the FA Premier Academy League season with an excellent 3-1 victory over Newcastle United at Finch Farm. Neil Dewsnip’s side made it two wins from their three matches as Danny Murphy, Hallum Hope and Tom Donegan all netted. Following a Donegan free-kick, Murphy headed home after 20 minutes. On the half-hour, Hope made it 2-0. The Everton striker was alert to tap home after Adam Thomas’s initial shot had been parried out by the Newcastle goalkeeper. Five minutes before half-time Everton effectively sealed the points when Donegan’s corner flew straight into the net.
Newcastle then managed to capitalise on some hesitancy in first-half stoppage time to pull a goal back. There were a number of half-chances after the break for both sides, but there wasn’t the same level of performance and in the end Everton’s first-half efforts gave them the victory. Dewsnip said: “We played very well in the first-half.
“We were 3-0 up and looking to score more so I was really delighted with our first-half performance. Unfortunately we lost concentration in injury time at the end of the first-half to concede a goal which was disappointing because we had played so well. The second-half petered out a little bit. We had chances to score but didn’t take them, while they threatened once or twice but nothing too worrying. Overall it was a good victory.” He added: “It has been a very positive start to the season. We didn't play well at Birmingham last week, but we did this week. It was very pleasing and if we can perform like we did in the first-half against Newcastle we can do well.
“That is what we would like to achieve this week.” Everton travel to Barnsley on Saturday (kick-off 11am) looking to continue their fine start. Dewsnip said: “It is always incredibly tough when we go to Barnsley so we will need to play well to get a positive result.” EVERTON UNDER-18s: Roberts, Barrow, Murphy, Hammar, Bidwell, Thomas (Lundstram 85), McAleny, Cummins, Forrester (Dobie 80), Hope. Sub (not used): Orenuga.
Mark Lawrenson: Timing may be just right for Everton FC’s meeting with Manchester United
Sept 76 2010 Liverpool Daily Post
THERE’S never a good time to play any of the top teams.
But it might be a good time for Everton to catch Manchester United so early after an international break. When players go away with their countries it’s not like they’ve been sat relaxing on a beach and resting up for the next game. So it can be a good time to take advantage. Everton only need to cast their minds back two years ago when they took on United at Goodison Park when they were in the midst of a bad start to the season. Back then it was Phil Neville’s shuddering tackle on Cristiano Ronaldo that really lit the fires. It knocked United off their stride and helped Everton on their way to a valuable point. It virtually changed the course of a season – and Everton need something similar to do get this season up and running as well.
Everton FC defender Phil Jagielka is “driver of England’s back four”, says Fabio Capello
Sep 7 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
FABIO CAPELLO has hinted Phil Jagielka could be a long-term fixture in the England side after describing the Everton defender as “the driver of the back four”.
Jagielka will earn his sixth cap for his country in tonight’s Euro 2012 qualifying match against Switzerland in Basel. In the absence of first-choice injured duo Rio Ferdinand and John Terry, the 28-year-old won praise for his performance in England’s 4-0 win over Bulgaria on Friday night. England head coach Capello yesterday confirmed Jagielka would start this evening, and had sufficient belief in the player to nominate him as “the driver of the back four, the marshal”.
With Michael Dawson having been forced off through injury against Bulgaria, Capello could reunite Jagielka with former Everton team-mate Joleon Lescott at the heart of defence, although Gary Cahill and Matthew Upson are also pressing for a start. “For the last game I chose players who I monitored in the Premier League,” said Capello. “Now we have to choose one the player who will play alongside Jagielka.”
Capello’s praise of Jagielka will further boost the player’s confidence with the 28-year-old eyeing a lengthy stay in the England side.“It’s always hard to displace players like JT (Terry) and Rio,” said the Everton man. “But I would like to think I can.
“If Rio and JT come back fit for the next squad and they are in form and they get picked, they are not bad players to be behind.
“But I’d like to put real pressure on them, that’s what it’s all about and I’m sure the manager wants that as well. “The manager has always said he wants to pick form players, so if I can keep playing international football and keeping clean sheets then it cranks up the pressuret.” Meanwhile, Everton are continuing to monitor the fitness of Louis Saha after the striker suffered a calf strain while on international duty.
Saha returned to Finch Farm having been released from the French squad after sustaining the injury just 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute in his country’s 1-0 Euro 2012 qualifying home defeat to Belarus. The 31-year-old now faces a race to be fit for Saturday’s Premier League visit of former club Manchester United.
Colin Todd pays tribute to Everton FC Former Players’ Foundation
Sep 8 2010 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Echo
COLIN TODD still believes his former club Everton can outperform their bigger spending rivals this season and finish even higher in the Premier League than they did last term. Heralded as one of the classiest defenders to ever grace the royal blue jersey, the 61-year-old had an all-too-brief spell on Merseyside between 1978-79.
However, Todd retains a great affection for the club and their supporters and was back at Goodison Park for their last home game in the Premier League against Wolves to thank the Everton Former Players’ Foundation for funding his latest knee replacement operation. He said: “I think what Everton supporters have been brought up on is teams that play football and players who can handle the ball. “There are players in the current side who can do that. “There’s Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill – who will always get you goals – and Steven Pienaar. “Jack (Rodwell) will eventually come through. People have to be patient. I think he’ll be in and out of the side then all of a sudden he will stamp his authority. “The player who I think has done exceptionally well is Phil Jagielka. “They’ve got a squad of players who are capable of finishing in a better position than they did last season.” Todd added: “If Everton had made a better start than they did last season then they would obviously have been in a better position – I think the injury to Arteta didn’t help. “I think with the restrictions he’s had, David (Moyes) has done a very good job.” Chester-le-Street-born Todd started his career in his native north east at Sunderland before becoming Britain’s most expensive defender when Brian Clough snapped him up for Derby County in 1971.
Clough famously remarked: “We’re not signing Colin Todd, we can’t afford him” on the day the player put pen to paper at the Baseball Ground. Clough subsequently sent club chairman Sam Longson a telegram informing him of the purchase and the record £175,000 fee. Todd won two League Championship medals with The Rams and earned 26 England caps. At 29, he was still considered to be in his prime when he joined the Blues but a clash of footballing philosophies with manager Gordon Lee curtailed his time at Goodison. Todd said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time here.
“I think the supporters are very appreciative and they know their football.
“Unfortunately I had a little bit of a clash with the manager and it didn’t work out but you move on. One Merseyside football observer remarked that playing Todd at right-back was like asking Lester Piggott to win The Derby on a donkey but Todd insists that his exit was not just down to the position he was picked in.
He said: “I played right-back for England a few times but my best position was obviously centre-back.
“The supporters were good here and acknowledged me as a right-back, but I think they saw the best of me when I was playing centre-back.
“The one thing about Evertonians is that they do appreciate good players.
“I would like to think that I gave them something in return for the period I was here because certainly they were very good to me. “Sometimes it pans out that way that things don’t work out as well as they should do but the time I had at Everton was good and the only disappointment was that it wasn’t for longer.” Despite his fleeting time on Merseyside, Todd was delighted to be considered enough a part of ‘The Everton family’ for the club’s Former Players’ Foundation to help him fund his operation.
He said: “If I hadn’t had found out about the fund it wouldn’t have happened.
“It’s out of that that I’ve come along to thank them. “I’ve had two knee replacements. I had my right one done first which was done by the FA And I needed to get my left one done. “I was going to fund it myself but I spoke to Andy King and he said ‘Everton have got the Trust going and they’ll do it’. “So I put a call in to Rev (Harry) Ross and he came back straight away and organised everything, sending all the necessary details through. “I think it’s a credit to the Trust and whoever has organised it. “I know a lot of the ex-players at Everton have been well looked after, it’s tremendous. I was at Derby eight years and they have nothing like that. “I have to be thankful and appreciate what they’ve done for me and I know they’ve done it for a lot of people so I hope it continues.”
Everton FC boss David Moyes may play Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini up front for Manchester United game
Sept 8 2010 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON boss David Moyes is considering reuniting a formidable double act against Manchester United on Saturday to help solve his striker dilemma.
With Louis Saha struggling with a knee injury suffered on international duty and Yakubu still not up to full fitness after a calf problem, Moyes could partner Tim Cahilll and Marouane Fellaini up front as he seeks to mastermind the Blues’ first league win of the season. Cahill and Fellaini combined to great effect two seasons ago when a catalogue of injuries left Moyes without any senior strikers.
With Fellaini playing just off Cahill they wreaked havoc in the second half of the 2008/09 campaign. Cahill famously got the last-gasp winner when Moyes employed the duo further forward at Manchester City in December 2008 and that victory triggered a remarkable run of just one defeat in 18 games. Saha is back at Finch Farm having intensive treatment after limping off just 10 minutes into his international comeback for France against Belarus in Paris last Friday night. However, the experienced striker is highly unlikely to be fit to face his former club.Moyes’ other option is to keep faith with Jermaine Beckford, who has started Everton’s last two league games, but whose only goal so far was a penalty in the Carling Cup win over Huddersfield. Everton also face an anxious wait over midfielder Jack Rodwell and skipper Phil Neville. Rodwell suffered an ankle injury in the Blues’ recent Premier League defeat at Aston Villa which prompted his withdrawal from England Under-21 duty. Neville is having a scan on the foot injury which has forced him to miss the Blues’ last three matches. Meanwhile, Tony Hibbert has warned Everton must be more clinical if they are going to kick-start their campaign against Manchester United at Goodison on Saturday. The Blues’ opening three league games have yielded just a point and Moyes’ side have found the net only once. “I think we’re playing brilliantly, we really are,” Hibbert said. “We’re getting a grip of the game and passing the ball really well. We’re just lacking a little bit in the final third but maybe that’s a bit of luck and maybe that will come on Saturday. “You can push and push and push all day long but at the end of the day you need to score.” Meanwhile, Joseph Yobo has revealed his delight at completing a season-long loan move to Turkish outfit Fenerbahce. The long-serving centre-back believes he fell into Moyes’ bad books after choosing to play for Nigeria at the African Nations Cup in January. However, Yobo insists he has no regrets about putting his country first. “I have said it time and time again, my national assignment remains paramount to me whenever I’m going into any contract,” he said. “ l PHIL JAGIELKA shone for England in Switzerland but it was a night of mixed fortunes for Everton's international contingent. John Heitinga helped Holland beat Finland 2-1 in Rotterdam courtesy of a brace from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
Keeper Jan Mucha made some key saves as Slovakia beat Russia 1-0 in Moscow. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov only played the final nine minutes for the hosts.
There was disappointment for Marouane Fellaini who played the full 90 minutes in Belgium's 3-2 defeat at the hands of Turkey. Tim Cahill led Australia to a 2-1 friendly victory against Poland, while Joao Silva scored his first goal for Portugal Under-21s in their 3-1 win over Macedonia. Young Blues defender Seamus Coleman skippered Republic of Ireland Under-21s, but couldn't prevent them from losing 1-0 to Turkey.
l Tickets are still available for Everton’s game against United on Saturday. Call 0871 663-1878 or visit the box office.
Everton striker James Vaughan to join Crystal Palace on loan
Sep 8 2010 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON striker James Vaughan is set to join Championship outfit Crystal Palace on a three-month loan spell. Sheffield United, Derby and Blackpool have also been linked with the 22-year-old but it appears Palace have won the race for his services. Palace boss George Burley said: “We think James is a very good player and we are hoping to finalise the move today or tomorrow. “It’s no secret we have been looking for a striker and I think James could be the answer. “He will be the final player we bring in, after this deal we will work with what we’ve got.” Vaughan could make his debut for Palace against Reading this weekend.
Tony Hibbert says Everton FC must be ruthless against Manchester United
Sept 8 2010 by James Pearce, Liverpool Daily Post
DEFENDER Tony Hibbert has warned Everton must be more clinical if they are going to kick-start their Premier League campaign against Manchester United at Goodison Park on Saturday. Everton have endured a disappointing start to the season with just one point from their opening three games. A home draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers has been sandwiched by narrow defeats on their travels at Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa. David Moyes’ side have found the net just once but the right-back insists a finishing touch has been the only thing missing from some promising performances. “I think we’re playing brilliantly, we really are,” Hibbert said. “We’re getting a grip of the game and passing the ball really well.
“We’re just lacking a little bit in the final third but maybe that’s a bit of luck and maybe that will come on Saturday. “You can push and push and push all day long but at the end of the day you need to score. “Scoring goals wins the games so we need to start to scoring. Maybe it is a bit of luck we need to kick-start us but you’ve got to keep on going.” Hibbert is under no illusions about the importance of Saturday’s lunchtime showdown against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side at Goodison. And the 29-year-old believes that Everton should be optimistic about how they beat United 3-1 at home back in February courtesy of goals from Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Dan Gosling and Jack Rodwell. “It’s a massive game for us on Saturday,” Hibbert added.
“We’re at home and we need a win no matter what. “We’ve had a few good results at home against Man United so I think the lads are looking forward to it.”
Meanwhile, Joseph Yobo has revealed his delight at completing a season-long loan move to Turkish outfit Fenerbahce. The long-serving centre-back hadn’t featured for Everton so far this season after falling out of favour with boss Moyes and was keen to get away from Goodison. “During that period, I was under intense pressure,” Yobo said. “But now I am very much relieved and I can now give 100% to the game.
“It was not easy for me, but I thank God that all is over.” The Nigeria captain believes that he fell into Moyes’ bad books after choosing to play for Nigeria at the African Nations Cup in January. However, Yobo has no regrets about putting his country first.
“I have said it time and time again, my national assignment remains paramount to me whenever I’m going into any contract,” he added. “We don’t need to deceive ourselves, Nigeria still remains our country, this is where we would return after club assignments, so the interest of my country is well protected in my new club.”
Tickets are still available for Everton’s game against United at Goodison on Saturday.
Ian Snodin: The day Howard Kendall flew very close to the wind
Sept 9 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
AFTER the Championship had been won, we went on a tour to Australia and New Zealand before finishing with a holiday in Hawaii. The plane journey got out of hand. We were going on a 24-hour flight and we started drinking as soon as the coach left Bellefield. On the plane we were all p****d out of heads. Our behaviour wasn’t great.
We stopped at Los Angeles to refuel. The pilot must have alerted the police because when we disembarked, we saw three or four policemen carrying guns. We were taken into a room and told we weren’t going any further because we had behaved disgracefully. The plan was to fly us back to England. It was quite scary. We were representing the club and we were out of order. They asked us who was in charge and Adrian Heath pointed to Howard, who was coming towards us. The gaffer was drunk and in a dishevelled state with stains on his shirt caused by Kevin Sheedy throwing red wine over him. One of the policemen said in disbelief: “That guy is in charge of you!” We started laughing but the officer didn’t. There was a hush and Howard sobered up instantly. He listened to what the officer had to say and gave us all a lecture. He then asked if there were any questions and Adrian Heath lifted his arm. He pointed to Neil Pointon’s frizzy hair and asked: ‘I’d just like to know where he got that hat from?’ l Snod This For A Laugh is published by Sport Media and costs £14.99. Call 0845 143 0001 to order a copy or log on to www.merseyshop.com
Ian Snodin: Snod that for a medical!
Sept 9 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
Shy, retiring, teetotal . . . Ian Snodin is none of these things! Snods played hard on and off the pitch, and in his hilarious new book the Echo’s new columnist lifts the lid of some of his career escapades. IAN Snodin was at the centre of a transfer tug of war when he left Leeds United in 1986 – with Everton and Liverpool pulling at either end of the rope. When he eventually opted for Everton, manager Howard Kendall decided to waste no time in getting his new player’s signature on a contract. But even Snodin himself couldn’t believe quite how quickly the deal was completed! He explained – When Leeds attempted to sign Asa Hartford in 1971 they found he had a hole in the heart. Subsequently, when I signed for them in 1985 I had undergone a two-day medical. I saw a knee specialist, an ankle specialist, a back specialist, I had my blood taken at the hospital and I had my heart monitored. It was nothing if not thorough. It was a bit different at Everton. I arrived at Bellefield and Howard told me how delighted he was. Then he said: ‘This medical, it’s a formality. You’ve turned them down to join us, there’ll not really be a medical, just go into the back room and the club doctor will be along with the physio. Within an hour we’ll be at Goodison.’
When it started I remember the doctor said: ‘Strip off son.’ I took my minging tracksuit off and was stood in my undies. He turned around and said: ‘He looks fit, Howard.’ Then he asked: ‘Ian, can you get on the bench?’ I did so and the doctor said ‘He’s agile.’ I thought: ‘F*****g agile? What’s all this?’ He checked my knee and ankle, pressed on my back and turned to Kendall again. ‘That’s it then, Howard. No problems here.’ It must have lasted 10 minutes. I thought: ‘This can’t be it, surely?’
Howard then said: ‘Doc, what about the questions you have to ask him?’
The doc opened his briefcase while Kendall carried on talking: ‘Don’t you think you’re rushing this a bit Doc?’ I was sat on the bench, nervous as a kitten.
Then the doctor asked: ‘Any illnesses in the family, Ian?’ ‘No, not at all.’
‘Do you smoke?’ ‘No, I’ve never touched a cigarette in my life.’ ‘Do you drink?’
‘In moderation, doc.’ ‘What’s moderation?’ ‘Just after a game, maybe five or six pints.’ He started making notes and muttered to himself in a concerned manner. Howard asked: ‘Can I have a word doc?’ The two of them walked off to the corner of the room. I was thinking: ‘My God, what have I said? I should have said one pint, not five or six.’ The conversation seemed to last five minutes but it was probably only 20 seconds. They came walking back and the doctor said: ‘The boss is not happy with your drinking.’ I must have turned white. Howard said: ‘Five or six pints a week... hey son, if you want to sign for this club today you had better treble the amount you’re drinking. ‘We can play on the field and we can play off the field. We love a social here – that’s the team spirit we’ve got.’ I looked at him in shock and said: ‘To be fair Mr Kendall, I do like a drink.’ ‘Don’t worry son. I’ve had you checked out. I know you love a social. Now come on, let’s go down to Goodison – you’re an Everton player.’
Ian Snodin: Gazza’s comeback that had me laughing
Sept 9 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
SOON after I joined Everton, we played Newcastle United when Paul Gascoigne was still only 19. During the match he nutmegged Peter Reid and shouted ‘nuts’ as he did so. Reidy was furious but before he could recover, Gazza knocked the ball past him again on the opposite side. The ball was now heading towards me and as I’d seen and heard all this I decided to teach the cheeky bugger a lesson. I cleaned him out and he went down squealing. I said to him: ‘You cheeky little b*****d. Have some respect.’ After he got up and the game continued, he tried to elbow me off the ball. I wasn’t impressed and threatened him. ‘I’ll kill you. Pack it in. Anyway, how much are you on a week?’ I should never have said it. I wasn’t on megabucks, but he was probably only earning £200 a week at the time. In December 1988 I played against him again, shortly after he had joined Tottenham in a big-money move. As we waited in the tunnel before kick-off I was stood across from Gazza and congratulated him on his move. He thanked me by asking: ‘How much are you f*****g on?’ He then produced a £20 note that was tucked into his shorts and handed it to me, adding: ‘You need that more than I do.’ I was laughing and thought ‘fair play son.’ What a comeback.
Ian Snodin: Nude and rude. My cold welcome to Everton
Sept 9 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
WE played a friendly in Bordeaux shortly after I signed, which we won 2-1. We went out on the lash afterwards. I scored and celebrated as though it had been the winner in the European Cup final. Before I knew it I was absolutely plastered. I was rooming with Alan Harper and eventually said: ‘I need to go to bed, Al.’ I remember him and Kevin Ratcliffe taking me to bed and laying me out. I woke up in the night and felt absolutely freezing. I leant over to pull the quilt over my body and grasped thin air. I thought: ‘Where is it?’ I was groping desperately for this quilt and as I did so I heard a bell ring. I opened my eyes and an old couple emerged from a lift in front of me.
Harper and Ratcliffe had carried me out of my room completely naked and laid me on a settee right outside the lift. I looked up and the old lady, who was English, exclaimed: ‘Oh my God! I’ve seen some sights but nothing ever like this.’ I ran back down the corridor to my room completely starkers. It was a case of ‘Welcome to Everton.’
Ian Snodin: Everton FC medical was best bar none
Sept 9 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
Shy, retiring, teetotal . . . Ian Snodin is none of these things! Snods played hard on and off the pitch, and in his hilarious new book the Echo’s new columnist lifts the lid of some of his career escapades.
IAN Snodin was at the centre of a transfer tug of war when he left Leeds United in 1986 – with Everton and Liverpool pulling at either end of the rope. When he eventually opted for Everton, manager Howard Kendall decided to waste no time in getting his new player’s signature on a contract. But even Snodin himself couldn’t believe quite how quickly the deal was completed! He explained – When Leeds attempted to sign Asa Hartford in 1971 they found he had a hole in the heart. Subsequently, when I signed for them in 1985 I had undergone a two-day medical.
I saw a knee specialist, an ankle specialist, a back specialist, I had my blood taken at the hospital and I had my heart monitored. It was nothing if not thorough. It was a bit different at Everton. I arrived at Bellefield and Howard told me how delighted he was. Then he said: ‘This medical, it’s a formality. You’ve turned them down to join us, there’ll not really be a medical, just go into the back room and the club doctor will be along with the physio. Within an hour we’ll be at Goodison.’ When it started I remember the doctor said: ‘Strip off son.’ I took my minging tracksuit off and was stood in my undies. He turned around and said: ‘He looks fit, Howard.’ Then he asked: ‘Ian, can you get on the bench?’ I did so and the doctor said ‘He’s agile.’ I thought: ‘F*****g agile? What’s all this?’ He checked my knee and ankle, pressed on my back and turned to Kendall again. ‘That’s it then, Howard. No problems here.’ It must have lasted 10 minutes. I thought: ‘This can’t be it, surely?’ Howard then said: ‘Doc, what about the questions you have to ask him?’ The doc opened his briefcase while Kendall carried on talking: ‘Don’t you think you’re rushing this a bit Doc?’ I was sat on the bench, nervous as a kitten. Then the doctor asked: ‘Any illnesses in the family, Ian?’
‘No, not at all.’
‘Do you smoke?’
‘No, I’ve never touched a cigarette in my life.’
‘Do you drink?’
‘In moderation, doc.’
‘What’s moderation?’
‘Just after a game, maybe five or six pints.’ He started making notes and muttered to himself in a concerned manner. Howard asked: ‘Can I have a word doc?’ The two of them walked off to the corner of the room. I was thinking: ‘My God, what have I said? I should have said one pint, not five or six.’ The conversation seemed to last five minutes but it was probably only 20 seconds. They came walking back and the doctor said: ‘The boss is not happy with your drinking.’ I must have turned white. Howard said: ‘Five or six pints a week... hey son, if you want to sign for this club today you had better treble the amount you’re drinking. ‘We can play on the field and we can play off the field. We love a social here – that’s the team spirit we’ve got.’ I looked at him in shock and said: ‘To be fair Mr Kendall, I do like a drink.’ ‘Don’t worry son. I’ve had you checked out. I know you love a social. Now come on, let’s go down to Goodison – you’re an Everton player.’
Everton FC's Steven Pienaar targets Manchester United goals
Sept 9 2010 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
STEVEN PIENAAR is on a mission to end his six-month goal drought and inspire Everton to victory over Manchester United at Goodison on Saturday.
The South African midfielder hasn’t found the net since he scored in the win over Bolton back in March and is keen to put that right. Pienaar went agonisingly close to breaking his barren run when he struck the bar against Aston Villa in the Blues’ last outing. David Moyes’ side have been short on goals with just one in their opening three league games and Pienaar, who scored seven times last season, is desperate to contribute. “I don’t think the team has been playing badly and we’ve been unfortunate not to pick up three points,” he said. “That’s football – sometimes you play well and don’t win games. “Hopefully on Saturday we can get a win. “Maybe we’re short on luck at the moment but we have to keep going and it will come. “We need goals and I want to score more. “I was close at Villa and I was close with the national team last weekend (South Africa beat Niger 2-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier).
“Hopefully it will come this Saturday. It would be great for me personally because a lot of my friends support Man United in South Africa and it would be something for me to boast about. “But it would also be great for the team as well if we can get maximum points.” Pienaar has happy memories of the last meeting between the clubs back in February when Everton clinched an impressive 3-1 victory.
“Last time we played them at Goodison the atmosphere was amazing and our team played really well,” he added. “I hope we can repeat the same on Saturday but we know it won’t be easy because Man United are also playing well.” Phil Neville has warned Everton will have to show “no fear” if they are going to record back-to-back wins over United. The skipper is hoping to recover from a foot injury in time to face his former club. “Sometimes you can win a game with maybe eight players playing well, at their best,” Neville said. “But against Man United you need all 11. They are the best team in the country, they have got strength in depth and for us to beat them like we did last year we have to go out and show no fear. “We have to go out and believe that we are good enough to be on the same field as them.” Meanwhile, James Vaughan has joined Championship outfit Crystal Palace on a three-month loan deal.
The 22-year-old has not featured for Everton this season after finding himself down the pecking order at Goodison. Vaughan made his name as the Premier League’s youngest ever goal scorer in a game against Palace in 2005 but his progress has been hampered by a succession of injuries. The striker, who spent time on loan with Derby and Leicester last season, could make his debut for Palace at Reading on Saturday.
Tickets are still available for Everton’s clash with Man United from the box office at Goodison or by calling 0871 663 1878.
Everton FC rocked as Jack Rodwell ruled out for three months
Sept 9 2010 by James Pearce
EVERTON have suffered a major blow ahead of Saturday’s clash against Manchester United at Goodison with Jack Rodwell facing three months out with an ankle injury.
The talented 19-year-old midfielder damaged ligaments in a challenge with Stephen Warnock during the Blues’ 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa nearly a fortnight ago.
Rodwell was forced to withdraw from the England Under-21s squad but swelling around the joint meant Everton’s medical team were unable to establish the full extent of the damage until now. Losing Rodwell until December is a huge setback for boss David Moyes. The Southport-born youngster impressed in the Blues’ emphatic 5-1 victory over Huddersfield in the Carling Cup at Goodison last month and capped a fine performance with a goal. His reward was a first league start of the campaign at Villa Park but after coming off second best in a tackle with Warnock he was replaced by Seamus Coleman 20 minutes from time. Rodwell committed his future to Everton in the summer when he penned a new five-year deal amid interest from Manchester United.
Wayne Rooney will get hot reception at Goodison Park, says Phil Jagielka
Sep 9 2010 by James Pearce, Liverpool Daily Post
PHIL JAGIELKA has warned Wayne Rooney to expect a hot reception when he returns to Goodison Park with Manchester United on Saturday. The Everton centre-back lined up alongside Rooney, who has been dogged by allegations about his private life, to help England beat Switzerland 3-1 on Tuesday night in their Euro 2012 qualifier. However, on Saturday Jagielka will be tasked with containing the former Everton striker and believes there will be no hiding place for the Croxteth-born frontman who left the club back in 2004. Jagielka said: “It should be amusing. On Merseyside Wayne always gets a little bit of stick and I’ll be giving him a little bit as well if he plays on Saturday. “I’ve spoken to him about it. All the boys in the England squad know who is playing who. “It is always interesting playing against people you’ve just been away with in the week. No doubt I’ll give him a bit of banter if he plays. “There is a good chance he will get slaughtered. He normally gets quite a bit of stick anyway. I can’t see that changing come Saturday.” The United striker scored his first international goal for 12 months against the Swiss and Jagielka knows Rooney will be desperate to silence his critics at Goodison. “I am sure Wayne can deal with it,” Jagielka added. “He is a tough lad and he will let his football do the talking.
“I will enjoy the battle against him. I like playing against good players and Wayne is definitely a good player. “It is always a tough battle and I’ve always got to keep concentrated when I play against him.” Jagielka was reluctant to comment on how Rooney reacted while on England duty to the allegations against him, but insists he admires the way he was able to focus on his football. He said: “It’s not really for me to comment on what Wayne has been like this week. I’m not exactly best of friends with Wayne so I’ve not been hanging around with him that much. “He seems his normal self but I haven’t got an in-depth sort of view of how he has been feeling.
“It was always going to be a hard night for Wayne but he did what he is put in the team for. He created some good chances as well as scoring when he was the right man at the right time.”Jagielka was reunited with former Everton team-mate Joleon Lescott at the heart of the England defence and took satisfaction from his performance.
He said: “We’ve not played together for a while but I enjoyed playing alongside him. I felt really comfortable and hopefully he felt the same way. “We would have liked to keep a clean sheet but when a guy steps up and hits the ball like he did for their goal, there is not much you can do about it.” Meanwhile, James Vaughan has joined Championship outfit Crystal Palace on a three-month loan deal. The 22-year-old has not featured for Everton this season after finding himself down the pecking order at Goodison. Vaughan made his name as the Premier League’s youngest ever goalscorer in a game against Palace in 2005 but his progress has been hampered by a succession of injuries. The striker, who spent time on loan with Derby and Leicester last season, could make his debut for Palace at Reading on Saturday.
BLUE WATCH: Will any of the cameras point at the pitch in Everton v Manchester United clash?
Sep 9 2010 by Mark O'Brien, Liverpool Daily Post
WHATEVER the world at large may believe, Saturday lunchtime’s game between Everton and Manchester United is significant because of the three points at stake and nothing more. United need the points to ensure that they don’t start to lose track of the Chelsea juggernaut at the top of the table while the Toffees need to give the season the proverbial kick-start after their initial trio of disappointing results. Unfortunately though, the match is likely to attract attention because, should he have the energy to actually play football, it will be the first league game to involve Wayne Rooney since the latest details of his rather colourful private life were aired in the Sunday papers.
That the match is at Goodison Park, where he always receives an excitable welcome at the best of times, has been missed by no one. We can probably expect more cameras to be trained on the crowd than on the pitch then, as television producers seek out that perennial favourite in these circumstances: the pithy message scrawled on a piece of cardboard. Given the subject matter though, they might struggle to find one suitable for broadcast in this instance. In truth, we all know that it’s going to be a rather predictable pantomime, and that Rooney, for one, will be focused solely on the football. Let’s face it, he is more than used to the abuse by now, and if United are winning he will be happy to called all the names under the sun and respond with sly smiles and maybe a bit of badge kissing. And nothing shuts a crowd up like a goal.
It’s only if things don’t go their way when he begins to lose his cool and perhaps let the crowd get under his skin. And that’s the red tops’ dream scenario, especially if he responds with the tried and trusted ‘provocative gesture’. Everton, for their part, just have to make sure that they don’t get sidetracked by the Rooney show, and concentrate on reproducing the sort of performance that saw them overwhelm United in the corresponding fixture last season. That outstanding display capped the best spell of football of the whole David Moyes era – the one that made the likes of Ferguson take us seriously and tip us as dark horses this time around. Hopefully more of the same will ensure that Sunday’s headlines are all about United and Rooney’s getting, erm, beaten, on the pitch, not off it.
Fans' fury over new contracts
May 10 2006 Echo Letters, icLiverpool & Liverpool Echo
EVERTON must be really hard up to let Ferrari go and keep Weir and Stubbs.
What's more we are consistently told the club is making progress. We are going backwards. This is just the start of what I suspect will be a very depressing summer.
I don't blame Moyes - but I do blame the crew supposedly running the club. So glad I renewed my season ticket and so not looking forward to next year.
Brian Underwood, Garston
WEIR and Stubbs? Can't wait for next season!
Moyes should be stronger with the board. We can surely invest in better players than that without risking doing what Leeds did a few years ago. We could have got Ferrari at a decent price. Dan James, Bootle
IF MOYES is interested in youth, why has he let Ferrari go and kept on Stubbs, Weir and Martyn? This decision is a disgrace to all of us who have renewed our season tickets. Moyes has taken us as far as he can and it's about time Joe Royle was brought back to finish the job he started nearly 10 years ago.
Gary Lewis, Birkenhead
THE PATIENCE and support I had for Moyes has gone thanks to the new deals being offered to Stubbs, Weir and Martyn. I'm anticipating the exits of Yobo, Arteta and Cahill next. John Townley, Gosport
HOW much longer will we let Kenwright get away with it? Another season with Weir and a bizarre decision to send back a younger centre half.
Everyone on the board should be ashamed of themselves and Moyes is now breaking records for all the wrong reasons.
Lowest points tally EVER, lowest goals tally EVER - and how about the hidings we've had too? Newcastle 6-1, West Brom 4-0, Villa 4-0, Arsenal 7-1, Man City 5-1,Tottenham 5-1. Is that shrewd management?
Adrian Codd, Aintree
WEIR handed a new deal? It beggars belief.
He has been a great servant to EFC but he is too old now. Ferrari was an ideal replacement alongside Yobo. They were our future in defence. Where is the young blood Moyes talked about playing not long ago? Where is our youth policy?
Martin Naylor, Formby
DELIGHTED to see that the contracts of Weir and Stubbsy have been extended.
They have both been brilliant in the second half of the season - but we still need another centre back, and a natural goalscorer. Andrew Johnson would fit the bill perfectly. Shaun Lyall, Tuebrook
Everton FC midfielder Jack Rodwell out for up to three months with ankle injury
Sep 10 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
EVERTON’S worst fears have been realised with the news Jack Rodwell is facing up to three months on the sidelines with an ankle injury. Rodwell damaged ankle ligaments in a challenge with Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock during the 1-0 defeat at Villa Park almost a fortnight ago. The 19-year-old was withdrawn from the England under-21 squad although swelling around the injury has meant that Everton’s medical team had been unable to ascertain the full extent of the damage. Now Rodwell will embark on a long rehabilitation and faces a battle to return in time for the busy Christmas and New Year period of fixtures. Rodwell was making his first Premier League start of the season at Aston Villa but, following the challenge by Warnock, was forced to hobble off with 20 minutes remaining. Everton manager David Moyes had hinted earlier in the campaign that he would be sparing with his use of Rodwell until the second half of the season. However, Moyes now has no choice over that matter. The Goodison Park manager also faces a conundrum over who to play up front for the visit of Manchester United in tomorrow’s early Barclays Premier League kick-off. Louis Saha is struggling with a calf strain, Victor Anichebe is injured while James Vaughan has joined Crystal Palace on loan for the rest of the year.
And with Jermaine Beckford hugely inexperienced at top-flight level, Moyes is considering reintroducing the makeshift strikeforce of Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill. Vaughan agreed the move to npower Championship side Palace having been told by Moyes to gain some much-needed playing time after not featuring in a matchday squad for Everton this season. And the 22-year-old striker wants to use his three-month spell at Selhurst Park to help shoulder his way back into the Everton first-team set-up. “David Moyes told me to go out and get some games,” said Vaughan.
“Hopefully I can come here and prove I am good enough for the team. “I want to play as much as possible, score some goals and help Palace out. “It is a good opportunity for me to test myself at a good level of football. “I heard that Palace were interested a few days ago and I was desperate to get out and play some games. It was a no-brainer for me.” Another player to leave Everton on loan in recent weeks, Joseph Yobo, has suggested disagreements over his international commitments helped push him towards an exit. Yobo has joined Turkish side Fenerbahce for the remainder of the season with a view to a permanent move after falling down the centre-back pecking order at Goodison. And the defender has hinted part of that was due to his desire to play for Nigeria, for whom he is captain. “During that period, I was under intense pressure,” said Yobo. “But now, I am very much relieved and I can now give my 100% to the game. “It was not easy for me, but I thank God that all is over. “I have said it time and time again, my national assignment remains paramount to me whenever I’m going into any contract. “We don’t need to deceive ourselves, Nigeria still remains our country. “This is where we will return after club assignments, so the interest of my country is well protected in my new club.” Yobo started only four Everton games since injuring his hamstring against Liverpool last November, a problem the defender aggravated while playing for Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations in January.
Ferguson refuses to talk about Wayne Rooney's personal troubles
September 10, 2010
Sir Alex Ferguson has refused to discuss Wayne Rooney's current off-field problems.
Rooney has been at the centre of allegations about his private life and with a trip to former club Everton looming tomorrow, there has been a huge amount of speculation as to whether the 24-year-old will be involved or not. Toffees defender Phil Jagielka has already wound up the situation, claiming Rooney can expect a hostile reception at Goodison Park. But Ferguson has no intention of adding fuel to the fire. "Let's put it to bed straightaway," said the United boss. "I am not discussing any of my players' personal lives." Despite the huge interest around Rooney, it is fully in keeping with Ferguson's management philosophy that he would not feed the story even further.
In private, the Scot might adopt a different stance, although that would not include offering Rooney a bed for the night, as was suggested in some quarters. However, the United boss has tended to remain loyal to his squad and keep the unity within it by closing ranks when necessary. Ferguson has never shown any need to leave players out of potentially hostile situations for personal reasons either. David Beckham for instance, was not spared an appearance against West Ham in the aftermath of his difficult experience at the 1998 World Cup, while more recently, Cristiano Ronaldo was trusted to control his temper when he became public enemy number one for his part in England's exit at the 2006 tournament. Nevertheless, Ferguson will also want to be sure in his own mind of the best way to use Rooney over the next arduous week.
With matches against Everton and Liverpool sandwiching the Champions League match with Rangers, it is entirely possible Rooney will be left out at some stage.
However, with Ferguson today reporting that Mexico striker Javier Hernandez had only returned from international duty last night, two days after most of his squad got back, the odds would be on Rooney running the gauntlet of Goodison Park ire
David Moyes - Wayne Rooney wanted to play for Everton in Jamie Carragher's Liverpool FC testimonial
Sept 11 2010 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES has revealed how Wayne Rooney wanted to pull on an Everton shirt to play a part in Jamie Carragher’s testimonial last weekend. The Everton boss approached the Manchester United striker about appearing in the match at Anfield for the Blues and Croxteth-born frontman was keen to help out. However, Rooney’s international commitments with England meant he wasn’t able to make an appearance for the club he left back in 2004. “Wayne was keen to play for Everton in Jamie Carragher’s testimonial,” Moyes revealed. “I just asked him if he would play and he said he would be keen to do so. “In the end he couldn’t because he was with England. We couldn’t get him but if it had been possible then Wayne would have played in the game.” Rooney, who has been dogged by allegations about his private life recently, is expected to face a hot reception on his return to Goodison with United today.
Moyes refused to discuss the impact of the past week’s headlines on his former player but believes relations between Rooney and Everton have improved in recent years.
“I think the hostility (towards Rooney) has changed,” Moyes added.“I’ve no idea whether Wayne will play and I’m only interested in football.
“I think at Goodison there is always quite a hostile atmosphere for whoever comes to town. “Games against United are always well anticipated and that’s why Sir Alex recognises it’s one of the tough games in the calendar. “We have to use Man United as a benchmark and try to get to their level for consistency. They continue to win trophies and that’s something all clubs are trying to do.” Meanwhile, Moyes admits Seamus Coleman is pressing hard for a Premier League start ahead of today’s showdown. The right-back impressed in the Carling Cup win over Huddersfield last month and came off the bench in Everton’s 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa a fortnight ago.
Tony Hibbert is expected to retain his place today but Moyes is full of praise for the young Irishman. “Seamus is doing well and pushing all the time to get in the team,” Moyes said. “We brought him on at Villa in midfield as we know he has the ability to get forward and we are short of a right sided player at the moment. “But he’s always been a right-back. There is competition there with Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville but Seamus is progressing and is very close. He’s a great £60,000 buy.” Meanwhile, Moyes insists Jack Rodwell will bounce back from his crushing injury setback.
The Blues midfielder is facing three months out after damaging ankle ligaments in the defeat at Villa. Moyes said: “It’s really disappointing for us and really disappointing for Jack as well. “I didn’t think an awful lot of his injury initially but the following morning when he had a scan we knew there was a problem. “He went to see a surgeon who knocked him out to check his ankle and the good thing is he’s not going to need surgery. But it’s going to be a couple of months. We were worried it was a similar injury to the one Marouane Fellaini had last season but thankfully it’s not as bad.
“It is a big blow because we have high hopes for him. He is maturing all the time and I can see him getting better all the time. I was ready to play him as often as possible.
“You look back at how he came on against Man United last season and the impact he had on the game and I just see him maturing all the time. “But I did think at this stage of the season we would have a lot of competition for places in central midfield. I could see Jack coming more into it in the second half of the season. “Jack will come through this and has got plenty of football ahead of him. “He’s got a bit to do before he becomes a full England international but I’m sure he will do.”
Barry Horne: No need for Everton FC's Jack Rodwell to worry about his latest injury
Sep 11 2010 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Echo
EVERTONIANS were hit with a genuine slice of bad news this week, and that was the extent of Jack Rodwell’s injury. I said a couple of weeks ago that the time is growing very, very close when Jack will become an established regular starter in the first team. Clearly his ankle injury is a setback, but he only has to look around at the example of team-mates Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville and Mikel Arteta for reassurance.
Our local heroes helped Swiss roll over for England
SWITZERLAND may have beaten Spain in the World Cup this summer, but they are always a team England would expect to beat. Nevertheless, England’s confidence was fragile going into the game but I thought Fabio Capello’s side really got on top from the word go and won the game in the first hour. The victory was built on the display of three lads close to home. Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard were both excellent, the former not just for his performance but also his bravura. But almost unnoticed was Phil Jagielka’s contribution and I don’t think his partnership with Joleon Lescott got the credit it deserved. I’m delighted for Jags because his injury last year came at what could have been a pivotal moment in his career. Praise must also go to Glen Johnson. There’s a perceived wisdom about Glen that he’s not a good defender, but I’ve not actually seen a great deal of evidence of that in an England shirt. He did well. * SEPP BLATTER is threatening to tinker yet again with the format at the next World Cup by abolishing extra time and reintroducing the Golden Goal format. Clearly Sepp hasn’t been in the paper for a couple of weeks.
Royal Blue: Everton FC stars who lost their way and slid down the non-league ladder
Sept 11 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
THE number of players who have jumped from non-league to the big league at Everton can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Eamonn O’Keefe (no relation to the usual face at the top of this page – and certainly better at penalties than our Greg) and John Barton (the marauding and moustachioed 70s full-back) are the most recent – unless Echo readers know better. But the number who have made the opposite journey are increasing in number. It’s a sweet and sour experience seeing players who once had so much hope invested in them, running out in front of a couple of hundred customers. Sweet, because it’s heartening to see players still so in love with the game that they will carry on playing regardless of the level. Sour because such great things were once expected of so many of these ‘fallen’ stars. Michael Branch was genuinely considered to be the Evertonian equivalent of Michael Owen. (It’s about time the journalist who worked on this newspaper who wagered that Branch would get to 20 league goals before Owen paid up). Now he’s leading the line for Evo-Stik League side Burscough. Neil Moore achieved fleeting fame at Everton in the early 90s as a commanding centre-half who lived so close to the ground he used to walk there on matchdays – boots slung over his shoulder. Howard Kendall decided he didn’t quite have the quality for top flight football, but after a solid career in the lower leagues he now turns out regularly for Conference North side Solihull Moors at the ripe old age of 38. Still in demand, last summer he turned down offers from Bedworth United, Nuneaton Griff, Hinckley United and Shepshed Dynamo before opting for Solihull.
Jamie Milligan once formed the most lightweight forward line ever seen at Goodison when he partnered Francis Jeffers for the final few minutes of the 1-0 win over Newcastle on the night Duncan Ferguson was sold. Now he pulls the midfield strings for Fleetwood Town. But perhaps the biggest eye-opener is Republic of Ireland international Gareth Farrelly.Most fondly remembered for the goal which kept Everton in the top flight in 1998, he’s now dictating the play for Evo-Stik League Division One North side Warrington Town. Town boss Joey Dunn declared: “He’ll be a good asset for us on and off the pitch,” when he signed, before explaining how the deal came about: “He’s going to university with one of our lads Tom Hardwick.
“He’s been watching our results and of course speaking to Tom about how he was doing and he's been out of football since leaving Morecambe at the beginning of the season. “I think Tom whetted his appetite and a conversation took place and Tom said to me ‘what do you think?’. So we brought him down to training a few weeks ago and he wants to sign and wants to play. “He’s really keen and he wants to get back again and he said he just wants to get out onto the pitch. It's a good move for us all round really.” Fair play to Farrelly. For a brief time last season, Warrington employed both Farrelly and Brett Angell, the latter as first team coach. Angell has since moved to New Zealand where he now runs coaching clinics. Blue Square Premier side Barrow can boast another former striking star who once promised big things at Goodison. Nick Chadwick looked like a natural born goalscorer when he burst into the Everton first team with a brief flurry of goals a decade ago – and he showed he still hasn’t lost that knack when he opened his account with with a hat-trick against Ebbsfleet last February. He was briefly joined at Holker Street this summer by triallist JP Kissock who, since leaving Hamilton late last year, has been DJing in Merseyside. He also had unsuccessful trials at Hereford and Milton Keynes and according to a recent internet message board posting “actually now plays for Newton from the Wirral in the Sunday West Cheshire Leagues. A mate played against him a few weeks ago and said he was really good but cocky and big headed!” Adam Farley was the defender who once caused my pal to exclaim: “For the first time in my life Everton have brought on a player I’d never heard of!” That was at Derby County in February 1999 and it was his only Everton appearance. He joined Altrincham before moving to Burscough and then Droylsden. He eventually signed for Marine at the start of the 2005/06 season, returning to his home city of Liverpool.
If anyone spots any other former Blues out there in non-league world – please email.
Everton Heritage Society stages a Joe Mercer Evening
THE Everton Heritage Society is a group of like-minded Evertonians brought together by that Grandaddy of all things historically Royal Blue, Dr David France.
On Friday September 24 they will host their inaugural meeting called a Joe Mercer Evening. Staged, quite appropriately, in the Joe Mercer Suite at Goodison Park it is a 7pm meet for 7.30pm start and any interested Blues are invited to attend.
A New book featuring Gentleman Joe’s remarkable career with Everton, Arsenal, Manchester City and, of course, England called "Football with a Smile" by Gary James will be on sale, and Gary will also give a talk on Joe's life. Admission will be £3 and will include half-time refreshments. Places are limited so please email to reserve your place. Dress code on the night is smart-casual. For further details email paulwhartonefc@btinternet.com The Heritage Society consists of authors, statisticians, memorabilia collectors, website designers and fanzine writers, and members have helped with the well received Timeline around Goodison Park.
David France said: “We all have different passions about Everton Football Club but together we would be a great asset to Everton FC and The Everton Collection.”
It is 79 years since Joe signed amateur forms for Everton in August 1931
Griffin Park: A Must-see for Everton ground-hoppers
IT’S got a pub in all four corners of the ground, but Evertonians haven’t supped outside Griffin Park for nearly 60 years. October 3, 1953 was Everton’s last trip to Brentford, making the Carling Cup tie there on September 21 a must-see for Blues’ groundhoppers. But there has been some Evertonian influence at Brentford in recent years. Pat Nevin was the matchwinner for Tranmere the only time I visited Griffin Park, 24 hours before Everton went out of the League Cup at nearby Chelsea – despite an early Billy Kenny goal. For the record, Everton’s last marksmen at Griffin Park were John Wilie Parker and Harry Potts in 1952 (the Blues lost that 1953 clash 1-0).
Barry Horne: Everton FC can bounce back with a bang against Manchester United
Sep 11 2010 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Echo
IT’S back to the Premier League today – and I have to say, much as I enjoy competitive international football it’s amazing how much I miss the self-styled ‘Best League in the World’ when it’s not on. This season has been the most bizarrely disjointed start. And what a game to come back to. The media attention will obviously be on Wayne Rooney more so than ever. He is guaranteed an ‘interesting’ reception.
But Everton fans should beware that Rooney, as he showed the other night in Basle, is the kind of player who relishes such attention and clearly has the strength of personality and the love of football to come through. That rectangular piece of grass, with 39,000 people around the edges baying at him, will be a sanctuary. Outsiders looking in would imagine Everton will go into the game lacking in confidence and feeling a little down at heel. But having seen the three games the biggest thing for me is how much we have improved each time. It’s generally accepted that we were poor individually and collectively at Blackburn, were unlucky not to beat Wolves who I think will be a surprise package this season, and annihilated Aston Villa but were denied by a solid rearguard action. The biggest concern for me is our lack of goals.
We are starting to create chances but at the moment we don’t look like we have a striker who is a) going to produce something out of nothing, or b) be on the end of a move and confident of finishing a chance. Yakubu (left) looks lacking in fitness which is a surprise when he played at the World Cup. Saha looks lightweight, as if he has drifted back into his comfort zone and Beckford, although showing glimpses of what he regularly did in the Football League, doesn’t look confident enough yet of doing that at this level. The difference between a Championship player and a Premier League player is a small percentage, but strikers make their money in those fine margins. It’s not time to panic, but a system of 4-5-1 has served us well for the majority of David Moyes’ tenure and suits our personnel. Perhaps a restart of that formation – with Cahill and Fellaini – could be the way to go today.
Trips to Everton FC always a nightmare says Man Utd manager Alex Ferguson
Sep 11 2010 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Echo
ALEX FERGUSON has admitted Manchester United’s trips to Everton are always “a nightmare” even without taking into account the Wayne Rooney factor. After six days of his best player being plastered over the front pages because of those damning allegations in his private life, it took Ferguson just 16 words to inform the world he would not be responsible for any further comment. “Let’s put it to bed straightaway,” said the United boss. “I am not discussing any of my players’ personal lives. “It is always a nightmare going there and it wouldn’t matter whether it was Dixie Dean playing for us. It is a hard place to go to. “The atmosphere is fantastic. But we have had to deal with it for many years and there is no problem with our record there.”
Indeed, while, by his own admission, United were slaughtered in the corresponding fixture last year, Ferguson’s team have lost just three times at Goodison in the entire Premier League era. Their chances of success this time around have been increased by both Everton’s poor form and the return of Ferguson’s huge international contingent, including Rooney, 24 hours earlier than usual. For that, United have the new international fixture calendar to thank, which, in the case of Tuesday matches, Ferguson is hugely appreciative. “It is the best decision FIFA have made in my time here,” he said. “I don’t know why it has not been done before. “It gives club managers a great boost and is not a problem for the international managers because they still have 10 days with their players.” Nevertheless, Antonio Valencia and Javier Hernandez still did not return from their respective commitments to Ecuador and Mexico until Thursday evening. Given the swift turnaround for a Saturday lunchtime fixture, both men could find themselves overlooked today, which just gives more credence to the belief Ferguson will select Rooney to play against his old club.
If he does play, Rooney is expected to be accompanied by fit-again Rio Ferdinand.
Manchester United showdown can’t come soon enough for Everton FC’s Leighton Baines
Sep 11 2010 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
TODAY’S mouthwatering lunchtime showdown at Goodison can’t come soon enough for Leighton Baines. The Everton left-back admits he’s been counting down the days until the clash with Manchester United from the moment he walked off the Villa Park turf 13 days ago. That harsh 1-0 defeat condemned the Blues to their worst start in the league for 11 years and the international break meant Baines and his team-mates had plenty of time to rue their misfortune. Since the Everton squad was reunited on Thursday, the 25-year-old defender has sensed a burning desire to get their campaign up and running. “It was a frustrating day at Villa and the break wasn’t what we wanted,” Baines said. “After a game like that you want the next match to come along as soon as possible. “I can’t wait to get back out there and hopefully now we can get on a good run and put some points on the board. “It’s been good to welcome all the lads back and everyone is upbeat. Performance wise everything has been fine but our results haven’t reflected that. “It’s not like we’re shipping loads of goals or have been getting dominated by teams. We’ve been the dominant team in all the games we’ve played. “Nobody is sitting around worrying and thinking ‘how are we going to win a game?’ We’ve just been questioning why we haven’t so far because we’re playing well enough and doing the right things. “There’s no need for any panic and I’m sure it will come together sooner rather than later.” Baines is expecting a busy afternoon against a United side desperate to avenge the 3-1 defeat they suffered at Goodison back in February. But the former Wigan star loves testing himself against the best and insists memories of that victory over United will spur the Blues on. “United have so many top players and so much experience but these are great games to play in,” he said. “They took Chelsea right to the wire last season and will probably look back on the game against us and say that was a deciding factor in them not winning the title.
“They will be hungry to get points on the board with Chelsea starting so well. “It will be tough but we’ll draw confidence from the fact we got a result before against them.
“That game in February is one of those that stays in the memory for a while. It’s hard to say what the secret was. Sometimes there are certain moments in games where things go your way. “The standard is so high in the Premier League that little things can make the difference. “On that day we seemed to have a bit more energy than they did and hopefully it will be the same again. “We fared pretty well against the top sides last year and hopefully we can replicate that.” All eyes will be on Wayne Rooney today as he returns to Goodison with United following a week of allegations about his personal life. There have been some suggestions that United boss Alex Ferguson will take the former Blues star out of the firing line, but Baines is expecting to face the Croxteth-born striker. “When Wayne comes back he always gets a bit of a reception, but as he’s said in the past he’s still an Everton fan and we’re still the first team he looks for,” Baines said. “He did what he did (leaving Everton) at that time for his career and he’s been proved right because he’s gone on to win trophies. I know he looks forward to games against Everton and I’m sure he will want to play. “What’s gone on this week didn’t seem to affect him against Switzerland. When you get out and play football it can be a release from what’s happening in your personal life.
“It’s the one place where you can forget about things for a couple of hours. Wayne is a professional and will do whatever job is asked of him. “Knowing him he won’t want to miss a game but their manager will do what’s right for his team on the day.”
Baines is hoping Blues fans will focus their energies on inspiring the hosts rather than targeting Rooney. “Our fans always play a massive part and make Goodison a great place to play your football,” he added. “It’s quite hostile and we need them right behind us. “We proved to ourselves last season that we’re capable of mixing it with the top sides when we’re at our best. “Now we need to raise the bar against United.”
TICKETS are still available for today’s game. The box offices at the Park End and on Goodison Road will be open from 9am until kick off.
David Moyes sights still set on top four finish for Everton FC
Sep 11 2010 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
BOSS David Moyes insists Everton’s slow start to the campaign hasn’t shaken his belief that they can secure a top four finish. The Blues entertain Manchester United at Goodison today needing at least a draw to avoid their worst opening to a season for 16 years. Their first three games have yielded just a point but Moyes has faith in the squad he has assembled and believes the Blues will quickly climb the table.
“We have got a team which is capable of being in the top four, undoubtedly,” Moyes said. “If you look at where we are now you would say that’s unrealistic and if we give ourselves too big a mountain to climb it won’t be possible. “But I want us to compete with Manchester United this season. That was my goal and that hasn’t changed yet.
“I accept it may have to change depending on how results go over the coming weeks and months. “We went into the season with high hopes. I said we had a good team and probably our best squad and I stand by that. It’s been frustrating so far because we’ve merited more than we’ve got. “I think we can compete with the top teams but we need to become more consistent.” Everton’s 3-1 win over United at Goodison back in February was just their second victory over Alex Ferguson’s men in 32 attempts since the 1995 FA Cup Final triumph. However, Moyes believes it was a sign the Blues are closing the gap between the clubs. “We’ve had one or two good results against them but not enough,” Moyes said. “That’s down to their quality and the level of players they have got. But I think we have grown over the years and got a little bit closer to that top end of the table. “That culminated in how well we played last year.”
Having only lost two of their final 24 league games last season, Moyes admits he’s been baffled by the Blues slipping to two defeats in their opening three games of the new campaign. “I wanted to find a way to ensure we started right so we changed the training programme in pre-season,” he revealed. “With the trip to Australia we played games earlier than usual and didn’t train them as hard early on. “When we came back we trained them harder in the hope we would start the season a bit faster. I thought it had worked well.” With Louis Saha facing three weeks out with calf and knee problems, Moyes has a striking dilemma today. Yakubu is still struggling for fitness so the manager could opt to play Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini up front. Another alternative is Jermaine Beckford, who has yet to open his top flight account after signing from Leeds in the summer. “Cahill and Fellaini is an option and something which I have to think about,” Moyes said. “We’re just not scoring enough goals and I have to do what I think is right. “Yak couldn’t complete a full game at the moment as he’s in need of more training and game practise but what he’s got is a goal in him.
“We need Yak to make a contribution. He’s never been a problem boy and it’s up to Yak to get himself in the best condition he can. “As for Jermaine, to expect him to come from League One to the Premier League and start scoring goals straightaway is a big ask. “But I’ve got no doubt he will score goals. He should be given the same time, the same opportunities as others, but it can take a little bit of time to establish yourself.” Skipper Phil Neville returns to the squad after recovering from a foot injury but is likely to start on the bench. “Phil’s presence and leadership is really important,” Moyes said. “We like having him around the place and in the team.” Tickets for today’s game are still available. The box offices at the Park End and on Goodison Road will be open from 9am until kick-off. For more information visit evertonfc.com. Fans buying tickets are advised to get to the ground early.
Everton FC 3 Man Utd 3: Late Blues fightback earns point (GALLERY)
Sep 11 2010
Everton scored twice in stoppage time to snatch a dramatic 3-3 draw at home to Manchester United, who left Wayne Rooney out of their squad after a week of allegations about his private life. Rooney did not even travel to Goodison Park as manager Sir Alex Ferguson, on the occasion of his 700th Premier League match, claimed he wanted to protect the 24-year-old from abuse from the fans with whom he used to be a favourite. The disruption appeared to affect his team-mates early on as they fell behind to a Steven Pienaar goal but Darren Fletcher, Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov put United well ahead before the Toffees’ stunning late comeback through Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta. Ferguson has overseen plenty of player controversies during his lengthy tenure at Old Trafford, dealing with the likes of David Beckham’s celebrity lifestyle and Roy Keane’s unique brand of criticism.
However, leaving out a player to protect him from opposition fans is unprecedented and surely unlikely to be repeated. Whether it affected the overall result is open to debate but when the England international next appears, likely to be in Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Rangers he will get nothing less than a rousing Old Trafford reception. Rooney’s absence seemed to affect United more than they expected as, for the first 15 minutes, they found themselves under constant pressure.
Arteta’s sixth-minute free-kick was tipped over by Edwin van der Sar, although referee Martin Atkinson did not spot the goalkeeper’s touch. The Spaniard had another shot deflected behind by Jonny Evans, Pienaar saw his shot from the Spaniard’s corner blocked and Leon Osman blazed over all in the same passage of play. Ferguson was less than happy and was soon prowling his technical area barking orders at the players. John O’Shea’s response was a blistering drive from the left angle of the penalty area which grazed the outside of Tim Howard’s left-hand post.
Everton’s pressure, albeit slightly less intense, continued while Nani was off the field having a cut lip tended with Cahill, Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines all failed to trouble the goalkeeper with half-chances. There was always the danger their failure to capitalise on possession would leave the way open for United to nick a goal and they almost did in the 34th minute. Tony Hibbert’s foul on Ryan Giggs, despite winning the ball, saw Nani roll the free-kick to Paul Scholes and his powerful drive took a big deflection off Cahill but Howard, diving in the opposite direction, somehow diverted the ball over with his foot. Four minutes later the American goalkeeper stuck up a hand to palm away Giggs’ close-range shot after United counter-attacked. But the visitors were caught cold themselves when Patrice Evra missed an ambitious overhead-kick clearance to put Arteta charging through on goal and although he shot straight at Van der Sar, Leon Osman turned the rebound to Pienaar at the far post who rolled home. Two minutes before half-time, however, Nani’s cross was diverted home by Fletcher and Berbatov’s volley almost put them ahead in added time. It was apparent at the start of the second half Everton were in for a tougher test and it took just three minutes for that to become a reality. Nani’s corner from Berbatov’s deflected shot was only half-cleared and when Scholes returned the ball to the Portugal international wide on the right he swung over a cross for an unmarked Vidic to head in from five yards. It at least provoked a reaction from Everton and Pienaar’s curling 20-yard shot was held by Van der Sar at the second attempt. But United were where they like to be, in control and able to counter-attack, and one rapid foray forward saw Howard deny Nani low to his right. He got nowhere near the next one in the 66th minute, which owed everything to the brilliance of Scholes and Berbatov. The former England international’s raking pass picked out the Bulgarian wide on the right and his first touch brilliantly took him clear of Sylvain Distin. With acres of space to run into the languid striker took five or six paces before lashing an early shot into the bottom corner, taking Howard by surprise. Baines curled a free-kick into the side-netting and as Osman hit a woefully-weak shot at Van der Sar as the hosts tried to find a way back but, as has been the case in their previous matches, they lacked a cutting edge. However, in a dramatic finish Cahill headed home in injury-time before Arteta’s deflected strike snatched an unlikely point.
David Moyes hails Everton FC spirit after late goals salvage Man Utd draw
Sep 11 2010
Everton manager David Moyes praised his side's character after two stoppage time goals saved a point against Man Utd. Moyes was disappointed his side had not capitalised on their early dominance to establish more of a platform before United worked their way back into the game. Prior to this match the Toffees had scored just once in three matches and it appeared that bluntness in front of goal was to be their downfall once again until the late intervention of Cahill and Arteta. “I thought our play in the first half merited more than what we had at half-time but that is how it goes,” said the Scot. “We expect that character but we stuck at it against a top team. But to be fair I, like probably most, thought that was it at 3-1 down. “But at that time I didn’t think we had played terribly badly I just through Manchester United took their chances when they got them.” Despite snatching a draw, Moyes ran on to the pitch at full-time to remonstrate with referee Martin Atkinson after he blew the final whistle with Everton on the attack. “The two goals were scored after 90 minutes and they’d put up three minutes of extra time,” he added. “He didn’t get his time right because there was more time to add on for the goals and he played three minutes 30 seconds.
“They had the corner kick and we had a great counter-attack and he blew up with the ball 25 yards from their goal. “It is a spectator sport with people coming to watch the game and not for him to be the main man and the one who wants to be seen making the decisions. “That was a terrible decision in my book.” Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson described his side’s late collapse at Everton to draw 3-3 as “unthinkable”. Having gone behind to Steven Pienaar’s 39th-minute goal United appeared to be cruising to victory after Darren Fletcher, Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov put them in control. However, Tim Cahill powered home a header in the first minute of added time and Mikel Arteta’s deflected strike levelled things up 60 seconds later to leave Ferguson fuming at a second defensive lapse in three games which cost them victory. “It’s amazing. We’ve thrown it away, like we did at the Fulham game (when Brede Hangeland hit an equaliser in the 89th minute),” he said.
“You have to have determination in situations like that. “Today we were so wasteful with our chances. We could have scored five or six in the second half with great opportunities and that has come to haunt us. “But saying that, to lose two goals in injury time is unthinkable. “We had it under control and the game is finished - even when they scored a second. It is a terrible end for us.” 2 SOCCER Everton Quotes Nightlead Despite finding themselves under pressure for most of the first half, United were never overwhelmed by their hosts and once they equalised just before the break there appeared to be only one winner. Ferguson was left to rue a number of missed chances which would have put the game beyond the Toffees’ reach before their dramatic late comeback. “We have thrown the points away and hopefully at the end of the season we don’t sit back and regret it,” he added. “We had some great opportunities in the first half and I think most of the time we were the team who threatened most in terms of playing football. “Vidic’s goal was a good time to score but going 3-1 up you think you are in a comfortable position but football comes back to bite you. “It has happened before and we have done it ourselves.”
Mikel Arteta's warning for Everton FC fans over Wayne Rooney abuse
Sep 11 2010 By Ian Doyle
MIKEL ARTETA has warned Everton supporters that abusing Wayne Rooney could bring the best out of the Manchester United striker this afternoon. Rooney can expect a hostile reception when he arrives at his former club in today’s early Premier League kick-off in the wake of allegations about his private life. The England international has often received rough treatment from the Goodison crowd ever since leaving for Old Trafford just over six years ago. But Arteta has urged the home fans not to go over the top with Rooney and believes past evidence has shown top players can raise his game in the face of such adversity. "To be honest I don’t like to see the people behaving badly towards Wayne," said the Spanish schemer. "He’s been a terrific player, and he loves Everton. "He left for a massive club and brought a lot of money to this one. He’s not said anything bad about this club and the players and staff like him here. "If I am in a position where one day I came back here, I would want to be well respected. But I also understand the crowd sometimes wants to give out a bit of stick if they have the opportunity."Great players can use it as an inspiration. They can react and show what they are able to do. Personally I’ve never really had that, but look at Ronaldo after the (2006) World Cup when he was involved in that stuff with Rooney. "He showed what a big player he was because at every ground the fans were getting on his back, and he reacted by having his best season." Today’s fixture is infamously the most one-sided in Premier League history – United having won 27 of the 36 top-flight games between the teams since 1992 – with Everton triumphant only four times. However, the most recent was the last meeting in February when David Moyes’s side romped to a 3-1 in win over the then-champions despite going behind early on. And Arteta believes that result means Everton approach today’s encounter with no fear as they seek their first Premier League victory of the campaign having taken just one point from their opening three games. "We crossed a mental barrier by beating them last time," said Arteta. "We realise we can beat anyone and know how to do it now. But you know you have to be on top of your game for the whole 90 minutes. "The atmosphere on Saturday will be terrific. We’ve not beaten them many times but last year we managed it and hopefully can do so again. Why? Because that’s football, you can lose to the smallest sides and then beat the best. "If you make a mistake and concede a goal, then you are in trouble, so we need to put that side of things right straight away. We need maximum points from the home games because that is what’s going to mark out your season."Arteta added: "We’ve had time to look at why we’re not getting the points and although the first half against Blackburn wasn’t good, we have dominated all the games and the play after that. "All the stats have been unbelievable, up there with the best in the Premier League, but we’ve conceded three goals from three mistakes and ended up with just one point. "We have to maintain the way we’re playing because I honestly believe if we do, we’ll end up winning most of them. We just need to put the ball in the net. But overall we have been better than the other teams in all three matches." There had been growing calls in recent weeks for Arteta to be handed an England call-up on the basis of gaining British citizenship, only for those hopes to be dashed by FIFA regulations. And the player’s eyes are now only on a Spanish call-up, and he said: "Rules are rules. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy so that’s it now. "Anyway, for me it would be amazing news to be part of the Spanish national team, it would be enormously exciting. "I’ve always loved it and even more so with the group of players that are in the national team right now, for me it would be a huge reward. "I always have the telephone open for (Spain coach) Vicente del Bosque."
Everton 3 United 3
September 11, 2010 (Manchester Evening post)Everton scored twice in stoppage time to snatch a dramatic 3-3 draw at home to Manchester United, who left Wayne Rooney out of their squad after a week of allegations about his private life. Rooney did not even travel to Goodison Park as manager Sir Alex Ferguson, on the occasion of his 700th Premier League match, claimed he wanted to protect the 24-year-old from abuse from the fans with whom he used to be a favourite. The disruption appeared to affect his team-mates early on as they fell behind to a Steven Pienaar goal but Darren Fletcher, Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov put United well ahead before the Toffees' stunning late comeback through Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta. Ferguson has overseen plenty of player controversies during his lengthy tenure at Old Trafford, dealing with the likes of David Beckham's celebrity lifestyle and Roy Keane's unique brand of criticism.
Rousing
However, leaving out a player to protect him from opposition fans is unprecedented and surely unlikely to be repeated. Whether it affected the overall result is open to debate but when the England international next appears, likely to be in Tuesday's Champions League clash against Rangers he will get nothing less than a rousing Old Trafford reception. Rooney's absence seemed to affect United more than they expected as, for the first 15 minutes, they found themselves under constant pressure.
Arteta's sixth-minute free-kick was tipped over by Edwin van der Sar, although referee Martin Atkinson did not spot the goalkeeper's touch. The Spaniard had another shot deflected behind by Jonny Evans, Pienaar saw his shot from the Spaniard's corner blocked and Leon Osman blazed over all in the same passage of play. Ferguson was less than happy and was soon prowling his technical area barking orders at the players.
John O'Shea's response was a blistering drive from the left angle of the penalty area which grazed the outside of Tim Howard's left-hand post. Everton's pressure, albeit slightly less intense, continued while Nani was off the field having a cut lip tended with Cahill, Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines all failed to trouble the goalkeeper with half-chances. There was always the danger their failure to capitalise on possession would leave the way open for United to nick a goal and they almost did in the 34th minute.
Caught
Tony Hibbert's foul on Ryan Giggs, despite winning the ball, saw Nani roll the free-kick to Paul Scholes and his powerful drive took a big deflection off Cahill but Howard, diving in the opposite direction, somehow diverted the ball over with his foot. Four minutes later the American goalkeeper stuck up a hand to palm away Giggs' close-range shot after United counter-attacked. But the visitors were caught cold themselves when Patrice Evra missed an ambitious overhead-kick clearance to put Arteta charging through on goal and although he shot straight at Van der Sar, Leon Osman turned the rebound to Pienaar at the far post who rolled home. Two minutes before half-time, however, Nani's cross was diverted home by Fletcher and Berbatov's volley almost put them ahead in added time. It was apparent at the start of the second half Everton were in for a tougher test and it took just three minutes for that to become a reality. Nani's corner from Berbatov's deflected shot was only half-cleared and when Scholes returned the ball to the Portugal international wide on the right he swung over a cross for an unmarked Vidic to head in from five yards. It at least provoked a reaction from Everton and Pienaar's curling 20-yard shot was held by Van der Sar at the second attempt. But United were where they like to be, in control and able to counter-attack, and one rapid foray forward saw Howard deny Nani low to his right. He got nowhere near the next one in the 66th minute, which owed everything to the brilliance of Scholes and Berbatov. The former England international's raking pass picked out the Bulgarian wide on the right and his first touch brilliantly took him clear of Sylvain Distin. With acres of space to run into the languid striker took five or six paces before lashing an early shot into the bottom corner, taking Howard by surprise.
Baines curled a free-kick into the side-netting and as Osman hit a woefully-weak shot at Van der Sar as the hosts tried to find a way back but, as has been the case in their previous matches, they lacked a cutting edge. However, in a dramatic finish Cahill headed home in injury-time before Arteta's deflected strike snatched an unlikely point
Fergie: We threw it away
James Robson
September 11, 2010 (Manchester evening post)
Sir Alex Ferguson admitted United threw away two points at Everton as last gasp goals from Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta stunned the Scot. United looked to be coasting to victory after Darren Fletcher, Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov cancelled Stephen Pienaar's opener. And while Ferguson was delighted with another outstanding performance by Berbatov, he was left fuming by his side's failure to secure the win, instead having to settle for a 3-3 draw.
"Football can do that to you," he said. "In a game of a completely comfortable position we've thrown it away - simple as that. "The last two away games have been like that. We losta goal against Fulham with two minutes to go, and the same again today. We had chances to bury Everton and we didn't do it. "We played some good football at times. "Berbatov I thought was our best player. I thought he was absolutely brilliant today but that's all wasted because we've given the two points away." Meanwhile, Ferguson expects captain Rio Ferdinand to return to the line-up for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Rangers. "I think Rio will play on Tuesday night," he added of the 31-year-old, who has been sidelined with a knee injury sustained in England's first training session in South Africa before the World Cup. "It a European tie at home and we've got to take advantage of that
Moyes: Rooney still wants to play for Everton
11/09/10 By David Maddock
Everton have revealed that Wayne Rooney has made another gesture to make peace with their fans, ahead of today’s incendiary clash. Boss David Moyes reealed yesterday that the Manchester United striker had accepted an invitation to play for the Blues in Jamie Carragher’s testimonial last weekend, before being blocked by the England management. Moyes had invited the United star to make a cameo return in an Everton shirt, as his side took on a Liverpool XI in the charity game at Anfield.
And Rooney was keen to accept. He agreed to play and got clearance from his club boss Sir Alex Ferguson, before England no 2 Baldini explained that it wouldn’t be possible to allow both Rooney and Reds skipper Steven Gerrard to play in the match just three days before a vital European qualifier. But the Everton manager believes it is another sign that the rift between Rooney and his clubs fans is being healed, after the controversy of his move to United in 2004. “I think the reaction of our fans to Wayne has changed a little over the past couple of years and has eased a bit which is an encouraging development,” he said. “Wayne has made a few moves to make his peace, and show he still has feelings for Everton. I took a team to Anfield for Jamie Carragher’s testimonial, and he wanted to play for us. “I asked him to play for us, and he was up for it, but it wasn’t possible in the end, because England didn’t think it was the right thing. But you can take from that what you will.” Moyes accepts that Rooney will receive a hot reception at Goodison today, following the latest lurid revelations about the player’s off-field antics. But he argued that Goodison always generates a hostile atmosphere, especially when Manchester United are in town, and he doesn’t believe for a second it will affect the visiting players. “It’s always a great atmosphere here at Everton, it’s always a hostile place to come and the United players will tell you, it one of the toughest places to come in the calendar,” he added. “But they will have played in games with even more hostile atmospheres than ours, and they relish those games. “In a way the top players need the bigger games with the big atmospheres, it keeps them going and it keeps them young, so I don’t think Wayne or any of the others will be bothered by it.” For Moyes, the most important thing is for his side to find their scoring touch and prove they can make the top four challenge he still believes they are capable of. Everton have looked good this season but a lack of goals has given them just one point from three games, and the manager said: “I feel we have a team who are capable of getting into the top four, I want to compete with Manchester United this year and I have changed that objective yet,” he said.
“But we can’t give ourselves a mountain to climb by a bad start again, so we have to get some goals and get some results, starting with this match. “We see ourselves as a side who can compete against the best teams, and this season the top four is within our reach, but we are not scoring enough goals, and that has to change.”
Arteta rescues point for Everton against Rooney-less Manchester United
Paul Wilson at Goodison Park
The Guardian Sunday 12 September 2010
Everton celebrate scoring their injury-time equaliser Photograph: Tom Jenkins
Sir Alex Ferguson was right in predicting a nightmare. Manchester United dropped Wayne Rooney and had this game comfortably won, until two Everton goals in stoppage time turned the afternoon on its head. When Tim Cahill headed in with barely two minutes of injury time left to play it appeared a mere consolation goal, yet when Mikel Arteta fired in the most unlikely of equalisers following another header from the feisty Australian a minute later United had seen two points disappear in as many minutes. From looking like a team that could easily cope without Rooney, Ferguson was left wondering whether the decision to leave him out had been the correct one after all, because without exaggeration the visitors could easily have had half a dozen goals, such was their superiority. Everton pounded United for the first half hour in the way Ferguson predicted they might, without initially being able to find the finish their pressure deserved. Mikel Arteta struck the top of the bar with a free kick after five minutes, but after Cahill then Marouane Fellaini shot wastefully into the Park End it began to look as if the home side would be left regretting having nothing to show for a prolonged period when they were on top. That feeling intensified when Tim Howard made two remarkable saves as the interval approached, first using his foot to keep out a goalbound shot from Paul Scholes that had already taken a deflection off Cahill, then denying Ryan Giggs from close range after Darren Fletcher had easily skipped round Johnny Heitinga on the right. Like United, Everton were hampered by the lack of a their usual striker, yet still they managed to take the lead on the break six minutes froim half time. Patrice Evra missed Arteta on half way and allowed the Everton player to run into space, and though it looked as though a fine opportunity had been missed when he shot ineffectually at Edwin van der Sar with Stephen Pienaar up in support and screaming for a sideways pass, Leon Osman coolly rescued the situation by picking up the loose ball and supplying the South African for a simple finish. The next objective for Everton was to hold their lead until the interval, and they not only failed but allowed United to take plenty of encouragement into the dressing room. The equaliser was one thing, Everton having no answer to the crisp passing that saw Giggs find Nani on the right for a precision cross that perfectly picked out Fletcher's run past the sleeping Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka, but in first-half stoppage time United almost conjured another peach when Dimitar Berbatov volleyed only inches wide from another sumptuous pass from Giggs. It appeared United had the poise and precision to counter Everton's perspiration, and only three second half minutes were needed to prove the point. With the home central defenders caught ball-watching again as Scholes returned a half-cleared corner, Nani's second pinpoint cross of the afternoon picked out the head of Nemanja Vidic, still on the six yard line after the set-piece. That left Everton needing to chase the game and leave gaps at the back, which suited United down to the ground. Pienaar brought a save from Van der Sar with a speculative shot, yet far more ominous was the ease with which United broke upfield for Nani to bring another save from Howard, after Berbatov had left Distin for dead on half way. Less than a minute later United scored a third from essentially the same move. Scholes's inspired pass from his own half was effortlessly controlled by Berbatov with a single touch that again left the hapless Distin a spectator, and this time the Bulgarian ran free to poke the ball early past Howard with an elegant stab his right boot. Berbatov and Nani then went on to waste excellent opportunities to make the scoreline even more convincing. A couple of extravagant misses hardly seemed to matter at the time, though by stoppage time, and possibly by the end of the season, who knows how expensive those misses could prove.
Cahill: We fully deserved a point
12th September (The Sun)
TIM CAHILL claimed justice was done after Everton grabbed two last-gasp goals to pick up a point against Manchester United.
Steven Pienaar fired the Toffees in front at Goodison Park before efforts from Darren Fletcher, Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov put United firmly in control.
But Cahill pulled one back in injury-time before Mikel Arteta ensured the spoils were shared in the dying seconds. Aussie ace Cahill said: "To be honest it's quite unreal but I think if we look at the chances we gave away and the chances we missed, it's probably a fair result in the end. "It was a tough game, really difficult, so it just shows the fight. "We've tried and tried the last couple of games and it hasn't happened. Today it was a great result." Everton boss David Moyes was left fuming at full-time after ref Martin Atkinson blew the final whistle as his team were closing in on goal.
But Cahill refused to condemn the match official. He added: "There's always ifs and buts. "It would have been nice for a bit of commonsense at the end, to see whether Edwin van der Sar would have saved it or whether we would have scored, but it happens." Everton keeper Tim Howard pulled off a string of stunning saves against his former club and was delighted with his team's performance. Howard said: "We dominated the first half and should have went in 1-0. "Obviously they got the goal and in the second half they were powerful and went over the top of us. "But we had spirit, we had fight and we got the point which was important." United boss Alex Ferguson remained upbeat despite seeing three points slip away. The Scot said: "Football can do that to you. In a game of a completely comfortable position we've thrown it away — simple as that."
Everton 3 Man United 3
Published: 12 Sep 2010 (The Sun)
EVERTON stunned Manchester United by scoring TWICE in injury time to grab a point.
United were cruising at 3-1 when Tim Cahill gave the Toffees a glimmer of hope on 92 minutes. And Mikel Arteta popped up to hit a dramatic equaliser and complete a great Goodison escape. Steven Pienaar had fired Everton ahead before Darren Fletcher levelled on the stroke half-time. Nemanja Vidic made it 2-1 and the game looked dead and buried when Dimitar Berbatov crashed home a superb effort.
But nobody could have predicted what was to come when Cahill scored to get Everton hearts pounding. And Arteta finished the job by drilling home deep into stoppage time. Alex Ferguson dropped a bombshell before kick-off by axing Wayne Rooney.
Rooney was facing a hot reception from the Goodison crowd after his week of vice shame. Instead, Berbatov played up top, flanked by Nani and Ryan Giggs. But it was at the other end where the first chance came. Arteta grazed the top of the bar with a free-kick after Gary Neville had hacked down Pienaar. Everton were buzzing and Arteta came close again but John O'Shea blocked his 10th-minute shot. It was a lightning start from the Toffees, who had United on the ropes. But you cannot keep Fergie's lads quiet for long and O'Shea leathered a shot against the upright as the tide started to turn. Just after the half-hour mark Tim Howard pulled off one of the great saves to deny Paul Scholes. Nani rolled a free-kick into Scholes' path and when his thunderbolt ricocheted off Cahill it looked destined for the net. But Howard had other ideas. Diving the wrong way, the Yank stopper clipped the ferocious shot over the bar with his foot. Howard then foiled his old club again when he clawed away Giggs' effort — and seconds later Everton took full advantage. Patrice Evra fluffed a long ball and Arteta raced clear. And although the Spaniard's shot was blocked, Leon Osman freed Pienaar who slotted home. The lead did not last long, though, and Fletcher levelled matters soon after. The Scot volleyed past Howard after Nani's stunning 43rd-minute cross. Incredibly, the breakneck first half still had something to offer — when Berbatov cracked a volley inches wide. It took United just two minutes after the restart to take the lead. Nani's corner was blocked but the winger got a second crack at the cherry — and sent in a peach for Vidic to nod home. The Serb was then involved in some handbags with Cahill and refused his apology after the Aussie caught him with an arm. On 61 minutes, Pienaar wormed into space and whacked a shot straight at Van der Sar. And United cashed in five minutes later.
Scholes picked the ball up in his own half and sent a sensational pass to Berbatov that evaded last man Sylvain Distin by inches. Berba still had work to do, but the hitman brought it under and hammered past Howard in double-quick time. United looked nailed on to take the three points until the nerve-shredding finale. First, Cahill poked home — but even then Everton were rank outsiders. Arteta, though, was on hand to complete the great escape. Amazingly, there was still time for MORE drama.
Home boss David Moyes was left fuming as the full-time whistle went with Everton charging down the field with a winner in their sights.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert (Coleman 69), Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Osman, Heitinga (Yakubu 69), Arteta, Pienaar, Fellaini, Cahill. Subs Not Used: Mucha, Bilyaletdinov, Beckford, Neville, Gueye. Booked: Heitinga.
Goals: Pienaar 39, Arteta 90, Cahill 90.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Vidic, Jonathan Evans, Evra (Park 81), Scholes, O'Shea, Fletcher, Nani, Berbatov, Giggs. Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Owen, Smalling, Rafael Da Silva, Macheda, Gibson. Booked: Giggs.
Goals: Fletcher 43, Vidic 47, Berbatov 66.
Att: 36,556
Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Everton 3-3 Man Utd: Sunday Mirror match report
12/09/10 By Simon Mullock (The Mirror)
Manchester United's Luis Nani suffers a facial injury during the Barclays Premier League match at Goodison Park, September 11, 2010 (Pic:PA)
Sir Alex Ferguson must have thought he’d seen it all in 36 years as a manager.
Yet his 700th Premier League game was one that even he will struggle to explain.
It looked like a case of ‘no Wayne Rooney no problem’ for the Manchester United team that Ferguson sent out at Goodison Park. After falling behind to Steven Pienaar’s strike, goals from Darren Fletcher, Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov hardly illustrated the level of the visitors’ control. Then came the kind of injury-time carnage that Ferguson has often inflicted on others but rarely felt himself. First Tim Cahill headed home. Then Mikel Arteta’s shot flew in off Paul Scholes to bring David Moyes’ team level. When referee Martin Atkinson blew the final whistle, Everton were on the attack again and looking likely to score a winner. No wonder Moyes went rushing on to the pitch at the end to give Atkinson a mouthful while Ferguson wore the kind of shellshocked look we have seen on the face of a certain Mrs Rooney in newspapers during the week. “I can’t tell you how I feel,” said Ferguson like a man spurned. “I don’t know how that could happen.” It would be easy to conclude that the decision to leave Rooney back in Manchester, where the striker had spent the night in the same hotel where his alleged extra-marital shenanigans took place, didn’t play a part. But United’s wastefulness in front of goal was as crucial to the outcome as Everton’s indefatigable spirit. Rooney is always given a rough ride when he returns to Goodison, with Everton fans still harbouring a sense of betrayal for the way the Scouse blue turned Manc red six years ago. Home is where the hate is as far as Rooney is concerned, yet the striker had won on three of his previous six visits back to his old stomping ground, scoring twice. “We made the decision simply because he gets terrible abuse here,” explained Ferguson before kick-off. “We were not going to subject him to that abuse. We’ve got a fantastic squad and we’ll use it.” United face Rangers and Liverpool in the next seven days and when a blow-up doll was thrown on to the pitch it was an illustration of what Rooney can expect. Everton were first and last to laugh. Arteta hit the crossbar with a free kick and John O’Shea responded for United with a rising shot that blistered the post. When Patrice Evra misjudged Cahill’s long ball in the 39th minute, it proved crucial. Edwin Van der Sar saved Arteta’s shot after he had burst clear but Leon Osman kept his cool to knock the loose ball in to the path of Pienaar to score. United had been thwarted by two brilliant Tim Howard saves, but they were level two minutes before the break when Fletcher gave Nani’s raking cross the finish it deserved. Three minutes after the restart, the visitors were ahead when Nani’s accuracy enabled the unchallenged Vidic to beat Howard with a fierce downward header from close range. When Berbatov fooled Sylvain Distin on the halfway line as he collected Scholes’ crossfield pass and then raced away to beat Howard with a Cantona-like finish with the outside of his right foot, it looked game over with 25 minutes still to play. United’s fans were even relaxed enough to sing a crude song about Rooney’s supposed penchant for older ladies before asking Ferguson to give them a wave. Even when Cahill leapt high to head home Leighton Baines’ cross it looked like nothing more than a consolation. Then Baines crossed again, Cahill nodded down and Goodison erupted as Arteta’s crisp shot flew in off Scholes.
ABUSE? ROO AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET
Everton 3 Man United 3
DRAMA: Arteta rams in the equaliser
By Andy Dunn (The news of the world) 12/09/2010
WHEN trying to explain why he had dropped Wayne Rooney, Sir Alex Ferguson spoke fearfully of the 'terrible abuse'.
Moments after this breathless finale, I suspect Nani and his similarly casual team-mates discovered exactly what constitutes 'terrible abuse'. And it was not coming from the scallywags who still sent an inflatable doll gliding on to the Goodison pitch in honour of the absent Rooney. It would have been coming from Ferguson.
Everton's spirit was commendable. But this was carelessness on a grand scale - the product of over-confidence, of a phase in the game where a swagger became a preening strut. Coasting towards victory against a team looking increasingly bedraggled, United had a string of chances to widen their two-goal margin. Paul Scholes lifted one casually over and Dimitar Berbatov - negating his sweetest of strikes - was a little too laid-back. But the moment that lifted Fergie from the dug-out in all his splendid, arm-whirring glory - finger-pointing so furiously his glasses nearly slipped off the end of his nose - was when Nani chose a showboating outside-of-the-boot attempt rather than play in one of several better-positioned team-mates.
Nani avoided eye contact for the next few minutes. He - and a swathe of over-confident United players - will not have avoided Ferguson's ire for long. Not after a remarkable period of stoppage time saw Tim Cahill's head cause havoc. First, the conversion of Leighton Baines' cross, second the header that ricocheted into the path of Mikel Arteta, whose shot struck Scholes en route to Everton equality. It was the first time United - for whom Darren Fletcher, Nemanja Vidic and Berbatov had rendered Steven Pienaar's opener an apparent irrelevance - had surrendered a two-goal lead in eight years. Goodison Park shook... but not quite as violently as David Moyes.
If Ferguson saved his anger for dressing-room confines, Moyes unlocked his centre-stage. No wonder a day-glo jacketed bruiser felt the need to go in lumbering pursuit as Moyes hared towards Martin Atkinson, whose crime had been to blow the final whistle after three and a half minutes of added time... just as Everton, with a three-man overlapping counter-attack on the go, were chasing the most unlikely of winners.
Phil Jagielka still got his shot off, whether he had heard Atkinson's shrill blast or not, and Edwin van der Sar saved comfortably. I take Moyes' point. It is not the norm to call time on a game when an attack is in such an advanced stage. It wasn't a decision born of common sense. But it wasn't worthy of such fury. And Ferguson had far more reason to seethe than his fellow Scot. The late surrender was pretty inexplicable. Maybe it was the fact that - without Rooney - this was a team with an average age that nudged 31. Tiredness might have played a problem. Certainly, both stoppage time goals had their origins on Gary Neville's right flank. But United should have cruised out of sight once Fletcher had connected with Nani's cross to cancel out Pienaar's cool finish. Patrice Evra's bicycle-kick clearance turned out to be an air-shot as Cahill punted forward, van Der Sar saved Arteta's attempt but a quick-thinking pass from Leon Osman put Pienaar in. A bad lapse in concentration - three Everton players remonstrating with the referee while United slipped quickly forward - led to Fletcher's simple but attractive volley and it appeared to have a crushing mental effect on a team that had competed brilliantly for long periods. After the break, United were slicker and stronger. The strength was exemplified by Vidic who took a rare moment off from his nasty, bruising, petulant, fascinating battle with Cahill to head in yet another sumptuous Nani cross. And the slickness was beautifully encapsulated in one sweeping individual move from Berbatov, a player more elegant than Paris Fashion Week. He is haute couture amongst hoodies. Pulling down Scholes' long floated pass with a sublime touch, he accelerated away from the hapless Sylvain Distin, steadied himself - if such a balanced player can become unsteady - and persuaded a shot to curve inside Tim Howard's far post. Delightful. This is a crucial season for a player needing not only to convince the footballing public in general but his own support in particular. He is already going some way to doing that. But Berbatov was among those United players - with Nani the chief culprit - who lost focus, convincing themselves that matters had been settled. For that, Howard, who made one outstanding first-half save, was grateful. FERGUSON: In a rage Not as grateful as a crowd that had come to give Rooney a verbal battering, only to have their fun destroyed by Fergie and his Wayne-less wonders. Some were heading for the exits when Cahill leapt between John O'Shea and Jonny Evans to head in Baines' cross.
And they had barely returned to their positions when another Baines ball dropped on Cahill's head and, in a minor scramble, Arteta drove in the most dramatic of equalisers. There was still time for United to menace, for Everton to break, for Ferguson to storm down the tunnel, for Moyes to shape as though he was going to chin Atkinson. It was one of those memorable occasions. Ferguson might have spared Rooney 'terrible abuse' but he won't be thanked for it. This was one afternoon that would have been tailor-made for Rooney. Raucous, controversial, rapid, with no little skill. And the abuse Rooney would have received might even have been tinged with jocularity - a bit more ribald rather than rabid. Maybe. But the angriest man in Goodison Park yesterday would have been Sir Alex. He knows that even at this early stage, this is one late capitulation that could have disastrous title implications.
MOYES IN RAGE AT REFEREE
Fergie's big regret
ANGRY: Moyes lets fly at referee Atkinson
By Andy Dunn
FURIOUS David Moyes confronted Martin Atkinson after the referee had blown for full time just as Everton were seeking the most unlikely winner.
And he called Atkinson's decision to end the game - after three and a half minutes of stoppage-time - 'incredible'. The Toffees manager said: "People come to see the game not the referee. It was an incredible decision. He should have allowed the move to progress. People come here to see excitement." Phil Jagielka's shot, after the final whistle, was saved but that did not ease Moyes' fury. But he said: "We have played a good team and a draw was a fair result. Even at 3-1 down, I did not think we were out of it." Everton have still not won this season but Moyes added: "We have a good team with good players and we showed that today. "I think we have an excellent squad." Sir Alex Ferguson fears his team's dramatic late collapse could prove disastrous - even though the title race is only four games old. He admitted: "To lose two goals in injury-time is unthinkable. It is a terrible end for us. "We had it under control and the game is finished - even when they scored a second. It's amazing, we've thrown the points away and hopefully, at the end of the season, we don't have to sit back and regret it." Fergie added: "We were so wasteful. We could have scored five or six in the second half and that has come to haunt us. They keep launching it forward and you have to have determination in situations like that." Ferguson did confirm Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand are expected to feature in Tuesday's Champions League opener against Rangers.
Man Utd taught harsh lesson by Everton FC comeback
Sep 13 2010 Liverpool Echo
DARREN FLETCHER accepts Manchester United have lessons to learn about their away performances so far this season if they are to avoid serious damage to their Premier League title challenge. Having spent so many seasons dishing out last-gasp defeats to their rivals Alex Ferguson’s side received a taste of their own medicine as Everton fought back from 3-1 down to snatch a draw with two goals in injury time at Goodison Park. In their only other away game so far this season United saw Fulham’s Brede Hangeland earn a 2-2 draw with an 89th-minute header moments after Nani had missed a penalty. Those four points are the difference between the third-placed Red Devils and the leaders and defending champion Chelsea, who are the only side with a 100% record. It may only be early days but Fletcher knows allowing winning positions to slip from their grasp will become costly. “We should have learned from the Fulham game and we didn’t,” said the Scotland international, who got his side back into the game with a close-range volley just before half-time to cancel out Steven Pienaar’s opener. “We really have to learn from this game if we want to take it forward this season and win the league. “We can’t afford to throw away points as we have done in the two away games so far. “It just shows you that you think you are winning 3-1 and can take it easy but you’ve got to keep taking your chances and really finish the game off. “These are moments you can look back on and say ‘That should have been three points’ but it is a long season and there are many twists and turns to come.” Fletcher was keen to stress that the recent late lapses should not be viewed as a sign of weakness.However, he admits if United continue to give teams hope when there should be none then they will find themselves under pressure more regularly.
“It just shows you that you have to play right to the final whistle in this league because teams don’t give up, especially when they are at home,” added the 26-year-old. “The more confidence you give to teams, showing them things like that, the more confidence they will get to say ’Keep on right till the end against Manchester United’.
“We need to put that to bed and get away from it as soon as possible. There is no vulnerability, it is just simple mistakes which we need to eradicate it quickly.”
Without Wayne Rooney, who was left out of the squad entirely after a week of lurid allegations about his private life, United began poorly at Goodison. Everton should have been well ahead before Patrice Evra’s overly-ambitious but failed overhead-kick clearance allowed Mikel Arteta to race through on goal and have Pienaar convert his rebounded shot. United clicked into gear just before the interval when Fletcher nipped in at the near post to volley home Nani’s cross and within three minutes of the second half kicking off Nemanja Vidic had headed them in front. When Dimitar Berbatov fired home with the outside of his right boot with 24 minutes to go the match looked over until chaos broke out in the visitors’ penalty area in added time with Tim Cahill powering in a header before Arteta’s deflected strike earned a point. “The game was fizzling out but once you give a team like Everton a bit of hope with the second goal – which came out of nothing – it lifted the whole place,” said the United midfielder.
“They found that extra bit of energy and threw men into the box in the last minute.
“You can’t afford to give teams at their home ground any sort of momentum or confidence, a half-chance or a goal, because in the end you suffer for it. “The manager was really disappointed and made it clear in no uncertain terms of what is expected at this club.”
Everton FC boss David Moyes incensed at referee Martin Atkinson’s time-keeping in Man Utd match
Sep 13 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON celebrated a potentially season-turning comeback on Saturday, but the Blues were united in their condemnation of referee Martin Atkinson’s time-keeping.
The official blew the final whistle with Everton bearing down on Manchester United’s goal in a dramatic final few seconds. But point-saver Mikel Arteta, who had scored a dramatic equaliser barely seconds earlier, believes the referee acted hastily. “I was so disappointed with that because you can’t stop the game when you have a clear chance one v one against the goalkeeper,” he complained. “We were all really upset but there’s nothing you can do because it’s finished now.” Manager David Moyes, who raced onto the pitch to remonstrate with Atkinson, was even more vehement in his complaints. “Of course play should have continued,” he rapped. “They had a corner kick and I don’t know long it was until he’s blown, it must have been no more than eight seconds and he’s blown up when the ball is no more than 25 yards from their goal. “He’s actually played three minutes 30 seconds and that’s totally incorrect.
“Even if you’re only adding on the time for the goals we scored you would play four minutes. “Most referees in those situations allow the game to go on. “Fans don’t come and watch the game for him to be the main man. That was a terrible decision. “The point is he didn’t get the time right today. I’m a football supporter as well as a manager and if I’m at a football match I’m expecting a referee to let that moment go on. “It could have been us. We may have lost the goal from a corner kick, but he let the corner kick go and I don’t think there was more than eight or 10 seconds after that that he blew.” Arteta added that the late comeback came as a huge relief to the Blues players. “We dominated the first 40 minutes and created a lot of chances, but with 20/25 minutes to go they were dominating because we were taking too many risks, but we had to take them,” he explained. “They were counter-attacking and getting quite a few chances to finish the game off but they didn’t. “It was a great relief and really important to us because in recent games we have been creating chances but not taking them.” Boss Moyes was also happy with many aspects of his side’s performance, but bemoaned the lapses of concentration defensively which almost cost his side dear again. “It was a great start to the game. I thought we did a lot of good things, created opportunities but then we turned off terrible for the first goal,” he said. “We gave a free-kick away and three players surrounded the referee and the ball and they played the ball between us and before you know it we’re on the back foot and they’ve scored.
“It shows you what good players can do to you. They find your weakness and punish you. “I can’t forget how good the goalkeeper was in the first half. A couple of Tim Howard’s saves were top notch, they really were. “Scoring goals has been a struggle for us so far, but today we played quite well, had opportunities and got in positions to score. “Leon Osman had a great opportunity to score with 20 minutes to go but we kept going.”
David Prentice: Epic comeback shows Everton FC’s day is surely coming
Sep 13 2010 Liverpool Echo
PHIL NEVILLE didn’t know what day it was. Everton’s usually switched on skipper opened his programme notes with a warm: “Good evening and welcome to Goodison Park …” for a lunchtime kick-off. But it was that kind of day. No-one seemed to know if they were coming or going. Players, fans and media stumbled out of Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon wondering if they’d been party to an elaborate Jeremy Beadle sketch. Manchester United don’t give up two-goal leads (eight years ago was the last time). They certainly don’t give them up with 90 seconds remaining.
But such was the drama on Saturday that they did just that – and then might even have lost. Everton started well, could have been buried, then might have won. And the message was delivered pre as well as post-match. This Everton side fancies its chances against the big boys. The inferiority complex which infiltrated every pore of the club pre-David Moyes has gone. Moyes wrote in the matchday magazine: “For me they (United) are the club and the side we have to try and use as our new target. We are now trying hard to match Manchester United.” There’s still a long way to go, particularly off the pitch, but Saturday was the third season running now that United have come to Goodison and left winless. And it’s impossible to understate the impact the Everton crowd has had on those results. Goodison is rarely mentioned when observers list arenas that intimidate. But when Blues fans are up for the challenge there are few bearpits more hostile. They turned the match – and a season – when Phil Neville’s tackle on Cristiano Ronaldo sparked a venomous response two years ago.
They rattled Rio Ferdinand and inspired Duncan Ferguson on a memorable evening that all but clinched a fourth place finish in 2005. And on Saturday they influenced the outcome before a ball had even been kicked. Hundreds of bin bags, song sheets and inflatable sex toys went to waste – well apart from one blow-up doll – when the flawed football genius was left at home. “We made the decision simply because he gets terrible abuse here,” said Alex Ferguson. “We were not going to subject him to that abuse.” That’s a dangerous precedent for the United boss to set, but Everton weren’t complaining. Everton haven’t lost a match at their home since November, and the absence of Wayne Rooney only helped their cause. Mind you, they looked dead and buried long before Tim Cahill’s apparent consolation. With Sylvain Distin experiencing the kind of afternoon not endured since David Unsworth was run ragged by Ian Wright and Dennis Bergkamp 13 years ago (at least Unsy was put out of his misery at half-time) United looked in cruise control. It should also be pointed out that Unsworth recovered superbly from that chastening experience – and Distin has the mental strength to do likewise. But if Evertonians have learned anything during the David Moyes era, it’s don’t leave Goodison Park early. The number of last minute dramas under Moyes are legendary. And while Saturday’s time added on was dramatic enough, it may even have witnessed a sensation had Martin Atkinson not provided further evidence of having been seduced by United’s reputation. He blew for time with Phil Jagielka bearing down on Edwin van der Sar’s goal. Arguments that van der Sar saved anyway are superfluous. It appeared that Jags shot because he’d heard the whistle, rather than carrying the ball even closer and making sure. It was impossible to escape the feeling that Atkinson desperately wanted to avoid having to award a goal scored 30 seconds after the allotted three minutes of time added on had elapsed – despite two goals having been scored in that period, and referees’ guidelines suggest adding 30 seconds on for goal celebrations. And there had already been plenty of other moments when Atkinson appeared to favour the visitors. But Alex Ferguson intimidates officials. United’s boss has had a fixation with match timings for years – so long that it goes back to the days when he actually used to turn up for post-match press conferences. It was in front of a bewildered press at Old Trafford in 1996 that he marched in and said: “What does a referee wear on his wrist? Is it a Mickey Mouse watch?” No-one quite seemed to know what the point was he was trying to make.
Because, just like Saturday, it was Everton who pressed in the closing stages of a thrilling draw. That was an era when Everton held genuine aspirations of matching Manchester United and now they are making similar noises again. Clearly the Blues can match Manchester United on any given day. What they can’t do is take one first choice striker out of their line-up and still provide a regular goal threat. While United threatened throughout on Saturday, Everton looked most dangerous only when Yakubu arrived for the final 20 minutes. With The Yak finally inching towards full fitness Everton could be ready to launch their belated assault on the Premier League.
If Evertonians weren’t sure what day it was at the weekend, Yakubu’s – and Everton’s day – is surely coming.
Everton FC 3, Man Utd 3: Greg O'Keeffe sees the Blues sing their own Redemption Song
Sep 13 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
THERE was a time when the only morale boost David Moyes could rely on from old friend Alex Ferguson was a glass of expensive red wine after another routine defeat.
But recent campaigns have seen Manchester United emerge as perfect opponents when the Toffees are in search of a season defining moment. Two seasons ago it was Phil Neville’s crunching tackle on Cristiano Ronaldo which kick-started a faltering term, and sent the Blues on a run which culminated in fifth place in the league and a cup final. Last time around, United were sent back down the M62 which their back sides smarting after a 3-1 rout which gave Everton the confidence to end their season in scintillating form. All the talk before Saturday’s visit centred on Wayne Rooney, and whether the Everton fans would adapt the words to Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry to torment their former idol. Instead it was Moyes’ players who conjured up a heroic comeback more aptly sound tracked by another Marley classic – Redemption Song. Staring at the stark prospect of only one point from a potential 12 in their opening four Premier League games, the Blues found some timely salvation courtesy of a stirring injury-time brace of goals from Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta. The proceeding 90 minutes had already suggested in parts that Everton were ready to click into gear at last, after another disappointingly lame start to a season. Fired admirably by an outstanding performance from Steven Pienaar, back to his energetic best, the home side were buoyant in the first half with neat possession carving out a clutch of chances. But once again a non-existent cutting edge up front looked like being so costly, after their early dominance petered out, and United were arguably unlucky to end the half without a lead. Everton’s parity at the break was hugely indebted to a contender for save of the season from Tim Howard. Nani had shaped to shoot but cutely squared a free kick to Paul Scholes whose thunderous shot deflected off Tim Cahill, and was heading in but for a sublime reflex save from the American.
United’s former number one, who Moyes’ ranks as one of his best ever signings, was in imperious form, denying Ryan Giggs moments later. The Blues had earlier taken a deserved lead when Arteta latched onto a defence splitting Tim Cahill ball, sprinted past Gary Neville, and drilled a shot at Edwin van de Sar. The Dutchman parried, and Leon Osman’s cultured football brain saw him resist shooting and instead slip a delicate pass to Steven Pienaar who stroked it home. Goodison rocked, but the delirium was short-lived. A trademark slick United phase of play saw Paul Scholes’ free kick set in motion a move involving Ryan Giggs and Nani, neither closed down quickly enough, before Darren Fletcher finished with aplomb. Then it almost got worse. Martin Atkinson riled Giggs by booking him for a crude foul on Tony Hibbert, and the Welshman responded by playing a spectacular pass to Berbatov who flashed his shot wide. The Bulgarian was in menacing form, and resumed after the break by narrowly missing again. What a difference a £30m hit-man makes. Had the Blues a forward of his calibre to call on the spoils would likely have been all theirs, and they might have taken three points from Villa Park too. But with Everton defending deeper and deeper, the exemplary Scholes slipped the ball back to Nani from a corner, and the Portuguese midfielder’s cross split Distin and Jagielka and met the forehead of Vidic. United seized the momentum their goal generated, next Scholes found Berbatov, and the Bulgarian burst through and squared to Nani whose shot was well saved. It was a brief reprieve. Paul Scholes lofted a sumptuous pass towards Berbatov, and with Distin wrong-footed and ball watching, he burst past him and finished calmly. Moyes tried to revive Everton’s early verve by introducing Seamus Coleman, and asking Yakubu to provide an unlikely dash of inspiration. The impressive Leighton Baines squeezed a free-kick just around the post. But at 3-1 few could have predicted what was coming, especially when Leon Osman, so magnificent against United last season, shot weakly after good work by Yakubu created a clear opening.
David Moyes will have been thrilled at how his side kept patiently trying to create a way back into a game which looked finished, and with Marouane Fellaini’s calm, assured footwork in the box, the Belgian shuffled it out to Baines whose perfect first time cross was typically met by Tim Cahill. The goal seemed likely to serve only to give Alex Ferguson something to grumble about in the away dressing room, but what came next might have tempted him to whip out the hairdryer. Baines crossed again, Cahill headed it down, and Arteta launched a rocket which was diverted in off Scholes. The late controversy over whether Martin Atkinson should have blown for full time as Everton broke again, (he shouldn’t), was largely irrelevant. Goodison sensed a turning point had been reached, and with the Blues almost a year unbeaten at home, Newcastle United’s visit next Saturday suddenly seems a far more inviting prospect. Nobody at Everton can be content with the club’s start to the season, but only four games have passed. If this was to be a watershed, there is still plenty of time to build a run which could yet fulfil the lofty aspirations which have built up all summer.
EVERTON (4-4-1-1): Everton: Howard, Hibbert (Coleman, 69), Distin, Jagielka, Baibes, Heitinga (Yakubu, 69), Arteta, Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini, Cahill. Not used: Mucha, Bilyaletdinov, Beckford, Neville, Gueye.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-1-1): Van de Sar, G Neville, Vidic, Evans, Evra (Park, 81), Fletcher, O’Shea, Giggs, Berbatov, Scholes, Nani. Not used: Kuszczak, Owen, Smalling, Silva, Macheda, Gibson.GOALS: Pienaar, Cahill, Arteta. Fletcher, Vidic, Berbatov. CARDS: Booked – Heitinga. Giggs.REFEREE: Martin AtkinsonATTENDANCE: 36,556GOALS: Pienaar, Cahill, Arteta. Fletcher, Vidic, Berbatov.
CARDS: Booked – Heitinga. Giggs.REFEREE: Martin AtkinsonATTENDANCE: 36,556
Steven Pienaar: Man Utd draw can kickstart Everton FC's season
Sep 13 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
STEVEN Pienaar predicted the pulsating draw against Manchester United will kick-start Everton’s surge up the early Premier League table. The South African was back to his sparkling best against Sir Alex Ferguson’s team, scoring Everton’s opener, and believes the Blues are finally set to reap the rewards of their dominance in their first four games – and their unbeaten record at Goodison Park. He said: “It can definitely be a turning point. “The comeback was amazing, and the supporters were behind us from the first minute. “For us it could be a big game, and as long as we keep the record of almost a year without a defeat at home we can go on. “Anything can always happen. They could have made it 5-1 or 6-1 but we were lucky and they didn’t so we got back into it and kept going.” Pienaar declared that confidence is still high inside the Everton dressing room, and nobody has started to readjust their top four ambitions yet. He said: “It’s only four games gone and we have 32 left so let’s hope and see.
“Our confidence hasn’t been dented at all. We are all full of confidence. “Against Wolves we played well but didn’t take all three points, at Villa we were unlucky and as long as we keep on creating chances we’ll be OK. “We’ve shown we can score three goals in a game now so we can go on and take more wins. “We were so disappointed after the Villa game. “The guys were really upset. “But sometimes you play well and don’t win games. “Against Manchester United, the first 30 minutes was good and the second half we were under pressure but we got into the game. “We were on our way on the counter in the last seconds. I thought the ref would let it go on until the ball went out and see what happens, but that’s his decision and if the time’s up, the time’s up.” Pienaar, who helped South Africa to a 1-0 victory over Ghana last month following their disappointing World Cup campaign on home soil, insists he feels fitter than ever. He said: “When you come back from pre season and join a team late you have to catch up. “But for me it wasn’t really a matter of that, it was just getting fully fit by playing games. “Even if I made mistakes I just had to improve, so by playing even for the national team it’s helped me get sharper and get my confidence. “I feel fit and that’s so important because I’m enjoying my football.” Meanwhile, Tim Cahill accepted a draw was a fair result against United. The Australian netted a trademark header in the 91st minute, before Mikel Arteta’s late strike earned Everton a deserved point. And Cahill says that point was justified from the strong character Everton displayed in the game’s dying moments. He said: “It’s quite unreal, but I think if we look at the chances we gave away and the chances that we missed, it was probably a fair result in the end. “It was a tough game. It was difficult, but it just shows our fight.
“We’ve tried and tried in the last couple of games and it hasn’t happened, but this is a great result.” The midfielder, who played in attack during Saturday’s clash, also gave credit to Leighton Baines whose stoppage-time crosses helped to create both late goals. He said: “I always talk about how great Bainesy is and what he brings to the team – not only defending, but going forward. “I constantly tell him he’s the first man I look for, and today I was buzzing as it’s always great to score against Man United.
“Today was a bit of a surprise to be upfront, but where ever you are put you play as best as you can. “You try and rattle teams like that and we are very happy and positive about the result. “We’ve just got to try and take this forward and win a game this season.”
Wayne Rooney’s absence for Man Utd helped Everton FC - Tim Cahill
Sep 13 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
TIM CAHILL has revealed Everton took heart from Wayne Rooney’s absence at Goodison on Saturday – but understands why the Manchester United man was left out. Former Everton striker Rooney was not even part of the United squad that travelled to Merseyside for the dramatic 3-3 draw. The visitors had seemed on course for a 3-1 win before an injury-time goal from Cahill was followed by a dramatic equaliser by Mikel Arteta to earn David Moyes’s side an unlikely point. Rooney was omitted by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who was fearful of any abuse the player may receive following allegations about his private life. And while Cahill admits that Everton were pleased to see Rooney missing, he acknowledges there are more important things than just football for players to consider. “It was a positive for us that he wasn’t playing because he is ruthless,” said the Australian. “He is the best finisher in the world, there is no-one better, but we had to concentrate on our own game and not worry about anything else happening off the pitch. “Wayne is one of the best players in the world and someone I respect a lot. It was a positive for us that he wasn’t playing but, for me, it has to be family first. Football is not an issue in comparison. It’s only a game. Wayne has to look after himself. “He is one of the best players England has ever produced and he is one of the best players in the world but it has to be family first. “Football is just a game. I love it to bits, and the Evertonians here know how much I love it, and Wayne is a great professional but it is family first.”
Cahill’s goal was a header from a Leighton Baines cross, and means the 30-year-old has now scored 12 of his last 14 Premier League goals with his head. Everton dominated the first half but after gaining a deserved lead through Steven Pienaar’s 39th-minute strike, fell behind following goals either side of half-time by Darren Fletcher and Nemanja Vidic. Dimitar Berbatov’s 66th-minute strike appeared to have consigned Everton to their worst start to a league season in 16 years before the dramatic finale. And Cahill said: “We worked so hard throughout the game and we should have finished chances off earlier but we need to take a lot of credit as well.
“The finishes we did put away were great and we made sure we penetrated their defence all the way until the end. “Everyone thought the game was over at 3-1, even our own fans, but not the players and this is one of those results that can turn a season around. “I’m not saying our play was any better against United, because we have played well in recent games, but I’m sure people had a lot of opinions about our formation and the outcome was very positive.” With Louis Saha injured and Yakubu and Jermaine Beckford on the bench, Cahill reprised his makeshift strike partnership with Marouane Fellaini. The Australian enjoyed a fierce battle with Nemanja Vidic with the United centre-back at one point forced to leave the field after being caught by a flailing arm from the Everton man. But Cahill said: “The beautiful thing about it is that we both took knocks. When you play against proper professionals like that it is all part and parcel of the game. If anything it makes you a better player. The game needs to keep that element, it needs to make sure players are not always falling over trying to draw a foul. We both took a few hits but we both got up. “He’s a strong boy and there are not many players who like to play against him. To get a goal, set one up and be in the rough and tough of it is what it’s all about for me.” Cahill added: “We were up against some of the best defenders in the world. Vidic is very physical, he’s clever on the ball and against the likes of him and Gary Neville you have to try and pick their wits, lose them and try to make something happen for yourself or the team. Yak gave us that extra space, made room for Pienaar with his unselfish running and helped us create chances. Bainesy was great defensively but also created opportunities for us too.”
Everton FC boss David Moyes: I had to vent fury on referee Martin Atkinson for ‘terrible’ decision
Sep 13 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
DAVID MOYES believes he was right to air his fury at referee Martin Atkinson after a dramatic afternoon at Goodison on Saturday – despite the prospect of a possible disrepute charge. Moyes could face disciplinary action from the Football Association after racing on to the field to confront Atkinson at the final whistle of Everton’s 3-3 draw with Manchester United. The home side, who has been trailing 3-1 going into injury time, had scored twice to level before the official blew for time with Everton pushing forward on a counter-attack while outnumbering the visiting defence.
Having voiced his disapproval to Atkinson, Moyes later described the decision as “terrible” but was unperturbed by suggestions of an FA rap. “Well, if they do, fine, because at the end of the day someone has to turn round and say what they think,” said the Goodison Park manager. “They can’t always say nothing. “If you feel there has been an injustice you have to be able to air your views. I’m not critical. I’m just saying it was the wrong decision for football and the wrong decision for me. “He (the referee) didn't get his time right – there was more time to add on for the goals and he blew up with the ball 25 yards from their goal. “The two goals were scored after 90 minutes – they'd put up three minutes of extra time and he played three minutes 30 seconds. “I didn’t ask for the ref for an answer. “I just told him it was the wrong decision.” Tim Cahill, who scored Everton’s second goal in injury time before Mikel Arteta’s equaliser, agreed referee Atkinson had made a mistake. “It’s common sense to let those situations play out,” said Cahill. “I think it was 93 minutes and 30 seconds so you either finish it off with a minute or you cut it short. “I would have thought the referee would have waited to see if the ball ended up in the back of the net or out for a corner.” After Steven Pienaar had given Everton a 39th-minute lead, goals from Darren Fletcher, Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov put United on the brink of victory before the late drama. And although the Goodison outfit remain without a league win this season, Moyes believes the manner of their comeback can kickstart their campaign. “Is it a turning point? Possibly, but I didn’t feel as if we needed a turning point because I’ve seen us play,” said the Everton manager. “What we maybe needed, though, was our luck to change a little bit. We maybe just needed something to go for us. “We didn’t start in the first game particularly well but since then we’ve been improving game by game. “I hoped we would have got more points, we’ve not and we’ve not got a great haul of points, and if I’d have lost 3-1 today I think I would have still come out and said my time hadn’t deserved to be on the end of a defeat like that. “Steven Pienaar played excellently, the keeper was excellent, and I thought Tim Cahill did a good job up front for a lot of the game so there were some good performances but there were also one or two who were sticky.” United were without Wayne Rooney on Saturday, with Sir Alex Ferguson stating he had omitted the former Everton striker as he was fearful of the abuse the player may receive in light of recent allegations about his private life. And when asked if that represented a worrying development, Moyes said: “It might be, but maybe the manager there just felt it was the right decision not to play him here today. Maybe he thought he was not playing that well. So I don’t think you should put it all on that (the crowd). “The manager there knows. Or maybe he was just making sure everybody realises that if you play for Manchester United you have to conduct yourself in a manner and our football club doesn’t really care who you are.”
Chris Beesley: Only way is up for David Moyes’s Everton FC after late comeback against Manchester United
Sep 13 2010 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post
EVEN though ‘he’ didn’t play against his old club, Saturday’s game at Goodison Park was still a cracker. A fierce competitor who has represented England in major tournaments and has a treasure trove of top honours at club level, his full-blooded and passionate displays against his former employers in Everton v United matches have always added spice to the occasion. But while he remains a warrior on the pitch, he has always been the model professional off it too. Returning from injury, Everton captain Phil Neville was only able to command a place on the substitutes’ bench at Goodison Park but at least, unlike his predecessor in the number 18 royal blue jersey, he was involved in the matchday squad. It was of course Neville’s thunderous firm-but-fair tackle on Cristiano Ronaldo – which he was extremely unfortunate to be booked for – that helped turn the tide in this corresponding fixture two seasons ago.
On that occasion, Everton fought back to earn a 1-1 draw against the then-Premier League and European champions, a result that was seen as the watershed in their improvement in fortunes that term. A sluggish start to the campaign – sound familiar? – saw David Moyes’ troops struggling at the wrong end of the table but they eventually recovered to finish fifth in the Premier League. While they remain in the ‘drop zone’ in the current embryonic standings, Evertonians will now be expecting this most unlikely of points gained to provide a similar tonic to their talented but stuttering side. Such was the spectacular late capitulation of United, a club usually renowned for their own stoppage time prowess, that Moyes raced on to the Goodison turf at the finish to remonstrate with referee Martin Atkinson after he blew for the end of the game with the hosts pressing forward for another goal. Yet when fourth official Michael Jones lifted his board for three added minutes, the Red Devils looked to be cruising to another routine Goodison victory that, last season apart, had become an annual depressing feature of Premier League life for Everton supporters. Again, Moyes’ men looked slick in patches but for long periods they continued to lack the cutting edge to supplement their neat build-up play while United, masters of hitting the opposition on the counter attack with blitzkrieg raids forward needed barely three touches to cancel out Steven Pienaar’s opener as Everton players attempted to get in the way of a free-kick in the centre of the field. It might seem odd to criticise Everton’s finishing after they’ve just put three past the most successful English side of the last generation but it seems obvious that all is not how it should be with their forward line when Moyes opted to start the game without a single recognised striker.
For a manager who seldom deviates from playing with a lone frontman, having six centre-forwards within his squad is seemingly an embarrassment of riches for him.
Even with Louis Saha suffering from a knee injury having limped out of his international comeback with France, the Scot deemed his attacking options sufficiently covered to allow James Vaughan to be farmed out to Crystal Palace in a three-month loan deal. Neither Victor Anichebe or Portuguese youngster Joao Silva featured against United while Jermaine Beckford, who in January netted a match-winning goal at Old Trafford, a feat not achieved by an Everton player since the opening season of the Premier League, and Ayegbeni Yakubu, the only Goodison marksman to break the 20-goal barrier since the rebranding of English football’s top flight, were both left on the bench. It speaks volumes regarding Moyes’ assessment of the respective striker’s current capabilities that neither were included in his starting line-up for such a high-profile fixture and Yakubu’s debut season apart, before he cruelly succumbed to a career-threatening ruptured Achilles tendon injury, Everton seem to have been lacking an elusive lethal finisher for the best part of two decades.
Tony Cottee – top scorer in five of his six seasons at the club – was arguably the closest they came to solving the problem. However, the Londoner, snapped up for a then-record £2.2million fee in 1988, never reached the heights expected of him after his debut hat-trick against Newcastle. His time at the club – arriving a year after the last League title was won and leaving a year before an FA Cup final success – coincided with a major downturn in fortunes. Since then, various managers, including Moyes with record purchases of the previously prolific James Beattie and Andrew Johnson, have been unable to unearth a finisher in the glorious mould of Everton centre-forwards of yesteryear and it continues to frustrate. Moyes has suggested on several occasions in the past that he is prepared to use Cahill as an auxiliary striker but the Australian is at his best when popping up from deeper positions and the former Millwall man’s temper will be tested on a far more regular basis if he’s routinely grappling with the Premier League’s meanest centre-halves – his clash with Nemanja Vidic on Saturday was a particularly unsavoury one. Now is not the time to grumble though, as unlike one of their absent former sons, following this morale-boosting comeback, surely the only way is up for Everton.
Everton FC 3 Manchester United 3: Ian Doyle on how perfect timing may kickstart the Blues' season
Sep 13 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
WHEN Manchester United are in town, it’s not rare for a manager to berate the referee, point forcefully at his watch and complain vociferously about the amount of injury time played. But that it was David Moyes and not Sir Alex Ferguson turning crimson in anger said everything about a remarkable afternoon at Goodison in which Everton dragged themselves off the floor to surely kickstart their spluttering Premier League campaign. The home fans had come to taunt Wayne Rooney. But with their former hero removed from the firing line, it was instead referee Martin Atkinson who became the focus of the ire at the final whistle and prompted Moyes to rush on to the field to remonstrate. Four minutes earlier, Everton supporters had, in all honesty, been praying for the end, their team 3-1 down and seemingly heading to their worst start to a top-flight season in 16 years. But, after Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta both struck to level the scores, the shrill of Atkinson’s final whistle was drowned out by the sheer uproar as Everton, with men over in attack and a groggy United reeling, poured forward in search of an unlikely winner. To be fair, Phil Jagielka hadn’t realised the game was finished when, having stormed out of defence, he unleashed an angled shot that was saved by Edwin van der Sar. And once his rancour has subsided, Moyes will hope the dramatic late brace has ensured a turnaround not only on Saturday, but for his team’s season as a whole. It could be a case of history repeating. Two years ago, a home draw against United proved the catalyst for an autumn revival for Moyes’s then under-whelming side, while the February hammering of Ferguson’s men was further confirmation their inferiority complex against ‘top four’ sides has been banished.Until the memorable denouement, though, the only déjà vu for those inside Goodison at the weekend came from the familiar failings that were proving Everton’s undoing, an inability to fully capitalise on territorial domination allied to individual errors in defence. What a difference a striker makes. Everton had dominated the visitors in the first half but, with no genuine forward on the field and Cahill and Marouane Fellaini reprising their makeshift pairing up front, had only Steven Pienaar’s 39th-minute strike to show for their efforts. o with his team staring defeat in the face with 20 minutes remaining, Moyes threw on Yakubu for his first appearance of the campaign.
The Nigerian has been slow to regain his fitness and form since the World Cup, not helped by the distraction of a possible move to West Ham United. It didn’t materialise and, having been set a challenge by his manager to prove his worth at the club, Yakubu, who always enjoyed games against United, gave the visiting defence a different, telling problem in the final quarter. “I think Yak coming on made a big difference,” says goalscorer Cahill. “United then had to worry about a striker with power, and he dragged defenders away from me to give me more space while also setting up play.” Such space appeared in the box for the Australian in the first minute of injury time when he powered home a header from Leighton Baines’s left-wing cross. Then, 60 seconds later, the pair again combined, Cahill nodding a Baines ball down for Arteta to thrash home the equaliser from 16 yards that deflected in off Paul Scholes. While United were left dazed and confused by a taste of their own medicine, Everton could argue their sheer bloody-mindedness and refusal to thrown in the towel meant they deserved a share of the spoils. Certainly, at half-time they were rightly disappointed to be level following another enterprising 45 minutes that built on the display at Aston Villa a fortnight earlier, Arteta prompting from central midfield, Cahill reveling in his battle with Nemanja Vidic while Pienaar shone brightest.
Arteta clipped the top of the crossbar with a free-kick but, with Everton sorely lacking a cutting edge up front, it was United who created the better chances, John O’Shea’s shot glancing the post before Tim Howard saved well from Scholes and Ryan Giggs.
Indeed, Everton’s opener six minutes before the break came from a counter-attack following a United corner. Patrice Evra’s stupidly elaborate attempt to clear Cahill’s ball forward served only to allow Arteta to sprint clear and, although the Spaniard’s shot was saved by van der Sar, Leon Osman showed great presence of mind to feed Pienaar for a neat finish.However, slack defending meant the lead lasted only four minutes, Everton slow to mark tightly as a passing move involving Scholes, Giggs and Nani ended with the winger crossing for Darren Fletcher to volley beyond Howard. What of Rooney? The striker had asked to play but was left out by Ferguson following revelations about his private life. However, his absence appeared not to affect United in an attacking sense during the second half, although they were aided by further poor Everton defending. Three minutes after the interval, Nemanja Vidic was left completely unmarked inside the six-yard box to head home Nani’s cross from the right. Then, midway through the half, Sylvain Distin, who only moments earlier had been caught out by a diagonal ball from Scholes to Dimitar Berbatov, was exposed in identical fashion and the United striker went on to finish with some class.
That appeared to be that, with Scholes, Berbatov and Nani all missing chances to extend the visitors’ lead. But, with Yakubu’s introduction allowing Fellaini to aid the midfield scrap, Everton had already starting building up a head of steam before their sensational climax. It was the first time United had surrendered a two-goal lead in the Premier League in a decade and, while the draw wasn’t enough to lift Everton out of the relegation zone and still leaves them seeking a league win, it has given them the foundation to kick on. The season starts here.
Everton v United: Verdict
Stuart Mathieson
September 13, 2010 Manchester Evening Post
The stakes were high on Saturday. Houses, mortgages, cars and even lives were being bet on Wayne Rooney starting at Everton. He was favourite to score first, favourite to score last and ungenerous odds to grab two goals if you fancied a real wager.
Little money or possessions either real or verbally were going on the United striker being axed from the Reds XI at Goodison Park. Reason for the one-sided belief that the England hitman would be subjected to the vitriol of his one-time admirers was Sir Alex Ferguson’s history. It was not Fergie’s style to cave in to the mob. If the player in question would ensure his team was at its strongest to win a match then their name was on the team sheet irrespective of the situation. A teenage Rooney was thrust into the Goodison cauldron in 2005 despite pre-match hype that built the fixture into a hate-filled ‘homecoming’. He’d earlier been subjected to a similar cauldron of vitriol in front of the Kop. He survived and scored the winner at Liverpool.
Nasty
David Beckham was thrown into the lion’s den in 1998 in his first post-World Cup red card away match for United. It was on his own manor in London against West Ham where the nastiest of the anti-Becks reaction had manifested itself. He survived.
Five games into his Old Trafford career as a £30m newcomer from bitter rivals Leeds, Rio Ferdinand was back as enemy number one at Elland Road in 2002 to face the malicious backdrop to that event. He survived. It didn’t appear that Rooney would be a special case on this occasion, especially as he’d brought the anticipated wicked backlash upon himself. So it was with 100 per cent certainty and confidence that all were prepared to declare that Rooney would start on Merseyside on Saturday. When the spotters returned hastily to inform the press lounge that he wasn’t on the United coach, even though he’d checked in at the Lowry Hotel with the squad on Friday night, fanciful theories suggested he’d been whisked in by a back door in a cloak and dagger operation. When the team sheet arrived and he wasn’t in the XI the immediate thought was he’d be on the bench. A further glance down the list of names left many open-mouthed. It was a Rooneyless Reds! Fergie appeared on TV to explain: “We’ve made that decision because he gets terrible abuse here and we don’t want to subject him to that.” Seemed a bit of a mystery considering that Rooney returned as a 19-year-old five years ago. The resulting popular assumption was that he’d really been dropped as punishment. Surely playing him was real punishment! Reds assistant boss Mike Phelan said after the match that Rooney “wasn’t ready to play.” Either way it smacks of a mellower Fergie who no longer seems to be in the Bill Shankly ‘Football is not just a matter of life or death it is much more important than that’ camp. As a near 69-year-old, the Reds boss appears to have adopted a softer line by sending last season’s talisman but now tormented striker home to sort out his private life. Did it backfire on United? The facts would suggest so. When Rooney was laid low by a stomach bug and missed the last away match at Fulham, the Reds squandered a potential comfortable 3-1 victory with a late penalty miss and then an even later lapse to allow two points to slip from their grasp. Once again without his fearsome ‘play to the final whistle’ attitude United allowed Everton off the hook and again critically blew two title points.
Criminal
They comforted themselves at Craven Cottage by believing that come the end of the season it would be viewed more as a point gained than two lost. The Reds won’t be able to spirit this criminal chuck away so easily. The team who have developed late rescuer acts or victories into an art form were suckered into having a taste of their own medicine. Even the Rooney circus was forgotten for the duration of the match as a bizarre afternoon unfolded. Everton were the powerhouse in the first half and yet countering that argument was a John O’Shea shot that shaved a post and two out-of-this-world instinctive stops from Tim Howard that denied from his ex-team-mates Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. As Goodison fans were digesting those miracle saves, Everton took the lead through the lively Steven Pienaar. The opener finally woke United up and Nani’s dangerous cross was met superbly with a Darren Fletcher volley on the run to equalise four minutes later. Nemanja Vidic added to his fine defensive display by joining the Reds attack for a corner and Nani’s eventual delivery was met with a forceful header for 2-1. A sublime stroked goal with the outside of his right foot from Dimitar Berbatov capped another eye-catching individual display from the Bulgarian. With half an hour to go United were strolling. Unfortunately, that’s just what they did. The Reds became lax and lazy. Berbatov and Nani had been so instrumental in putting United on Easy Street. But the striker tried to replicate his cool finish and ended up screwing a chance wide. The winger, who had provided two excellent assists, smashed one over. Fergie was apoplectic. His Portuguese flank man had blown a 3-1 lead at Craven Cottage with a poor penalty and the United manager knew what was coming and a stable Reds defence lost its head in injury time. Rooney’s damaging off-field dalliance and United’s damaging on-field dilly-dallying has really put the Reds on the back foot.
Everton 3-3 Manchester United: Daily Mirror match report
12/09/10 By David Maddock
There are many Everton fans who will rue the fact they were denied the chance to abuse their favourite hate-figure Wayne Rooney. But more of the Blues faithful will be cursing the striker for overshadowing what was a quite remarkable performance from their side in a classic Premier League encounter. An epic contest which encapsulated everything that is good about English football simply didn’t deserve to be demoted to second billing by Roo’s bedroom shenanigans. The quality and class on show and the honesty and passion of the endeavour is what being a footballer at this level should really be all about. Not easy money and easy women. That may be an idealistic sentiment but it is one shared by Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes, two managers with such old-fashioned values as dignity and integrity. Ferguson showed that by dropping Rooney. Forget all the nonsense about him protecting the striker from the abuse of Everton fans... the only protection Rooney required this week will have been from his manager. He may also have needed a bit of protection from Moyes, who will have been dismayed that the kid he set on the road to stardom has not yet learnt the lessons that were set out at an early age, and dismayed further that his side’s magnificent comeback was so overlooked. The Goodison chief was brave enough this week to reiterate his belief that his side are capable of a top-four challenge this season. No wonder then, that he signed heavily and almost rolled his eyes when the inevitable Rooney questions arrived. He answered them wearily, but ached to move on to a more dignified subject. “Look, we always seem to end up back on Rooney, but there were other things out there, other players whose talent deserves to be recognised,” he said. “There were a lot of fans who paid good money to come here and watch football and they got some incredible football for that money. “My team proved what I have been saying this season, that we have the ability to match the best. It has been hard to keep saying that with the points we have so far, but we really do have good players and a good team. “I would have said that even if we had lost 3-1, but we showed the desire, the quality and spirit to be able to match United, and we’ll be a match for most teams this season.” Moyes is right. The quality on show doesn’t deserve to be diminished by the lack of it displayed by a player who wasn’t even at the ground. Paul Scholes was immense, his level of performance and his sheer commitment after so long in the game an example that Rooney should follow. Ditto Ryan Giggs. United were magnificent for 90 minutes. Unfortunately for them, the game lasted 93. Everton also produced periods of sustained brilliance, and even if both sides made mistakes, the goals that arrived were all things of beauty. The first, on the stroke of half-time from Steven Pienaar, was produced by a moment of instinctive class by Leon Osman, only to be bettered almost immediately by a brilliant Darren Fletcher finish. After the break, the immense Nemanja Vidic added a second for the visitors before Dimitar Berbatov seemed to seal the game for his side with a goal that confirmed his genius. Trust Everton not to lie down, though, and when Leighton Baines twice galloped down the left flank and unleashed exocet crosses in injury time, Tim Cahill and then Mikel Arteta provided a fairytale ending to the afternoon’s awesome entertainment. It left the crowd breathless, and both Ferguson and his assistant Mike Phelan incandescent and speechless. The latter did manage to splutter: “We are stunned because in those dying few minutes we didn’t do our job properly. But it was still some game.” Too right...and one even Mr Rooney couldn’t spoil, though his absence from such a festival of football on the ground he loves was a shame for the crowd, and a shame for him too. Let’s hope the message has struck home this time.
C’mon feel the Moyes...
Everton 3 Man United 3 (The Sun)
DAVID MOYES had no regrets about racing on to the pitch and confronting ref Martin Atkinson after Saturday's closing scenes.
The Everton gaffer was angry he ended the game as the Blues rampaged forward with three men on the charge. In the event, Phil Jagielka did not hear the whistle before his shot, which was smothered by Ed van der Sar, so Atkinson did not rob the hosts. But Moyes was still unrepentent an hour afterwards. He said: "I didn't even see the shot because I'd known the whistle had gone before it. "It was incorrect for football, for fans and for the people who come to watch football. I told him it was the wrong decision. "If I get into trouble, fine, because someone has to turn round and say what they think." Tim Cahill backed up his boss, saying: "It's common sense to let those situations play out."
Dimitar Berbatov rises to the occasion of Wayne Rooney's absence
The Bulgarian's willingness to get behind Everton's defence meant Manchester United did not miss their star striker
David Pleat
The Guardian, Monday 13 September 2010
All the pre-match interest at Goodison Park had centred on strikers. For Everton, none of Jermaine Beckford, Louis Saha and Yakubu Ayegbeni started, so would Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill forge a profitable partnership? Wayne Rooney's absence for the visitors was understandable but would Dimitar Berbatov get into positions to receive enough possession and hold the ball up effectively for Manchester United? How would the Bulgarian cope without Rooney at his side? The answer to that latter question was "admirably", if only after Everton's furious opening. The hosts, lined up in a 4-4-2, had attacked the game with gusto and immediately served notice of their dual heading threat of Fellaini and the spring-heeled Cahill. United stood firm and steady by passing the ball calmly, and often shorter, into their available midfield threesome. They gathered their confidence steadily, forcing Leon Osman, Johnny Heitinga, Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar to get tighter to counter this spell of United possession. Sir Alex Ferguson's players duly sensed they would profit from more direct, searching passes, by-passing that quartet in Everton's midfield as they sought to stifle. Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Berbatov, all retired from the international scene, looked extra fresh. Scholes began to direct the play, spreading the ball wide accurately and taking advantage of hesitancy in the left side of Everton's defence, and it was here that Berbatov came into his own. The Bulgarian was languid yet lively, showing himself at every opportunity to collect passes, shielding the ball well, receiving on the half-turn and keeping the movement flowing. At times Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin were uncertain when and where to get tight to stop the flow stemming from United's central striker. He would gather, lay off and spin into space to drag markers out of their comfort zones. The pin man in United's set-up enjoyed his afternoon. A wonderful first‑half volley flew just wide as the ever-willing striker took responsibility in Rooney's absence. Not only dropping to receive short, angled passes from midfield, he was also eager to run beyond and stretch Everton's back four. One wondered whether this was evidence of something new in his game. Distin was certainly disturbed. Playing a lone role up front demands great awareness and subtlety, working across the width of the box, not making lung-bursting runs out wide and wasting energy. Berbatov's appetite in this regard never faltered. Giggs, playing narrower, and Nani were great allies, defending with discipline and attacking with pace. Of course, this contest will be remembered most for Everton's late resurgence as Leighton Baines prompted panic in United's defence and the hosts finished as they had started, with an aggressive tempo. Yet, in between, one could not help but admire the way United used their lone striker so cleverly and how Berbatov responded to the challenge with his touch and ball retention. His role in United's 4-3-3 shape gave the visitors an ascendancy they had not looked likely to achieve in those frantic early minutes.
Everton and David Moyes roar back to draw with Manchester United
Andy Hunter at Goodison Park
The Guardian, Monday 13 September 2010
Manchester United's Patrice Evra loses his balance under pressure from Mikel Arteta of Everton. Photograph: Peter Byrne/AP The final whistle turned Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon into Sauchiehall Street on a Saturday night. One furious Glaswegian stormed across the pitch to confront the referee for blowing with Everton on the attack, while another disappeared down the tunnel with a look that could silence thunder. A possible Football Association charge awaits the former, David Moyes, but the severest sanctions were reserved for Sir Alex Ferguson. An astonishing end to a breathtaking game cost Manchester United two points and Ferguson any hope of back‑heeling Wayne Rooney's omission into the subtext. A hostile environment had dictated the team selection of a man who would forge a siege mentality in a convent, or so the United manager claimed. Punishment for a series of negative headlines or compassion for a young man with serious problems at home?
Moyes thought the former. "Maybe the manager just felt it was the right decision not to play him here. I don't think you should put it all on the crowd. Maybe he was just making sure everybody realises that if you play for Manchester United you have to conduct yourself in a manner and our football club doesn't really care who you are. I'm sure the manager did what he thought was right." As Ferguson and Moyes had hinted in the build-up, this is not The Jeremy Kyle Show. In the event it was a glorious opportunity for United to demonstrate that without Rooney they still possess a pace, precision and ingenuity that has few equals in the Premier League. Until the 91st minute they did so. Even until the 92nd this amounted to a statement of intent to Chelsea. Dimitar Berbatov filled the vacuum with the swagger and influence demanded of a United centre-forward. "Absolutely brilliant at times," said Ferguson. Paul Scholes made it a privilege to share the same stadium and Nani produced two of the most exquisite crosses from the United right since David Beckham left, one turned home by Darren Fletcher to equalise Steven Pienaar's opener and the second headed into the roof of the net by Nemanja Vidic. Berbatov nonchalantly swept United 3-1 ahead but over-elaboration spared Everton further torment and just when it appeared they had repaid Moyes's side for the reverse scoreline in February, the visitors folded. Delivering at the death was once United's preserve but as Tim Cahill and then Mikel Arteta profited from Leighton Baines crosses inside two added minutes, all they lacked was a Samuel Kuffour figure to pound the ground in despair, à la Barcelona 1999. "Unthinkable," was Ferguson's take on stoppage time. "We have thrown the points away and hopefully at the end of the season we don't sit back and regret it."
There are some sizable stewards in the players' tunnel at Goodison but they knew to stand aside as Ferguson paced to and from his few media engagements afterwards. A defensive collapse was inexplicable from a side who had repelled waves of Everton pressure and, in Vidic, had an equal to the relentless Cahill. Their personal dual descended into Greco-Roman wrestling on occasion yet that added to a spectacle in which both teams thought only of victory. "The beautiful thing about it is that we both took knocks," said Cahill, who had been deployed as an emergency forward and rewarded with a part in each home goals. "When you play against proper professionals like that it is all part and parcel of the game," he said. "The game needs to keep that element, it needs to make sure players are not always falling over trying to draw a foul. We both took a few hits but we both got up. He's a strong boy and there are not many players who like to play against him." Cahill admitted that he "could see some of our fans leaving at 3-1 and I was thinking that we don't want to let these people down". A worst start to a season since 1994-95 beckoned for Everton as the board went up. The introduction of a genuine striker, albeit a half-fit Yakubu Ayegbeni, began to distract the United defence, allowing the Australia international to escape Vidic's shackles and work on Jonny Evans instead. Both stoppage‑time goals arrived from his success against the younger central defender. Moyes said: "I didn't feel as if we needed a turning point. What we maybe needed was our luck to change a little bit. We have got good players. We have got a good team. Obviously we're a little bit short in some areas of maybe being right at the top, but we'll be a game for anybody who comes here and I reckon we'll be a game for anybody wherever we go." Given the hype surrounding Rooney's anticipated return to the club he supported and played for in his youth you would have suspected the streets around Goodison to be awash with bile and venom. No, that was 2005. There were no irate natives wielding pitch-forks on Saturday. All that awaited was a blow-up doll.
Man of the match Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United)
DAVID MOYES ON WAYNE ROONEY: NO ONE IS BIGGER THAN UNITED
Wayne Rooney was dropped by Alex Ferguson for the visit to his old club Everton
Monday September 13,2010
By Paul Joyce Daily Express
DAVID Moyes has cast doubt over Sir Alex Ferguson’s claims he did not want to subject Wayne Rooney to “terrible abuse” at Everton and believes Manchester United may have wanted to make an example of the errant striker. Rooney missed the 3-3 draw at his former club on Saturday with Ferguson suggesting he had spared him a hostile reception in the wake of the allegations over his private life. But Moyes said: “Maybe Sir Alex was making sure everybody realises that if you play for Manchester United you have to conduct yourself in a manner and the football club doesn’t really care who you are.”
EVERTON FIGHT BACK AS RIO FERDINAND MISSES MATCH
Monday September 13,2010 Daily Express
By Paul Joyce
Everton 3, Manchester United 3
HE was nowhere to be seen at Goodison Park, his exact whereabouts remaining a mystery as his team-mates capitulated at the death in front of a disbelieving Sir Alex Ferguson. Never mind Wayne Rooney’s absence, there was intrigue enough over Rio Ferdinand’s omission from Manchester United’s match-day squad. Ferguson could easily have explained away the decision to leave Ferdinand out of his 18-man party – and much more convincingly than trying to claim Rooney’s exclusion against his former club was in order to spare him an afternoon of acerbic abuse – by simply citing the defender’s lack of fitness. Yet Ferguson’s admission, barely half an hour after seeing his side succumb to an Everton fightback that had to be seen to be believed, that Ferdinand will make his senior return following the knee injury that ruined his World Cup against Glasgow Rangers tomorrow was revealing in itself. For someone who was once thrown straight into a game against Liverpool the moment his eight-month ban for missing a drugs test was lifted, it says everything about Ferdinand’s current fortunes that a 45-minute run-out for the reserves against Oldham 10 days previously was not enough to ensure he featured in a game Ferguson labelled beforehand as always being “a bloody nightmare”. Rangers will pose an altogether more comfortable comeback. But this is Ferdinand, presumably champing at the bit after three months out, not some wet-behind-the-ears rookie. It is not even as if United can easily do without him.
EVERTON MANAGER DAVID MOYES FACING FA CHARGE
Everton manager David Moyes is facing an FA charge
Monday September 13,2010 Daily Express
By Paul Joyce
EVERTON manager David Moyes is unrepentant over the angry confrontation with referee Martin Atkinson that could land him an FA charge Moyes ran on to the Goodison Park pitch with assistant Steve Round to harangue Atkinson after he sounded the final whistle as Everton were in the middle of a counter-attack that could have sealed a dramatic win over Manchester United. Everton broke from a United corner and raced up field with numbers to spare moments after making it 3-3, but Atkinson blew up to leave Moyes incensed. “If the FA do [look into the matter], fine, because at the end of the day someone has to turn round and say what they think,” he said. “If you feel there has been an injustice you have to be able to air your views. I’m just saying it was the wrong decision for football and the wrong decision for me.”
Everton midfielder Tim Cahill said: “It’s common sense to let those situations play out. I think it was 93 minutes and 30 seconds so you either finish it off with a minute or you cut it short. I would have thought the referee would have waited to see if the ball ended up in the net or out for a corner.” The Football Association will wait for Atkinson’s report before deciding whether Moyes will face a charge of improper conduct.
Former Everton FC striker George Telfer delighted with redeveloped Heron Eccles football pitches in Allerton
Sep 14 2010 by Phillip Reade, Liverpool Echo
FORMER Everton striker George Telfer was on hand to view Sunday morning’s action in the Merseyside & Halewood Junior Football League. And while visibly enthused by the standard of football on display at Heron Eccles, Telfer was equally proud of the quality of the pitches at the site. Telfer, who made 116 appearances for Everton scoring 22 times, now fulfils the role of sport & recreation manager at Merseyside Youth Association. And it is thanks to the hard work of the MYA, working with the Liverpool County FA, that new top-of-the-range playing surfaces have been laid on Abbotshey Avenue in Allerton. Telfer admitted that previously the pitches were in poor condition and more than susceptible to flooding, to the extent that a lake had formed in one corner of the vast plot of land. Now, all 36 acres have undergone a £1.3mrefurbishment programme that included the construction of a pavilion overlooking the centre-piece of the project; a level-7 football pitch. The redevelopment took two years to complete meaning that fixtures had to be moved elsewhere until the re-opening on July 4. And Telfer is delighted that the project will add momentum to the MYA’s continuous efforts to provide sport and recreation opportunities across Liverpool and Merseyside as a whole. He said: “We’re thrilled with the outcome. This facility, here at Heron Eccles, has played host to football for over 80 years and it was such a shame that in recent years it became unusable. Now that the regeneration has taken place, we aim to provide for a range of leagues; boys of a Sunday, girls of a Saturday morning and open-age men’s fixtures in the afternoon.
“We will be working closely with schools and youth clubs to provide opportunities for the local community.”
Everton boss David Moyes is charged with improper conduct by the Football Association
Sep 14 2010 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON boss David Moyes and his assistant Steve Round have been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association after confronting referee Martin Atkinson after Saturday’s remarkable 3-3 draw with Manchester United. A furious Moyes raced on to the Goodison turf after Atkinson blew the final whistle when Everton were pressing forward in search of a dramatic winner. The Blues manager was incensed the official hadn’t added on more than the allocated three minutes of stoppage time during which Everton had struck twice through Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta. Moyes and Round remonstrated with the official who included the flashpoint in his match report. Under the FA’s new fast-track procedures Moyes and Round have until Thursday to respond to the charges. They have both been offered a standard sanction of a £8,000 fine should they accept the charge. If either deny it, the case will be heard by a regulatory commission within 10 working days. After Saturday’s thrilling contest, which saw the Blues fight back from 3-1 down to rescue a point, Moyes shrugged off fears he could find himself in trouble with the FA. “Well, if it does, fine, because at the end of the day someone has to turn round and say what they think,” he said. “If you feel there has been an injustice, you have to be able to air your views. “I’m just saying it was the wrong decision for football and the wrong decision for me. “He blew 10 seconds after deciding there was time for United to take a corner, and that can’t be right. “I didn’t ask for an answer from him. I just told him he had made a wrong decision. “I just think it was incorrect for football and for spectators who come along and pay to watch football.” The FA decided to hit the Blues duo with a charge of improper conduct rather than the more serious offence of misconduct, which could have led to a two-game touchline ban. Meanwhile, stand-in skipper Arteta is ready to step aside with Phil Neville back in contention for Saturday’s home clash with Newcastle. The Spaniard has captained the Blues during Neville’s absence with a foot injury. “Phil is someone I really respect,” Arteta said. “He is the captain and I am happy with that – as long as he is here then he is the captain. “But it was really good for me to be captain. It shows that you have earned the respect of the staff, the players and the fans to be asked to wear the armband.”
Ian Snodin: Gutsy fightback showed Everton FC’s spirit
Sep 14 2010 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Echo
I DON’T really miss playing but Saturday was the first time in years I’ve sat at Goodison thinking ‘I’d love to be out there’. What an incredible game. I don’t tend to get over-excited these days but when Mikel Arteta made it 3-3 I was jumping all over the press box. It was like we had won the title and it was the best feeling I’ve had since Dan Gosling got that late winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup. Of course when you calm down a bit you realise it’s only a point at home to Manchester United. But what that comeback underlined is the never say die spirit David Moyes has instilled in his squad. Nobody gave us a prayer going into stoppage time but we kept battling and got our reward. The atmosphere was electric from the moment the players walked out the tunnel and it made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. For the first 30 minutes we were exceptional without really causing their keeper too many problems. We got after United and finally got the goal our pressure deserved courtesy of Steven Pienaar. It was just a shame we couldn’t hold on to the lead until half-time.
United are a quality side and they showed that by the way they responded to going behind. In the second half United carved us open and we got over-run a bit. If it wasn’t for Tim Howard we could easily have been more than 3-1 down. Of course in the closing stages we all thought it was over and it was no surprise that fans were heading for the exits. Even when Tim Cahill headed home it looked certain to only be a consolation but to score again so quickly was unbelievable. Leighton Baines did really well down the left and Mikel Arteta kept his cool with the finish. Two minutes earlier all you could hear was the United fans singing but suddenly they were shell shocked. What a turnaround and even then there could have been a winner. I can understand David Moyes’ anger at the final whistle because Martin Atkinson blew up when we had a great breakaway. Atkinson should have added on at least 30 seconds for each of the two goals in injury time but failed to do so. Saturday’s performance just underlined that we are playing well. We were unlucky in the previous games against Wolves and Villa and deserved more. Now it’s just a matter of time before we put together a run of wins. WHO said lightning doesn’t strike twice? After watching his United side stunned by Everton’s comeback, Alex Ferguson raced to Burnley to watch his son Darren’s team Preston in action. Preston led 3-1 with six minutes to go before Burnley fought back to win 4-3. Not a good day for the Fergusons.
Ian Snodin: Combative Tim Cahill set the tone for fine Everton performance
Sep 14 2010 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES’ decision to play Tim Cahill up front against Manchester United really paid off. The Australian made it a very uncomfortable afternoon for United centre-backs Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans. Cahill was in their faces from the start, challenging for everything and making a real nuisance of himself. By the end you could see that Vidic had had enough. He was complaining to the referee and wouldn’t shake Cahill’s hand. I loved that because it meant he had got under his skin. Cahill unsettled United and did exactly the job his manager had asked of him. There were a number of great individual performances from the Blues. Steven Pienaar had his best game of the season and never stopped running. Pienaar and Leighton Baines are without doubt the best left sided pairing in the Premier League. But I gave my man of the match to our goalkeeper. Tim Howard pulled off two unbelievable saves and kept us in the game. He made a bad mistake at Blackburn on the opening day but he’s shown his class since then.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has ‘no regrets’ over leaving Wayne Rooney out against former club Everton FC
Sep 14 2010 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Echo
ALEX FERGUSON has no regrets about leaving Wayne Rooney out of his Goodison Park starting line-up – and no fears about bringing him back at Old Trafford tonight.
Despite claims to the contrary, Ferguson insists he was shielding Rooney from what he expected would turn into some fearful abuse at the weekend in the wake of allegations about his private life. The move was at odds with the treatment David Beckham, Paul Ince and Cristiano Ronaldo received at various points in their Manchester United careers, when Ferguson never shied away from putting them into his team, no matter what the circumstances. “I have no regrets at all. I did the right thing,” said Ferguson of Saturday’s decision, which some have suggested was actually a punishment. “I left him out for the reasons I said on Saturday. I was not going to subject him to that nonsense at that ground. “It was a benefit to our team but I have no concerns about playing him at all (against Rangers in the Champions League tonight).”
Ian Snodin: Injured Everton star Jack Rodwell will be sorely missed
Sep 14 2010 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Echo
I FEEL for Jack Rodwell because it’s going to be tough being stuck on the sidelines for three months with an ankle injury. It’s such a shame for the young midfielder who had forced his way into the side after impressing in the Carling Cup win over Huddersfield. Jack has become a vital member of our squad and I’m sure he would have played against Man United. It’s frustrating but he’s a positive lad and the other players won’t let him feel down for too long. They will rally round and Jack’s not the kind to mope around. I’m sure he will have a big role to play in the second half of the season.
Leighton Baines hoping Everton FC form will bring England return
Sep 14 2010 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
LEIGHTON BAINES hopes leading Everton up the Premier League table will help him reclaim his place in the England squad. The Blues left-back was one of the stars of Saturday’s stunning comeback against Manchester United as he created late goals for Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta. Baines hasn’t featured for England since he was harshly dumped by boss Fabio Capello just before the World Cup. The 25-year-old earned caps against Egypt and Mexico earlier this year but after being named in the provisional 30-man squad for South Africa he was a shock omission from the final 23.
Baines has put that setback firmly behind him and is focused on maintaining his good form and helping the Blues build on their 3-3 draw with United. “I don’t really know where I lie with England but I try not to worry myself too much about it as you can’t do anything about it,” Baines said. “Of course it would be good to be involved but I just try to concentrate on what I’m doing at Everton. “You never know where you are at. Before I got my first call-up I didn’t know if I was close or a million miles away. I never had an inkling. “The past has proved if you do well for your club you might get a chance. That happened for me before. If your form is good every week then you will get looked at. I’ll just keep trying to play well for Everton and see where it goes.”
Missing out on the World Cup was tough to take for Baines who saw Aston Villa’s Stephen Warnock get the nod as Ashley Cole’s understudy. But the former Wigan defender insists it no longer rankles with him. “So much happens in football that you have to condition yourself to get over things quite quickly,” he added. “You can’t let things resonate for too long or it starts to affect you. “I had a lot of family time over the summer which was great. I came back for pre-season and moved on. “It was one of those things. It wasn’t that long ago I was at Wigan so to be around the England squad just a few years on wasn’t bad. “Okay, it didn’t work out quite as well as it could have done but I’m only 25 and there’s still time.” While Baines is battling to force his way back into Capello’s squad, the Blues left-back believes clubmate Phil Jagielka is there to stay. Jagielka shone in England’s recent Euro 2012 qualifying wins over Bulgaria and Switzerland. Baines said: “Jags has been brilliant for England. I watched him against the Swiss and he looked so comfortable and assured at the back.
“I texted him after the game and said ‘you looked like you had played 40 internationals’. He certainly didn’t look like it was his sixth cap. “The way he performed for England is the way he plays for us every week. He’s a rock and a terrific defender. “If anyone deserves it Jags does. He was fantastic for us and then got a bad injury. “I saw first hand being close to him that he had some tough times.
“But he’s come through it and is one of our most reliable players. It’s rewarding for him to see all his hard work pay off.”
ACADEMY FOOTBALL: Everton under-18s stay unbeaten with victory over Barnsley
Sep 14 2010 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post
EVERTON under-18s’ unbeaten start to the FA Premier Academy League season continued with another hard-earned 4-2 victory at Barnsley on Saturday.
Neil Dewsnip’s side made it three wins from their opening four matches as Conor McAleny scored twice and further goals from Hallam Hope and Luke Dobie sealed the points. Everton were 2-0 up in the first five minutes thanks to McAleny. The forward lobbed the Barnsley keeper in the first minute and then headed home from a Nathan Craig cross. Barnsley reduced Everton’s lead on 25 minutes, but the visitors regained the initiative on the hour mark when Hope headed home Tom Donegan’s superb cross. But almost immediately Barnsley hit back to reduce the arrears again.
The game was still in the balance until substitute Luke Dobie fired in the fourth 10 minutes from time. Coach Dewsnip said: “It was a real crazy game. We were 2-0 up in the first five minutes, had another disallowed and could easily have scored another couple.” He added: “It was a great result, but it is never easy at Barnsley. “We have won three and drawn one which is a great start. But our performance in terms of possession and in our defending would need to get better.” Everton will be looking to continue their superb form when they face Nottingham Forest at Finch Farm this Saturday (kick-off 11am). Dewsnip said: “We have given ourselves a great base to build from in terms of the players‘ development. It is always a smashing game of football against Forest and on the last couple of occasions they have got the better of us by the odd goal. So we may have to turn that around this time.”
EVERTON UNDER-18s: Roberts, Barrow, Murphy, Hammar, Garbutt, McAleny, Craig, Thompson (Cummins 60), Donegan, Hope (Orenuga 88), Thomas (Dobie 75). Subs: Fitzgibbon.
Mark Lawrenson: Sharper cutting edge will complete Everton revival
Sep 14 2010 Liverpool Daily Post
IF ever there was proof that early season league tables aren’t worth the paper they’re written on, then the one that has Everton in the bottom three has to be it. Because there really isn’t a lot wrong at Goodison at the moment that a regular goalscorer won’t fix. Against Manchester United on Saturday we saw that legendary spirit coming back. There aren’t many sides who can bounce back after being largely outplayed by Manchester United, not only to recover from two goals down but to do it with the 90 minutes up. Overall, it was a decent performance but they just couldn’t defend for long enough to keep United at bay. But they had a real go and got the reward that they were unlucky not to get in the previous game at Aston Villa.
It has to be said that I think they were helped by Wayne Rooney being pulled out of the United side before the game. As I said last week, the football pitch is where he gets his relief and release, and he proved it by scoring for England in their win over Switzerland. Yes, he would have come in for intense abuse, but firstly this is nothing new to him at Goodison and secondly, it would only have fired him up to put one over on his old club even more. But Alex Ferguson clearly wasn’t prepared to risk that when he had a statement to make about how he wants his team to be perceived off the pitch. So Rooney was out but without him, United are still a top team and it takes something special to score three against them. Just like the Phil Neville tackle on Cristiano Ronaldo two years ago, that injury time spell should really ignite Everton’s season and shift the mood completely. They will have the confidence and the belief to build on it and David Moyes will be delighted that everything is starting to click into place after a goal-shy start to the campaign. But Everton are still lacking something at that end of the field where it matters. Moyes can be ambitious in his midfield selection because the likes of Pienaar, Cahill and Arteta – who bagged the goals against united – and Fellaini are more than capable of finding the net. But you need someone at the sharp end of the field who will come up with the goals on a regular basis and that could determined where Everton ultimately finish. At the moment Louis Saha and Jermaine Beckford can’t be relied upon to deliver the goals. So Yakubu really has the chance to step up and give Moyes that vital ingredient he is currently lacking. The Yak looked hungry again when he came on on Saturday and is looking like he could be the man to stick the ball in the net. Then Everton’s revival really will be complete.
Tim Cahill believes Everton FC are ready to kick-start season
Sep 14 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
TIM CAHILL has joined the growing chorus in vowing Everton’s dramatic comeback against Manchester United can become the “launchpad” for their season. Cahill and Mikel Arteta both scored in injury time on Saturday as David Moyes’s side came from 3-1 down to force a 3-3 draw against their rivals from the other end of the East Lancs Road. It stretched Everton’s unbeaten home record against United to three games and was the first time in a decade the visitors had surrendered a two-goal lead in the Premier League. However, the Goodison outfit remain in the relegation zone and are still seeking their first win of the top-flight campaign. But Cahill reckons that statistic will be soon addressed and, if Everton can eliminate individual errors in defence, they will soon be climbing the standings. “I could see some of our fans leaving at 3-1 and I was thinking that we don’t want to let these people down,” said the Australian. “In that situation you try to find anything. We found it against United and we need to push on now. “The only thing missing in the previous three games was the goals, but our belief has not been effected. It would have been easy to lose belief at 3-1 but we kept going. “Now we need to eradicate the mistakes, we have been creating our own problems. It’s only the start of the season and we have a lot to do. Hopefully this can be a launchpad for the season.” Cahill’s confidence has been echoed by Steven Pienaar, who netted Everton’s first goal on a memorable Goodison afternoon.
“It can definitely be a turning point,” said Pienaar. “The comeback was amazing. For us it could be a big game, and as long as we keep the record of almost a year without a defeat at home we can go on. “It’s only four games gone and we have 34 left so let’s hope and see. Our confidence hasn’t been dented at all. We are all full of confidence.”
Pienaar accepts the World Cup made things difficult for many players who returned to their clubs later than usual ahead of the new campaign but he feels in top form.
“When you come back from pre-season and join a team late you have to catch up,” he said. “But for me it wasn’t really a matter of that, it was just getting fully fit by playing games. “Even if I made mistakes I just had to improve, so by playing even for the national team it’s helped me get sharper and get my confidence. “I feel fit and that’s so important because I’m enjoying my football.” With Phil Neville an unused substitute having returned to the squad after almost a month on the sidelines, Mikel Arteta – who scored Everton’s equaliser – remained skipper. But the Spaniard has no problem handing the captain’s armband back to the 32-year-old. “I think Phil Neville is a great captain with his character, his commitment,” said Arteta. “He is someone I really respect. He is the captain and I am happy with that – as long as he is here then he is the captain. “But it is really good for me to be captain. For me it is really important. It shows that you have earned the respect of the staff, the players and the fans to be asked to wear the armband. “And with me being a foreign player it is really nice. Even though I have been here a long time I don’t speak English as well as the other lads. I express myself and try my best but if they consider me a good captain then that is great news.”
Everton FC latest: David Moyes and Steve Round hit with FA charge
Sep 14 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
EVERTON manager David Moyes and his assistant Steve Round have been slapped with an FA charge following the controversial end to Saturday’s draw with Manchester United. Moyes and Round have been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association after racing on to the field to confront referee Martin Atkinson on the final whistle. The pair were furious that, having seen Everton dramatically pull level from 3-1 down with two goals in injury time, Atkinson denied them the chance of a winner when he blew for time with the home side pushing forward on a counter-attack while outnumbering the United defence. Moyes was unrepentant after the game, and continued to voice his disapproval while unperturbed by the prospect of a disrepute charge. And the FA have taken a dim view of the conduct of both Moyes and assistant Round with the pair facing sanction under the organisation’s new disciplinary procedures. The duo now have until Thursday to respond under the recently-introduced fast-track rules, and while they face an £8,000 fan there is no prospect of a touchline ban as they haven’t been charged with abusive behaviour. A statement from the FA said yesterday: “Everton manager David Moyes and assistant manager Steve Round have both been charged with improper conduct.
“The charges relate to Moyes’ and Round’s conduct towards referee Martin Atkinson on the pitch following the final whistle at Everton’s home match against Manchester United on September 11. “Under the FA’s new fast-track procedures, Moyes and Round have until Thursday, September 16, to respond to the charges and have both been offered a standard sanction of an £8,000 fine should they accept the charge.
“If either party denies the charge, the case will be heard by a regulatory commission within 10 working days.” Moyes said on Saturday: “The two goals were scored after 90 minutes and they’d put up three minutes of extra time. “He didn’t get his time right because there was more time to add on for the goals and he played three minutes 30 seconds. “They had the corner kick and we had a great counter-attack and he blew up with the ball 25 yards from their goal. That was a terrible decision in my book.
“If you feel there has been an injustice you have to be able to air your views. I’m not being critical. I’m just saying it was the wrong decision for football and the wrong decision for me.” Everton’s comeback on Saturday coincided with the introduction of Yakubu from the bench during the final quarter. It was the Nigeria international’s first appearance of the season, with the striker having been linked heavily with a move to West Ham United during the summer transfer window. And Moyes is convinced Yakubu has a big part to play in the coming months once he regains full fitness.
“The Yak is fit but he certainly couldn’t complete a game at this moment,” said the Everton manager. “He is in need of more training and more game practice. But what Yak has is a goal in him. “We still need Yak to make a contribution to the team and team play.” Of possibly being distracted by talk of a move to West Ham, Moyes added: “The Yak’s mindset is fine now. He’s never been a problem boy and has always been a good lad. “It’s up to him to try and get himself to the best condition he thinks he can be in and get back to the goalscoring which in the main he has done in the Premier League.”
Phil Neville and Yakubu feature for Everton Reserves in defeat to West Ham
Sep 15 2010 Liverpool Echo
CAPTAIN PHIL Neville made his comeback from injury yesterday but Everton reserves lost 1-0 to West Ham. The Toffees named a side which also included Seamus Coleman, Jermaine Beckford and Yakubu for the clash but were unable to find an equaliser after the visitors took a first-half lead. A defensive mix-up between Shane Duffy and Iain Turner produced the only goal of the game at Finch Farm, Junior Stanislas scoring six minutes in. Everton searched desperately for an equaliser but were denied on numerous occasions by Hammers goalkeeper Marek Stech. Jermaine Beckford was left particularly frustrated as he went close several times including a chip that was pushed on to the post. Five of the seven players that started on the bench in Saturday's dramatic 3-3 draw with Manchester United were handed a start by Alan Stubbs, as the likes of Neville and Yakubu continued to increase their fitness after lay-offs and impress manager David Moyes.
Everton FC boss David Moyes says Yakubu will be fit and scoring again soon
Sep 15 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
YAKUBU is still not fit to play 90 minutes for Everton – but will deliver goals this season, says David Moyes. The Nigerian international hinted at a return to form during a 20 minute substitute cameo for the Blues against Manchester United on Saturday. And while the 27-year-old has never found goals hard to come by during his time in English football, his Everton career has been disrupted by a year on the sidelines following a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in November 2008.
The Yak’s first team opportunities have been restricted since his return but his first league appearance of this season at the weekend has given his manager hope.
Moyes insists the former Portsmouth and Middlesbrough hit-man has a role to play this season. He said: “The Yak is fit but he certainly couldn’t complete a game at this moment. “He is in need of more training and more game practice. But what Yak has is a goal in him. “We still need Yak to make a contribution to the team and team play.” Moyes also insists the striker has not been affected by media speculation over the summer regarding his Everton future, with a number of clubs linked with the striker. He added: “The Yak’s mindset is fine now. He’s never been a problem boy and has always been a good lad. “It’s up to him to try and get himself to the best condition he thinks he can be in and get back to the goal scoring which in the main he has done in the Premier League.” Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta wants early goals against Newcastle on Saturday to kick start the Blues’ season. The 28-year-old says he wants to avoid a repeat of the late drama in the 3-3 draw with Manchester United, where the Toffees scored twice in injury-time. He said: “We don’t want to do that against Newcastle, we want to go and start properly and get the goals early. “Then we can dominate the game as we’ve been doing. “We’re making mistakes in our box and we’re not putting it in the net in the other. “If we get that right throughout the game I think we can keep doing really good things and create problems for the opposition.
“The performances have been much better than last season, but over the last three years we’ve started slow.” Everton have started the campaign by picking up two points from four games in the Premier League, which has led to comparisons with the slow start the Toffees made last season. But Arteta said comparisons to the previous campaign are wide of the mark, and believes their good play will get its rewards.
He said: “It’s been very different to last season. “The performances have been much better than last season. “Over the last three years we’ve started slow, but I don’t think it has anything to do with that. We showed [what we can do] against Manchester United so hopefully we can put that right.” Elsewhere, captain Phil Neville has risked the ire of the Goodison Park faithful by publicly talking up his manager David Moyes’ chances of being Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Manchester United. Neville was an unused substitute during Saturday’s draw, and made his injury comeback for the reserves in a 1-0 defeat by West Ham at Finch Farm yesterday. The defender, who was named in a side which also included Seamus Coleman, Jermaine Beckford, and Yakubu said: “The pinnacle of [managerial] jobs in the world must be Old Trafford.
“In my mind, there is no shadow of doubt that, when Sir Alex chooses to retire, David Moyes is far from unimaginable as his successor. As yet he might not have won a trophy but he’s top three in this division. “For Everton, it would be no shame to have the manager offered the chance to take over at United – just so long as we’ve won that trophy first.”
Ex-EFC defender David Unsworth backs Sylvain Distin to recapture form
Sep 15 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
FORMER Toffees stalwart David Unsworth today backed Sylvain Distin to quickly recover from his erratic display against Manchester United and continue in the Everton first team. The former FA Cup winner with the Blues believes Distin is one of the 10 best centre-backs in the Premier League – and has the strength of character to banish the memories of Saturday’s below par outing. TV pundits slammed Distin’s performance after Everton’s stunning 3-3 come-back, and some claimed the 33-year-old was directly at fault for United’s third goal by Dimitar Berbatov. But Unsworth, who was hauled off at half-time after a torrid 45 minutes for Everton against Arsenal in 1997, insists the experienced Frenchman will respond in similar fashion by coming back stronger. He said: “There’s no denying he had a tough afternoon against one of the best teams in Europe. But last season he was Mr Consistent and he will bounce back. “Sylvain is a top quality player. He would be in my top 10 central defenders in the Premier League. You don’t play at the top level for as long as he has without being strong mentally and physically. “He has formed a strong partnership with Phil Jagielka and for me they tick all the boxes of a solid back line. “David Moyes will back him and although he will have pointed out where he went wrong, Sylvain won’t need telling. The manager is very thorough, but Sylvain will show his toughness now.”
Unsworth, nicknamed Rhino during his 12 year stint at Everton, said players are under more pressure than ever when the TV cameras descend on Goodison. He said: “You cannot get away with anything these days. There are probably 20 or more cameras round the pitch and it’s a high-pressure situation. “Especially like Saturday when it’s the early kick off against Manchester United – that’s a game which will be scrutinised. But that’s the modern game for you. “You just have to learn from your mistakes. You have to write it off and carry on. A midfielder can have a poor game and not be as noticeable, just like a striker can miss chances and get away with it. If a centre back has a stinker though, it can be very costly.” Unsworth, who played 304 times for the Blues during two spells in Merseyside, still thinks the team he supports will do well this season. The current Preston North End first team coach said: “I saw the games against Villa and United and they’ve been playing some good stuff. It’s disappointing looking at the table now because everyone felt they would start well. “They tore us (Preston) apart in pre-season and were different class. I expected them to start the season in that fashion and go onto big things - but it’s still early days. “I think they will now turn Newcastle over on Saturday and head onwards and upwards.”
Everton Reserves 0-1 West Ham United
Sept 15 2010 Liverpool Daily Post
CAPTAIN PHIL Neville made his comeback from injury yesterday but Everton reserves suffered their first defeat of the season to West Ham. Everton named a side which also included Seamus Coleman, Jermaine Beckford and Yakubu for the clash but they were unable to find an equaliser after the visitors took a first half lead.
A defensive mix-up between Shane Duffy and Iain Turner produced the only goal of the game at Finch Farm, Junior Stanislas scoring 26 minutes in. Everton searched desperately for an equaliser but were denied on numerous occasions by Hammers goalkeeper Marek Stech. Jermaine Beckford was left particularly frustrated as he went close several times including a chip that was pushed on to the post. Five of the seven players that started on the bench in Saturday's dramatic 3-3 draw with Manchester United were handed a start by Alan Stubbs, as the likes of Neville and Yakubu continued to increase their fitness after lay-offs and impress manager David Moyes, who watched on from the sidelines. Neville started in the centre of midfield alongside promising youngster Ross Barkley, whilst Seamus Coleman and Magaye Gueye manned the touchlines in midfield. West Ham also had a familiar faces in their ranks with the likes of James Tomkins, Radoslav Kovac, Stanislas and Freddie Sears.
Leighton Baines still dreams of playing for England
Sept 15 2010 Liverpool Daily Post
LEIGHTON Baines has not given up on his England dream.
After featuring in the friendlies against Egypt and Mexico, the Everton full-back was a surprise omission from Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad, losing out to Stephen Warnock. Now Arsenal youngster Kieran Gibbs has leapfrogged above both men in the battle to be understudy to Ashley Cole. It is hard to see that situation changing ahead of next month’s Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro, even though Baines was one of the major influences behind Everton’s remarkable comeback against Manchester United on Saturday. But the 25-year-old is not allowing himself to get disheartened - and does not believe his international days are over. “You never know where you are with England,” Baines said. “Before I got my first call-up I didn’t know if I was close or a million miles away. “The past has proved if your form is good every week then you will get looked at. “Okay, it didn’t work out quite as well as it could have done but I am only 25 and there is still time.” The former Wigan star has been keeping up with events on the England front though. He was quick enough to get in touch with Toffees team-mate Phil Jagielka to offer his congratulations for the performances against Bulgaria and Switzerland that have placed major question marks over the defensive futures of established first-choices Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.
“Jags has been brilliant for England,” said Baines. “I watched him against the Swiss and he looked so comfortable and assured at the back. “I texted him after the game and said ‘you looked like you had played 40 internationals’. He certainly didn’t look like it was his sixth cap. “The way he performed for England is the way he plays for us every week. He is a rock and a terrific defender.”
Everton FC manager David Moyes backs Yakubu to rediscover scoring form
Sep 15 2010 by Philip Kirkbride, Liverpool Daily Post
MANAGER David Moyes has backed striker Yakubu to rediscover the form which once made him Everton’s record signing. The Nigerian international made a bright 20-minute cameo last weekend as the Goodison Park side claimed a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Manchester United. Encouraged by Yakubu’s showing in the game, Moyes believes the 27-year-old remains a major goal threat, even though he’s still to find full match fitness. The Everton manager has also dismissed suggestions the £11.25m signing from Middlesbrough has been unsettled this summer after speculation linking him with a move to Premier League rivals West Ham United. “The Yak is fit but he certainly couldn’t complete a game at this moment,” said Moyes. “He is in need of more training and more game practice. But what Yak has is a goal in him.
“We still need Yak to make a contribution to the team and team play. The Yak’s mindset is fine now. He’s never been a problem boy and has always been a good lad.
“It’s up to him to try and get himself to the best condition he thinks he can be in and get back to the goal-scoring which in the main he has done in the Premier League.”
Meanwhile, George Burley toasted a treble from James Vaughan as Crystal Palace got back to winning ways against Portsmouth. The Eagles manager had seen his side lose their last four matches but they were inspired by Everton loanee Vaughan on his home debut and ran out 4-1 winners. “James was excellent,” said Burley. “I feel he will do very well for us, he’s a very good striker, young, hungry and has a lot of good attributes. It doesn’t get much better than a hat-trick on your home debut so he’ll be very pleased.” Vaughan opened his account in some style, latching onto Owen Garvan’s square pass, turning in a flash and smashing the ball high into the net.
“His first goal was a great finish, he had his back to goal and swivelled and hit it into the top corner,” added Burley. “When you watch him in training he has that quality so you want him in the box.”
Everton FC fans' forum
Sep 16 2010 Liverpool ECHO
THE moral of Saturday’s match is never leave it until the joyful end – I am hoping that there are many more goals from the Blues in added time! As for Alex Ferguson – he must be regretting his decision to ‘rest’ Wayne Rooney because he had had an awful week. My answer to that is he brought it all on himself. With the chances that Everton had at the beginning of the match we could have won. Really, United were there for the taking.
Carol
NO doubt about it – Saturday’s match against Manchester United was one for the book. Those that left before the end must have been gobsmacked when they got home.
I have to say though our defending was VERY suspect for all of United’s goals; to collect a pass from the halfway line and score without a challenge and allow a free header ditto, is not the way to win games or influence people. We took the lead and then blew it. As for Wayne Rooney being absent – wasn’t he in the team we wiped the floor with last season?
blooper
IT WAS great spirit from the lads against United. I thought the Yak looked good when he came on – just what we need, namely someone to hold up the ball for our speedy raiders Tim Cahill, Steven Pienaar and Mikel Arteta. Come on you Blues!
Joleon2
SATURDAY was indeed an exciting match. Full marks to the players for showing grit and determination to the final whistle and getting a deserved point. It was a bit of a concern not kicking off with a recognised centre forward so it was good to see the Yak come on and cause a bit of bother to United’s defence. We’re now ONLY 10 points from top spot! It’s Chelsea’s title to lose – they look pretty strong, though their first five games are pretty easy, if there’s such a thing in the Premier League.
bluewings
SATURDAY was a brilliant, pulsating game in which Manchester United should have taken the three points, but for goalkeeper Tim Howard’s man-of-the-match performance. Then again, full credit must go to Everton for their indomitable, never-say-die attitude to salvage a last minute equaliser. But what was discernible in the game and should be a consistent feature in Everton’s performances are the sublime crossing and passing of Nani and Scholes respectively. Until Everton produce these type of balls into the opposition penalty area, they will always be knocking on the door for a top four place. Why David Moyes, considering the length of time he has been at the club, has never snapped up players of this ilk is inexplicable. Putting this aside, the injury time equaliser could well have a galvanising effect in turning our season around. However, this will depend on us getting our strikers firing on all cylinders, defending well as a unit and, vitally, the return of the criminally-underrated Phil Neville in the starting XI.
David Kearns, Aintree
Former EFC star Gary Speed relishes clash with his other ex-club Newcastle United
Sep 16 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
FOR A boyhood Evertonian there can be few greater moments than running out at Goodison Park wearing the captain’s armband of your beloved Blues. Gary Speed lived that dream during an eventful two-season spell in Merseyside which saw him depart eventually for Newcastle United. But while Welshman Speed went on to spend six years in the black and white of Everton’s opponents this Saturday, the Toffees retained the spot closest to his heart in terms of football allegiance. Even a soured ending to his spell in royal blue, when Speed left Goodison after he declined to play for the club at West Ham and famously said he felt unable to explain the real reasons behind his desire to leave, could not taint his affection for Everton. Now manager of Sheffield United, Speed described Saturday’s game between Everton and Newcastle as a ‘special fixture’ and admits he is looking forward to seeing how it pans out.
The MBE holder admitted Everton’s result is still the first he looks out for and that he is full of admiration for the progress David Moyes has overseen at Goodison Park.
“David Moyes has done an exceptional job at Everton,” says Speed, who scored 15 goals in 58 appearances for the Blues. “Despite difficult circumstances he competes with the top clubs in the Premier League year in year out with a budget that is much smaller than a lot of the big clubs. “It is no surprise that he has won manager of the year on numerous occasions. “Newcastle are a similar club to Everton in that you are always made to feel very welcome. It is always a special fixture between Everton and Newcastle, particularly for me.” Speed says his move to Everton was the culmination of a lifelong ambition and that captaining the side was his favourite memory.
The Blades boss also notched the only hat-trick of his long and illustrious career while in Everton colours. The memorable treble came in a 7-1 demolition of Southampton in 1996. “Playing for Everton was the fulfilment of a dream for me,” he added. “It is special to play for the team you supported as a boy, the team you watched from the terraces. It was a special feeling for me. “Being captain was a tremendous honour too. I will always remember when Howard Kendall told me I would be captain. It is something that will live with me forever.” Speed eventually moved to Newcastle United for £5.5m, and featured in the North East club’s FA Cup Final defeats by Arsenal in 1998 and by Manchester United in 1999. Further career highlights involved playing in the UEFA Champions League with Newcastle in season 2002-3, and he left for Bolton where a 2007 goal saw him precede Ryan Giggs by becoming the only player to have scored in every Premier League season until then. Speed finally announced his retirement from playing in his 41st year, but agreed to remain at Sheffield United for at least one more season as a coach before later taking full control of the Blades. Despite this he was again registered as a player and was named on the bench for the first round League Cup game against Hartlepool at the outset of the following season.
EFC’s Steven Pienaar says Blues can capitalise on their rivals' slip-ups
Sep 16 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
STEVEN PIENAAR today warned the rest of the Premier League that Everton’s lowly position in the table will be short-lived. The South African declared that taking full points from home games is the squad’s primary aim, and ear-marked Newcastle United on Saturday as the Blues first scalp of the campaign. Pienaar is still confident that Everton can compete for a top five place despite their sluggish start, and admitted he has taken note of slips by their rivals. He said: “It is up to the players mentally to go out on Saturday and start from scratch. We need all three points. It is far too early to look at the table. The teams above us only have two or three points more than us. There have been a few slip-ups. “Spurs, Man City and Liverpool have all dropped points and if we win on Saturday we will be back up there. “We are just going to go into the game like all the other games – prepare well and make sure we get three points. We won’t underestimate them and we will try to start the game well.
“As long as we don’t drop points at home, that is important. The supporters will still have the feeling of Saturday’s game in them, so they can push us again.”
The Blues welcome Chris Hughton’s side to Goodison Park with two draws and two defeats from their four league outings so far this term. Pienaar hit his first goal of the season in the 3-3 draw with Manchester United and looked back to his best, working tirelessly and combining well with Leighton Baines. He said: “When I went to the World Cup I was feeling tired but now I feel much better. It is down to the players if they have the desire to push themselves the following season and I think all the players that came back have that desire to do well.” Meanwhile, James Vaughan admitted he would extend his loan spell at Crystal Palace after marking his home debut with a hat-trick on Tuesday. The 22-year-old is due to return to Everton in December but has indicated that he would be happy to prolong his stay at Selhurst Park. He said: “I was definitely pushing to come and play some games. I think I got my wish. At the moment I just want to get the games under my belt.” Asked whether he would like to remain beyond the three-month loan deal, the striker said: “Definitely. It’s a great club, I’m enjoying it. There’s great quality in the squad so I don’t see why not.” Palace manager George Burley added: “James was excellent for us. I feel that he will do very well for us. “He’s a very good striker, he’s young and hungry.”
Everton FC’s on-loan striker James Vaughan would be happy to extend his stay at Crystal Palace
Sep 16 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
JAMES VAUGHAN admits he would already consider an extension of his loan spell at Crystal Palace from Everton. The 22-year-old, who has been released on a temporary basis by Goodison manager David Moyes to increase his playing time, has made an impressive start to his three-month loan spell at Selhurst Park. Vaughan netted a hat-trick on his home debut for the npower Championship side on Tuesday night in their 4-1 win over Portsmouth. And the forward believes he has already been made to feel at home at Palace. “I was pushing to come out and play some games,” said Vaughan. “At the moment it’s paying off and I want to push on and get some more games. “If Palace want to keep me and Everton want to let me stay, it’s out of my hands so I’m going to see where it takes me and keep enjoying my football. “It’s a great club, there’s great quality in the squad so I don’t see why not.” Vaughan became the youngest goalscorer in Everton’s history when he netted from the bench in a 4-0 win against Palace in April 2005.However, a litany of serious injuries has restricted the striker to just 11 subsequent starts for the Goodison outfit, although he has made 48 substitute appearances. Vaughan has also spent spells on loan at Leicester City and Derby County, but had netted only 10 senior goals before his first-ever career hat-trick on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has urged Everton to come flying out of the blocks when they look to break their Barclays Premier League duck at home to Newcastle United on Saturday. Arteta and Tim Cahill both scored during injury time to earn Moyes’s side a dramatic 3-3 draw with Manchester United last weekend.
And the Spanish schemer is eager to avoid a repeat while confident Everton will soon kickstart their campaign. “We don’t want to do that against Newcastle, we want to go and start properly and get the goals early,” said Arteta. “Then we can dominate the game as we’ve been doing. We’re making mistakes in our box and we’re not putting it in the net in the other. If we get that right throughout the game I think we can keep doing really good things and create problems for the opposition.” Arteta added: “It’s been very different to last season. The performances have been much better than last season. “Over the last three years we’ve started slow, but I don’t think it has anything to do with that. “We showed what we can do against Manchester United so hopefully we can put that right.”
Blue Watch: Manchester United game was better than we could have hoped
Sep 16 2010 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post
EVEN when we said last week that we hoped that the action on the pitch during the Manchester United game would overshadow Wayne Rooney’s recreational activities, no one in their wildest dreams could have foreseen how dramatic the football would turn out. Clearly Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to rest his star striker helped defuse the situation, and only the United manager really knows whether that was to send a message to the player himself or, indeed, to spare him from a certain amount of ribbing from the crowd. As it turned out, Dimitar Berbatov played a blinder anyway, and suggestions that United would have definitely triumphed if Rooney had been included were tempered by his performance against an extremely limited Rangers side in midweek. As for Everton, it’s hard to know what to take from last Saturday’s encounter. At times, especially in the first half, the Blues threatened to repeat last season’s performance against United and completely steamroller them, and the incredible injury-time finale was a testament to this side’s fighting spirit. However, for all the drama and the fact that we once again proved a match for one of the top sides in Europe, some familiar, critical failings were also The lack of an in-form top class striker has already been discussed extensively, and for long stretches again Everton struggled to really trouble Edwin van der Sar despite hogging possession.
Yakubu made an impact when he was introduced though, and if he can actually regain some semblance of genuine match fitness his strength and cleverness could prove invaluable, especially at home against the teams who come and simply pack the defence. What’s more worrying than just the lack of goal threat at the moment though is that we seem to have allied it to suicidal tendencies within our own back line. Sylvain Distin was the obvious culprit against United but the responsibility doesn’t stop with the Frenchman, or indeed the defenders. Time and again the Blues’ central midfielders fail to pick up runners, with Darren Fletcher’s goal a prime example of a player being given the freedom of the penalty area. That’s something they need to work on, starting with the visit of Newcastle United who will look to get Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton into the box at every opportunity. Stop that avenue of attack though and surely we must pick up our first three points of the season. Surely.
Howard Kendall: Carling Cup win is important
Sep 17 2010 by Howard Kendall, Liverpool Echo
l The Carling Cup victory over Huddersfield gave all Evertonians a massive lift, so they should look to get a similar positive from what is a tricky away tie at Brentford on Tuesday night. Winning is so important no matter what competition you’re in because it can become a habit if you do it often enough, like when Everton last went on a cup run to Wembley. The Carling Cup is not to be sniffed at – it might not be as glamorous as the Champions League, or FA cup but Evertonians would happily take any trophy they can get.
Howard Kendall: Everton FC have not given up on James Vaughan
Sep 17 2010 by Howard Kendall, Liverpool Echo
WITH goal-scoring strikers currently not quite happening for Everton, it’s interesting to see James Vaughan being allowed to go on loan to Crystal Palace. It’s the right move though. The lad simply needs football, and he needs to build up the right kind of fitness by playing games – not sitting on the bench. There is still a belief that James will come good at Everton, hence why he has been loaned out again instead of sold for a quick buck. He can learn and improve at another club, like he has shown with that nicely taken hat-trick against Portsmouth, and come back to Goodison as an even better young player. His progress will be worth following.
Dave Prentice: Why David Moyes doesn’t deserve to be tagged a ‘cautious’ manager
Sep 17 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
WHEN Jim Bowen used to proudly announce: “Look at what you could have won,” he usually wheeled out a speedboat. And a relieved Bullseye contestant would roll his or her eyes skyward and mutter ‘Thank God’. It was a little like that this week, when in the space of just 72 hours Evertonians were given a rare glimpse of Goodison past and present. In the Champions League at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, Walter Smith, the man who preceded David Moyes at Goodison Park, took his limited Rangers side to face Manchester United – and parked the bus. It was a master-class in defensive discipline. But exciting it wasn’t. Evertonians who slumbered through seven goalless draws in Walter’s first 11 home league matches will remember the sensation well. At the time it was a tactic deemed necessary to steady a seriously listing ship – but they were largely the same tactics employed four years later.
At Middlesbrough, in the match which sealed his fate, Smith sent out three centre-backs and a couple of holding midfielders. David Moyes did things differently.
His modus operandum was have a go – and hang the consequences. Hence his first four matches included a 4-3 win at Derby, a 6-2 defeat at Newcastle and a 3-1 victory with 10 men over Bolton. And he’s still having a go now. Which is why you see an Everton side pulling off astonishing results like last weekend’s against Manchester United. And why I’m baffled by fans who accuse Moyes of being overly-cautious by playing one up front at home, or two midfielders. David Moyes is not a cautious manager. Never has been. His teams try to score goals from first minute to last, even against the very best sides like Manchester United. When Walter Smith tried to open up against United in his debut season, he was on the receiving end of a 4-1 hiding – and he reverted to defensive type. Moyes has also had a few hidings, but he keeps coming back for more. And sometimes that adventure pays off.
Dave Prentice: James Vaughan can learn from the unfortunate experience of David Smallman
Sep 17 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
MENTION of the words James Vaughan on any TV news bulletin usually induces a momentary shudder. How long would he be out for this time? Except the news this week was good. In fact, better than good. Vaughan celebrated a hat-trick on his debut for Crystal Palace. The symbolism was perfect. Vaughan became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history against the same opposition five years ago.
So let’s hope this is another fresh start for a young striker who has been plagued by more injuries than any player should have to endure. But if Vaughan thinks he has suffered, he could do worse than have a flick through last weekend’s Everton match programme, which contained an interview with surely the unluckiest young Everton striker of all-time. David Smallman was good. Very good. A silken dart of a finisher who reminded older Blues of Roy Vernon – both were Welsh dragons and both loved a drag on a fag – he burst onto the scene at Goodison in a flurry of goals. Until he was struck down by injury – again, and again, and again. Two broken legs, a dislocated shoulder, torn hamstring, ruptured groin, phlebitis of the calf and knee and ankle ligament injuries – the last the night before he was due to face AC Milan – meant that of the five years Smallman spent as an Everton player, he was injured for four years and three months of them. James Vaughan can succeed where David Smallman was forced to concede.
Howard Kendall: I was sky high when Everton FC were on cloud nine
Sep 17 2010 by Howard Kendall, Liverpool Echo
I WATCHED the first 20 minutes of the draw with Manchester United in the airport departure lounge waiting to jet off on my holidays to Turkey. Little wonder that I was convinced Everton were going to get something, because as I reluctantly walked away from the screen and boarded the plane, the Blues were well on top. Of course when I landed, I turned my mobile phone on and the text messages started coming through. 1-1, 2-1, then ‘3-1 it’s all over now’. But they kept coming, and then I was delighted to hear we’d pulled it back right at the last gasp. Turns out that I’d been 30,000 feet sky high on cloud nine along with every Evertonian in Goodison Park when Mikel Arteta’s equaliser went in! Suddenly the fans are ecstatic after such a comeback, and it was terrific. But we still only have two points after four games and that run of form has to change or we’ll find ourselves playing catch-up on our rivals already and that’s not something we want. It means Newcastle is a big game. I say big game, they all are really, but it’s too early to label it crucial. The crucial, decisive games come later on in the season when every point won or lost really means something. Newcastle come in high spirits, despite their humbling by Blackpool. The Geordie faithful will be pleased with how their team have readapted to life in the top flight so far after a brief break.
In Andy Carroll they seem to have found a number nine in the great mould of Jackie Milburn, Malcolm McDonald and Alan Shearer. The lad is big, strong, pacy and scores goals – Everton’s defence must be at their very best.
Everton FC’s Phil Jagielka relishing tussle with rising star Andy Carroll
Sep 17 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
CENTRE-FORWARD has long been the position which Evertonians have romanticised the most – from Dixie Dean to Graeme Sharp it is where heroes have flourished. The long heritage of superior number nines to have graced Goodison Park have few equals throughout the country, except in the black and white of Saturday’s opponents Newcastle. Indeed the Geordie Nation worship their strikers almost as much as the blue half of Merseyside From Jackie Milburn, Malcolm McDonald to Alan Shearer they have a history which cannot be sniffed at either, and the two clubs even shared the enigmatic talents of Duncan Ferguson. But the young gun currently winning the plaudits for the Magpies arrives at Goodison on the crest of wave tomorrow. Andy Carroll has had the critics frothing at the mouths with his combination of physique, prowess and instinct to find the back of the net. No mean prospect for an Everton defence which was steady until last weekend when it shipped three goals, albeit against the might of Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. The centre-pin of that Toffees back four, Phil Jagielka, knows he is in for a contest when 6ft 3in Carroll rolls up his sleeves and attempts to unsettle the home defence. “I’m looking forward to the tussle. It’s going to be hard – I think he’s a bit bigger than me and he’s done fantastically well,” says Jagielka. “He came on the scene a couple of years ago when Newcastle didn’t do the best in the Premier League, but then he set the Championship alight and helped them to gain promotion. “Since then he’s carried on where he left off looking like a threat and scoring goals. He’ll be a big handful but that’s our job. “There are handfuls in lots of the squads in the Premier League so it’s nothing new for us, it’s just something we need to keep an eye out for.” Jagielka is on high spirits as he speaks during a special coaching session at Archbishop Beck Catholic High School, where he is visiting to wish the school’s impressive Under-12 side luck for their forthcoming appearance in the Danone Nations Cup in South Africa. The 28-year-old former Sheffield United man was relaxed and relished the chance to put the young stars of the future through their paces, and admitted he is far from happy at Everton’s mixed start to the season. “We started the game against Man U really well and for the first half an hour or 30 minutes we put a lot of pressure on them, although Tim made a few great saves,” he says. “We look like we’re getting somewhere it’s just going to be a case of putting two 45 minutes together rather than one. “Hopefully that point will be a bit of a turning point, it’s always good to get a point against sides like them and Chelsea, so I think that will be important.” Some observers have already tagged the clash with Chris Houghton’s side tomorrow as crucial to the Blues’ season, but Jagielka insists it is not the time to be reading too much into results. “It’s too early to regard Newcastle as a must-win game, but there will be a different sort of pressure on that match. Everyone is saying it’s crucial we win, and we’re expected to win but it’s never going to be as easy as that,” he says.
“Look what happened when Aston Villa went up to Newcastle. It’s a tough division which we know can be a little bit crazy at times. “Hopefully we can get another early goal, then settle down and play some good football and get the points that we actually want.” David Moyes has previously said there is plenty of future management material in his current squad including Leon Osman, Tim Cahill and Tony Hibbert. But would Jagielka ever consider pulling on the tracksuit and prowling the touchline as a manager? With Neil Warnock and David Moyes as examples, he has surely been able to learn something about the pressures of life at the top. “I’m not too sure whether I’d like to go into coaching,” he says. “I wasn’t too keen in the past but I did a little bit of coaching with the young boys here and they made me smile. I quite enjoyed it.
“Who knows? I’m only 28 so I’ve hopefully got a few years left ahead of me. “I’d certainly never say never. These days it’s quite hard to get your Uefa A licence – it might take me a few years.” For now Jagielka is content to play his part on the pitch, starting with making sure Everton take their first three points of the season tomorrow.
Phil Jagielka: Blues are too uptight during games
Sep 17 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
PHIL Jagielka today admitted Everton are too uptight during games as they battle to get their season going. The England defender says the Blues are still learning to adapt to the pressure, and must be more patient when games are not going their way.
Now the 28-year-old hopes Everton use their last-gasp draw against Manchester United as a springboard to face Newcastle tomorrow with fire in their bellies – and win their first game of the campaign. He said: “We definitely need to relax, we are a bit uptight at the moment. If we are not 1-0 up or 2-0 up after half an hour the fans might start to get a bit edgy, and we start to get a bit edgy. “We need to adapt to that new pressure now. Where there was a time that 0-0 and 1-0 was acceptable they are probably not anymore. “We have been slightly unfortunate. Every little mistake we been punished for. It may sound like an excuse, but we haven’t played horrific football. There was nothing in the Blackburn game, we played really well for 45 minutes against Wolves and against Villa if you were neutral you would say we were easily the better team.” The Blues look likely to face Newcastle without Tim Cahill, who is understood to be injured. With the Aussie likely to be out for a week, it means David Moyes’ new strike force of Cahill and Fellaini will have to be dismantled already. Cahill’s injury could pave the way for Yakubu to start against Newcastle, although Moyes has admitted the Nigerian is not ready to play 90 minutes yet.
Jermaine Beckford will also be in contention, as the Blues look to find the right formula up front. Meanwhile, Moyes and his assistant Steve Round have admitted to improper conduct charges, the Football Association have said. Moyes and Round were hit with the charges for their behaviour towards referee Martin Atkinson at the full-time whistle in the 3-3 draw with Manchester United. Everton trailed 3-1 heading into injury time but struck through Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta to level. But the Blues management team were left furious when Atkinson blew his final whistle with Phil Jagielka closing in on goal in the dying seconds, with Moyes walking on to the field to speak to the official. Moyes had indicated that he would plead guilty and has received an £8,000 fine over the incident. Round, has submitted a plea in mitigation against the fine, which will be heard by a Regulatory Commission hearing on Monday. An FA statement read: “Everton manager David Moyes and assistant manager Steve Round have admitted improper conduct charges. “The charges related to Moyes’ and Round’s conduct towards referee Martin Atkinson. “Moyes has accepted the £8,000 fine which is the standard sanction offered for this charge under the FA’s new fast-track disciplinary procedures. “Round has submitted a plea in mitigation with relation to the standard sanction. This will be heard by a Regulatory Commission on Monday 20 September.”
Pre-match preview: Everton FC v Newcastle United, Premier League
Sep 17 2010 By Sean Bradbury
Everton's last five games
Sept 11: Premier League - Everton 3 Manchester United 3
August 29: Premier League - Aston Villa 1 Everton 0
August 25: Carling Cup - Everton 5 Huddersfield 1
August 21: Premier League - Everton 1 Wolves 1
August 14: Premier League - Blackburn 1 Everton 0
Newcastle's last five games
Sept 11: Premier League - Newcastle 0 Blackpool 2
August 28: Premier League - Wolves 1 Newcastle 1
August 25: Carling Cup - Accrington Stanley 2 Newcastle 3
August 22: Premier League - Newcastle 6 Aston Villa 0
August 16: Premier League - Manchester United 3 Newcastle 0
Past meetings
11 May 2008: Premier League - Everton 3 Newcastle 1
17 August 1996: Premier League - Everton 2 Newcastle 0
27 August 1988: Division One - Everton 4 Newcastle 0
Everton v Newcastle has been a remarkably equal fixture throughout its long history. In a total of 158 games between the two sides in all competitions - dating back to the first meeting in February 1920 - each team has won 62 times, with 34 draws. Goal difference separates them, but only just: Everton have scored 238 goals against the Geordies, and have conceded 239. In the last game of the 2007/08 season, the Blues beat Newcastle 3-1 at Goodison, clinching fifth place in the league and European football for the next year. The game was notable for an immense performance from Yakubu who bagged a brace, with Joleon Lescott getting on the scoresheet too.
Everton's 2-0 win over the Barcodes in August 1996 came on the opening day of the season. While all the attention was on the debut of Newcastle's new £15m signing Alan Shearer, Blues' debutant Gary Speed stole the thunder, notching his first goal for the club with David Unsworth getting the other from the penalty spot to help secure the win.
Ones to watch
Everton
A dearth of forward options means David Moyes may stick with Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini upfront, a ploy which has served Everton well through adversity in the past.
Newcastle
Andy Carroll has been on fine form so far this season for the Geordies, netting four times in four Premier League games, including an impressive hat-trick in his side's 6-0 mauling of Aston Villa. Chris Hughton may decide to unleash exciting loan signing Hatem Ben Arfa following a brief cameo appearance last week in Newcastle's 2-0 defeat at home to Blackpool.
Injures and suspensions
Everton will be without Louis Saha (knee) and Jack Rodwell (ankle) while Victor Anichebe (knee) is highly unlikely to be in contention. Newcastle's dangerman Andy Carroll (foot) is a slight doubt but is likely to play given his team's lack of other striking options. Former Liverpool player Danny Guthrie (knee) is also doubtful, while recently departed Blue Dan Gosling (knee) remains sidelined. Steven Taylor (shoulder) will play no part and neither will Xisco who remains suspended.
Latest match odds from Betfred
Everton - 8/13
Draw - 14/5
Newcastle United - 5/1
Everton aim to be thrillers in vanilla with new third kit
Sep 17 2010 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post
Everton FC new third kit
EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB have revealed their third kit for the 2010/11 season.
Taking inspiration from iconic strips worn throughout the club’s illustrious history, the new kit incorporates collars and hooped socks, echoing the style that was proudly worn during the era of Everton legends Dixie Dean, TG Jones and Ted Sagar.
The third kit, which features vanilla shirts and hooped navy and vanilla shorts, will be available to pre-order online at www.evertondirect.com from today, ahead of its launch in Everton One, Everton Two and online on September 30.
Hughton: David Moyes has set the standard
Sep 17 2010 by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle (Newcastle)
CHRIS HUGHTON says that David Moyes has set a benchmark for all those who dare to dream of challenging the Premier League’s top-four contenders. Moyes is approaching almost a decade in charge at Goodison Park and has made the Merseysiders a model of stability – something that United are striving to emulate.
Moyes has pulled off six top-eight finishes during his time in charge of the Toffees, including Champions League qualification and jaunts into the old UEFA Cup and last term’s Europa League. Hughton knows, unlike Manchester City and Chelsea, that he must attempt to force the issue on limited funds, just like Moyes. He told the Chronicle: “In terms of football managers in the Premier League they do not come much better than David Moyes. “You have to look at where Everton are and the job he’s done. “It’s an amazing achievement when you look at some of the high finishes they have enjoyed. “What David has achieved, he’s done it without any of the big money and that’s why it makes the job he’s done look so special. “It’s why he’s regarded so highly in the game due to the quality he’s got.” Flame-haired Scot Moyes was recently linked with the job at Aston Villa, but has the continuing backing of his chairman Bill Kenwright. Many also see Moyes as a possible successor to Sir Alex Ferguson’s throne at Old Trafford and the friendship between the Scottish pair is well known in football circles. And Hughton is anticipating a battle as tough as the one United experienced at Man U in the first game of the current season. He said: “There’s no doubt, it will be tough for us. “They are a side that held Man United in their last game. “They will still be on a high from the emotions from that game.”
Enrique views Arteta as Everton dangerman
Sep 17 2010 by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle (Newcastle)
JOSE ENRIQUE has pinpointed Mikel Arteta as the dangerman for Newcastle United at Goodison Park tomorrow. The Toon left-back feels Arteta – who England boss Fabio Capello attempted to call up before being overruled by British citizenship red tape – is good enough to star for World Cup winners Spain. He must be stopped tomorrow if United are to claw anything from their clash with the Toffees. Midfield maestro Arteta has a deadly reputation from dead balls and also bagged his first of the season against Manchester United in last week’s enthralling 3-3 draw. Speaking on his fellow countryman Enrique, another Spaniard whose path to international football has been blocked by the class of the current World Cup and European Championship holders, told the Chronicle: “I think it is important we stop Arteta – he is good enough to play for Spain. “What Spain have at the moment is a freakish amount of top-class players who can also play in those positions who are with Real Madrid, Barcelona or Arsenal. “That is what is stopping him getting through but he is a massive, massive threat to us. “Of course we have to focus on all areas, but for me this is a key factor. Arteta knows how the Premier League works and it is just part of a big, big test for us.” Even though Enrique is aware of what Everton have in their armoury, he also feels Newcastle need to make more of the battering-ram combination of striker Andy Carroll and skipper Kevin Nolan on Merseyside. Boss Chris Hughton could well keep faith with his tried-and-tested 4-4-1-1 system against the Toffees, with Carroll and Nolan an integral part of the ploy away from home. Enrique went on: “Andy Carroll and Nobby have scored a lot of goals, and I think they can score in the next game.
“We have to continue in the same way as we have been. “I don’t think we played badly against Blackpool– they had three chances and they scored two goals.
“We had maybe seven chances – we just need a change of luck in front of goal.”
Enrique is also keen to wipe away the memories of the 2-0 loss against the Premier League’s lowest budget team – their first at home since Aril 2009. He said: “Everyone – the fans and us – was really sad. “We thought we could win the game. We had a lot of chances, like we did against Aston Villa. “We lost the last game at home, and it is really important for us to get the three points tomorrow. “Everton are a good team. They will want to win at home, and I think it will be a really difficult game for us.
“Blackpool are the type of team we have to fight this season, we cannot let it happen again.” Enrique must wait to see if new boys Sol Campbell, Cheik Tiote and Hatem Ben Arfa are given their chance at Goodison Park, with Hughton keeping tight-lipped on his plans ahead of the lunchtime journey to Merseyside. Enrique added: “It is the manager’s decision. “Maybe they can play in this game at some stage. “All three are really good signings. They are all fit and they have trained every day.”
Sol Campbell in contention for trip to Everton
Sep 17 2010 By Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle (Newcastle)
NEWCASTLE United defender Sol Campbell put himself in contention for Saturday's trip to Everton with a 78 minute run out against Chelsea at St James' Park.
However, a last gasp penalty ended the night on a sour note as the Blues inflicted a first defeat of the season on Peter Beardsley's second string. United had grabbed the lead on 90 seconds through Ryan Donaldson with a 20 yard thunderbolt. But Chelsea equalised through Milan Lalkovic on 29 minutes after United were sliced open.
Six minutes later and Lalkovic found time and space again at Gallowgate and steered home his second from ten yards out. With 20 minutes to go though Newcastle equalised after Nile Ranger pulled the ball back for Haris Vuckic who stabbed home from close range. A rush of blood from Tim Krul in the last minute of stoppage time on sub Adam Philip. Philip stepped up and sent Krul the wrong way to win it for Chelsea. A watching Chris Hughton seemed satisfied with Campbell's night as did 3,700 Toon fans.
Jagielka issues warning to Newcastle United
Sep 17 2010 Evening Chronicle (Newcastle)
PHIL JAGIELKA has warned Newcastle United that Everton have turned the corner after a woeful start to the season. The Toffees go into tomorrow’s game against United still searching for their first victory of the campaign. England centre-half Jagielka claims last weekend’s battling 3-3 draw at home to Manchester United could provide the spark they need. He said: "We have been a little bit slow out of the blocks – some people might say as usual – but we are desperate to return our form back to where it was towards the latter end of last season. "The draw against Manchester United will hopefully be the kick-start we need. "We have played good football, but unfortunately been punished for every little mistake we have made. Hopefully, we have turned a corner." The Merseysiders had picked up only one point from their first three games and staged a dramatic late comeback on Saturday thanks to stoppage-time goals from Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta. Jagielka added: "It felt like we had won the game. "We were pretty much dead and buried and there were opportunities for Manchester United to make it 4-1 or 5-1. "Thankfully we stuck in, Tim Howard made fantastic saves and as he always does, and Tim Cahill popped up with the goal.
"Then we put a little bit of pressure on, the ball fell to the person we wanted it to on the edge of the box and Mikel did enough to put it in." Jagielka is eager to do well this term, having missed a large chunk of the 2009-10 campaign through injury. He said: "I was dying for the season to start having missed most of it last year."
Newcastle's Scouse trio set for special day
Sep 17 2010 by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle
CHRIS HUGHTON has backed his Scouse legion to add even more spice to tomorrow’s trip to Goodison Park. The Newcastle United manager is delighted to be able to call on Merseyside natives such as Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan and Ryan Taylor for the clash with the Toffees. Nolan is a boyhood Liverpool fan along with Taylor, and both are relishing the visit across Stanley Park from their spiritual Anfield home. Meanwhile, Barton solely represents the Blue segment of the Toon roster, and the former Gwladys Street regular is fired-up for the return to his home city. Hughton said today before setting off for Liverpool: “If you speak to any player that is making a return to the city they’re from or the place they are born it always makes for an even more special occasion. “That’s exactly how it will be for these lads. “They all have their different associations with the clubs involved, and I am sure there will be many family members and friends in the stands on the day. “They’ll want to do well, like in every game, and it will be important for them coming off the field with the right result.” Hughton has no fears that things might spill over for Barton, who makes a return to the scene where he mooned at Everton fans in his Manchester City days. Hughton said: “All of the players know they have a responsibility to the team to perform on the day. “The mindset is simple. We have to bounce back from Blackpool and make sure we’re on a high again. “All the lads are aware of that.”Barton was released by Everton as a 14-year-old in a move that left him devastated but also paved the way for a move to Manchester City. He said: “It was really tough, horrible, but there was a scout at Everton, Barry Pointin, who had gone to City, and when Everton released me he phoned me that same night. “I was gutted for about an hour and then I got the phone call. “But I was still disappointed to be deemed a failure and rejected by the club I’d supported as a boy. I hated that feeling.”
BARRY HORNE: Magpies beware the Blues goal difference
Sep 18 2010 Liverpool Echo
EVERTON made another quantifiable step in the right direction last weekend. Our performances have steadily improved since a poor opener at Ewood Park. That trend continued against Manchester United, the difference being that we scored goals this time – something which had obviously been a problem prior to Saturday’s thriller.
This afternoon, despite probably having to change the strikeforce again, our confidence can be given another sizeable boost by gaining our first Premier League win of the season against Newcastle. Everton against Newcastle is always a big game.
I vividly remember our FA Cup quarter-final against them in 1995, Duncan Ferguson overshadowing Alan Shearer’s Newcastle debut a year later and other big games at Goodison and St James’ Park. This Newcastle team does not really compare to the days of Shearer, Cole and co. It does, however, throw up some intriguing personal duels which promise to, and hopefully will, bring some spice to the occasion. The return of a healthy cohort of north-westerners who know all about the history of Everton Football Club promises to add an edge to the afternoon. Kevin Nolan obviously has recent history, whilst Joey Barton (pictured) has little but history with Everton. Having said that, I remember watching him as a youngster – I saw his debut in fact – and thinking at the time that he was real old school, a typical Scouser who wanted to get involved, was confident, cocky and aggressive – in my book all good qualities. He has overstepped the mark on and off the pitch in the past, but I thought there were signs against Wolves that maybe, just maybe, he might be willing to let his football do his talking for him. In a hugely enjoyable contest between him and Karl Henry, Barton came off second best on a number of occasions but reacted in the right way. Henry’s tackles were mostly fair and they just got on with it. Fans love to see that at any time and for me that is far too infrequent in the modern game. I hope to see plenty of hard but fair challenges in a good contest, but with Everton’s quality ultimately seeing us through.
New Everton FC third kit harks back to a refined era
Sep 18 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
FOOTBALL clubs don’t just launch a new kit any more – in 2010 they release it with an accompanying theme, tailor-made to grab the attention and wallets of the fans. For the Blues’ lightning pink away kit this season, Revolution was the apt buzz word for a strip which, love or hate it, is impossible to ignore. Now the club have, in their own charmingly contrary way, released a classy third kit more than a month into the season. But this time Kitbag and Le Coq Sportif have produced a corker which will sit comfortably alongside some of Everton’s best change strips. It’s subjective of course, and there are plenty of Blues who will disagree, just as there are thousands who have gone pink with abandon this summer. What will please club officials is the effort, imagination and professionalism which the Kitbag/Le Coq Sportif tie-in has heralded. There were times under other kit manufacturers when supporters could be forgiven for thinking the Everton strips were an after-thought for them, something to simply be cut from a template used for other middle tier clubs. It was rare that our kits were a talking point under Umbro for example. Typically Umbro seem to have got their act together since Everton severed ties with them and have turned out a string of impressive designs for Manchester City and England, yet while some Blues were yearning for sportswear giants like Adidas or Nike to take the reins last summer, instead it was the French firm which is associated with Everton’s most successful period. And they haven’t done badly at all, complemented by the club’s vastly improved merchandising operations in the city centre and at Goodison. Away and third kits are often an invitation for the avant garde designs to filter through – hence the neon pink this summer and preceding ‘toe in the water’ which was the black and pink stripes last season. Then there was the excellent purple strip for Liverpool Unites, sadly worn only once in the controversial Carling Cup defeat by Spurs last season. Many Blues will recall their favourite away kits from childhood, and the anxious wait until it came out and enough pocket money had been squirrelled away, or a birthday allowed you to finally pull on the latest design with pride. I’m loathe to ever throw any of mine away, so can still dig out the salmon pink and blue striped number from the 1992-93 season, the earlier bright yellow and blue 86-87 top, and the white number we wore in 94-95 when the Toffees last won some silverware. Other pals swear the grey and blue change strip of 84-5 will take some beating, although you’d have to acknowledge there is a degree of rose-tinted nostalgia for that kit in particular. Puma’s 01-02 grey effort didn’t quite have the same impact. For a club once dubbed the night watchmen and the midnight dribblers (because of formative late night training sessions) there has been the occasional flirtation with a black strip during the noughties, both third kits which looked the part. Some colours have been rare throughout the decades. Red has obviously never featured, the salmon pink caused enough furore for skirting near a vague rouge, but there has only been one sky blue effort (03-04 season). Likewise green has only featured on an Everton kit design once (71-72 season), which is unusual for a club with such strong Irish links. There was a virtual copy of Leeds United’s home kit (1958-60) and a Spurs style all-white number in (1962-63). Generally amber has been most closely assumed as the most common away colour for the Toffees, although there have been three seasons since it was chosen and that was for a third kit. It remains to be seen whether the till receipts prove that Le Coq Sportif have got it right this time around, but the retro design with collars and hooped socks, echoing the style proudly worn during the era of TG Jones and Ted Sagar, gets the Royal Blue thumbs up. Let’s hope for more of the same in the future.
JP Kissock comment refuted
Sep 18 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
LAST week’s column by David Prentice carried a comment from a West Cheshire League footballer who had recently played against former Everton starlet JP Kissock.
Kissock now turns out for Newton and an internet post claimed: “A mate played against him a few weeks ago and said he was really good but cocky and big-headed!”
From the reaction we have had, that comment is clearly unfair. Newton’s chairman Alan Brookes told us: “JP was anything but big-time and we love having him here.” Coaches at Finch Farm confirmed the view that Kissock was a level-headed down to earth lad. And Barry Doran, manager of a building firm where JP worked, e-mailed to say: “Some of my team were sceptical that he would be ‘a big time Charlie.’ For three months JP mucked in, helped out and endeared himself to all who met him. Although I would welcome him back tomorrow, I hope not to see him in safety boots but football boots. His discipline and willingness to work (fair play to Ray Hall and Taffy) would be a wonderful addition to any group. “We did actually feel you may have had a case for mistaken identity but the music was the clue...we don't miss that!” So good luck JP – and apologies for any embarrassment caused.
Vote for your North West player of the year
Sep 18 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
MERSEYSIDE football fans have four days left to register their vote for their North West player of the year. Leighton Baines and Pepe Reina are shortlisted for the prestigious Premier League title and Tranmere’s Ian Goodison is up for the League One title, voted for by supporters, at this year’s MBNA North West Football Awards.
Organiser Katherine Swift said: “This year’s voting has been really close as the calibre of shortlisted players is so high and we’re expecting a real surge in votes.”
Fans can vote at www.northwest footballawards.co.uk, Voting closes on September 19.
Everton FC boss David Moyes bemoans the dying art of tackling
Sep 18 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
ARSENE WENGER might complain the loudest, but his team are not the most sinned against in the Premier League. Intriguingly, it is the Blues who have most reason to carp, after it emerged that Everton have been fouled more than any other top flight side over the last 12 months. As a former card-carrying member of the centre backs union, Moyes does not intend to start complaining. In fact, he is surprised to learn of the statistic, and instead laments that proper tackling is becoming a dying art.
“I just take it as part of the game. We don’t want bad tacklers, and if people do that they deserve to get severe bans, they really do,” he says. “Look at the game tomorrow – that fixture had one of the biggest ones. Victor Anichebe had a horrendous tackle done on him the last time we played Newcastle. “There are tackles which are bad tackles, and there are just ones where you go hard and fair and I don’t think anybody would like it any other way. “We do want to get rid of the one or two tackles where we call them a shocker, and it’s over the top, but for whatever reason we’re more focused on it generally now and looking for it. “In truth the tackling has become less, not more. It’s a dying art. Whereas once people practised and prided themselves on being good tacklers maybe it’s going.” Moyes can point to an example from recent history too, when Tony Hibbert was harshly booked for a winning tackle on Paul Scholes last Saturday. “Tony Hibbert had a good slide tackle against United. he got to the ball first but if your weight continues through the free kick is given against you,” he says. “I think it’s very hard. I don't know how you’re supposed to coach that, because when you go for a slide tackle of course your weight has to come through.
“There’s a real stigma about tackling now. I’ve not got a big issue about it and I’m certainly not complaining if we’re the most fouled team, I’m just getting on with it. I might complain about it later on but I don’t know if I can afford another £8,000.
“I think you’d have to adapt and move with the times. We don't tackle from behind. Yet I don't think there’s anyone in football who thinks Gary Cahill should have been shown a red card last weekend.” It is not just tackling, Moyes feels for players penalised for jumping for a ball. “For me it was never a sending off. Now they say you can’t jump if your arm hits somebody. Well you have to jump with your arms, how do you jump without using your arms for elevation?” he says. “Now and again you will accidentally catch someone on the head but that doesn’t mean you’ve ‘done them’ or gone to do it. We know the difference from getting one full on, and just catching them. The players have had to adapt to things being quite tight, and I think on the main they’ve done that very well.” “The referees in the Premier League are better than in Europe. They’re more reliable. There’s an uncertainty with decision making generally these days.” While Moyes may have not had exactly glowing praise for Martin Atkinson last weekend, he was at least satisfied that the official showed common sense in his treatment of the clash between Tim Cahill and Nemandja Vidic.
“We know the two guys are going to have a bit of a knock at each other,” he says. “They might have had a bit of a whinge here and there, but in the main they got on with it. I don't think the referee had any problems with it, he certainly didn’t book either of them.” He is less for charitable, though, on the day’s biggest talking point. “I still don’t understand the decision now. If anything, it’s even worse,” he says. “The whistle had gone and Phil knew it had before he took the shot.
Everton FC boss David Moyes challenges Yakubu to emerge from period of uncertainty
Sep 18 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES today challenged Yakubu to re-ignite his Everton career – after admitting the Nigerian wanted to leave this summer. The Goodison boss revealed that the £11.25m hit-man’s head was turned by West Ham’s summer-long persuit, but he is now keen to make an impact for Everton. With Tim Cahill facing a late-fitness test on a knee injury ahead of the game against Newcastle United today, Moyes may ask Yakubu to lead the attack - or at least use him from the bench as against Manchester United last weekend. The 27-year-old played for the reserves, ironically against West Ham, on Tuesday and Moyes sees signs his sharpness is returning. He said: “He’s fit but maybe I’m not sure how fit in terms of completing 90 minutes. He’s getting there. His mind is better and his focus is much better, and so is his training so we’re hoping we’re going to get much more from him. “I think he probably felt that you know (he wanted a change), and the year before we had competition for places and he was maybe thinking that he wasn’t guaranteed a start here all the time. “It’s part of the game. He’s under contract and he couldn’t have left without our say so and we play a part in that as well. “We said that we thought Yak was worth was more than we were offered. “We were offered £6m and the next offer was £5m so we made a decision to say no. “His goal-scoring record in the Premier League makes him worth more than that and we made a decision that we were not going to let him go for that price. It was simple as that.”Moyes, while privately being baffled at West Ham’s unusual bargaining tactic, is glad he was able to keep hold of the former Middlesbrough striker. He said: “He did well last week. “He came on with 15/20 remaining and he set Ossie up and at that stage we were camped in and around their box and I think that suited him. “He would have liked the opportunity to have left. “But we never received an offer that was enough for him, and because of that he’s never really got himself in the right frame of mind but I see now that he has. “Maybe it’s down to the window being shut and he’s back here and getting himself back in contention to play. “I’ve never had any problems with Yak, I’ve always had a good relationship with him.”
Meanwhile, chairman Bill Kenwright has reflected on a seven-day period of starkly contrasting emotions for his manager. Moyes was yesterday fined £8,000 by the Football Association after admitting an improper conduct charge after he had run onto the pitch to confront referee Martin Atkinson in the immediate aftermath of last Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Manchester United. The Everton manager was frustrated by the referee’s decision to end the game whilst his side were on the attack in search of a fourth goal. “We all know that football is a game which is – and always will be – based largely around emotion and passion,” said Kenwright. “I say that because I believe it tells you all you would ever wish to know about a quite extraordinary manager who having watched his team score twice in stoppage time to salvage a deserved draw against Manchester United, chose not to celebrate with the rest of us deliriously joyful Evertonians, but instead to question the referee whom he genuinely felt had not acted in the traditional spirit of football and who had, perhaps, denied us an improbable victory. “Whilst David has acknowledged that his decision to confront the referee out on the pitch, rather than within the confines of the dressing room area was wrong, there isn’t a player, a staff member or a supporter who does not understand his sense of frustration. “Perhaps the biggest bonus of being a football chairman is, especially in instances like this, the opportunity to share the insight of a coach’s overview. “David has explained to me just what he thought might have happened if the whistle had not been blown as Mikel Arteta laid the ball off to Jags in the penalty area. “Of course ‘might’ is a very big word – possibly the biggest!
“But I could see even more clearly where the sense of frustration from himself and Steve Round came from.” He added that Moyes refused the club’s offer to pay the fine for him.
David Moyes backs Yakubu to regain Everton FC form
Sep 18 2010 By Ian Doyle
DAVID MOYES has revealed Yakubu wanted to leave Everton in the summer – but has now backed the striker to prove his worth at Goodison once again. Speculation persisted throughout the transfer window that Yakubu would be seeking pastures new with Moyes have signed Leeds United forward Jermaine Beckford and needing to raise funds for any other possible incomings. West Ham United were the most interested party but, having seen a £6million bid rejected earlier in the summer, returned nearer the transfer deadline with a £5m offer that was dismissed out of hand by the Goodison board. Moyes admits such talk unsettled Yakubu which, coupled with his recuperation from a disappointing World Cup with Nigeria, saw him out of the first-team picture at the start of the season. However, the forward made a telling contribution on his first outing of the campaign last weekend, emerging from the bench to help Everton recover from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Manchester United.
With Tim Cahill struggling to be fit for today’s Premier League visit of Newcastle United and Louis Saha already out, Yakubu could make his first start since April.
But Moyes accepts it could have been different had West Ham made a suitable offer this summer. “He would have liked the opportunity to have left,” said the Everton manager. “But we never received an offer that was enough for him and because of that he’s never really got himself in the right frame of mind but I see now that he has.
“Maybe it’s down to the window being shut and he’s back here and getting himself back in contention to play. I’ve never had any problems with Yak, I’ve always had a good relationship with him. “I think he probably felt that you know (he wanted a change) and the year before we had competition for places and he was maybe thinking that he wasn’t guaranteed a start here all the time. “It’s part of the game. He’s under contract and he couldn’t have left without our say so and we play a part in that as well.
“We said that we thought Yak was worth was more than we were offered. We were offered £6m and the next offer was £5m so we made a decision to say know. “His goalscoring record in the Premier League makes him worth more than that and we made a decision that we were not going to let him go for that price. It was simple as that.” oyes added: “Yakubu’s fit but maybe I’m not sure how fit in terms of completing 90 minutes. He’s getting there. His mind is better and his focus is much better and so is his training so we’re hoping we’re going to get much more from him.
“He did well last week. He came on with 15 to 20 minutes remaining and he set Ossie (Leon Osman) up and at that stage we were camped in and around their box and I think that suited him.” Cahill is a doubt with a knee injury, while Saha (calf) and Jack Rodwell (ankle) are sidelined for the visit of Chris Hughton’s Newcastle. Moyes, though, is considering a change at centre-back given Sylvain Distin’s difficult afternoon against Manchester United last week. “I think we have to weigh it up,” said the Goodison manager. “He has actually played well this season and it was not like him. “He made a couple of mistakes but hopefully he will get on with it because he is an experienced player and I’m sure it’s happened to him many more times in his career. It’s up to him to pick himself up and get on with it.”
Most-fouled Everton FC shows tackling problem, says David Moyes
Sep 18 2010 By Ian Doyle
SUCH is the voracious appetite for statistics in modern-day football, it is increasingly rare to surprise the most learned supporter. But there was one fact to emerge this week that raised the eyebrows of David Moyes and doubtless many followers of his team. With tough tackling and bad injuries once again high on the Premier League agenda, it was curious to discover that Everton are the most fouled-team in the top flight over the past 12 months. Indeed, Steven Pienaar and Mikel Arteta are the targets for more than their fair share of attention with both among the five most-fouled Premier League players this season. Moyes, though, refuses to take it as a back-handed compliment and instead believes it signifies how strong physical contact is seemingly being eradicated from the game. “In truth the tackling has become less, not more,” says the Goodison manager. “It’s a dying art. Whereas once people practised and prided themselves on being good tacklers maybe it’s going. “Tony Hibbert had a good slide tackle against Manchester United last week. He got to the ball first but if your weight continues through the free kick is given against you. “I think it’s very hard. I don’t know how you’re supposed to coach that, because when you go for a slide tackle of course your weight has to come through.” Moyes added: “There’s a real stigma about tackling now. I’ve not got a big issue about it and I’m certainly not complaining if we’re the most fouled team, I’m just getting on with it. I might complain about it later on but I don’t know if I can afford another £8,000. “I think you’d have to adapt and move with the times. We don’t tackle from behind. Yet I don’t think there’s anyone in football who thinks Gary Cahill should have been shown a red card last weekend. For me it was never a sending off. “Now they say you can’t jump if your arm hits somebody. Well you have to jump with your arms, how do you jump without using your arms for elevation? “Now and again you will accidentally catch someone on the head but that doesn’t mean you’ve ‘done them’ or gone to do it. We know the difference from getting one full on, and just catching them. “The players have had to adapt to things being quite tight, and I think on the main they’ve done that very well.” The sickening injuries to Fulham’s Bobby Zamora and Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia, while neither the result of particularly bad tackles, have prompted debate over foul play with Arsene Wenger and Sam Allardyce inevitably at the forefront. Newcastle United’s visit to Goodison this afternoon is therefore timely given their most recent previous meeting, at St James’ Park in February 2009, saw Victor Anichebe on the receiving end of an horrific Kevin Nolan challenge. The striker, who suffered a serious knee injury as a result, has subsequently started only six games while Nolan was back in action after serving a three-match suspension. And Moyes says: “We don’t want bad tacklers, and if people do that they deserve to get severe bans, they really do. “Look at the game on Saturday – that fixture had one of the biggest ones. Victor Anichebe had a horrendous tackle done on him the last time we played Newcastle. “There are tackles which are bad tackles, and there are just ones where you go hard and fair and I don’t think anybody would like it any other way. “We do want to get rid of the one or two tackles where we call them a shocker, and it’s over the top, but for whatever reason we’re more focused on it generally now and looking for it.” Moyes contends the blood and thunder of the battle is what makes the Premier League a unique experience, and pointed to the head-to-head running scrap between Tim Cahill and United’s Nemanja Vidic last week. “We all like that,” he says. “We know the two guys are going to have a bit of a knock at each other and they might have had a bit of a whinge here and there, but in the main they got on with it. I don’t think the referee had any problems with it, he certainly didn’t book either of them. “The referees in the Premier League are better than in Europe. They’re more reliable. There’s an uncertainty with decision making generally these days.” Nevertheless, Moyes is still fuming at last week’s referee Martin Atkinson despite accepting a Football Association disrepute charge after running on to the field to confront the official over the amount of injury time played. Moyes admitted he was at fault for that incursion, but is annoyed Atkinson has not done likewise for not allowing more time during a dramatic conclusion to the 3-3 draw. “I think you hold your hand up when you get things wrong,” he says. “That’s the way I was always taught to do it. “I still don’t understand the decision now. If anything, it’s even worse.” Moyes has declined an offer from Everton owner Bill Kenwright to pay the £8,000 fine, and urged the FA to take the emotion of the occasion into account when ruling on future possible indiscretions. “I can see why they don’t want it to happen but I also think there are moments and there are reasons for reactions and if you do that it doesn’t get considered,” he says. “The only thing that gets considered is what you did because basically I don’t think it’s football people who are judging what we are doing.”
It's not Good to miss out - Dan Gosling
Sep 18 2010 by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle (Newcastle)
NEWCASTLE United new boy Dan Gosling says he is attempting to beat his January comeback date to be back in action in a black-and-white shirt – but admits missing a return to Goodison Park has caused him some personal heartache. The England Under-21 star would almost certainly have been in for a rough ride on Merseyside today after his controversial switch from the Toffees to United this summer left Everton furious. However, the clever piece of work in the transfer market by Chris Hughton and his board is sure to pay dividends later in the season when Gosling will be like signing a new player for the Magpies in January. Speaking on his heartache at missing out on the trip to Goodison, Gosling told the Chronicle: “I would have loved to have played at Goodison Park this season, but it’s come too quickly for me. “It’s only the sixth game in this season. “I won’t be there this year unfortunately, but the return game at St James’ Park is in March, and, hopefully, I’ll be playing again for Newcastle and fighting fit by then.” Gosling has not played since March when he was badly hurt in Everton’s 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He underwent knee surgery and began his rehab with the Merseyside club before transferring to United, where both Derek Wright and Davy Henderson have made sure he is in excellent hands. The former Plymouth Argyle kid, who burst on to the scene when scoring against Liverpool in a never to be forgotten Merseyside derby, said: “I can’t wait to be back playing – it’s been a while now. Hopefully, I’ll be back sooner than expected. But I’m not going to try and rush back.” United boss Chris Hughton’s take on the injury is plain and simple. He said: “He’s had a bad injury and we won’t take any chances on him with it. “We’ll give him all the time he needs to get back and play for this football club.”
Moyes: Boos were justified
19/09/10 By Pa Sports (Sunday Mirror)
Everton manager David Moyes pulled no punches in his assessment of his team's performance against Newcastle at Goodison Park, claiming he would have joined the fans in booing their team off the park. Magpies new boy Hatem Ben Arfa scored the only goal of the game just before half-time as Everton made it five games without a win in the Barclays Premier League. The Toffees' supporters made their feelings known at full-time, and Moyes left his players in little doubt how he felt about their display. "I would have booed after that performance today," said the Scot. "They are good players and a good team but they now need to stand up and be counted." The first half was a cagey affair marked by one decent chance for each side, Wayne Routledge for Newcastle and Phil Jagielka for Everton, before Ben Arfa crashed the ball into the top corner from 25 yards. By that point the Magpies had already been forced into a change in goal after Steve Harper landed heavily on his left shoulder following a late tackle from Jermaine Beckford, Tim Krul coming on in his place. The hosts improved after the break but, in a scenario reminiscent of last week's astonishing comeback against Manchester United, it was not until stoppage time that they really came close to equalising. First, half-time substitute Aiyegbeni Yakubu hit the post, with Krul just managing to grab the ball before it deflected off him and over the line. Then, with almost the final kick of the game, Leighton Baines appeared to have put the equaliser on a plate for Marouane Fellaini six yards out but Fabricio Coloccini somehow managed to deflect the ball behind. For Newcastle, it was the perfect way to bounce back from last weekend's 2-0 home defeat by Blackpool, and boss Chris Hughton was full of praise for his players. He said: "The most pleasing thing for me was the team performance. It was a real disappointment last week because it's a home game and we know how valuable points are in this division. We saw it very much as three points lost last week. "Is Goodison an ideal place to come on the back of a defeat? The answer generally is no because of the quality they've got here. But I thought it was an excellent performance from the first to the 94th minute."
Spurs and Everton to battle over Hoffenheim ace
19/09/10 By James Masters (Sunday Mirror)
Tottenham and Everton are keeping tabs on Hoffenheim hot-shot Peniel Mlapa.
The 19-year-old striker was named Young Player of the Year in Germany last season and is already rated one of the most talented prospects in the Bundesliga. Mlapa, who was born in Togo but has elected to play for Germany, joined Hoffenheim this summer after a spell at 1860 Munich. Toffees boss David Moyes considered a move at the end of last season before signing Jermaine Beckford. But he could reignite his interest in the New Year.
Everton 0-1 Newcastle: Sunday Mirror match reports
19/09/10 By Simon Mullock (Sunday Mirror)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 18: Seamus Coleman of Everton brings down Kevin Nolan of Newcastle United in the penalty area during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park on September 18, 2010 in Liverpool, England.
It was the day Joey Barton showed his class. No, you’ve read it right. It’s not a misprint. Mr Joey Barton, common criminal and football’s Public Enemy No. 1, looked a dead ringer for a top Premier League midfielder. Four years ago at Goodison Park, the snarling, irritable Barton was displaying something a lot less attractive.
That day, during his time at Manchester City, he bared his backside to the Everton fans giving him grief. It was one of his more forgivable sins, but he was soon to descend from England international to jail bird on the back of fist-fights in take-aways and training-ground assaults. Barton’s crime sheet is extensive – but there was compelling evidence yesterday that his rehabilitation is going well. He was the driving force behind Hatem Ben Arfa’s brilliant strike at the end of the first half that clinched the points for Chris Hughton’s side. As for David Moyes, the Everton fans showed him exactly what they thought of their team’s performance by booing them off the field. “I would have booed after that performance,” said the Everton boss. “They are good players and a good team, but they now need to stand up and be counted. “We didn’t start the game well and Newcastle deserved their victory, I’ve got no qualms about that. “We had no real chances up until 90 minutes. We then had two and we were maybe a little bit unfortunate that one hits the post and bounces back into the goalkeeper’s arms.” Newcastle keeper Steve Harper was carried off with a dislocated shoulder following Jermaine Beckford’s reckless 33rd minute challenge – but the visitors shrugged off the incident and took the lead on the stroke of half-time. Ben Arfa, took possession 35 yards out and unleashed a ferocious shot high past Tim Howard’s left hand. It was a shock to Everton and as expected, the rejuvenated Toffees pressed after the break with Phil Jagielka, Leon Osman and substitute Yakubu – who hit the post – all going close. And when Belgian bruiser Marouane Fellaini somehow sidefooted wide from close-range after Mikel Arteta had crossed low from the left, Everton knew the game was up. Jubilant Newcastle boss Chris Hughton said: “Is Goodison an ideal place to come on the back of a defeat? The answer if generally no because of the quality they’ve got here. “But I thought it was an excellent performance from the first to the 94th minute.”
Everton 0 Newcastle 1
19 Sep 2010 (The Sun)
HATEM BEN ARFA struck a stunner on his Newcastle debut to sink Everton.
But the victory was overshadowed by a serious injury to Toon keeper Steve Harper.
France winger Ben Arfa smashed a brilliant long-range drive on the stroke of half time. It was the first shot of his Newcastle career but one that will live long in the memory. Harper had earlier been taken off with shoulder problem, but boss Chris Hughton was not willing to speculate as to the extent of the injury. He said: "It looks like a shoulder ligament injury, which will keep him out for a period of time. "How long, it would be a little bit unfair of me to say because we won't know until the next few days." The Toon boss was more upbeat about the result though, with his side having bounced back from a 2-0 home defeat to Blackpool. He added: "The most pleasing thing for me was the team performance. It was a real disappointment last week because it's a home game and we know how valuable points are in this division.
"We saw it very much as three points lost last week. "Is Goodison an ideal place to come on the back of a defeat? The answer generally is no because of the quality they've got here. "But I thought it was an excellent performance from the first to the 94th minute." Everton boss David Moyes meanhwile pulled no punches, claiming he would have joined the fans in their send-off for the players. He said: "I would have booed after that performance today. "They are good players and a good team but they now need to stand up and be counted." The impressive Magpies started on the front foot with Wayne Routledge heading over Jose Enrique's cross. summer signing Cheik Tiote tested Everton stopper Tim Howard after a powerful burst from midfield. And Ben Arfa showed a glimpse of his talent with a jinking run which had the home defence reeling. Joey Barton forced Howard into a decent save with a free-kick from 25 yards out. Moments later, the American was called into action again as Kevin Nolan's cross deflected off Jonny Heitinga. Howard stuck out a hand to save but his opposite number Harper was soon in trouble. Toffees striker Jermaine Beckford clattered into the Toon keeper and he was carried off. Dutch understudy Tim Krul was thrown into the action and he made his first save moments later from Leon Osman. But it was at the other end where the opener came with Ben Arfa making himself an instant fans' favourite. His superb 25-yard effort flew into the top corner just before the break. Everton boss Moyes would have expected much better from his side after the restart. He reacted by bringing on Seamus Coleman and Yakubu for Tony Hibbert and Beckford. It nearly got worse for the Toffees in the 54th minute though. A deep cross from Enrique was sliced wide of his own goal by Sylvain Distin. Newcastle continued to press and Yakubu was fortunate to give away only a free-kick for a challenge on Routledge on the corner of the box. That came to nothing and then at the other end the Toffees created one of their best moments. Osman's blocked shot found its way to Yakubu, whose scrambled effort was blocked by Krul.
The Nigerian felt he was impeded but referee Andre Marriner was unmoved. A spell of Everton pressure ended when Fellaini picked up a booking for a foul on the impressive Mike Williamson. The Belgium star was lucky to stay on the pitch after throwing an arm at his opponent. Right-back Coleman was the latest Toffees player to get a helping hand from the referee when he hacked down Nolan in the box.
Replays showed it was a clear penalty with Nolan livid with Marriner's decision not to award a spot-kick and red card. That would surely have killed off the match as a contest although some would have argued there was very little chance of an Everton comeback. However, in the dying minutes, Yakubu struck the post from Mikel Arteta's cross and Fellaini somehow missed the target from six yards out. Newcastle rightfully survived those scares to take all three points back to St James' Park.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert (Coleman 46), Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Osman, Arteta, Heitinga (Bilyaletdinov 73), Pienaar, Fellaini, Beckford (Yakubu 46).
Subs Not Used: Mucha, Neville, Gueye, Barkley.
Booked: Beckford, Fellaini.
Newcastle: Harper (Krul 35), Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Routledge, Tiote, Barton, Ben Arfa (Gutierrez 84), Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Campbell, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Smith, Ameobi.
Booked: Perch, Jose Enrique, Nolan.
Goals: Ben Arfa 45.
Att: 38,019
Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
EVERTON 0, NEWCASTLE 1: MOYES MISERABLE
Everton 0, Newcastle 1
Sunday September 19,2010
By Richard Jolly (The Express)
EVERTON 0, NEWCASLTE 1. THERE have been the injury-prone, the ineffective and the unsuccessful, the wastes of time and money, the expensive and the embarrassing. It’s fair to say Newcastle United and foreign signings haven’t gone too well together. Not when they have bought Jean-Alain Boumsong, Albert Luque, Hugo Viana, Marcelino and Xisco, to name but a few failures. So when Hatem Ben Arfa joined, he looked like a candidate for the roll of dishonour. Not now. After his full debut, the Frenchman seems that rarest of things, an inspired import at St James’ Park. His spectacular winner ensured Everton’s miserable start to the season continued. It also brought him the instant approval of the travelling Geordies. But then Ben Arfa is the arrival with a difference. Borrowed from Marseille, he won’t bankrupt Newcastle. Instead, he improved them. And, on the stroke of half-time, excited them. Collecting a pass from Wayne Routledge, Ben Arfa strolled away from Johnny Heitinga before unleashing a ferocious shot that flew past Tim Howard and nestled in the top corner of the Everton net. It would have been brilliant in any circumstances. As it came on his first start, with his first shot in the Premier League and earned Newcastle their first away win of the season, it was simply special. “It was a very good debut,” said boss Chris Hughton. “He’s got wonderful ability. The lad desperately wanted to come here and that’s the most pleasing factor.” Hughton could be satisfied with his bold management. He reacted to defeat against Blackpool by ditching two of the stalwarts of his promotion campaign, Jonas Gutierrez and Alan Smith, and picking two of his signings, Ben Arfa and Cheik Tiote. Both excelled. The Frenchman brought flair on the left wing, the Ivorian industry in the heart of the midfield. “It was an excellent all-round performance,” added Hughton. “Ben Arfa will get the headlines and rightly so but today was about a real good team effort, coming to a place that has been very difficult for us.” They were only troubled near the final whistle. In added time, Leighton Baines picked out Yakubu whose shot bounced back off the post and, fortunately for Newcastle, fell for substitute keeper Tim Krul. Then Fabricio Coloccini made a fine challenge to deny Marouane Fellaini. Everton are dangerous in injury time, as Manchester United know to their cost. It’s just a shame about the mediocrity that preceded it, as David Moyes admitted. “We had no chances up until after 90 minutes,” he said. And the late flurry wasn’t enough to spare Everton a cutting verdict from their manager. “I would have booed after that performance today,” Moyes said. “The players now need to stand up and be counted. “Newcastle deserved their victory. I’ve got no qualms about it. You couldn’t put it down to any one department today. The whole team didn’t function and a lot of our good players didn’t perform.” His side still don’t have a league win or a goal from a specialist striker. The only damage Jermaine Beckford inflicted on Newcastle was the wrong sort, colliding with Steve Harper. It came at a cost to both: a booking for Beckford, a shoulder injury for Harper, who was stretchered off. Enter Krul, making his Premier League debut. He thwarted Leon Osman and Yakubu, but the newcomer wasn’t overworked. With two points from five games, it is Everton’s worst start for 16 years – after the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger had tipped them for the top four. Instead, they are in the bottom two. Newcastle are going well, despite James Perch keeping up his unlikely 100 per cent record. Five Premier League games have brought five bookings and an automatic suspension. It is a memorable start. But not as impressive as Ben Arfa’s.
Hatem Ben Arfa gives Newcastle victory as Everton crumble
Georgina Turner at Goodison Park
The Guardian 19 September 2010
Hatem Ben Arfa, who scored Newcastle's goal, is challenged by Everton's Mikel Arteta, left, and Tony Hibbert. Photograph: Nigel French/Empics Sport Everton cannot always leave it until the exits are open. A week after Goodison Park rattled to full-blooded cheers, boos echoed around the same stands as David Moyes's men fell to their first home defeat since November last year. It was the visiting Newcastle supporters who sang with Last-Night-of-the-Proms gusto, having caught their breath after Marouane Fellaini's attempt to tap home a Leighton Baines cut-back that had last-minute equaliser emblazoned on every panel was blocked by Fabricio Coloccini. Until then, much of the home crowd's ire had been directed at the referee, Andre Marriner, whose decisions more often than not went Newcastle's way. Moyes, who this week wrote a cheque for £8,000 having vented his frustration at Martin Atkinson, shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not saying anything about referees." On a debatable penalty shout when Fellaini might have been pushed in the back, he was similarly dismissive. "It wouldn't have made any difference. We didn't create a real chance until after the 90 minutes." It was an honest assessment of the kind of muted performance that has become rare here. Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper had been a virtual spectator before a tackle from Jermaine Beckford saw him taken off on a stretcher with shoulder ligament damage. His replacement, Tim Krul, was not much busier. He held a weak shot from Leon Osman just before the interval and gathered a Yakubu Ayegbeni shot that rebounded off the post in the dying moments. Everton had come out with more purpose for the second half, but failed to make the time spent camped in the final third tell as Newcastle had done. The visitors could have been forgiven for approaching Goodison Park with some trepidation, given their contrasting fortunes last weekend, but they started the game as if they heard the stands of St James' Park around them. "We considered it three points lost last week, and this isn't generally a good place to come to try and bounce back," said Chris Hughton, who tinkered with his midfield and reaped the rewards. Hatem Ben Arfa got his first start, on the left, and fellow summer signing Cheik Tioté came into the centre of a five-man midfield instead of Alan Smith. The quintet successfully took the battle to Everton. Tioté, a long-term Hughton target, looked lively from the off, sitting in front of his defenders when Newcastle did not have the ball and throwing himself forward when they did. His 14th-minute sighter from range never really troubled Tim Howard, but it was a statement of intent. Howard's heart will have raced faster at the half-hour mark as he punched away a Joey Barton free-kick and then tipped over the crossbar when the ball, having spun up off Johnny Heitinga, threatened to dip under it. Ben Arfa's goal came shortly before half-time, when he cut in and quickly shifted the ball to his left to create some space; his shot arrowed beyond Howard and into the top right-hand corner. He drifted in from the touchline throughout, enjoying the protection and supply of Joey Barton in the central channel and leaving space that José Enrique could exploit down the flank. Newcastle absorbed the pressure after half-time and threatened to inflict more damage themselves with about 20 minutes remaining. It was the away supporters' turn to rage as Marriner ignored a foul by Coleman on Kevin Nolan that ought to have given Newcastle a penalty and the chance to seal the win. Hughton had no complaints about the performance or the result, however – though he has some work to do with James Perch. The summer arrival from Nottingham Forest is still outrun and out-thought at this level and picked up his fifth yellow card in five league appearances.
THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT
JOE JENNINGS, SOS1878.co.uk I'm absolutely ashamed. It was an awful performance While David Moyes and his tactics remain a sacred cow among Evertonians, we're not going to get anywhere if he's considered beyond reproach. The players look unmotivated and Moyes is playing people out of position – his tactics are awful at the moment and it is making us look like an amateur team instead of using them to best advantage. I'm grateful for what he's done in the past but now he's got to change. Credit Newcastle – they used the ball very well and controlled the game. You wouldn't know they had been turned over last week.
The fan's player ratings Howard 6; Hibbert 6 (Coleman 6 h/t), Jagielka 5, Distin 5, Baines 6; Osman 4, Arteta 5, Heitinga 5 (Bilyaletdinov n/a 73), Pienaar 6, Fellaini 6; Beckford 6 (Yakubu 6 h-t)
PETER HARDY, Observer reader Incredible. A dream goal for Ben Arfa and Newcastle. Everton were just poor, though Fellaini was good – unfortunately for them he had no one to link up with. If he could have passed to himself there might have been more danger. We only had a couple of chances before scoring at the end of the first half. We were looking confident but nothing certain until the goal came. Nolan was taken down from behind at one point and the ref waved play on – it makes Pakistani cricket look honest by comparison. In the first half Everton never looked like scoring but they threatened more in the second. A great result for us.
The fan's player ratings Harper 7 (Krul 7 35); Perch 7, Coloccini 7, Williamson 7, José Enrique 8; Routledge 7, Tioté 7, Barton 8, Ben Arfa 9 (Gutiérrez n/a 84); Nolan 7; Carroll 7
BEN ARFA'S UP AND HATEM
Everton 0 Newcastle 1
HERO: Ben Arfa is an instant hit with the Toon Army
By Chris Bascombe 19/09/2010
IT'S said you need to experience the deepest ditch of despair to fully appreciate the view from Cloud Nine.
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton doesn't strike you as a man who does euphoria, but after so long in their pit of misery the Geordie fans are floating on air again. This was surely the day Newcastle finally erased the dreaded word 'yo-yo' from the season's vocabulary. Not only are they back where they belong, they appear to be here to stay. If the painful memories of relegation were banished last May, the fears of an instant return to the Championship look like being swiftly eradicated too. Hatem Ben Arfa's winning wonder strike seemed to do much more than secure three Premier League points against lacklustre Everton. The visiting fans couldn't contain their glee long after the final whistle, sensing the grandest of statements yet that Newcastle's deep-seated wounds are rapidly healing. They're not just back on the biggest stage to go toe-to-toe with the established giants of the English game, but to beat them on their own turf again. Battering a managerless Aston Villa on home soil could have been dismissed as blip, especially after a calamitous home defeat to Blackpool. Escaping the cauldron of Goodison with a win must be one of Hughton's most satisfying results to date. Aside from a hectic finale, his men outplayed and outfought their hosts.
Ben Arfa, making his first start on loan from Marseille, was marvellous. The 23-year-old France winger skipped and danced through the Everton defence so much he should have had Bruce Forsyth applauding him off. His 45th-minute strike was the highlight. It was a 25-yarder so explosive a mushroom cloud seemed to appear above Goodison. And it was the least the visitors deserved. This was no rearguard action. Wayne Routledge, Jose Enrique and Joey Barton had all gone close. The revitalised Barton and accomplished Kevin Nolan ran the midfield, and the Newcastle defence was stubborn and strong. Read that again. Stubborn. Strong. Newcastle. Not words you read in the same sentence during their last Premier League season. Had the Toon succumbed when Everton finally rallied in the closing stages, their rage would have been aimed not at their defence, but at referee Andre Marriner. His refusal to award a penalty for sub Seamus Coleman's 74th-minute challenge on goalbound Nolan might have been a turning point. It proved immaterial. This Newcastle side is unrecognisable from the one that departed the top flight so timidly 16 months ago.
They possess grit, they have workmanlike qualities and their main strength is their organisation. The star names who are being steadily introduced, such as Ben Arfa, are expected to blend seamlessly into an established system rather than strut around in it.
The club is now less showbiz than it was, but much better for it. At this level, there's nothing sexier than a 1-0 away win against a side many believe should be fighting for the top four. Yesterday, Newcastle were even able to shrug off the setback of losing keeper Steve Harper before half-time. The last time they were in this division, the mildest stroke of bad luck rattled them like unbalanced skittles. Until the 90th minute, reserve keeper Tim Krul was ably protected and there was enough menace in attack to keep Everton constantly worried. STRAIN: Osman rues a missed chance
Everton chief David Moyes, typically, didn't try to deny his team's failings. "Let's not kid ourselves," he said. "We didn't even have a shot until the 90th minute." Moyes hasn't made too many transfer mistakes but Ben Arfa is one he may lament. The flying Frenchman was offered to Everton on several occasions. The Merseysiders could have done with the extra firepower. Tim Cahill and Louis Saha were absent through injury and their replacements were inadequate. Jermaine Beckford was trusted to lead the line but looked worth every penny of the nothing he cost. His only contribution was the clash which took out Harper with a shoulder injury. Beckford was subbed at half-time by Yakubu. He was even worse. Everton find themselves in danger of repeating the same mistake as their last early season, when they were too far off the pace by the time they found their form. This game was a repetition of their chronic slow-starting. If the match had kicked off on 90 minutes, Moyes' side would have looked rampant. Yakubu hit the post in injury-time and Marouane Fellaini's shot deflected wide with almost the last kick. They wouldn't have deserved it if either effort had gone in and the boos at full-time showed their fans knew it.
David Moyes says it’s time for his Everton FC players to stand up and be counted
Sep 20 2010 Liverpool Echo
David Moyes says it’s time for his players to stand up and be counted EVERTON manager David Moyes pulled no punches in his assessment of his team’s performance against Newcastle at Goodison Park on Saturday, claiming he would have joined the fans in booing their team off the park. Everton made it five games without a win in the Barclays Premier League this season, with the Toffees’ supporters making their feelings known at full-time, and Moyes left his players in little doubt how he felt about their display. “I would have booed after that performance,” said the Scot. “They are good players and a good team but they now need to stand up and be counted.”
The hosts improved after the break but, in a scenario reminiscent of last week’s astonishing comeback against Manchester United, it was not until stoppage time that they really came close to equalising. First, half-time substitute Aiyegbeni Yakubu hit the post, with Krul just managing to grab the ball before it deflected off him and over the line. Then, with almost the final kick of the game, Leighton Baines appeared to have put the equaliser on a plate for Marouane Fellaini six yards out but Fabricio Coloccini somehow managed to deflect the ball behind. Moyes, though, was in no mood to put a positive spin on another disappointing afternoon for Everton. “We didn’t start the game well and Newcastle deserved the victory, I’ve got no qualms about that,” he said. “We had no real chances up until 90 minutes, we’re not kidding ourselves about that. “We then had two and we were maybe a little bit unfortunate that one hits the post and bounces back into the goalkeeper’s arms and the other one I actually think was really good defending. The boy just does enough to nick it off him.
“Give Newcastle credit, they came here, stifled, made it difficult for us and did a great job away from home.” For Newcastle, it was the perfect way to bounce back from the previous weekend’s 2-0 home defeat by Blackpool, and boss Chris Hughton was full of praise for his players. He said: “The most pleasing thing for me was the team performance. It was a real disappointment last week because it’s a home game and we know how valuable points are in this division. We saw it very much as three points lost last week. “Is Goodison an ideal place to come on the back of a defeat? The answer generally is no because of the quality they’ve got here. But I thought it was an excellent performance from the first to the 94th minute.” Hughton’s delight, though, was tempered by the injury suffered by Harper. “It looks like a shoulder ligament injury, which will keep him out for a period of time,” explained Hughton.
“How long, it would be a little bit unfair of me to say because we won’t know until the next few days.”
Everton FC 0 Newcastle United 1: Greg O’Keeffe sees the Blues fail to call the Toon
Sep 20 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
IT WAS difficult to see what was more damaged at Goodison on Saturday.
The air of invincibility which had developed about the Old Lady, courtesy of a 14-game unbeaten run or Everton’s aspirations of achieving something special this season. There is only so long you can chalk off stuttering performances like this as early season sluggishness, always on the cusp of being replaced with a successful surge. That might be the pattern Everton’s recent seasons have fallen into, but this campaign was supposed to start a new format. This time around was supposed to be about consistency from the start. A strong opening, supplemented by a good cup run, and a real chance of doing something when the points start to matter most after Christmas. Instead we’ve witnessed the poorest start to a season since Mike Walker’s disastrous cameo in Everton history. True, Everton have been far superior and yet unrewarded in two of the five games which have passed without victory.
But against promoted Newcastle United they got what they deserved, precisely nothing. The faithful had prayed for that dramatic comeback against Manchester United to act as a watershed. It should have been. But perhaps that last-gasp draw over Alex Ferguson’s team papered over lingering cracks. A bright opening half hour, coupled with those pulsating last few minutes do not amount to a convincing overall picture. And Newcastle were determined from the offset to prevent Everton from enjoying the space to pass that the Red Devils occasionally gifted them.It was a scrappy opening in the lashing rain, the first credible chance fashioned by the visitors when Wayne Routledge wastefully headed a pin-point cross from Sanchez Jose Enrique over the bar. Newcastle certainly looked to have arrived high on confidence, testing Tim Howard several more times in the opening quarter, as they adjusted to the conditions better. Everton threatened to find their rhythm, and went close when Tony Hibbert whipped in a dangerous cross which Phil Jagielka forcefully header just over.
But it was a disjoined half for the Blues, easily won on points by Chris Hughton’s outfit who enjoyed far the better chances. Everton were reduced to defending and trying to play on the break, one such effort saw Jermaine Beckford scamper clear only for Steve Harper to rush and smother. Unfortunately for the Newcastle keeper Beckford challenged for the ball anyway, coming late and catching him on the shoulder with his studs. Harper was unable to continue. Just before the interval faint hope was offered, when Steven Pienaar seized on a bouncing ball and played in Leon Osman who was through on goal but shot weakly under pressure. The only respite amid the grimness was the comical booing whenever the watching Roy Hodgson appeared on the big screen. Even that didn’t last. Just before the break Hatem Ben Arfa, a rumoured target for Moyes before his switch to Tyneside, gave the visitors a scorching lead. With his back to goal and 25 yards out, the Frenchman twisted and shimmied, avoided the attention of John Heitinga, and fired an unstoppable effort past Tim Howard. It was only what the visitors deserved. The game was screaming out for some decisive changes at the break, and Moyes obliged. Tony Hibbert was replaced by Seamus Coleman to add further pace to Everton’s counter attacking game, and Yakubu entered the fray for Beckford. In the dug-out it was heartening to note the progress of 16-year-old academy graduate Ross Barkley has propelled him to the first team squad, although this was not to be his big day. The changes had little immediate effect. Everton’s play remained patchy, but they were entitled to feel aggrieved at some of the mistreatment Marouane Fellaini received without censure in the opposition box. Gradually the Blues’ early bluster lessened, and Newcastle were at it again. Ben Arfa causing an acute headache, and the Magpies nearly doubled their lead when Kevin Nolan was played clean through only for a Seamus Coleman lunge to deny him. Everton were lucky Andre Marriner did not award a penalty. In injury time the Toffees almost grabbed an equaliser when Leighton Baines squared for Yakubu, but the Nigerian’s low drilled effort came back off the post. Maroaune Fellaini wasted an even better chance with the final seconds remaining. It would have been barely deserved, and the worryingly lacklustre start to this campaign goes on. If West Ham is a crisis club after five games, everyone at Everton needs to realise they are only a point ahead of the Londoners and one place from rock bottom. Luckily, though, the long term damage of this maddening start is not irreversible. Not yet.
Moyes looked for no excuses, including a debatable penalty shout when Fellaini might have been pushed in the back. “It wouldn’t have made any difference. We didn’t create a real chance until after the 90 minutes.” “We considered it three points lost last week, and this isn’t generally a good place to come to try and bounce back.” Chris Hughton sums up why Goodison has developed such a formidable atmosphere.
EVERTON: (4-5-1) Howard, Hibbert (Hibbert, 46), Distin, Jagielka, Baines, Heitinga (Bilyaletdinov, 73), Osman, Arteta, Pienaar, Fellaini, Beckford (Yakubu, 46). Subs: Mucha, Neville, Gueye, Barkley.
BOOKED: Fellaini, Beckford.
NEWCASTLE: (4-5-1) Harper (Krul, 35), Perch, Colocini, Williamson, Enrique, Nolan, Barton, Ben Arfa (Gutierrez, 84), Tiote, Routledge, Carroll. Subs: Campbell. Lovenkrands, Taylor, Smith, Ameobi.
BOOKED: Perch, Enrique, Nolan.
GOALS: Ben Arfa (45).
ATTENDANCE: 38,019
BOOKED: Fellaini, Beckford.
Dave Prentice: Everton FC’s statistics are less than vital
Sept 20 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTONIANS woke up to an intriguing analysis of their football team on Saturday morning. According to statistical boffins at a national newspaper, they were about to go and see the fifth best team in the Premier League. Forget the league table which showed only West Ham as worse. Ignore the disappointing draw with Wolves and pay no heed to defeats at Blackburn and Villa Park. Because the stats show The Toffees are better than their results suggest. “The biggest shock is for the teams on Merseyside,” detailed the stattos. “Everton (53 per cent as good as Chelsea) are close to being level with Liverpool (56 per cent) and could overtake them. “Liverpool retain a better defence – 85 per cent as good as Chelsea’s, compared with Everton’s 73 per cent. But in attack Everton are better than Liverpool.” Notwithstanding that being almost as good as Liverpool is not necessarily a particularly proud boast at present, there was more. “This season Everton’s poor start in points contrasts with the fact that they are getting more shots on target per game and allowing fewer shots on target for their opponents. “Which shows that you should not take the points, shots or goals of only four games seriously. Everton are very good.” They’re just doing a very effective job of hiding it. What was it Disraeli was reputed to have said about three kinds of lies? “There are lies, damned lies and statistics.”Because Everton were abject on Saturday. Fifth best team in the country? They can’t claim to be the fifth best team in the north-west at present. Newcastle were sharper, slicker and pressed better. Which is some claim with the footballing traction engine that is Kevin Nolan still plodding around their forward line. With two tough away games to follow before a Goodison derby match the Blues have managed to lose in each of the last three seasons, the potential for a sloppy start to develop into an awful autumn is growing.
The biggest problems, as ever, were all in the final third of the pitch. With Louis Saha and Tim Cahill sidelined, Everton currently possess all the bite of a sea slug.
Jermaine Beckford didn’t receive a solitary pass or cross worthy of the name, but nonetheless his sole contribution of an ineffective 45 minutes was to get goalkeeper Steve Harper stretchered off. Newcastle needn’t have worried. Substitute Tim Krul couldn’t have asked for a gentler introduction. Those supporters who insist on exiting Goodison 10 minutes from time – and there were hundreds, if not thousands again – ran the risk of missing another grandstand finish. Except Everton finally created their only two chances of note in time added on, and missed them both.Yakubu’s shot bounced back into Krul’s grateful grasp from a goalpost. Then Marouane Fellaini was the culprit for the final act of the game. At least the big Belgian was one of the few performers to produce anything like his regular form – despite being asked to play in a position which is clearly not his best. But Everton’s lack of potent goal-getters means that men like Fellaini and Cahill are being asked to fill in. The lack of a player capable of doing something out of the ordinary – like Hatem Ben Arfa – is glaring.
Which is why it was curious to hear the negative reaction to Diniyar Bilyaletdinov’s introduction and subsequent contribution. The Russian can be a frustrating presence, but he can also produce a cross or a goal from very little. He will surely be involved tomorrow night at Brentford when Everton have a swift opportunity to put this latest reverse behind them. But it’s the clash just round the corner from Griffin Park at Craven Cottage which will already be causing concern around Finch Farm.
Because the statistics in that part of West London don’t tell lies. Everton have won there just once since 1966 – and that’s a trend which the Toffees will have to turn round if this sliding season is finally going to be given a platform for improvement.
Leighton Baines laments a ‘kick in the teeth’ for Everton FC
Sep 20 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
LEIGHTON BAINES today vented his frustration after his dream of Everton going unbeaten at home all season was shattered. The defender had hoped the Toffees’ 14-game unbeaten run at Goodison could become a season-long record, but Newcastle dashed his ambition with their 1-0 victory on Saturday. Baines made no excuses for the below par performance which saw Everton leave the pitch to boos, and insisted they need to start convincing as they enter a run of away games. He said: “It’s very disappointing to lose at home. Personally I’ve been thinking a lot about not losing a game at Goodison this year and it’s a kick in the teeth. It’s a long season though, and hopefully that’ll be the only one. “We’d like to come back to Goodison having eased the pressure.” The left-back set up Marouane Fellaini for a gilt-edged opportunity to equalise against Chris Hughton’s team but the Belgian skewed his chance wide, but Baines admits Everton were just not good enough. He said: “A lot of teams will try to stop us these days. “People are going to come to Goodison to stifle us a bit and it’s up to us to be better, answer their questions and pose some decent ones of our own but we didn’t do either. We were not good enough. “Teams started to treat us a bit differently last year and we knew it would continue this season. In the other games we’ve played pretty well but now we’ve got to really question that performance and have a look at ourselves. “Newcastle are a good side, with a lot of strong players. They came, set themselves up in a way which would be difficult for us, and we couldn’t cope.” Baines said he hopes the dismal run of form so far does not prompt Everton to abandon their intentions of playing good football. He said: “We tried to go from back to front in the second half and it just didn’t work. The first half there were too many passes in our own half and teams will set themselves up, and let us do that all day. The second half we went up to Felli too much and it caused them no problems up until stoppage time, when we created a few chances but it wasn’t really good enough. “I hope we don’t go back to basics though. I think we had success last year doing a bit of both, which was working hard, mixing it up with going long and playing some good football. “Teams didn’t know what to expect from us. We need to try and get back to that. At the moment we’re doing one or the other but we need to start both again.” He added: “We have to feel pressure this early on because we want to be good. If we were just flippant enough to keep assuming it’ll come then it’s never going to. We were under pressure from the first game. “We need to take a long hard look at ourselves, and start to d it now. It’s easy to say, and we said we wanted to start well and we’ve not done that. But whether it was a kick up the backside I don’t know – the first game was and the second too.”
Pre-match preview: Brentford v Everton FC, Carling Cup
Sep 20 2010
Everton's last five games
Sept 18: Premier League - Everton 0 Newcastle United 1
Sept 11: Premier League - Everton 3 Manchester United 3
August 29: Premier League - Aston Villa 1 Everton 0
August 25: Carling Cup - Everton 5 Huddersfield 1
August 21: Premier League - Everton 1 Wolves 1
Brentford's last five games
Sept 18: League One - Brentford 0 Hartlepool 0
Sept 11: League One - Bristol Rovers 0 Brentford 0
Sept 5: League One - Brentford 1, Sheffield Wednesday 0
Aug 31: Football League Trophy - Stevenage 0 Brentford 1
Aug 28: League One - Brentford 1 Rochdale 3
Previous meetings
The Blues and The Bees have never previously met in cup competitions but encountered each other sixteen times in Division One and Division Two action between 1936 and 1954 with both sides emerging victorious on seven occasions with two draws. Their last meeting was in last season outside of the top flight, on Feb 24 1954, when Everton romped to a 6-1 victory at Goodison with goals courtesy of Dave Hickson (2), John Willie Parker (2), Wally Fielding and Eddie Wainwright as the Blues drove on to their ultimate promotion back to the First Division.
Ones to Watch
Everton
Seamus Coleman acquitted himself after coming on as a half-time substitute in the weekend defeat to Newcastle and will be hoping to impress his first-team claims further while Jermaine Beckford struck his first goal for the club in the previous round's 5-1 win over Huddersfield. Well-travelled striker Nicky Forster will need to watched carefully by the Blues rearguard while Charlie MacDonald scored an impressive winning goal in the Bees' televised win over Sheffield Wednesday earlier this month. Carl Cort, a £7m signing for Newcastle United ten years ago, is also on Brentford's books these days but has not figured in the first team since picking up an injury at the end of August.
Latest match odds from Betfred
Brentford - 5/1
Draw - 14/5
Everton - 4/7
Everton 0 Newcastle United 1: Blues fashion victims are stripped bare
Sep 20 2010 by Philip Kirkbride, Liverpool Daily Post
AHEAD of kick-off Everton unveiled a new ‘vanilla’ strip, but after defeat to Newcastle slipped into something far less comfortable. Languishing in the Premier League relegation zone after just five games is hardly reason to panic, but the manner in which the side plunged further into a worst start to a season in 16 years is reason for real concern. To add insult to the injury caused by Hatem Ben Arfa’s drilled strike just before half-time, the Goodison Park side lost an unbeaten run on their home patch which dated back to derby defeat last November. Slender may have been the margin of victory but the difference in the two sides on Saturday was stark as Everton’s failings were exploited by Chris Hughton’s newly promoted team with ease.
The toothless nature of Everton’s attack was once again laid bare as Jermaine Beckford and Yakubu toiled for 45 minutes each but the downfall of David Moyes’ men at the weekend lay elsewhere as Newcastle’s midfield reigned supreme.
Such was United’s dominance at the heart of the battle Joey Barton, the man who once dropped his shorts in front of the Goodison Park crowd, simply showed Everton a clean pair of heels. Everton were desperately poor on the ball, conceding possession with worrying ease and even a late improvement which saw chances fashioned for Yakubu and then Marouane Fellaini could not mask a performance from the home side which made life comfortable for their North East visitors and left the home faithful with a feeling of unease. Whether the availability of injured senior stars Louis Saha and Tim Cahill would have improved matters remains up for debate, but such was the limp showing from their team-mates it is hard to imagine the duo could have changed the course of Saturday afternoon’s match. After the fireworks of last weekend’s last gasp draw with Manchester United the positive mood which greeted the players as they walked out to Z-Cars soon fizzled out. Newcastle made the brighter of a low key start as Wayne Routledge misjudged his header from Jose Enrique’s cross and debutant Cheik Tiote tested Tim Howard, with Everton’s response an off target effort from Phil Jagielka. But soon enough the impressive Ben Arfa began to find inroads through the home defence, either weaving in from the left hand side or linking up with full-back Jose Enrique, as Newcastle exerted control.
Barton forced Howard to be at full stretch to palm out the midfielder’s free-kick before the goalkeeper again kept Newcastle at bay, acrobatically tipping a deflected cross over the bar. Yet Howard was helpless when Ben Arfa worked space 25 yards from goal and rifled a rising strike into the top of corner to make it deservedly 1-0 to the visitors. Everton could only muster a chance for Leon Osman, but one the midfielder failed to take as his weak side foot effort was easily claimed by replacement goalkeeper Tim Krul. The Dutch stopper came on after Steve Harper left Goodison on a stretcher following Beckford’s late lunge – unfortunately the striker’s only lasting mark on the first half. The half-time introductions of Yakubu and Seamus Coleman at right-back were designed to add attacking impetus to Everton’s flailing forward line but their fresh approach left the home side open to Newcastle on the counter. The away defence were far more wary of Yakubu and the Nigerian went close on the hour mark as his scrambled effort was smothered by Krul after the more advanced Fellaini headed down. But with Nolan and Barton still handling the midfield, United remained a threat and the pair combined to set the former with a clear sight of Howard’s goal. As the former Bolton man prepared to pull the trigger Coleman slid in and felled the away captain before the ball was whisked away from the danger. Nolan was incensed but referee Andre Marriner waved away appeals for a penalty, even though replays confirmed that Everton’s young full-back had got nowhere near the ball. The game had passed the home side by for long periods but a late revival threatened an undeserved repeat of the last ditch heroics of seven days previous. Leighton Baines was at the heart of the fightback as he first pulled back for Yakubu, who side-footed against the post from eight yards only for the ball to fall kindly back into the arms of Krul, before setting up Fellaini deep into stoppage time.
The Belgian latched onto the low centre but fluffed his lines as he scuffed the shot wide of goal to sum up Everton’s torrid afternoon. Home fans left Goodison asking why it had taken over 90 minutes for their team to fashion such chances and to assess, even by Everton’s powers of recovery, a start to a season which is now desperately worrying.
Everton FC keeper Tim Howard: Hard work will end poor form
Sep 20 2010 by Philip Kirkbride, Liverpool Daily Post
DEFIANT Tim Howard believes hard work is the only solution to ending Everton’s run of poor form. Defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday saw the Goodison Park side slump further into their worst start to a season in 16 years as Hatem Ben Arfa’s super strike just before half-time settled matters. Howard could do little to stop the on-loan Frenchman’s goal and was a helpless by-stander as David Moyes’ men fell to a third defeat of the campaign, leaving them second bottom of the Premier League.
American goalkeeper Howard is fully aware there remains no easy way out of Everton’s current predicament but is targeting tomorrow night’s Carling Cup third round tie at Brentford as an ideal chance to right the wrongs of Saturday’s loss.
“We need to pick ourselves up, but we don’t have long because we go to Brentford on Tuesday night,” said Howard. “We need to get a result, get ourselves back in the hat then get a week of training into us and hopefully capitalise next weekend. There are no easy answers, you just have to keep digging yourself out because nobody will give you anything, in fact they’ll do quite the opposite and smell blood. “Brentford will be on their home patch and want to protect that so it is on us to go down there and take it to them. “What was missing at the weekend was what has been missing since the start of the season – that killer instinct. “Not just in front of goal, but all over the park and seeing teams off at the right moments. United scored just before and just after the break last weekend and Newcastle have scored just before half-time on Saturday, so there’s moments in the game where you have to be more clever and have that killer instinct. That’s it at the moment. “We gave the ball away too easily and cheaply but Newcastle worked very hard and we didn’t match that. We certainly didn’t get around them enough and they seemed to always have an extra man in midfield and that does not just come down to numbers but effort and trying to get about the place – unfortunately they did a better job than us.” Everton were booed at the final whistle and Howard says he shares the supporters’ anger but aims to have them cheering on Tuesday night. The US international is determined to help Everton progress as far possible in a competition Howard insists the club are taking very seriously.
“We’re frustrated and can feel how frustrated the fans are. When you are playing the way we are and not getting results, it is not nice. “We are taking the Carling Cup very seriously, as always, and we see it as a competition where we can get to the final or at least within touching distance of the cup. I know we take it very seriously, I don’t know about other clubs. “The manager will give us a few digs, and rightly so. He’s well disappointed in us and we’re disappointed in ourselves. We let the fans down, it’s not nice, and know nobody will give us anything but we’ll keep going.”
Everton FC manager David Moyes say tough love needed to arrest a slump
Sep 20 2010 by Philip Kirkbride, Liverpool Daily Post
Everton manager David Moyes say tough love needed to arrest a slump
MANAGER David Moyes offered a frank assessment of Everton’s performance in the defeat to Newcastle United and says tough love may be in order to arrest their current slump. The Goodison Park manager was left stunned by the level of display served up by his players in the 1-0 loss on Saturday and believes the North East side out muscled his troops in midfield. Moyes described the showing as the worst he has overseen in many months at the Everton helm but takes heart from his team’s proven track record at emerging stronger from slow starts to the campaign. The manager says last season’s stuttering beginning to the season was in part due to a crippling injury list but concedes the club can no longer hide behind that with a near-full strength team available for the visit of Newcastle. “The biggest shock was the level of performance”, said Moyes. “Our performances this season have actually been OK even though the results haven’t been great. But Saturday that was no performance. That’s when you have to start doing something about it. “We’ve been in similar situations before. It’s a bit of a surprise because we feel we’re capable of so much more. The lead comes from the manager so I have to be the one who has to change my outlook in what I expect from them now. “Last season we lost two games in 24 at Anfield and Tottenham when I felt we quite easily could have come away with something. This was certainly the poorest performance we’ve had since that time - certainly since last November. “I totally agree (we were out fought in midfield). They outfought us. Simple as. “I’ve gone into the season with real high hopes of the players and expecting to play the way they finished last season. We were competing. The team has hardly changed at all. I expected those performances and those results and we’ve not had them. "Last year we had injuries to key players like Arteta and Jags so there were reasons why our performances were better in the second half of the season. But we’ve got none of those excuses this year. All those good players are back and playing. So I’ve now got to take a closer look at it. “Maybe I need to get back to some of the old ways. We’ll soon see what they’re like then.” Moyes believes Newcastle may have taught his side a valuable lesson having beat them at their own game on Saturday. The manager however was less forthcoming on the half-time substitution of striker Jermaine Beckford but is backing the former Leeds United man to prove himself in the Premier League. “I’ve been telling them they’re good players and a good team and maybe I need to change what I’m telling them now. They have to earn the right to play for this team. Newcastle earned the right today with their competitiveness. They went about their job in a way we didn’t. “I didn’t explain to Beckford why I took him off. I don’t need to explain. The step up for Baines and Jagielka took a long time. We don’t want to be judging him too quickly.”
Everton FC comment: excuses are running out
Sep 20 2010 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post
EVERTON’S frustrated manager David Moyes called on his players to stand up and be counted after their dismal show against Newcastle on Saturday which is easier said than done. You’d need the fingers on both hands to count the number of men in royal blue jerseys who went missing against the Magpies but in contrast merely thumbs will do when totting up Everton’s current points total – and they’d be pointing down too.
While Moyes has revealed he keeps telling his talented squad that they’re ‘good players’, he also conceded that like many home supporters he’d have booed too after a display like this one. In isolation the performance and result could be put down to being ‘a bad day at the office’ but Everton are five games into the Premier League campaign now and the excuses are rapidly running out. Moyes’ men dominated possession at Blackburn and Aston Villa but lacked a cutting edge while an even more one-sided start against Wolves fizzled away when the Goodison outfit were unable to capitalise on their advantage and put Mick McCarthy’s troops out of sight.
The roller-coaster ride against Manchester United could have ended in the most improbable of victories or a crushing defeat but at least it was a gutsy effort against the major football super power in this country of the Premier League era. But what’s the point of Everton’s last-gasp comeback against the Red Devils if they’re unable to make it the anticipated springboard to their season and turn in such a disjointed and largely impotent display against much more limited opposition a mere week later?
Those injury time goals from Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta kept up an unbeaten home record in the Premier League stretching back to the Merseyside derby in November last year, yet seven days on the record at ‘Fortress Goodison’ has now been surrendered in meek fashion by a Newcastle side who had just had their own 26-game unbeaten home record ended by Blackpool. After their heroics of last time out, Everton were unable to find any sort of rhythm from the outset on this occasion.
The visitors were nothing more than competent in most departments but this was enough to look dangerous against such disjointed opponents. Remember this is a Newcastle side consisting largely of the same group of players not good enough to keep them in the top flight two seasons ago but the addition of a bit of flair from on-loan Hatem Ben Arfa proved the difference and his goal just before the break was good enough to win any game. Chasing the game, Moyes opted to go for ‘Plan B’, replacing Jermaine Beckford – whose only effort on target was to take out Newcastle keeper Steve Harper with a late lunge that earned him a yellow card – with Yakubu, while Seamus Coleman came on for Tony Hibbert at right-back to supposedly add some attacking impetus down the flanks. Even then, Everton couldn’t get it right though as Coleman was fortunate not to concede a penalty for hauling down Kevin Nolan, and in the absence of the injured Tim Cahill the balls into the box at the other end were cannon fodder for Newcastle’s centre-halves. It was telling that Newcastle’s rookie keeper Tim Krul did not have a save of note to make all afternoon and last-gasp efforts from Yakubu and Marouane Fellaini would not have made up for the preceding 90-odd minutes of disappointment even if either had gone in. The loss – a first at home to Newcastle since 2001 – leaves Everton stuck by the foot of the table following what has been their worst start to a Premier League campaign for 16 years.
Back then, it took Everton 13 games until November 1 to register a victory but amazingly the season ended in glory with the club securing their last silverware to date by defeating Manchester United in the FA Cup final. For all his current difficulties, Moyes is of course no Mike Walker and nobody at Goodison is ridiculous enough to be screaming for a change in the dugout. But like he has told his players, they are talented and they should be achieving more. With no European competition this season and funds at the club tight, securing the services of existing players at Goodison this summer was always the priority. This objective was achieved as Cahill, Baines, Jack Rodwell and finally Arteta all penned new long-term contracts with the belief instilled from both manager and chairman that this was going to be a special year. It still can be, but Moyes’ men are already playing catch-up in the league, making progress in the domestic cups even more important. The most direct route to Wembley continues with a trip to the capital tomorrow night yet mightier foes than Brentford are going to have to be overcome to put things right.
Kevin Nolan rises above Everton penalty woe
Sept 20 2010 by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle
KEVIN NOLAN has shrugged off his astonishment at not being awarded what would have been a game-sealing penalty to pay tribute to his Newcastle United team-mates after the well-earned win at Everton. The Toon captain was clearly upended just as he was about to shoot at Goodison Park, but referee Andre Marriner shirked a clear decision to point to the spot. However, Nolan, who led his side to a second win of the season, said: “We’ve been really pleased with the way we’ve come back into the league. “We feel like we could have more points on the board. But we knew after the disappointment of Blackpool that we had a tough game at Everton and we managed to come out on top. “It was a fantastic performance throughout the 90 minutes. We limited Everton to very few chances. “And really we should have had a penalty that would have killed the game off.” Nolan was quite rightly furious shortly after the penalty incident at the Park End of Goodison. But afterwards he reflected: “I did have a word with Andre afterwards and he said from where he was he needed help from his assistant. And he didn’t give him it. “The replays show that it’s absolutely blatant, but it’s a massive decision. “And when you have nearly 40,000 Scousers who are hardcore giving the ref a bit of stick it’s a tough decision. “But they are the decisions you have to get right and the ones you are paid for. “We were very lucky towards the end because one hit the post and Fellaini had a big chance. It was a bit disappointing in certain aspects – we switched off at times – but overall we’re delighted. We should have made it a bit easier really.” Nolan was also delighted with the contributions of Hatem Ben Arfa, whose first goal in English football had United’s 2,500 fans chanting his name on Merseyside. Nolan says: “It just shows what he’s got. He’s a top, top player. “He’s showed it in training but he was great in his first Premier League game. “I’m sure there’s more to come. “He reminds you a bit of Kinkladze because he doesn’t touch the ball with his right at all. “He’s a good lad and he’s trying to learn English. “We’ve got a good group and a tough game next week against Stoke, so there is no resting on our laurels. “We have to prove we can do it week-in, week-out.”
Everton 0 Newcastle United 1
Sept 20 2010 by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle
EVEN if one swallow doesn’t make a summer, they’ll still be talking about Hatem Ben Arfa’s wonder strike at Goodison Park for years to come. After watching Ben Arfa knock Everton out cold with a knockout blow to be proud of you can’t help but expect much more from a player considered the best of his generation in France.
It’s taken him just over 104 minutes to capture the imagination of the United masses who made the trek to Liverpool to witness what can only be described as a Mersey Paradise for the French international in his first start in black-and-white.
For a player who arrived in Newcastle under a dark cloud with the reputation for being one of France’s wild boys, Ben Arfa has said all of the right things.
At Everton, though, he walked the walk. And unlike so many promises to the Toon Army that have been left unfulfilled by previous overseas stars, there’s more than just hope that the 23-year-old can succeed where so many others have failed miserably.
And against the Toffees he looked like a player who meant what he said about wanting to repay both the United coaching team for their faith in him and the Geordie public who’ve made him so welcome on Tyneside. Silencing one of the Premier League’s most hostile home sections, Everton’s Gwladys Street End, is no easy feat.
But when Ben Arfa weaved his way through the Toffees defence before letting fly with his left foot you just knew you’d witnessed something very special indeed – and so did 2,500 drenched Newcastle fans as the heavens opened on Merseyside.
As far as the Frenchman was concerned it seemed like it was a case of instant hero just add water as he continually danced past Everton defenders and gave Newcastle something different. Newcastle put in a wonderful display against Everton on Saturday, but it was Ben Arfa who proved to be the difference. He was the man who provided the spark and also provided the magic moment. Contributions like that are the difference between winning and losing, they’re the difference between genuinely competing with the established sides in the Premier League and ultimately the difference between staying up or going down. And to think Newcastle fans could have been watching the ineffective Jermaine Beckford instead, with the former Leeds man only succeeding in inflicting a serious injury on Steve Harper after a clumsy challenge on the long-serving Newcastle keeper. Survival has been the key word amongst United players thus far and since winning promotion from the Championship. However, while it’s still very much early days for the Magpies – a few more moments like that from Ben Arfa, combined with the true grit and determination demonstrated so far by the team that took Newcastle back to the promised land, and another season of top-flight football can be achieved. This wasn’t just about Ben Arfa though. Far from it. Each and every United player was prepared to shed blood, sweat and tears for the cause against David Moyes’ side.
The victory would have been even more comfortable had Andre Marriner not shirked a big call when Nolan was upended by Shay Coleman late on.
At that point had Everton gained anything from the game injustice would have been the shout.
Instead, United continued to make their own luck, Yakubu’s effort coming back off the post into the arms of sub keeper Tim Krul then Marouane Fellaini’s big miss at the death only alerting the Goodison ball boys.
Newcastle outworked Everton in the key areas and the midfield pairing of Joey Barton and Cheik Tiote had Toon fans yearning for more while Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll fought like tigers.
Barton once again showed he can handle the heat on an afternoon where some of the obscenities hurled at him from the same fans he used to stand next to at Goodison as a fan would have tested the patience of a saint. Instead, just like at Wolves where the abuse was physical more than verbal, Barton kept his head and continued to show he can still re-emerge as the player that was once capped by England. Through it all, Barton helped Newcastle tick in midfield and orchestrated plenty of the play in the final third. Unlike, darker days when Barton showed off his behind to the Everton fans that had troubled him in his Manchester City days, the Scouser left the field calmly before handing his shirt to a young Everton fan before leaving the Theatre of Hate.
Tiote buzzed around like a player who looks like he wants to play for the Magpies, he didn’t give the ball away and each of his tackles were timed to near perfection.
Wayne Routledge was a threat and a Toon back four of James Perch, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson and Jose Enrique proved to be unshakable in the end, even if there were a few cagey but expected moments. But it seems with every positive, there’s a negative to go with it in the world of Newcastle United.
This time the victim being Steve Harper who left the field in agony with a shoulder injury that will see him out for months not weeks. You won’t meet a more genuine North East lad than Harper and this undeserved twist of fate will test United’s goalkeeping brigade to the limit, even if many consider Tim Krul as a more than able deputy. While Geordie thoughts are with Harper as he begins his battle back from injury, this is a massive result for the Mags. So there you have it, this is how you bounce back from defeat against a Blackpool side that will struggle to keep their heads above choppy waters this season.
David Moyes 'would have booed' Everton after loss to Newcastle
September 20 2010 The Guardian
David Moyes shows his frustration as his Everton side continued their poor start to the season against Newcastle. Photograph: Nigel French/Empics Sport
David Moyes knows the value of a positive home crowd. The Everton manager used his programme notes on Saturday to thank the fans for their support the previous week, which had not faltered as full-time approached with Manchester United two goals up. The final whistle produced a rather different chorus this time but still Moyes could not fault the crowd's judgment. "That's probably the poorest performance we've had since this time last year," he said. "I would have booed."
Newcastle had not won here since 2001 and Everton have not waited so long for a first win of the season in 16 years, but there was little doubt that the visitors deserved to win a game of few clear chances. Everton were as listless as Newcastle were committed. Chris Hughton gave a grinning appraisal of "a team that's given everything"; Moyes was forced to consider a change of tack.
"I've been saying to them that they're good players and that they're a good team, and maybe I need to change what I'm telling them now," the Scot said, threatening a return to "some of the old ways". There was nothing "hairdryerish" about Moyes's demeanour after such an insipid display: crediting Newcastle's tireless approach, he said simply that his team had not functioned. That was most noticeable in midfield, where Mikel Arteta in particular looked bleached of his usual artistry. But no one distinguished himself. In the absence of Tim Cahill, who failed a late fitness test, Marouane Fellaini was deployed behind first Jermaine Beckford and then Yakubu Ayegbeni (the substitute being marginally more effective). He looked uncomfortable. Moyes refused to blame his forwards for his team's failure to scare Newcastle – who relied on their substitute goalkeeper, Tim Krul, after Beckford collided with Steve Harper in the first half – despite their having kept possession for longer spells and in more dangerous areas in the second half. Only in injury time, when Yakubu hit the post and Fellaini shot wide, did Krul's goal look under threat. Moyes is shuffling a limited pack but he got little from the substitute Diniyar Bilyaletdinov. Questions may be asked about how well the manager is using his resources. Fellaini toiled and John Heitinga was unable to drive the team forward as the impressive debutant Cheik Tiote did for Newcastle. He, Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan allowed Everton no time on the ball in central areas and the threat from Wayne Routledge and Hatem Ben Arfa made for a lopsided comparison down the wings. Moyes made no excuses: "They outfought us in midfield, simple as." Despite dominating the first half, Newcastle had to wait until its final minute to beat Tim Howard. The goalkeeper had kept the score down against Manchester United with a couple of agile saves and he made more comfortable ones from Barton and Tiote here. But no level of elasticity would have seen him reach Ben Arfa's strike, which flew off his left boot and into the top corner at pace from 25 yards. Ben Arfa is showing a neat understanding with José Enrique and he flitted about with craft and invention. Hughton will enjoy repeat performances, knowing he has first dibs on the Frenchman at the end of the season. For Moyes, rather more difficult decision-making lies ahead. Man of the match Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle United)
Brentford v Everton
Sep 20 2010 By Jacob Murtagh The Hounslow Choronicle
Brentford could be boosted by the return of Robbie Simpson for tomorrow night's visit of Premier League Everton. The on-loan Huddersfield Town hotshot has spent the last two weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, but has had an injection in a bid to speed up his recovery. Boss Andy Scott said: "Robbie had an injection to ease the inflammation and we’ll monitor it day by day and see the progression, but I’m not looking to rush him back. "There's no use him coming back then being out again. We want him involved in the long term so if he misses a couple of games then so be it. We’ve got to look at the long-term picture." But David Hunt (ankle), Carl Cort (Achilles) and Kirk Hudson (groin) all miss out.
IAN SNODIN: Miserable start to the season is so frustrating for Everton FC
Sep 21 2010 Liverpool Echo
I FULLY expected Everton to beat Newcastle so to say I was disappointed on Saturday is an understatement. That’s three games against supposedly lesser sides in Blackburn, Wolves and Newcastle which should have yielded nine points and instead we’ve got a measly one. What really galled me was that it wasn’t just a few players who were off their game. Everyone who has played can tell you that you can’t always be at the top of your game, and in any given fixture you might have to carry two or three team-mates a bit. But on Saturday it was more like eight of them who were not at the races, and that means you’ve got problems. I’m sure David Moyes is as frustrated as his players, and the fans. You can say that on paper Everton are much better than Newcastle and Wolves etc but that means nothing in reality. You’ve got to show it. Newcastle set their stall out solidly. Joey Barton was exceptional in midfield, where Everton struggled to break down the solidity of him and Cheik Tiote.
David Moyes has suggested that maybe he has been too complimentary to the players, and needs to issue a few rollockings and maybe get back to his tougher ways.
Perhaps, but ultimately the answer is in the players’ hands. Only they can go out there and make things right. They missed Tim Cahill badly against the Magpies. He put Manchester United under all sorts of pressure, and tried to make things happen. But he wasn’t there and the lads have to hold their hands up and be painfully honest with themselves. The boos said it all at the end. I do hope there isn’t too much criticism for Jermaine Beckford though. Yes he didn’t have much impact on the game, but in fairness to him he hasn’t been able to play the way he likes and which brought him so much success at Leeds. He spent the first half up front on his own, having to drop back and try and link up the play. His game is all about using his searing pace to get onto balls over the top, playing just off the last defender of teams who defend high up the pitch. That can’t always happen in the Premier League though, the quality of the defenders is higher and they know when to sit deep. I’ve said it before, and I hope he is given the benefit of the doubt and patience while he adapts. Now there’s a run of away games which isn’t ideal. We might not have won at Goodison yet this season, but it’s home and it’s where the players feel most comfortable. There is nothing that beats playing in front of 35,000 to 38,000 Evertonians week in, week out.
Instead it’s a tricky game at Fulham, then Birmingham before coming back to Liverpool in the league! When you are struggling for points you look for the games where points will come and we’d have hoped they would have been fixtures which have already passed. It’s up to the lads now, they can make it happen. Nobody said it was going to be easy striving to do something special this season.
Chance to let youth have a try
I’VE played at Brentford’s ground, Griffin Park, several times while I was at Doncaster and it’s a tight, fairly intimidating place for away teams. It’s vital though that the Blues pick themselves up after Saturday with a win to ensure their passage into the next round of the Carling Cup tonight. I am sure Seamus Coleman will play a full game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see other young players like Magaye Gueye get some time on the pitch. The lads who are involved tonight have the incentive that if they do well, they have played themselves into contention for the Fulham game. It’s not like they are trying to break into a team which is flying and everyone is un-droppable. That’s the point of having a big squad. Competition for places needs to mean everyone pushes themselves that little bit more.
Ross Barkley can bank on great career
IT WAS interesting to note the presence of 16-year-old Ross Barkley on the bench on Saturday. I have watched him train when he was 14, and thought to myself he was a prospect then. He looked incredibly mature for his age, and very assured and competent on the ball. It’s good to see how he has progressed from then, and managed to get right to the brink of the first team. They don’t know what his best position is just yet – he can play centre half and midfield just like Jack Rodwell, and could yet develop into a player with the same star potential. Hopefully he’ll keep his feet on the ground, I’m sure David Moyes will ensure that. He is the man who brought through Wayne Rooney after all. As long as they keep his distractions to a minimum, let him see his friends, but at the same time impress on him the massive opportunity he has it’ll work out. I played for Doncaster when I was 16, but I looked about 12-years-old. Ross looks 18 and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him play some part in the game against Brentford tonight.
We must rediscover our Evertonism says Goodison coach Steve Round
Sep 21 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
* WHAT exactly is Evertonism? Log in below and have your say
STEVE Round is an ardent footballing student who knows exactly what the Toffees need to revive their faltering season. He may well have plucked the word out of thin air, but the sentiment is right on the money. The Blues must rediscover their ‘Evertonism’. Tonight’s tricky third round Carling Cup clash against Brentford, represents a quick opportunity to get the frustration of Saturday’s Premier League defeat by Newcastle out of Everton’s system. The League Cup is still the only major domestic trophy the Blues have never won, and in the past two seasons they have not progressed beyond the fourth round. But Round was in defiant mood ahead of the game, and stressed that David Moyes has the perfect CV to mastermind a turnaround which could yet lead to another startling run of form. “This team is very capable of going on the sort of run where they only lose two in 24 and are right up there,” he declared. “We have the talent. “We’ve just got to get back to the Evertonism that sets us apart,” added the Goodison assistant boss. “The fight and the character and the spirit in the team. “Make no mistake there’s an exceptional manager here.
“Eight years in the Premier League and to achieve what he’s achieved, and been where he’s been is big. “He’ll be using all that experience and talent to make sure this team achieves what it’s capable of.” Round concedes that impressive performances last season have made teams approach Everton differently this time around.
It is a tactic which is unlikely to change at Griffin Park this evening, when their League One opponents will be hell-bent on taking a top-flight scalp. “It’s been interesting that there has been a more physical approach to us this season,” he says.
“We’re the most fouled team in the Premier League, and the teams are getting into us, but I think teams are also being more defensive minded and sitting off against us.
“Saying that, we’ve got to outplay them to win. “That’s part of becoming a better team in the Premier League, and you have to cope with it and overcome it.
“It happens to the top teams every week and it’s something we have to come to terms with. “The manager still maintains the view that he wants to do something this season.” Like Moyes, Round sought to make no excuses for the abject performance against Newcastle. Instead he stressed that the team was almost the same as the one which pegged back Manchester United the week before. “It was the same team against Newcastle that played Manchester United apart from Cahill,” he says. “They played well (against Manchester United), yes they could have lost a goal on the counter attack but could’ve been two nil up at half time. “They had some good opportunities, and gave as good as they got during a cracking game. “He (Moyes) was denied the opportunity of fielding that team again on Saturday, and went for Jermaine Beckford because of his pace to get in behind Newcastle when they hold quite a high line.
“I‘m sure Yakubu will feature now he’s getting fitter and stronger. “He’s looking more like the old Yak that we knew. “It took him a long time to recover from that injury, and then he came back late from the World Cup and he’s now starting to get back to fitness and form. “If he gets the opportunity, it’s up to him to take it.”
Round accepts that it can often seem that the Nigerian striker is disinterested in the physical exertions required to be a top performer, but insists it is a wide of the mark suggestion. “He is very laid back but I think that’s more of a cultural trait rather than a negative aspect of his personality,” he says. “He always wants to do well, and he’s a very conscientious boy. “He’s popular among everyone, and has always got a smile and always wants to do well for the team. “When he’s hustling and bustling and scoring goals he’s a handful for everyone. “You have to give him the belief that he’s valuable and an asset and drive him every day in training to make sure he’s in peak physical condition.” Despite their lowly status in the League One table, tonight’s opponents have already beaten Sheffield Wednesday this season, and defender Michael Spillane says their 2-1 win over Hull City in the previous round shows they are capable of turning over higher-league opposition. “We are a good team and better than our league position suggests,” said Spillane. It is not going to be easy, but I think we can win if we play how we have been. “When Hull came down here it wasn’t one-sided. “We gave as good as we got and got the win. “I don’t think it will be completely one-sided against Everton. “We’ve got to respect them because they have some of the best players in the country. “But they have got to respect us as well, because if they don’t they know they will come unstuck.”
Everton FC urged to follow leader Phil Neville in Carling Cup
Sep 21 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
PHIL NEVILLE is set to return to first-team action this evening with Everton admitting they have missed their captain’s leadership qualities. Neville has not made an appearance for David Moyes’s side since the opening-day defeat at Blackburn Rovers having suffered a foot injury. In his absence, Everton have struggled for form and taken just two points from their first five Premier League matches to sit next-to-bottom in the early standings. The 32-year-old, who played 90 minutes for the reserves last week, is expected to return for tonight’s Carling Cup third round clash at npower League One side Brentford. And Everton assistant manager Steve Round admits Neville’s leadership – and that of Tim Cahill, injured for Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat by Newcastle United – has been missed during a disappointing start to the campaign. “I can’t speak highly enough of Phil,” said Round. “He is a terrific professional and an outstanding captain and someone we welcome back now he is fully fit. I’m sure he will feature strongly in the coming weeks. “Sometimes when you are in a situation like this you need the leadership of a senior, experienced guy and he will give that for sure. “We definitely missed his kind of leadership. There are two very strong leaders in the team. We have Phil for his captaincy, his organisational and communication skills, not only his performances. “The other is Tim Cahill for his actions, he leads the fight for the team and everyone feeds off that enthusiasm. They were both missing on Saturday and that was a blow. “But you have to cope with that in football, it’s up to others to step up to the mantle. Phil Jagielka is showing good signs of becoming a more mature leader and is certainly somebody that the team will look to.” Neville is one of several players hoping to force their way into the starting line-up this evening, with Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Yakubu, Jan Mucha and Seamus Coleman also pressing their claims. A late decision will be made over the fitness of knee injury victim Cahill, with the Australian having resumed training yesterday.
And although Everton manager David Moyes will rotate his resources at Griffin Park, he will call on the same group of players beaten by Newcastle at the weekend, with the possible addition of Cahill. “It was always the plan to have a strong squad,” said Round. “Against Huddersfield Town in the previous round, it was a strong squad then. “We could play the same team, but it’ll be the same squad with possibly the addition of Tim Cahill.” Meanwhile, Everton have defended Marouane Fellaini following criticism of the midfielder’s use of the elbow. Fellaini was booked during Saturday’s defeat against Newcastle after catching James Perch’s head with his arm, with television analysts claiming the Belgium international was fortunate not to be sent off before highlighting previous similar incidents involving the 22-year-old.
But Round said: “That might have been a bit of frustration. It’s a reactive thing, it was not malicious. He is not that sort of guy. “He is a combative player, very physical and wants to take the fight to the opposition. It was just one of those things.”
Another controversial challenge in Saturday’s game from Everton’s Jermaine Beckford led to Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper being carried off with a shoulder injury. Of that incident, Round said: “I spoke to the (Newcastle) staff afterwards and they were not too critical. It wasn’t really a malicious challenge. “Jermaine deservedly got a booking but it was the way Harper landed that caused the injury. We believe it is not too bad so hopefully ‘Harps’ will get better soon.”
ACADEMY FOOTBALL: Unbeaten Everton under-18s fell Nottingham Forest
Sep 21 2010 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post
GOALS from Jose Baxter and Adam Thomas saw Everton under-18s make it four wins from their first five matches as they beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 at Finch Farm.
Neil Dewsnip’s side are unbeaten in the FA Premier Academy League so far this season and continue in fine form. They started superbly and were ahead after just two minutes as Baxter, who has been playing mostly in the reserves this season, broke through to fire home well. Everton were dominant throughout but failed to take any of the chances that came their way. Hallum Hope was unable to convert from a couple of decent opportunities and Baxter was denied by a superb save by Forest keeper Zannettos Mytides. The second half was much the same, but it was until the 70th minute that they doubled their advantage. Thomas fired low past Mytides to seemingly secure the points. But Everton had to survive a late scare when with five minutes remaining Forest profited after a defensive error to reduce the arrears.
The home side, though, did enough to seal another excellent win. Dewsnip said: “It was a good performance and we could have scored a lot of goals really. We got a great start and scored after a minute and we looked as though we would kick on and we were quite dominant. It was good to win again and generally a pleasing performance. I have been a little critical of performances this year although the results have been great. But this was a bit better and nice to come out with a win as well.” Everton travel to face Blackburn Rovers this Saturday (kick-off 11am). Dewsnip said: “The first phase is over and now we play our local teams. We have made a smashing start in terms of results and we will find out more about the lads over the next few weeks.”
EVERTON UNDER-18s: Davies, Barrow, Murphy, Duffy (Hammar 850), Garbutt, Dobie, Cummins (Orenuga 75), Wallace, Baxter, Thomas, Hope (Lundstram 88). Subs: Roberts, Higgins.
Mark Lawrenson: Yakubu’s goals are all that matter to Everton FC
Sept 21 2010 Liverpool Daily Post
EVERTON need goals right now – so Yakubu needs to be given the chance to get them. It’s time to forget about all the stuff he doesn’t do and concentrate on what he can do – score. Jermaine Beckford isn’t ready to play that role on his own up front, it’s just too big an ask for him this early in this top flight career, and Louis Saha seems to be unfit and out of form. Yet when the Yak came on against Newcastle he had one glimpse of an opportunity and hit the post. It shows he’s getting close to finding his sharpness and scoring touch and that can make such a difference when you desperately need to turn your fortunes around. David Moyes is right to tear into his players because they aren’t doing well enough. But one goal could change everything and Yakubu, the man most likely to get it, needs to be given that chance.
Brentford defender eyes Everton shock
Sep 21 2010 By Jacob Murtagh The Hounslow Chronicle
PIM Balkestein insists Brentford must get off to a flying start tonight to have any chance of causing an upset against Everton. The Bees take on the Premier League giants in the third round of the Carling Cup under the Griffin Park lights.
The Dutch defender is no stranger of pitting his wits against top-flight opposition – he was part of the Ipswich team that lost 3-1 to Chelsea in 2009. But Balkestein insists his new side can shock David Moyes's men. "They are beatable," he said, "but we have to get the first goal. "Then we have something to defend. Hopefully they won't like coming to a tight ground with a full house." Balkestein has helped the Bees tighten up at the back following a slow start to the season since his summer switch from Ipswich Town. The Bees leaked 10 goals in six games at the beginning of the campaign, but chalked up their fourth clean sheet on the spin against Hartlepool on Saturday. Boss Andy Scott dropped Balkestein after the reverse to Walsall back in August, but was reinstalled to the starting XI at Stevenage a few weeks ago.
And he admits he's finally up to speed after missing most of pre-season.
He said: "To be honest, the first three games didn't feel like it was my body that was playing. "I was really struggling and probably came in too quickly. I spoke to the manager and he said he wanted me to get my fitness up. I feel much sharper now."
Scott chopped and changed the defence in a bid to plug the hole at the back, but Balkestein has formed a solid partnership in the heart of the Bees defence with Karleigh Osborne. And he's glad Brentford's backline is finally settled.
He added: "We've played together for four games and kept four clean sheets. But we know there are other good centre-backs here if we slip up."
IAN SNODIN: Miserable start to the season is so frustrating for Everton FC
Sep 21 2010 Liverpool Echo
I FULLY expected Everton to beat Newcastle so to say I was disappointed on Saturday is an understatement. That’s three games against supposedly lesser sides in Blackburn, Wolves and Newcastle which should have yielded nine points and instead we’ve got a measly one. What really galled me was that it wasn’t just a few players who were off their game. Everyone who has played can tell you that you can’t always be at the top of your game, and in any given fixture you might have to carry two or three team-mates a bit. But on Saturday it was more like eight of them who were not at the races, and that means you’ve got problems. I’m sure David Moyes is as frustrated as his players, and the fans. You can say that on paper Everton are much better than Newcastle and Wolves etc but that means nothing in reality. You’ve got to show it. Newcastle set their stall out solidly. Joey Barton was exceptional in midfield, where Everton struggled to break down the solidity of him and Cheik Tiote. David Moyes has suggested that maybe he has been too complimentary to the players, and needs to issue a few rollockings and maybe get back to his tougher ways. Perhaps, but ultimately the answer is in the players’ hands. Only they can go out there and make things right.They missed Tim Cahill badly against the Magpies. He put Manchester United under all sorts of pressure, and tried to make things happen. But he wasn’t there and the lads have to hold their hands up and be painfully honest with themselves. The boos said it all at the end. I do hope there isn’t too much criticism for Jermaine Beckford though. Yes he didn’t have much impact on the game, but in fairness to him he hasn’t been able to play the way he likes and which brought him so much success at Leeds. He spent the first half up front on his own, having to drop back and try and link up the play. His game is all about using his searing pace to get onto balls over the top, playing just off the last defender of teams who defend high up the pitch. That can’t always happen in the Premier League though, the quality of the defenders is higher and they know when to sit deep. I’ve said it before, and I hope he is given the benefit of the doubt and patience while he adapts. Now there’s a run of away games which isn’t ideal. We might not have won at Goodison yet this season, but it’s home and it’s where the players feel most comfortable. There is nothing that beats playing in front of 35,000 to 38,000 Evertonians week in, week out.
Instead it’s a tricky game at Fulham, then Birmingham before coming back to Liverpool in the league! When you are struggling for points you look for the games where points will come and we’d have hoped they would have been fixtures which have already passed. It’s up to the lads now, they can make it happen. Nobody said it was going to be easy striving to do something special this season. Chance to let youth have a try
I’VE played at Brentford’s ground, Griffin Park, several times while I was at Doncaster and it’s a tight, fairly intimidating place for away teams.
It’s vital though that the Blues pick themselves up after Saturday with a win to ensure their passage into the next round of the Carling Cup tonight.
I am sure Seamus Coleman will play a full game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see other young players like Magaye Gueye get some time on the pitch.
The lads who are involved tonight have the incentive that if they do well, they have played themselves into contention for the Fulham game. It’s not like they are trying to break into a team which is flying and everyone is un-droppable. That’s the point of having a big squad. Competition for places needs to mean everyone pushes themselves that little bit more.
Ross Barkley can bank on great career
IT WAS interesting to note the presence of 16-year-old Ross Barkley on the bench on Saturday. I have watched him train when he was 14, and thought to myself he was a prospect then. He looked incredibly mature for his age, and very assured and competent on the ball. It’s good to see how he has progressed from then, and managed to get right to the brink of the first team. They don’t know what his best position is just yet – he can play centre half and midfield just like Jack Rodwell, and could yet develop into a player with the same star potential. Hopefully he’ll keep his feet on the ground, I’m sure David Moyes will ensure that. He is the man who brought through Wayne Rooney after all. As long as they keep his distractions to a minimum, let him see his friends, but at the same time impress on him the massive opportunity he has it’ll work out. I played for Doncaster when I was 16, but I looked about 12-years-old. Ross looks 18 and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him play some part in the game against Brentford tonight.
We must rediscover our Evertonism says Goodison coach Steve Round
Sep 21 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
* WHAT exactly is Evertonism? Log in below and have your say
STEVE Round is an ardent footballing student who knows exactly what the Toffees need to revive their faltering season. He may well have plucked the word out of thin air, but the sentiment is right on the money. The Blues must rediscover their ‘Evertonism’. Tonight’s tricky third round Carling Cup clash against Brentford, represents a quick opportunity to get the frustration of Saturday’s Premier League defeat by Newcastle out of Everton’s system. The League Cup is still the only major domestic trophy the Blues have never won, and in the past two seasons they have not progressed beyond the fourth round. But Round was in defiant mood ahead of the game, and stressed that David Moyes has the perfect CV to mastermind a turnaround which could yet lead to another startling run of form. “This team is very capable of going on the sort of run where they only lose two in 24 and are right up there,” he declared. “We have the talent. “We’ve just got to get back to the Evertonism that sets us apart,” added the Goodison assistant boss. “The fight and the character and the spirit in the team. “Make no mistake there’s an exceptional manager here.
“Eight years in the Premier League and to achieve what he’s achieved, and been where he’s been is big. “He’ll be using all that experience and talent to make sure this team achieves what it’s capable of.”Round concedes that impressive performances last season have made teams approach Everton differently this time around.
It is a tactic which is unlikely to change at Griffin Park this evening, when their League One opponents will be hell-bent on taking a top-flight scalp.
“It’s been interesting that there has been a more physical approach to us this season,” he says.
“We’re the most fouled team in the Premier League, and the teams are getting into us, but I think teams are also being more defensive minded and sitting off against us.
“Saying that, we’ve got to outplay them to win.
“That’s part of becoming a better team in the Premier League, and you have to cope with it and overcome it. “It happens to the top teams every week and it’s something we have to come to terms with. “The manager still maintains the view that he wants to do something this season.” Like Moyes, Round sought to make no excuses for the abject performance against Newcastle. Instead he stressed that the team was almost the same as the one which pegged back Manchester United the week before.
“It was the same team against Newcastle that played Manchester United apart from Cahill,” he says. “They played well (against Manchester United), yes they could have lost a goal on the counter attack but could’ve been two nil up at half time.
“They had some good opportunities, and gave as good as they got during a cracking game. “He (Moyes) was denied the opportunity of fielding that team again on Saturday, and went for Jermaine Beckford because of his pace to get in behind Newcastle when they hold quite a high line. “I‘m sure Yakubu will feature now he’s getting fitter and stronger. “He’s looking more like the old Yak that we knew.
“It took him a long time to recover from that injury, and then he came back late from the World Cup and he’s now starting to get back to fitness and form.
“If he gets the opportunity, it’s up to him to take it.”Round accepts that it can often seem that the Nigerian striker is disinterested in the physical exertions required to be a top performer, but insists it is a wide of the mark suggestion. “He is very laid back but I think that’s more of a cultural trait rather than a negative aspect of his personality,” he says. “He always wants to do well, and he’s a very conscientious boy.
“He’s popular among everyone, and has always got a smile and always wants to do well for the team. “When he’s hustling and bustling and scoring goals he’s a handful for everyone. “You have to give him the belief that he’s valuable and an asset and drive him every day in training to make sure he’s in peak physical condition.”
Despite their lowly status in the League One table, tonight’s opponents have already beaten Sheffield Wednesday this season, and defender Michael Spillane says their 2-1 win over Hull City in the previous round shows they are capable of turning over higher-league opposition. “We are a good team and better than our league position suggests,” said Spillane. “It is not going to be easy, but I think we can win if we play how we have been. “When Hull came down here it wasn’t one-sided. “We gave as good as we got and got the win. “I don’t think it will be completely one-sided against Everton. “We’ve got to respect them because they have some of the best players in the country. “But they have got to respect us as well, because if they don’t they know they will come unstuck.”
Everton FC have missed Phil Neville’s leadership says Steve Round
Sep 21 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON assistant boss Steve Round today admitted the Blues have badly missed the leadership of Phil Neville, as the skipper prepares to return in the Carling Cup tonight. Neville has been missing for almost a month with a foot injury, and was an unused substitute in the 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday.
Round says Neville’s leadership has been a big loss during that time, and hinted that the 33-year-old is likely to feature against npower League One side Brentford.
He said: “I can’t speak highly enough of Phil. "He’s a terrific professional and an outstanding captain who’s someone we welcome back now he’s fully fit. I am sure he’ll feature strongly in the coming weeks. “You need these senior, experienced guys. He will see himself being in the team and sees himself as still a top player.
“We missed him on Saturday. We’ve got two strong leaders in the team. Phil Neville for his organisational and communication skills as well as his performances. Then Tim Cahill for his actions – the way he fights for the team and they seem to feed of his enthusiasm. “Missing them both on Saturday was a blow. You have to cope with that in football. You have to cope with the injuries and it’s up to others to step up to the mantle and take that experience onboard. “Phil Jagielka is showing very good signs of becoming a more mature leader, and he’s certainly someone the team will look to.”
Everton are taking a full squad to Brentford with the only names missing being those of longer term absentees Jack Rodwell, Louis Saha and Victor Anichebe.
Round admits the coaching team are yet to decide on the side that will face Brentford, but believes there are plenty of incentives to impress at Griffin Park.
He said: “There are certain players who we feel need a game, and then might feature at Fulham. It’s their chance to prove themselves. There are other players that need to play because they need a bit of confidence - hopefully that will come in this game.”
Meanwhile, Tim Howard said tonight’s game has been made even more important after Saturday’s defeat. The reverse ended a 10-month unbeaten run at Goodison Park and Howard says he and his teammates now have extra motivation to get a result against the Bees. He said: “It is important for us to advance and it is good that this game now has such an onus on it. “We have to get through and we really want to progress in the cup. “Any game is important and every chance to play for this club is important. “I personally don’t take any game lightly and I don’t think the team does.
“We are looking forward to it. “Brentford are on their home patch and they will be up for it. They will sense an opportunity to get through and cause an upset - we have to be aware of that and make sure we perform. “We are taking the Carling Cup very seriously, as always, and we see it as a competition where we can get to the final or at least within touching distance of the cup.”
Brentford 1 Everton 1 (4-3 pens): Greg O'Keeffe sees Everton crash out of the Carling Cup to lowly Brentford
Sep 22 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
HISTORY suggests that Brentford can be a difficult place to vanquish – even for supposedly superior would-be conquerors. Julius Caesar chose to try and battle across the Thames here during his second invasion of Britain, and met a bloody and unexpected resistance. For 120 minutes last night David Moyes was hoping a hard-fought victory could lead to his own slice of glory next March. Everton toiled every bit as ferociously as a Roman battalion in their bid to claw past the Bees, but ultimately it was all in vain as this alarmingly woeful start to the season staggers on.
The Toffees were denied passage into the fourth round of the Carling Cup after the heart-break of extra time and penalties. Brentford were roared on by the dulcet tones of celebrity fan Richard Archer, singer of indie band Hard-Fi who had their biggest hit with ‘Hard to Beat’. It could well have been dedicated to Andy Scott’s side last night.
There is a pub at each corner of Griffin Park, and Everton fans could have been forgiven for seeking solace in each of them to drown their sorrows after a pulsating cup tie. Their team had looked set for a routine canter to victory at first, but their habit of wasting chances and then falling for a sucker-punch loomed large. With Everton’s aspirations in the Premier League on ice, at least until they rediscover the formula which saw them sprint to the finishing line last season, the Carling Cup offered a pleasing diversion. Not any more. Where the previous round provided a timely fillip for morale with five goals put past Huddersfield Town, this time there were few positives. Moyes had made six changes from the side defeated so abysmally by Newcastle, and should not have needed to throw Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar into this fray again. His starting eleven here should have been enough to deal with League One opposition. Yes Brentford had nothing to lose and everything to gain, the pressure all on the visitors. But the worrying pattern of Everton’s play was all too familiar this season – a chronic failure to convert their dominance into goals.
The Toffees football has lost that spark which delighted so often last season, and it has been replaced by a team doing a good impression of wilting under the pressure of expectations. A lusty, full-blooded start set the tone for the game, with Brentford urged on by an excitable near sell-out home crowd. But the wind was ripped from their sails after five minutes, when Leon Osman picked out Yakubu on the break. The Yak’s strike was poor, but Diniyar Bilyaletdinov picked up on the trickling shot, slipped it sideways to Seamus Coleman in acres of space and the Irishman calmly side footed it home for his first goal in royal blue. A flurry of Everton efforts followed, with the tricky Magaye Gueye and then Marouane Fellaini going close.
With fifteen minutes gone, a great run from Yakubu, met a perfect pass from Gueye only for Richard Lee to produce a fantastic save. But then the striker should have done better with a weak headed chance, when he looked certain to score. Brentford had prided themselves on four clean sheets, but seemed defensively vulnerable in the early stages. They were not shy going forward however, enjoying a couple of half-chances and trying to play on the break in the first half.Everton should already have been three or four goals up by the half hour mark though. But as their lead remained slight, they were prone to disaster and a lightening-fast quick home counter attack caught them out down the right, only for their blushes to be spared by a woeful header from Charlie MacDonald at point-blank range. Brentford’s positivity yielded eventual reward before half time. Live-wire Myles Weston charged down the left, and fired a searing cross into the box which Gary Alexander dispatched past Jan Mucha to level.
It could have been worse but for a heroic block from Seamus Coleman as yet another cross into the box evaded Everton’s centre backs and fell invitingly to the feet of Weston. Some of Coleman’s attacking play was coruscating – every inch the Gareth Bale-style flying full-back. But he is still learning defensively, and a harsh lesson in the first half could have been costly. Unaided by any semblance of tracking back from Gueye, Coleman was exposed by Weston’s pace and dragged him down in the area.
Gary Alexander’s resultant penalty was superbly saved by Mucha, low down to his left. For now Moyes could be better rewarded by using Coleman as his solution to the right wing puzzle which hampers his tactics, with an experienced defender like Tony Hibbert behind him. As the chances flowed at both ends, the classic status of this cup tie grew. Corner after corner for Everton met a resilient defence, and Brentford caused Blue jitters on the break. With a break in the dead-lock tantalisingly out of reach, extra time followed and further gilt-edged chances fell to Arteta, Osman and Coleman.
But while Griffin Park swayed to its unlikely anthem of Hey Jude penalties beckoned, and victory belonged to whoever held their nerve. With spot-kicks all square, Jermaine Beckford’s was saved. Then after Michael Spillane scored, Phil Jagielka hit the post and another cup dream dissolved. There was a sense that this was a definitive one in Moyes’ reign; now or never perhaps for that Champions League push or that elusive trophy. Now, all that optimism is unravelling faster than a fishing line being yanked by a great white shark. A pitch invasion followed the final whistle. The Everton manager later admitted he just about stopped himself grabbing the Brentford fan who hurled a bottle into the away section by his throat. Instead he must coax his side into taking this season by the throat, and fast, before it slides into complete disaster.
Phil Neville offers no excuses as EFC suffer Carling Cup humiliation at Brentford
Sep 22 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
PHIL NEVILLE today insisted Everton have run out of excuses for their abysmal start to the season, as they were knocked out of the Carling Cup by League One side Brentford. The Toffees skipper was seething after the penalty heart-break which saw the Blues crash out at Griffin Park last night, echoing his manager’s belief that Everton again wasted enough chances to secure their passage in the first half.
He admitted his fear the dressing room was seduced by pre-season talk of targeting a Champions League spot, and demanded that winning games becomes the players’ sole ambition. He said: “There are no excuses. No hiding places. We don’t deserve to win these football matches at the moment. “We didn’t win at Blackburn – hard luck. We didn’t win at Wolves – hard luck. We couldn’t beat Villa – hard luck. Everyone says we’re playing well but not winning games. Forget all that rubbish now – it’s got to the point where it’s time to realise where we are. “Forget Champions League football, forget Europa League football. Focus on Saturday and just winning. Maybe at the start of the season we looked at the end of the season rather than concentrating on the now.” Neville scored his penalty in the shoot-out which followed a 1-1 draw after extra time, and played his first game in a month but was taking no comfort from his return to the side. He said: “There’s no quick fix, it’s just hard work. The talent is in the dressing room we juts need to make sure we start producing. We’re second from bottom and out of a cup competition we believed we could win. Massively disappointing. “You can see the game should have been wrapped up early. “It wasn’t because we weren’t clinical enough. We need to get back to basics now. Forget scoring the perfect goal, let’s just start banging the ball in the back of the net and playing winning football. Sometimes winning football isn’t pretty and our league position suggests winning football is the only way to go. “There’s no point blowing smoke up each other’s bums. “We’re just not producing. “The expectations are what we always wanted so we can’t get to the stage of getting it, and then be fearful of it. We’re not fearful but hard work will get us back. “We had a great pre-season, everyone fully fit and it was just what we wanted. Now we need to give ourselves a kick up the backside, and big players stand up. “It’s time to show our mettle. “We’ve got the character and grit in that dressing room. I’d stake my life on it.”
Brentford 1 Everton 1 (Brentford win 4-3 on penalties): Everton grounded by Bees’ late sting
Sep 22 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
JUST when Everton were thinking their start to the season couldn’t get any worse, along comes this. Directly under the flightpath of Heathrow Airport, David Moyes saw an expected lift-off aborted as his team’s campaign struck a new low with Carling Cup humiliation at Brentford. The Goodison outfit instead remain taxiing aimlessly on the runway waiting for their campaign to become airborne following a demoralising, embarrassing penalty shoot-out defeat. Jermaine Beckford and Phil Jagielka both erred from 12 yards as npower League One side Brentford converted all four of their kicks to condemn Moyes to surely one of the most miserable evenings of his eight-and-a-half year tenure. But this was a collective failure. File it alongside Shrewsbury Town and Oldham Athletic. Yes, it really does feel as bad as that. And so it should. Indeed, Everton had only reached the sanctuary of the shoot-out due to a penalty save by second-choice goalkeeper Jan Mucha from Charlie MacDonald during the second half. Robbed by the Magpies on Saturday, Moyes’s men were stung by the Bees just four days later. Seamus Coleman’s first senior goal had given the visitors the perfect start after six minutes, but an inability to convert opportunites again proved the visitors’ undoing and allowed Gary Alexander to head Brentford level four minutes before the interval. Until that equaliser, Everton had dominated, frittering away chance after chance. And while the openings continued to flow, the effect it had on the match was marked; the visitors’ brittle self-belief exposed, Brentford The Carling Cup may be down the list of priorities for many top-flight clubs – Everton included – but this represented a chance for the Goodison outfit to repair morale that was severely dented by Saturday’s dismal home defeat to Newcastle United.
Fat chance of that now, last night becoming the latest in a long line of League Cup embarrassments for the Goodison outfit, a reminder of the not-too-distant humblings against Bristol Rovers, Oxford United and York City. To think Brentford are hovering above the relegation zone after winning just one of seven league games.
To be fair, the Bees deserve credit. While goalkeeper Richard Lee was in inspired form, Andy Scott’s side stuck to their task both in defence and attack and fully merited their progress, remarkably only the second time they have reached the fourth round of the League Cup in their history. Moyes continued his policy of rotating his resources while retaining a strong-looking starting line-up and, of the six changes made from the weekend, perhaps the most notable was a first start since April for Yakubu. Also returning was Phil Neville, making his first appearance since the opening-day defeat at Blackburn Rovers after suffering from a foot injury.
Mucha, Magaye Gueye, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Coleman were also handed their second starts of the campaign, and it took only six minutes for the latter pair to combine for the opener. With Brentford pressing from a corner, a wayward crossfield ball was intercepted by Leon Osman on the counter-attack and eventually fed to Yakubu. The Nigerian’s effort was scuffed into the area towards Bilyaletdinov, who laid off for the incoming Coleman to smash into the top corner from the angle.
So began the procession of Everton chances. After Brentford centre-back Pim Balkestein almost turned the ball into his own net, Phil Jagielka headed Gueye’s resultant corner off target.
A clever throughball from the lively Gueye released Yakubu but Brentford goalkeeper Lee smothered his effort before the Nigerian should have done a lot better when sending a header wide at the far post from Bilyaletdinov’s curled cross.
Yakubu then turned provider by finding Fellaini for a shot that was again too close to Lee, and later the Belgian hit the outside of a post when attempting to turn in another Gueye pass before Yakubu twice warmed the palms of the overworked keeper Lee.
It wasn’t quite all one-way, however, and there were some flashes of hope for the home support before the break. Nicky Adams thrashed a shot wide from 20 yards and Charlie MacDonald headed over a Myles Weston cross.
The pace of Weston was Brentford’s most effective weapon, and it was from such a source that the Bees netted an unlikely equaliser, the winger racing down the left and delivering a perfect cross on the run for Alexander to send a soaring header beyond Mucha. Everton’s second-half response didn’t instantly materialise, and they were almost made to pay on 59 minutes when another blistering run from Weston was curtailed by Coleman’s needless foul inside the area. The Irishman had been lucky to escape conceding a spot kick at the weekend, and he breathed another sigh of relief when Mucha went the right way to save MacDonald’s admittedly poorly-struck penalty. From the resultant corner, the Everton goalkeeper then made an even better save with his legs to keep out MacDonald’s effort. Such was Moyes’s consternation, both Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar were introduced from the bench, and soon after Osman curled a shot on to the roof of the net. Brentford keeper Lee then bravely saved at the feet of Yakubu after the ball broke fortuitously for the striker inside the area before Sylvain Distin’s header was cleared off the line. The home side kept pressing and Toumani Diagouraga wasn’t far away with a dipping volley from range, but Lee was the busier keeper and twice saved from Coleman in quick succession during injury time. Everton began extra time the stronger, Yakubu inches wide from a driven Coleman cross before Jagielka’s header was cleared off the line by Weston.
With Brentford hanging on, Lee produced a spectacular save by reaching to his left to paw away Arteta’s 20-yard curler and Osman struck wastefully over from a good position. Brentford, though, had the last chance and Mucha had to be alert to beat out Craig Woodman’s free-kick.Then came the penalties. And the agony goes on for Moyes and his players.
Everton FC manager David Moyes admits he has a big job to lift players after Carling Cup shoot-out defeat to Brentford
Sep 22 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
DISAPPOINTED David Moyes admits he faces a big job to lift his Everton players after their season slumped to a new low with Carling Cup humiliation at Brentford.
And the Goodison manager was fuming as he claimed a home fan threw a bottle at the travelling supporters during a pitch invasion following last night’s third round clash.
Moyes’s men wasted a succession of chances before losing 4-3 on penalties after being held to a 1-1 draw at the npower League One strugglers. While Brentford netted all of their spot kicks, Jermaine Beckford and Phil Jagielka both failed from 12 yards to deepen the gloom around Goodison. The visitors, who were beaten 1-0 at home by Newcastle United at the weekend, could have even lost the game in normal time but for a penalty save by goalkeeper Jan Mucha from Charlie MacDonald shortly before the hour. And with only West Ham United below Everton in the embryonic Premier League standings, Moyes must now raise morale ahead of Saturday’s visit to Fulham. “Any manager in my position would be concerned,” said the Goodison manager. “We want to get points on the board and don’t want to get knocked out of cups. “I have got a job on now to lift the players. I’ll need to manage and get to work. I will take the responsibility. I pick the team. I’ll be in the same place next week, at the side of the pitch, people will be able to see me. “It has been a poor start. But that’s my job and I’ll need to try and get things changed around. “We had a poor result on Saturday and this result on top of that isn’t very good.” Jagielka’s penalty miss that ensured Brentford victory sparked a pitch invasion from the jubilant Bees supporters and led to one ugly scene when Moyes claims to have spotted one home fan launch a bottle into the away end. “I thought it was terrible,” said the Scot. “I saw one supporter who threw a bottle into our supporters. I said to him ‘I saw your face, I saw who you were’. “They threw it right into the middle of our fans. “I think the police decided to take the penalty kicks at that end (the Brentford end) because of crowd security, and that proved a real bloomer by the police didn’t it? “If the police want to follow it up I’d be delighted to help identify who threw the bottle in the crowd. I wanted to grab him but that would have brought more attention to him.”
Seamus Coleman’s first-ever senior goal had given Everton the lead at Griffin Park after just six minutes, only for the visitors to then miss a succession of chances before Gary Alexander drew Brentford level four minutes before the break.
And Moyes believes his players “abused” their opportunities to make victory a formality. “I’m disappointed because we had opportunities during the opening 20 minutes to put ourselves out of sight, and because we didn’t it always gave Brentford an opportunity to get back into the game,” said the Goodison manager. “I thought the performance of the players was okay. They did fine. “But I’m disappointed we gave the goal away and we didn’t finish things off in the final third. “What was the problem tonight? We couldn’t score. I thought it was going to be one of those nights. We abused our opportunities to score. We nearly thought they would always keep coming.
“In football when you get those chances you have to take them. We had so many times when we got behind them, got in down the sides and got crosses across the goal. It was so many.” Moyes added: “But you have to give Brentford credit. When they were only a goal down the crowd kept with them, they kept doing what they were doing and they kept us under pressure. “They did a really good job. They never gave in. They haven’t been scoring many goals but they haven’t been conceding many. We knew they’d be hard to score against. But we had so many chances.”
Bees dump Everton out of Carling Cup
Wednesday 22nd September 2010
Richmond and Twickenham Times
Shoot-out penalties from Myles Weston, Nicky Forster, Michael Spillane and Charlie MacDonald dumped Premier League Everton out of the Carling Cup on Tuesday.
The Bees had fallen behind to a fifth minute Seamus Coleman strike, but fought back to level through Gary Alexander moments before half-time. MacDonald missed a second-half penalty before goalkeeper Richard Lee, deputising for cup-tied Ben Hamer, pulled off a string of saves to force extra-time and penalties. The former Watford man then saved from Jermaine Beckford and watched Phil Jagielka hit a post as the Bees pulled off their biggest League Cup shock in recent memory.
Karleigh Osborne hails Brentford's 'bottle' after Everton upset
Sep 22 2010 By Jacob Murtagh
KARLEIGH Osborne hailed Brentford's bottle after they held their nerve to dump Everton out of the Carling Cup on penalties. The Bees produced the shock of the third round after Richard Lee kept out Jermaine Beckford's spot-kick and Phil Jagielka's effort came back off the post. Myles Weston, Nicky Forster, Mickey Spillane and Charlie MacDonald were all successful from the spot to send Andy Scott's side into the fourth round. "I'm over the moon," said Osborne. "All the boys were outstanding from the first minute to the last. "I thought we thoroughly deserved it and really showed our bottle when it went to penalties. It was amazing." Osborne reserved special praise for team-mate Lee, who produced a string of fine saves to keep the Toffees at bay. He added: "Richard doesn't get the credit he deserves. He's different class as a keeper and you saw that tonight. He kept us in the game and he won it for us in the shoot-out."
Brentford shock Premier League Everton in Carling Cup
Sept 22 2010 By Jacob Murtagh The Hounslow Chronicles
Brentford 1-1 Everton (Bees win 4-3 on pens)
RICHARD Lee was the hero as Brentford dumped Premier League Everton out of the Carling Cup after a nail-biting penalty shoot-out. The Bees keeper kept out Jermaine Beckford's penalty and saw Phil Jagielka's spot-kick come back off the post as they held their nerve to win it 4-3. The game had ended all square after extra-time after Gary Alexander had cancelled out Seamus Coleman's early opener. The Bees got off to the worst possible starts when the Toffees took the lead inside six minutes.
Craig Woodman gave the ball away in Everton's half, and from the breakaway, Coleman side-footed the ball past Lee to put the Merseyside men in front.
The Bees keeper kept his side in the game with a double save from Yakubu, while Marouane Fellani saw an effort come back off the post as the visitors threatened to run riot. But Brentford got back into the game five minutes before the break when the dangerous Myles Weston broke upfield before crossing for Alexander to head the hosts level. Andy Scott's side wasted a golden chance to take the lead 15 minutes into the second-half when Weston was sent sprawling by Coleman. But Jan Mucha dived down low to his left to keep out Charlie MacDonald's penalty. Scott threw on Sam Saunders and Nicky Forster as the Bees pushed for a winner, but it was Everton who came close late on. First, Lee denied Yakubu from point-blank range, then Weston cleared Sylvain Distin's header off the line. The Bees had Lee to thank for taking the game into extra-time with a fine double save from Coleman in the dying seconds of normal time. Everton created the only real chances in the added 30, with the impressive Karleigh Osborne heading Phil Jagieka's effort off his own line, and a full-stretch Lee denying Mikel Arteta.
But Weston, Forster, MAcDonald and Mickey Spillane converted their kicks to send the Bees into the fourth round.
BEES: Lee, Spillane, Osborne, Balkestein, Wood,am, Adams (Saunders 68), O'Connor (Bean 96), Diagouraga, Weston, MacDonald, Alexander (Forster 71).
Subs (not used): Royce, Legge, Wood, Cort.
Brentford knock out Everton as Jagielka and Beckford fail in shoot-out
Carling Cup Third Round
Brentford won 4-3 on penalties
The Guardian Tuesday 21 September 2010 23.52 BST
Everton's stodgy start to the season turned into a disastrous one tonight as they were knocked out of the Carling Cup to scenes of great pitch-invading jubilation by Brentford of League One after a penalty shoot-out at a full-throated Griffin Park.
This was a genuine upset. David Moyes, the Everton manager, had started with close to his strongest available side and much credit must go to Andy Scott's resourceful and well-organised Brentford team who were well worth their victory, sealed when Jermaine Beckford and Phil Jagielka missed from the spot after a 1-1 draw in normal time. "We had opportunities to put it out of sight," Moyes said, having seen his team take the lead after six minutes. "We didn't do that and that gave Brentford the opportunity to come back and credit to them they did. We abused our opportunities to score. We clearly thought they were going to keep coming. I am concerned. I'll now need to manage. I take the responsibility, I pick the team and I'll be in the same place next week." The failure to take chances has been part of the story of Everton's season. Shorn of fit strikers here they lined up with Yakubu Ayegbeni installed as one of the more indolent lone front-men one might find, supported by a five-man midfield.
Only Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar were rested, along with the goalkeeper Tim Howard, and Everton started strongly, Yakubu creating the opening for their early goal. Given space by a sleepy Brentford central defence (in which Pim Balkestein appeared wearing a striking Zorro-esque protective mask) the Nigerian turned and laid the ball off to Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, who played in the unmarked right-back Seamus Coleman. Coleman's finish from 10 yards out, high and into the far corner, was nonchalant. After that Everton briefly penned Brentford back. On 22 minutes Yakubu passed up an excellent opening, heading wide from six yards from Bilyaletdinov's dinked cross. Marouane Fellaini, who looked occasionally forlorn in an advanced position, came close to adding a second, producing a casual flick at goal from Magaye Gueye's cross, only to see Balkestein clear off the line. As the half wore on Brentford looked increasingly dangerous on the break. On 27 minutes Charlie McDonald headed just over from Myles Weston's fierce cross. The equalising goal came from the same side four minutes before the break. Weston crossed again and Gary Alexander climbed highest to head down and into the corner. Everton dominated possession after the break but it was Brentford who looked the more incisive in glimpses with Jan Mucha having to rescue the visitors on 58 minutes. Weston cut in at pace from the left wing and was tripped by Coleman inside the area. McDonald's penalty was low but weakly struck and Mucha palmed it away. With 23 minutes left Moyes sent on the cavalry in the form of Pienaar and Arteta but Everton continued to play nicely without creating a notable number of clear chances. Of those that did transpire, Leon Osman fluttered the roof of the net with a chip and Richard Lee saved at Yakubu's feet following a corner. Extra-time always seemed likely but, even with Brentford visibly tiring in the added period, chances remained scarce for Everton. And so to the shoot-out: Leighton Baines, Phil Neville and Arteta scored for Everton. Weston, Nicky Forster and Michael Spillane for Brentford. Next, to great boos, came Beckford (once of Brentford's local foes Hayes and Yeading). His miss, followed by Jagielka's blast on to a post made the night for Brentford. A mass, benevolent pitch invasion followed as Scott's men celebrated what could be considered the Bees' greatest victory in modern times. To his credit, Moyes offered no excuses at the end for his team's poor start to the season. "We prepared slightly differently this season," said the Everton manager. "We've altered the schedule and tried to do things differently because we've had a bad start in the past. We had a lot of players available and we were expecting better. Maybe I should go back to the old way." No such confusion for Scott. Asked who he would like to face in the fourth round of the competition, he answered simply: "I'd like it to be here and I'd like it to be a big club and I'd like it to be on television."
BRENTFORD 1, EVERTON 1
The Star
22nd September 2010
By Sam Mokbel
BRENTFORD 1, EVERTON 1: Richard Lee wrote himself into Brentford history by saving the penalty which knocked Everton out of a cracking clash.
The scores were level after extra-time, with Gary Alexander levelling for the League One side after Seamus Coleman’s first Everton goal had given David Moyes’ side an early lead. Lee saved Jermaine Beckford’s spot-kick with the scores at 3-3 in the shoot-out before Charlie MacDonald, who had missed a penalty in normal time, scored to put the pressure on Phil Jagielka, who fired his shot at the post to send the home fans wild. Delighted Brentford boss Andy Scott said: “That was a fantastic performance. We had to withstand spells of pressure, but we gave as good as we got.
“The game plan we used worked to perfection. “We worked hard to formulate that plan and it’s very satisfying to see it work out. “It’s very pleasing for me as a manager, but the lads have to take all the credit. “This is the biggest win during my time as Brentford manager.” But his Everton counterpart Moyes knows he has a big job on his hands as his side’s faltering start to the season continues. The Goodison chief said: “Of course it is very disappointing for us. We had chances to put it out of sight in the first half. “I had a feeling it was going to be one of those nights when we kept on missing those chances in the first half. “Brentford did a good job on the night, but if we had taken our chances, it would have been a different story. “Am I concerned about it? Of course I am concerned because we need points in the Premier League and we still wanted to be in the Carling Cup. I know I have got a job on now. I need to manage, but I will take the responsibility. “I will be there on the touchline for our next game and people will still be able to see me.” It had taken Everton just six minutes to break the deadlock when Yakubu found Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and the Russian laid the ball to the unmarked Coleman to smash past Lee. But Brentford started to get back into the game around the half-hour mark. MacDonald’s header sailed just over the bar before the equaliser came when Myles Weston broke down the right to cross for Alexander, who powered a header past Slovak keeper Jan Mucha.
And it could have been two in the second half when Coleman pulled the back of Weston’s shirt inside the box. But Mucha, who was only making his second Toffees appearance, spared Coleman’s blushes by saving to his right from MacDonald’s spot-kick. However, it proved only a temporary reprieve for the visitors as Lee proved his own penalty-stopping prowess in a dramatic shoot-out.
Brentford 1 Everton 1
By MARK IRWIN
(Brentford win 4-3 on pens)
Sept 22 2010
The Sun
DAVID MOYES insists there will be no hiding place for him or his players as Everton's dismal season plumbed new depths.
Next to bottom in the Premier League with just two points from their opening five games, the struggling Merseysiders were awful against the lowest-ranked team left in the competition. "I have got a real job on and I need to get down to work and really start to manage," Moyes confessed after this latest demoralising defeat.
"But I'll take the responsibility, I'll pick the team and I'll be in the same place next week on the side of the pitch. So people will still be able to see me. "Of course I am concerned. Any manager would be in this position. "We want to get points on the board and we don't want to be getting knocked out of cup competitions like this.
"We had so much of the ball in the first 20 minutes that we should have been out of sight. But we abused a lot of opportunities to score and Brentford hung in there.
"We set up this year to start the season very strongly and that was what I was expecting. "So now I have to change things around very quickly,. We had a poor performance against Newcastle on Saturday and tonight's result on top of that is not very good." Not very good is putting it mildly. Everton were bloody terrible against a team languishing in 19th place in League One. They only survived to extra-time thanks to a 59th minute penalty save by Slovak keeper Jan Mucha. And despite finishing this third round tie with virtually a full strength team, they were still unable to hold their nerve against the West London minnows in the penalty shoot-out.
Jermaine Beckford's poor spot kick was saved by Richard Lee and Phil Jagielka struck a post to confirm Brentford's well-deserved victory. Bees boss Andy Scott reckoned it was the biggest result of his managerial career and no-one could deny his team of unsung heroes their hour in the spotlight. Even when they fell behind to Seamus Coleman's fifth minute goal they refused to believe their time was up.
For the first 20 minutes it looked as though the visitors were going to stroll it as Maraoune Fellaini struck a post and Yakubu was denied twice in a minute by keeper Lee. But when the second goal failed to materialise, Everton simply wilted in the face of Brentford's determined resistance. The home side deservedly levelled five minutes before the interval when the impressive Myles Weston crossed for Gary Alexander to bury a powerful header. And they should have been home and hosed when the flying Weston was brought down in the box by Coleman. The young Everton full-back had got away with an equally rash challenge on Newcastle's Kevin Nolan at the weekend but there was no escape this time as referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot. But Charlie MacDonald's tame 59th penalty was pushed away by Mucha and it looked as though Brentford's chance of glory had gone. Everton, though, are going through such a crisis of confidence right now that they could not even take advantage of that opportunity to get their season back on the rails.
The gloves are off for Moyes. There will be blood on the walls if his players don't buck their ideas up soon.
DREAM TEAM STAR MAN - MYLES WESTON (Brentford). His pace tormented Everton.
EVERTON: Mucha 7, Coleman 5, Distin 5, Jagielka 6, Baines 6, Bilyaletdinov 5 (Arteta 5), Neville 5, Fellaini 4, Gueye 6 (Pienaar 5), Osman 6, Yakubu 6 (Beckford 5). Subs not used: Howard, Silva, Mustafi, Barkley. Booked: Coleman, Fellaini.
Brentford 1-1 Everton (4-3 on pens): Daily Mirror match report
By Darren Lewis
Sept 22 2010
David Moyes' men could have played all night and not scored a second against a team not only in League One but second from bottom in that division. Indeed, but for striker Charlie MacDonald's missed penalty in the second half, the Toffees could have been out of the Carling Cup and up the M40 far earlier than the penalty shoot-out.
As it is, Everton fans were forced to witness even more a performance from their men during extra time that suggested a lack of hunger within the Goodison ranks.
Moyes' men played as if Premier League stars deserve a few extra minutes on the ball. As though lower league riff-raff are so dazzled by their arrival that they simply roll over to have their tummies tickled. And as a result they were handed a rude awakening in this corner of west London. Notoriously slow starters, Everton were off to a flyer last night courtesy of Seamus Coleman's crisp finish on five minutes.
But Brentford stood their ground impressively, with winger Myles Weston giving right-back Coleman a torrid time all evening. In goal for Brentford reserve keeper Richard Lee was outstanding. And he was only playing because first choice Ben Hamer - on loan from Reading - is cup tied. At the back for Brentford centre-half Pim Balkestein was also fantastic, time and again proving a superb last line of defence.
By contrast Everton were poor and it is understandable Moyes, who saw his side booed off after losing to Newcastle at the weekend, is promising to roll up his sleeves and sort his men out. The Scot, who has done a magnificent job during his time in the blue half of Merseyside, needs to work out why his team seem to leave themselves with too much to do every season. Yakubu was poor, lazy and needs a long look at himself. Sub Jermaine Beckford has failed to show he is worth the faith Moyes has placed in him by taking him from the Championship to the Premier League.
Coleman was okay going forward but hopeless defensively. Ditto Bilyaletdinov, who didn't look anywhere near worth his £10million price tag. Moyes himself enjoys a good relationship with Everton chairman Bill Kenwright, who has a record of standing by his man. But there was talk of Moyes defecting to Birmingham for the Villa job during the summer. And you just wonder whether the Scot, who has done a tremendous job at Goodison Park, may start thinking he has taken the club as far as they can go. He vowed not to hide yesterday, to stand up and be counted as the Toffees bid to extricate themselves from the sticky stuff. But Fulham away on Saturday will not be easy, particularly after their Carling Cup demise last night.
As for Brentford, they deserve every one of the plaudits being thrown their way. They chased, harried and refused to be cowed by the higher profiles of the players in front of them. And even in the shoot-out, when you fancied Everton's superior technique to prevail from the spot, it was the home side that held their nerve better. Boss Andy Scott called for a big club at home on the telly afterwards and you hope get exactly that kind of draw. They did themselves proud last night. They are ready to do so again.
Moyes: Everton are in crisis and I have a job on now to save season
By Darren Lewis The Mirror
Sept 22 2010
David Moyes last night admitted Everton are in crisis after they were dumped out of the Carling Cup by League One Brentford. The Toffees, 19th in the Premier League, have picked up just two points from their five games so far this season.
Last night Bees striker Gary Alexander cancelled out Seamus Coleman's fifth-minute opener before Jermaine Beckford and Phil Jagielka missed in the penalty shoot-out.
Moyes later admitted he has a massive task saving Everton's season. He said: "I'm always concerned about it. In that position any manager would be concerned.
"You want points on the board and you don't want to get knocked out of the Cup.
"We had set up this year to start very strongly. We had prepared differently in pre-season and we were expecting a good start. "I've got a job on now. I know I'll need to manage, to get to work. I'll take the responsibility. I'll try to get things changed around. "But I will be there on the touchline in the next game and people will be able to see me." Brentford, 19th in League One, went into the match as the lowest-placed team left in the Carling Cup. But Everton - booed off by their own fans after losing to Newcastle last weekend - could have lost in normal time last night had striker Charlie MacDonald not missed a 57th-minute penalty. Moyes added: "We had a poor performance on Saturday. And this performance on top of that was not very good.
"We've just not been getting the clinical bit at the end which matters. "I thought it was going to be one of those nights because we abused our opportunities to score. We nearly thought they were going to keep going." Jubilant Brentford boss Andy Scott admitted afterwards he'd love to draw a superpower at home in the next round. He said: "I'd like it to be here, I'd like it to to be a big culb and I'd like it to be on TV.
"We have not had the credit we deserve over the last couple of seasons. "Two years ago we won the League by six points and no players got into the Team of the Year.
"Last season we finished ninth and nobody got any credit so we deserve nationwide recognitiion for what we are doing." Meanwhile Moyes has vowed to identify a fan to police whom he claimed threw a bottle into the Everton end at the final whistle.
The Scot added: "I saw one supporter who threw a bottle into our supporters. I said to him: 'I saw your face'.
Everton FC fans letters: Blues season starting to look embarrassing
Sep 23 2010 Liverpool Echo
THIS is turning in to a bad old season, I can't believe what's going on with Everton. The Brentford result's just shocking as was the Newcastle one. It's embarrassing.
To think I had such high hopes after last season. I actually thought maybe this was the year Everton could win the league. I am now writing from my padded cell.
Seriously, Moyes needs to shake that lot up fast or he will have to face the consequences. The players need a long hard look at why they can't take chances and personally I think Yakubu (and Saha) should have gone and now we really do need to buy a quality striker and Everton will have to find big bucks for that. What upsets me is they are a really, really good team. Time they started acting like one. David McMullen Belle Vale FOR me Moyes is negative and I for one as a match paying Evertonian am sick of him and watching his team. After another false dawn under his leadership - which by all reports costs Everton £67k a week - please do not shirk your responsibilities, please ask Moyes and Kenwright the searching questions fans want to hear. I am not going to list them you know what is going wrong - and the repeated mistakes that are made season after season. I understand Moyes is prickly with some reporters. Tough, he is paid enough to talk about his decisions on his team, signings and formations. Ask him why does he play Osman and so many others out of position? Why did he sign Billy and where does he play? Why do we have four holding midfielders? Why is Heitinga in midfield? Why don't we have a right sided midfielder after eight years? Why do we lose to lower placed teams every year? ask him why he wants to get into europe to be discraced by the first decent team we play. Ask him why Liverpool find it so easy to take 3 points from us whether they play well or not or with 10 men. Does he not learn or know how to adapt his team? Benitez didn't get away with it in the press, so why is Moyes? It is too cosy at Everton at the moment., stir it up a bit mate and lets have some proper journalism instead of the usual rubbish we read and lazy comments we have to hear i.e. "Moyes has done wonders on his resources" etc etc. Despondent Evertonian I'm no tactical expert like David Moyes, but maybe he should consider putting players in their proper positions?
For example Heitinga in defence and Fellaini in front of the back four. Just a thought.
Also, how many more seasons will we have to suffer Hibbert and Osman on the right before he finally realises it doesn't work? Oh, and which player should I put my money on to give this weeks 'rallying cry'? Neville is the odds on favourite but there's little value in backing him. One last thing, do you know anyone who wants to buy an Everton season ticket with 16 games left on it? shads by It really is time for a change.
I've been a big supporter of David Moyes, however I think he is far too comfortable in the job. He knows all too well that Kenwright will never sack him. Kenwright thinks Moyes is the bees knees which leaves us in a bit of a pickle really, unless they both leave. How much longer will the 24/7 search for investment go on for? How much longer will it take for you to become more tactically adventurous Mr Moyes? (4-5-1 at home?) How much longer will I shell out £500+ a year to a club clearly lacking any genuine ambition? It's fun being an Evertonian isn't it? onceablue 1878
Deary me .. anything Liverpool can do badly .. Everton can do even worse. Wow! Brentford and it’s not even a one off is it, as it’s happened a few times with Moyes to lower league teams. The man believes his own hype I think and then when it goes pear shaped the excuses flow. going backwards
The Jury: Everton FC fans give their views on the Carling Cup exit to Brentford
Sep 23 2010 Liverpool Echo
DAVID WALLBANK, Huyton
I HAD the displeasure to travel to Brentford on Tuesday night and witness the blues being dumped out of the league cup. I wanted to brush over the Brentford game and talk about how bad Everton were against Newcastle, but both games ended in disappointment and embarrassment. As a member of the Everton Jury I find Osman guilty of not being good enough to play in the Premiership. It’s sad to single out any individual, but he bottled it against Newcastle and looked out of his depth against the self-proclaimed ‘Barcelona’ of the lower leagues Brentford. Heitinga can’t be excused for playing out of position or not being in the squad on Tuesday, he is becoming more of a liability and a passenger. Hibbert has done nothing wrong but seems to be the scapegoat option for Moyes. I’m not convinced Coleman is a defender; maybe right midfield is his best position? Distin is another who isn’t good enough. Moyes asked his players to stand up and be counted before Tuesday’s cup exit, nobody listened which is a terrifying thought. Is our season over and its still only September?
LEE MOLTON, St Helens
A LONG night at Brentford ended in the dreaded penalties. The Blues had enough chances to win the game in normal time but we are struggling to score goals.
It is very hard being an Evertonian currently, there are many of us hurting and the players should be so grateful of our loyalty and not take us for granted.
Are some of the players hurting as much as us? It is time for Moyes to start with two up front as we are lacking firepower. Beckford needs a strike partner as he cannot play on his own, he should partner the Yak at Fulham on Saturday. It is always a tough place to go but the Blues must go there on Saturday and try to get three points and get ourselves up the League table, it may just be the turning point for our season.
RICHARD KNIGHTS, West Derby
Clueless, Gutless, Spineless. Humbled by Newcastle and bundled out of the Carling Cup by Brentford – nineteenth in Division One and famous for... the elevated section of the M4 motorway. Can it get any worse? Maybe we should blame the curse of Alex Ferguson, getting named as a favourite for a top four finish really was the kiss of death or the equivalent of the black spot. The squad that looked so strong at the start of the season already looks threadbare with lack of confidence running right through the team. Some other questions. Why is Baines the only player who can cross the ball? Why can't we keep a clean sheet? When is Arteta going to justify earning £75,000 a week. What's eating Fellaini? Why is Osman playing out of position? How long does it take Yakubu to get 'fully fit'? Is the season in freefall? Can David Moyes turn things round? All these questions and more will be answered in the next few weeks.
MIKE WILLIAMSON, Chester
Perhaps our expectations were too high before the season began but there can be few fans who expected a start as bad as this. Individual loss of form will always occur but as a team we don’t look capable of beating anybody and it says something when a defeat to Brentford is no real surprise. The players are the ones not doing it on the pitch but the manager also needs to look at himself and be prepared to accept criticism for a change. He publicly states that Beckford isn’t yet a Premiership player one week and then plays him alone up front alone against Newcastle the next. Ossie’s lack of pace is embarrassing and Coleman needs to come in and play in front of Hibbert.
Bilyaletdinov is probably the worst buy Moyes has ever made and needs to be sold in January and we need to get Vaughan back before we are facing a genuine relegation fight. It doesn’t look like this season will feature on the Timeline, does it?
David Prentice: Is Everton FC’s cup half-full, or half empty?
Sept 23 010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
FOR such an inconsequential competition, the League Cup can lead to some pretty serious consequences. A giantkilling in the Football League’s knockout competition has been the beginning of the end for two Everton managers. And judging by the angry reaction from some supporters to Tuesday’s exit at Brentford, there are plenty more who want to see a third. In 1996 a two-legged defeat by tiny York City was the snowball which turned into an avalanche and buried Joe Royle. Walter Smith limped on for a further 18 months after Bristol Rovers had ended his League Cup aspirations in another two-legged horror story in 2000. But he’d been fatally wounded by The Pirates. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Another League Cup upset was the making of a young Blues boss. In 1984, when Howard Kendall’s emerging young side just needed confidence to go with their undoubted class, Grimsby Town took shock advantage (although that was the most one-sided upset I’ve ever witnessed and Kendall’s side was applauded off the pitch). But that side had hunger to go with its potential. Appetite – or lack of it – seems to have been a problem at Goodison Park this summer. And it has manifested itself in the worst start to a season since Mike Walker somehow convinced a Goodison board he could be the man to follow Howard Kendall. Judging from Phil Neville’s admirably honest assessment of Tuesday’s debacle, this current Blues squad had prematurely started to believe its own publicity.
“Forget Champions League football. Forget Europa League football. Maybe at the start of the season we looked at the end of the season rather than concentrating on the now,” he admitted.But if the players are asking questions of themselves, albeit belatedly, they shouldn’t be alone. Was complacency an issue throughout Goodison Park this summer? When Everton and Liverpool were the most successful sides in the country it was a basic tenet that you built when you were on top – you consolidated from a position of strength. When the Blues were basking in the afterglow of the most successful season in the club’s history, they still went out and spent a fortune on a promising young striker called Gary Lineker. When an Everton captain last lifted a major trophy in 1995, they still went out and spent another king’s ransom on Andrei Kanchelskis. Everton ended last season like an express train. But the only significant additions this summer were a reserve goalkeeper and a League One striker on a free transfer. Everton have been rightly lauded for their prudent housekeeping – they topped a recent imaginary league table for achievements against spending – but you can’t help feeling that an opportunity was missed. Whatever happened to Keith Harris and his search for investors? There are other questions, too, that fans are asking.
Do Carlsberg do summer holidays? If not, how did Yakubu come back from one in such poor shape that he’s was only capable of completing his first 90 minutes of the season on Tuesday? After establishing himself as a central midfielder in the young Patrick Vieira mould, why has Marouane Fellaini been pushed back into an auxiliary striking role again? What has been going on in the minds of Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar this season? Everton’s two shining beacons of creativity in recent years have exerted a minimal impact so far. Will a player good enough to play central defence for the World Cup finalists ever play a single match for Everton there? And if Wembley 2009 provided compelling evidence that Everton’s right flank wasn’t of the class needed for a top four side, why are the same two players – a brief Landon Donovan cameo apart – still being selected down that side of the pitch? One question that doesn’t need answering, though, in my mind at least, is who should be manager of the club. A recent fans website report called for David Moyes to be gone by the end of the week. Of the 112 comments which followed, precious few contested the statement.
Which I still find vaguely startling.David Moyes has transformed Everton Football Club since he breezed through the entrance doors in 2002 – and to me the club doesn’t appear to be going backwards again yet. He has made mistakes, sure. Perhaps notably in the Cup competitions. One giant-killing every decade can be considered a fluke.
Two could be careless. But Shrewsbury, Oldham Athletic and now Brentford?
But Moyes has bounced back every time. After Shrewsbury, Everton qualified for the Champions League play-offs, Oldham was followed by a Carling Cup semi-final appearance and a fifth place finish. After Brentford? The season is still in its infancy.
David Moyes has also transformed an ageing squad into a young, vibrant group of internationals, he has turned a team often battling against relegation into one which regularly qualifies for Europe. He has edged Everton as close to silverware as they have been for 15 years, and most importantly he is one man who doesn’t appear to lack the appetite for the challenge. The League Cup competition has been a make or break competition for several Everton managers in the past. Distressing though Tuesday’s exit was, I don’t think it will break David Moyes
Everton FC manager David Moyes warns strikers to sharpen up
Sept 23 2010Pearce, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES has warned his goal-shy strikers to sharpen up as he battles to transform Everton’s fortunes. he Blues’ woeful start to the season continued on Tuesday night when they crashed out of the Carling Cup on penalties to League One strugglers Brentford. Moyes’ men paid the price for a string of missed chances and the lack of a ruthless streak has been a constant problem during the first month of the campaign. Everton have netted just four times in their five Premier League games, which have yielded only two points, and the boss is demanding better ahead of Saturday’s trip to Fulham. “We’ve had a few games in the Premier League where we’ve not scored enough goals and Tuesday was the same,” Moyes said.
“Our performances have not been too bad but we just can’t score. “In the first 20 minutes at Brentford we probably should have been two or three up. “We had so many opportunities but didn’t take them and that gave them encouragement. “You are always worried when you are not getting results and I’ve been worried for a long time.” Meanwhile, the Football Association have contacted Brentford to ask for their help in verifying Moyes’ claim that a Bees supporter threw a bottle into the away end after the Carling Cup clash at Griffin Park. The home crowd spilled onto the pitch moments after Phil Jagielka’s penalty miss had knocked the Blues out of the competition. An FA spokesperson said: “We are aware of the claims made by Mr Moyes and have contacted Brentford to ask for their observations into the matter.”
Moyes was left fuming at the incident and had to hold himself back from confronting the person he says was responsible. “I saw a fan throw a bottle into our supporters,” he added. “It was terrible. I said to him ‘I saw your face. I saw who you were’.
“He got a bottle and went right up and threw it right into the middle of our supporters.
“I didn’t grab him. “ I wanted to but obviously that would have brought more attention to the situation. “If the police want me to follow it up and try to find the individual that threw the bottle into the crowd then that would be fine by me.”
Everton FC players don’t fear expectations claims Phil Neville
Sep 23 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
PHIL NEVILLE has dismissed suggestions Everton’s dismal start to the campaign is a result of the players being crippled by a fear of expectation. And the Goodison skipper has revealed his trust his team-mates and would “stake his life” on David Moyes’s side showing the character to fight back up the Premier League table. Everton’s most likely route to silverware was ended on Tuesday by an embarrassing Carling Cup defeat at npower League One strugglers Brentford. It comes with the Goodison outfit suffering their worst start to a league season in 16 years after gaining just two points from five games. Everton were tipped by many observers to be contenders for a Champions League place after ending the previous campaign with just two defeats in 24 league outings. And Neville said: “The expectations are what we always wanted so we can’t get to the stage of getting it, and then be fearful of it. We’re not fearful but hard work will get us back. “We had a great pre-season, everyone fully fit and it was just what we wanted. Now we need to give ourselves a kick up the backside, and big players stand up. “It’s time to show our mettle. We’ve got the character and grit in that dressing room. I’d stake my life on it.” Neville added: “I’m a positive person. I trust the team, and the players. The first season I came to the club I think we had a similarly poor start. “We didn’t look like we could win a game and then we’d climbed a mountain last season with our performances and the stats showed it, but now we need to forget the stats, forget last season and focus on now. We’re second from bottom. It’s not a happy place at the moment.” Neville admits there should be no hiding place for Everton and believes the squad must address their shortcomings head on if they are to turn their faltering season around. “We’ve got to be honest,” said the 33-year-old. “It’s a trait of this team, a trait of this club and a trait of the manager. “We didn’t produce on Saturday. The manager told us, we told each other, we all knew it. None of us were happy, the fans weren’t happy and it’s them that you feel for. “No disrespect but we were playing Brentford. What are they? Second to bottom from League One? We should be beating them. It’s not as if the manager played a team of kids – it was a team of internationals. “Forget Champions League football, forget Europa League football. Focus on Saturday and just winning. Maybe at the start of the season we looked at the end of the season rather than concentrating on the now.
“There’s no point blowing smoke up each other’s bums. We’re just not producing.”
Meanwhile, the Football Association have contacted Brentford after Moyes claimed a bottle was thrown at fans after Tuesday’s Carling Cup tie. The Everton manager claims to have seen a home fan thrown a bottle into the Everton supporter’s end following a post-match pitch invasion. The FA are keen to follow up the claim but it is believed a full investigation is not being considered at the moment. An FA spokesperson said: “We are aware of the claims made by Mr Moyes and have contacted Brentford to ask for their observations into the matter.”
Comment: It’s Everton FC’s bottle that really matters to the fans
Sep 23 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
DAVID MOYES may have spotted a drinks container thrown into the away end on Tuesday night, but it's the bottle of his Everton side that will now be of more concern to him. A season of disappointment and disillusionment struck a new dismal low when the Goodison outfit were dumped out of the Carling Cup by npower League one strugglers Brentford. The debate prompted by Moyes witnessing a missile lumped towards the travelling supporters should not be allowed to detract from the real issue to emerge at Griffin Park – the ongoing struggle of an Everton team that should be producing much, much more. Indeed, Moyes and his players could maybe count themselves fortunate they weren't buried under an avalanche of projectiles from the disgruntled away fans. Certainly, frustration among Evertonians is approaching near critical levels. They've seen it all before, and that is part of the problem.
So what has gone so wrong? Why, after ending last season with only two defeats in their final 24 Premier League games, have Everton already lost three in five and suffered another Carling Cup humiliation? Expectation, and the pressure that comes with it, is a significant contributory factor. Everton have continually shown under Moyes's tenure that, when their backs are to the wall and the world is against them, they can come out fighting. But when expectant eyes have been on the Goodison outfit to deliver, they routinely have not.The fears Moyes harboured before the season that a lack of a fully fit, prolific striker would prove his team's undoing are also being justified.
Yakubu is still finding form and sharpness, Louis Saha's injury problems are proving impossible to shake off while Victor Anichebe is also sidelined.
With no money to spare, and choosing not to cash in on any of his prized assets to boost his transfer funds, Moyes instead took a punt on Jermaine Beckford following the footsteps of Tim Cahill and Joleon Lescott by making the leap from Football League to Premier League. Having only made a handful of appearances at Championship level, Beckford is finding life tough, even allowing for his penalty miss on Tuesday night. And it won't have gone unnoticed that James Vaughan, released by Moyes to join Crystal Palace on loan until the end of the year, has already netted a hat-trick for his temporary employers. Of course, the chances are being created – and there were enough at Brentford to win three matches – but the finishing touch, the killer instinct is simply not there at present. What cannot be overlooked, though, is the defence, the very bedrock of any Everton success under Moyes, has yet to keep a clean sheet this season. That said, the back line could argue that the more opportunities the forwards miss, the greater the onus to keep the opposition out. Without doubt, Moyes has a good squad of players. But it is unbalanced, too many midfielders but no one who can play on the right side while Marouane Fellaini needs to be re-deployed in the defensive midfield role in which he excelled before his season was crudely interrupted in February and not the advanced position which this time last year saw him the cruel butt of jokes. It's quite possible that Moyes must sell one of his footsoldiers to fund the arrival of a new striker, though where you get a top class forward who will make a difference in January will test his scouting department. How Everton respond to Tuesday's defeat will shape their campaign for the coming months. And the immediate prospects don't look too encouraging. Saturday's opponents Fulham were also eliminated from the Carling Cup on Tuesday, but Everton have won only once at Craven Cottage since 1966. Then comes a trip to Birmingham City, who are proving strong at their St Andrew's home, before the Goodison derby. This being Everton, it is not outside the realms of possibility that a failure to win the next two games will be followed by victory over Liverpool and suddenly all will apparently be well again.
No. The days when hopes of a successful season rest on simply beating their neighbours ought to have long been consigned to history. This is a critical time for Moyes. The Carling Cup represented Everton's best chance to end a trophy drought that stretches back to 1995. With no European football and Champions League qualification already highly unlikely, only the FA Cup can now offer silverware salvation – and the third round is still more than two months away. Until then, Moyes faces a test of breathing new life into a squad that, for perhaps the first time, is looking a touch jaded, overly familiar with the methods of a manager who has spent more than eight-and-a-half years at the helm. It is not time for a change in the hotseat. But Everton need to change something fast if their season is not to slip into the doldrums.
Blue Watch: ‘Kick-start to the season’ has become a footballing hell
Sep 23 2010 by Mark O'Brien, Liverpool Daily Post
EVERTON supporters are annoyed this week, and perhaps an indication of just how unhappy they are is that being the target for bottle-throwing Brentford fans seems the least of anyone’s concerns. Four days that were supposed to kick-start the season, with a home game against one of the promoted sides and a cup tie against League One opponents, instead saw the Blues descend into the seventh circle of footballing hell.
Before the Newcastle United game almost everyone, fans, pundits and Everton players themselves, had focussed on the Blues’ possession and general footballing performances and ascribed the slow start to poor finishing and some individual errors.
The underlying message was that the problems are superficial and that any moment now everything is going to click into place of its own accord. This is, after all, pretty much the team that performed so imperiously during the second half of last season.
No one is thinking that now. Taken in isolation, the Brentford result could perhaps be explained away. Fringe players got their chance, Everton missed a number of decent opportunities and, at a tight ground against a side who raised their game, they eventually miss out in the semi-lottery of a penalty shootout. However, in the context of the season so far, failing to look convincing against a team that lost 3-1 at home to Rochdale is downright alarming. Newcastle, too, came to Goodison on the back of a home defeat by Blackpool, and yet they were the team full of fight, energy and invention. Everton, on the other hand, took 90 minutes before they managed a serious effort on goal. Inevitably questions are being raised about the management.
Why we still have no recognised right-midfielder has been an ongoing puzzle, but equally troubling is how it transpired that a team with ambitions of cracking the top four is now reliant for goals on an untested free signing, out-of-position midfielders and an unfit striker who has been sulking because he never got a transfer to West Ham. Add to that the continuing mystery surrounding the decision to spend £10 million on Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, and question marks over the best positions for players like Johnny Heitinga and Marouane Fellaini, and it’s easy to see why Blues’ fans are becoming increasingly agitated. The only reply, as ever, is for matters to improve on the pitch, but that really seems easier said than done given the sequence of awkward fixtures in prospect.
Ex-Everton FC FA Cup winner Matt Jackson says modern day Blues need not fear curse of Mike Walker’s flops
Sep 24 2010 Liverpool Echo
IT WAS the statistic guaranteed to send morose Evertonians into an even deeper gloom. As supporters struggle to look for the positives from their club’s abysmal start to the season, they need no reminding of much darker days. And yet the woeful opening run of form from David Moyes’ highly-praised team, has been equalled only by Mike Walker’s flops of 1994/95. Nobody expects Moyes’ side to keep up with Walker’s record and go winless until November, but even the early comparison is enough to chill your average blue to the bone. With Everton bottom of the table and having made their worst ever start to a league season, Walker was sacked having spent just ten months in charge. The odds will be justifiably long on Moyes’ suffering the same fate, with one of the players who turned out for Walker’s strugglers predicting it is only a matter of time before things turn around. Matt Jackson went on to win the FA cup under Joe Royle, but he still shudders at the memory of that miserable run of games. “The stats might be the same which is obviously worrying, but there’s no comparison,” says the former central defender, who also starred at right back. “There is no need to panic whatsoever. “Unfortunately the current crop of lads are probably used to the situation, because let’s be honest, it’s not their first slow start.
“The longer they go without getting their first win, the greater the pressure around them builds up, but it’s not a crisis. “The performance against Aston Villa was fantastic in the first half, and there have been signs they are ready to click.” Jackson is unflinchingly honest when asked for the similarities between his team under Walker, and the current crop. “We were just a poor team playing poorly, but they are a good team,” he insists. “It’s fine lines when it comes to winning. They should have won against Villa and probably against Wolves, but the 50/50s have gone against them.
“They seem to have a good spirit, and it will see them through.” Jackson admits that playing for a team in such a poor run of form affects how players prepare for games.
“It makes going into training a bit tougher every day. It makes it seem like more of a job I suppose,” he says. “It sounds daft but everything seems to take longer, passes are slower and balls go astray more often. If you’re not careful, like with us, it can become a downward spiral which is very hard to get out of. “Players like to play in a successful, winning side. They like feeling good about themselves, and it’s no fun when you feel like nothing is going right on the pitch.” Despite the ongoing malaise, Jackson hopes Moyes does not ask his side to revert to a solid diet of direct football.
“The team has had success playing a certain way, and it’d be a shame if they started pumping long balls constantly. “They should stick to their principles, and keep trying to play. It’s not easy though, because players don’t want to be responsible for giving the ball away, so they are less inclined to try something different or to be creative.
“The good thing is that Everton now have some fantastic players. Look at Pienaar and Arteta, it’d be a shame to have them watching as long balls are launched over their heads. “Plus, direct football is pretty easy to defend against. Teams can set themselves up to deal with that all day. I cannot imagine for a minute that they will go down that route.” Jackson believes that it is more likely that this current side emerges from their slump to go on a run which is even better than their impressive end to last season.
“They have the ability to be unbeaten for 10 games on the run,” he says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s home or away. “Every game is going to be tough now but I expect the storm to shift soon. It’s different for Everton than it is for a team like Blackpool.
“Blackpool can win a few, lose a few and not much more is expected. But the thing is that there’s always great expectations when you’re playing for Everton. “It’s just part of being a club in a football mad city like Liverpool.” For all his optimism, the former Luton and Norwich defender is still bemused by the exit of both Merseyside clubs from the Carling Cup third round. ”It’s a bizarre competition, and if you’re not 100% then bad things can - and do - happen. If you aren’t completely focused you can fall for a giant killing. “Yes Tuesday’s result will have made the hearts of the current lads even heavier, but it can all change so quickly. “They are due a bit of luck. Don’t be surprised to see them win a game they should have lost, maybe get a scrappy 1-0, and then not to look back.”
Howard Kendall: David Moyes must nail down his first choice Everton FC eleven
Sep 24 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON’S ongoing woes owe a lot to the manager not being sure what his best 11 is yet. I have always insisted that if you know your best team, a lot looks after itself, and I’m not sure David Moyes is 100% on what constitutes his strongest line-up for various reasons. He has got a good strong squad, yet they have still suffered a troubled start to the season and the pressure has grown to find a system and team which works and stick to it. I’m not one for rotating players, if you ask Jamie Carragher whether he likes rotation, he’ll tell you he wants to play week in week out. That’s the right attitude from top players. I was fortunate enough to have my first team as an automatic process. It picked itself, and I always had Kevin Richardson and Alan Harper to come and fill in anywhere. They were always banging on my door asking to play, and Kevin Richardson was so good that he left for Arsenal and won a championship there. Yet, the fact was I knew I had better players. I had men like Kevin Sheedy. It helps everyone when you know your best side, the players respond positively and they can get used to playing together. Premier League club squads are too big these days. Managers are pressured into changing things around – it’s nonsense. Saying that, I was surprised that with Tim Cahill out on Tuesday, Moyes wasn’t more positive and switched to 4-4-2.
Obviously when fit, 4-5-1 with Cahill supporting the striker is the way to go. But perhaps Jermaine Beckford would have benefited with a run-out from the start.
The first priority of any season is to win your first game at home, then get an early away win in the bag. Nobody can accuse you of struggling on the road then.
It just hasn’t happened, and the next two supposedly testing away games can become opportunities now - or at least that’s how they must look at them. A win and a draw from those games, or even two draws, can be satisfactory and then look to kick-start the season with a win at home in the derby.
Penalty shoot-outs have the fear factor
PENALTY shoot-outs have been on the agenda for the wrong reasons this week.
Both Merseyside clubs have fallen foul of the high-pressure lottery. I recall in 1971 when we played Borussia Monchengladbach. We drew 1-1 over there, and they held us to a draw at Goodison so it went to spot-kicks. I just kept my head down and blasted mine, but Joe Royle missed one for us and then they missed one.
It was heading towards all square at five pens each, and sudden death would have been next. I remember our England international Tommy Wright was in line to take the sixth pen and he was quaking. All of a sudden he limped towards the bench feeling his hamstring! It just shows you how tough it is psychologically taking penalties in a shoot-out - it even got to an England player. As it turned out Tommy didn’t even have to take one because Andy Rankin saved their last penalty.
Carling Cup needs to change or be scrapped
I’M not convinced that the Carling Cup should carry on. I’m a believer that the big European leagues should only have one domestic cup competition, and the FA Cup is enough. Obviously events like Everton and Liverpool’s shock exits this week are good stories, but are clubs sending out their best teams anymore? At the least, they should let fans in for nothing when it’s a game being hosted by a Premier League club.
Either scrap it all together, or make it very accessible to supporters. Asking them to pay to see half hearted performances from less than full strength teams is not fair.
Having said all of that, the competition was a quick route to Wembley – and some silverware – for David Moyes’ Everton this season, and it’s a major blow to have that door closed at such an early stage in the third round.
Midfielder Mikel Arteta urges Everton FC to rediscover scoring touch
Sep 24 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
MIKEL ARTETA insists Everton must find their composure in front of goal if they are to arrest an alarming early season slump. The Spaniard believes this current team are far superior to the side he joined back in 2005 – but feels they must start showing it soon. Despite only picking up two of a potential 15 points up for grabs in the Premier League, and a third round exit from the Carling Cup, Arteta is confident they are close to rediscovering a successful formula. He said: “This team is miles away (from the one that was here when I signed), but at the moment we’re not showing it with our results. We need to be patient and we need to keep doing a lot of the things that we are doing. “The difference has been what has happened in both boxes and we need to improve,” he added. “We have conceded goals through mistakes and we haven’t been able to put the ball in the net when we’ve had the chance.
“Football is about goals. We’re dominating the games, we’re playing good football and creating chances but that’s not been enough to win the games at the moment. It seems like every time somebody gets a chance (against us) they put it in the top corner. “We need to stand up and we need to show our character now. I know it’s tough and we’ve got some tough games coming up. It is not going to be easy but we have to start winning now.” The Toffees travel to Craven Cottage tomorrow to face a Fulham team unbeaten in the league this season. Mark Hughes’ side have won once and drawn four in their five outings so far. “It’s a really tough game,” added Arteta. “They’ve done really well at home in the last few years and we know they’re going to bring trouble. “But we know how important it is to start getting the results. I think scoring the first goal is going to be really important so let’s see if we can get it.”
Meanwhile, Everton officials have offered their support to the Football Association following events which allegedly unfolded after Tuesday night’s Carling Cup game at Brentford. After the final whistle at Griffin Park home supporters swarmed onto the pitch where, it has been claimed, a Brentford fan threw a bottle into the section of the stadium which contained Everton supporters. Chief executive Robert Elstone said on the matter: “In the aftermath of Tuesday night’s game at Brentford, some supporters who were in attendance contacted the Club to express concern about events which allegedly unfolded. “We are pleased to learn that the Football Association has now made contact with Brentford to discuss the matter.”
Construction firm fined £160K for fatal fall at Everton FC training ground
Sept 24 2010 Liverpool Daily Post
A “GOLD standard” construction company was fined £160,000 fine after a builder died after plunging 20ft at Everton’s training ground. Labourer Karl Davis fell from an open window while Finch Farm, in Halewood, was under construction, as he cleared up for a visit by the team in February, 2007. Mr Davis, of Wallasey, died three months later in hospital from serious head and neck injuries – just six days after his 43rd birthday. At Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, building firm Kier North West, who were responsible for the site, were fined and ordered to pay £44,000 in costs after admitting breaching health and safety laws. Simon Parrington, prosecuting, told how, four days before his death, Mr Davis and a colleague attached a rubbish chute to a section of scaffolding outside what was to become the first-floor players’ restaurant, so waste could be disposed of safely. But, on February 27, as Mr Davis tidied up for the visit, the guard rail gave way causing him to fall head-first. Mr Parrington said site bosses should have been aware the scaffolding erected was inadequate to sustain the weight of the rubbish chute and was likely to give way. Michael Hayton, defending, said Kier had cooperated with the investigation and done “everything they can” to prevent any recurrence of the tragedy.
Everton FC a better team now than when I first arrived - Mikel Arteta
Sep 24 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Daily Post
EVERTON travel to Fulham tomorrow lying second from bottom of the Premier League table. But midfielder Mikel Arteta believes they are a better team than the one he joined in 2005 – when Everton finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League play-offs. And the Spanish star has challenged his team-mates to prove him right. “This team is miles away (from the one that was here when I signed),” he said.
“But at the moment we’re not showing it with our results. “We need to be patient and we need to keep doing a lot of the things that we are doing. “The difference has been what has happened in both boxes and we need to improve. “We have conceded goals through mistakes and we haven’t been able to put the ball in the net when we’ve had the chance. “Football is about goals. We’re dominating the games, we’re playing good football and creating chances but that’s not been enough to win the games at the moment. “It seems like every time somebody gets a chance (against us) they put it in the top corner. “We need to stand up and we need to show our character now.
“I know it’s tough and we’ve got some tough games coming up. “It is not going to be easy but we have to start winning now.”Everton have an infamously poor record at Craven Cottage. Leon Osman’s double there in 2009 sealed a first win at the stadium since 1966, and The Toffees will travel to face a Fulham team unbeaten in the league this season. Mark Hughes’ side have won once and drawn four in their five outings so far. “It’s a really tough game,” added Arteta. “They’ve done really well at home in the last few years and we know they’re going to bring trouble. But we know how important it is to start getting the results. I think scoring the first goal is going to be really important so let’s see if we can get it. “We need to play with the same confidence we have been but this time make the right choices in both boxes.”
Everton have experienced their worst start to a campaign for 16 years and Moyes has put the blame squarely at the feet of his misfiring players. Midfielder Tim Cahill is the club’s top scorer with two goals this season, with Jermaine Beckford, Yakubu and Louis Saha yet to score in the Premier League. “We’ve had a few games in the Premier League where we’ve not scored enough goals and Tuesday was the same,” Moyes said. “Our performances have not been too bad but we just can’t score.
“In the first 20 minutes at Brentford we probably should have been two or three up. We had so many opportunities but didn’t take them and that gave them encouragement. “You are always worried when you are not getting results and I’ve been worried for a long time.”
Barry Horne: False starts don’t have to be fatal - I should know!
Sep 25 2010 by Barry Horne, Liverpool Echo
I KNOW how it feels to be part of a team enduring a poor start to a season. I was working at Goodison last weekend when, at the earliest possible opportunity, my co-commentator introduced me to the listening world as somebody who played in the Everton team responsible for the worst start to a campaign in the club’s history!
I was ready for it, of course, and immediately retorted “that would be the same season that we won the FA Cup”. I also went on to explain that we walloped Liverpool at home in 1994, took a point off them at Anfield, beat Manchester United and had a long run of form which, had it been extrapolated over the course of a full season would probably have seen us finish in the top six. I am not even contemplating that Everton will be embroiled in a relegation scrap this year as we were then.
But I do feel that the start of this season has been frustrating and incredibly disappointing rather than worrying in the sense of the dreaded ‘R’ word.
Having said that, there is no getting away from the fact that we were poor last weekend.The magic triangle of Baines, Pienaar and Arteta fired too rarely, and when it did our finishing didn’t match the approach play. Poor quality finishing was once again the story of the evening at Griffin Park in midweek. I’m sure the finishing touches will return and that we will start winning games, but nevertheless it is already going to be difficult to mount a challenge to the top six, let alone what I really thought we were capable of at the end of the season, and that is a Champions League spot.
It goes without saying that Fulham today is a massive game. Should it not go our way, and the trip to Birmingham prove equally tough, the Goodison crowd would be ready to turn come the next home game. Obviously I hope we can get results from the next two away games but if we don’t, then David Moyes and the players are fortunate because, of course, it’s a derby which circumvents any show of disloyalty.
Interestingly after our horrific start to 1994/95 the turning point was the 2-0 drubbing of Liverpool in Joe Royle’s first match, albeit a little later in the season and in a much more desperate situation.
Barry Horne: Everton FC aren’t playing to Jermaine Beckford’s strengths
Sep 25 2010 by Barry Horne, Liverpool Echo
I FELT really sorry for Jermaine Beckford last Saturday. I thought he was really unlucky to be replaced at half-time. With Newcastle often leaving just Coloccini and the decidedly average Williamson at the back, the shape of their team was perfectly set up to play to Beckford’s strengths. I watched him closely and he was constantly looking to run into the space vacated by the full-backs.
But the ball never came. Not once did Everton put a hurtful ball over the top for the striker to work with. Instead they persisted with a system which has admittedly served them well in the past – a short passing game – and Beckford had nothing to work on.
They took him off, then I sensed that when Yakubu came on Everton did try to play balls in behind, but of course that’s not Yakubu’s game. I would have liked to see Beckford stay on with Yakubu and give him the chance to be in the team when we actually play to his strengths and give him something to work with.
Strikers thrive on confidence and last weekend won’t have helped Beckford’s any.
Royal Blue: New Everton FC book needs your stories
Sep 25 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
HERE’S A chance to feature in an exciting new book about supporting the Blues.
Everton, in partnership with the National Literacy Trust and Legends Publishing, is producing a new book, We Are Everton, which will reflect the memories and experiences of supporters both young and old. Following the Toffees is a way of life for many. At Goodison Park or on their travels they experience moments of elation, exhilaration, disappointment and despair - sometimes in the same game.
Players and managers come and go, but it is the supporters who give the permanent character to a club. And so as a celebration of its fans, the book will reveal the fun, the absurd, the emotional, the passion, the peculiar or the unbelievable that is part and parcel of following the Blues. Who travels the farthest to get to home matches? Who has seen more matches than anyone else? Who has the funniest or most bizarre Everton tale? Let them know. Email your stories to david@legendspublishing.net or via www.tilidie.co.uk. The deadline is 1 October 2010.
Royal Blue: Everton FC legend Harry Catterick is honoured
Sep 25 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
HARRY Catterick has finally been inducted into the Football Museum's Hall of Fame.
Catterick, who passed away in 1985, was named as one of the newest members of the elite list on Thursday. The recognition was accepted by his daughter Joyce, with David Moyes presenting the memento at Manchester's Hilton Hotel. "He was very proud of Bellefield and he also had great pride in what he did for young players who didn't have a future in the game because he always made sure they had other strings to their bow," Joyce said. "He was just so proud to have worked for such a fantastic club.”
Royal Blue: Answer to mystery of Everton FC’s slow start could be a failure to think short-term
Sep 25 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES would need a masters degree in behavioural psychology to completely understand why his players have not hit the ground running this season.
Not just him either. Most of the first team squad – a bunch of honest, hard-working, focused, professionals – share his bemusement. Because avoiding this precise malaise was the over-riding focus of a freshened-up and successful pre-season. Moyes, renowned for his meticulous approach, was so determined to avoid a slow start he tore up the usual summer plan. Eschewing the favoured option of visiting a major US city and playing their local MLS side before a mini-tournament, in favour of a long-haul trip to Australia far earlier in the schedule than usual, was the first change.
The emphasis Down Under was on building up a cutting edge in fitness, while playing some fairly competitive games. On that basis it was a success. The promotion of the Everton brand was another important factor for club officials, but make no mistake Moyes was thinking only of beating Blackburn on the opening day.
The Blues returned to step up their preparations with some more demanding friendlies, culminating with Steve McLaren’s Wolfsburg. So what could they have done differently? It wasn’t working with the old way, and something had to change. Moyes emphasised the importance of a quick start by reminding journalists at Finch Farm that the last time the Blues managed one, they finished fourth. In many ways, the manager got what he wanted this summer (barring £30m for a striker which is so unlikely in the short-term it is almost a redundant issue). Almost all his key players were fit and ready, and he managed to tie up a key band of personnel on new, lucrative deals to deny circling sharks and ensure they could concentrate on a significant season for their current employers.Recruitment was minor, but Moyes had said it was not his priority.
So there it was, almost the ideal pre-season, and yet the whistle went at 3pm on August 14 and all that has followed so far is disappointment.
In a sense, Moyes cannot spend too much time worrying about why the curse of the slow start has returned now. It is getting so bad that he must put all his focus on pulling the team out of the rut they’re in now.
But the issue remains. Why have sides like Blackburn, Wolves, Brentford and Newcastle been able to damage the Blues?
Perhaps the current crop are struggling to adjust to subtle changes in the Premier League. Firstly, they have been treated differently from the off-set. We’ve said it before, but teams have watched last season’s impressive form and realised they must play a high-tempo, defensive, physical game to unsettle Everton and knock them out of their stride. Secondly, Everton have been unable to adapt to it. Ignoring the problem of no definitive centre-forward (as Moyes has pointed out, there was none particularly last season either) the team’s sluggishness can be accredited to a failure to live with the physicality and strength of opponents, and laws in its own psychology.
Phil Neville hinted that too much had been talked about the season’s ultimate aims, and not enough about each mile of the marathon. The Blues mindset seemed fixed on glory in May and not the plodding but vital hard work that each Saturday brings.
There are very few easy games. Stoke have been around a while, spent a bit, and remain nobody’s mugs. Likewise Wolves. Newcastle are treating each game as it comes, battling to regain their newfound status. Sunderland and Birmingham are solid, tough opponents - as are Blackburn, Bolton, Fulham and Wigan. Nothing short of 100per cent commitment against all these teams will guarantee three points.
Everton must rediscover the competitive edge that made their name and remember how hard this division is, before they see light at the end of the tunnel.
Everton FC boss David Moyes urges his Blues to toughen-up fast
Sep 25 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
MANY different adjectives have been used to describe Everton during David Moyes’ reign - but ‘soft’ has never been one of them. From the days of condescension when it was all about their work ethic, or bravery, and at best their spirit - it evolved to the stage last season when the words glowed in illustration of their aesthetically pleasing football. It is an evolution which has pleased the Goodison boss, and yet he fears now that something may have been lost in the process. For Moyes, immersed in the teak-tough background of Glaswegian amateur football, before the no-holds-barred maelstrom of Old Firm rivalry, shirking confrontation has never been an option.
The Blues boss had the self-discipline to prevent himself decking Roberto Mancini at Eastlands last season, but he didn’t take a single backwards step. Soft is not an option for him, or for his teams. Yet now, it is the one quality he fears has crept into his squad during their sluggish start to the season, when oppositions have tried to unsettle them with rough stuff. “I’ve told them that I’ve been disappointed with the physical side of their game,” he says. “Especially against Newcastle, I don’t think we’ve competed as well as we can. “The one thing you always used to get when you played against Everton was that you would find it very hard to out fight them, to out strength them in any way. “If you wanted a scrap against us, then we’d be standing there waiting for you, not a problem. “I just thought that didn’t happen in the Newcastle game. “The biggest concern for me is that we have lost our competitive edge in the last few games. The one thing you could never do was beat Everton up.”
It is such a concern for the Everton boss, given the increasing direct approach of more Premier League rivals, that he could yet sacrifice style for points on the board. But Moyes insists he will not suddenly send them out as Merseyside’s answer to Stoke City. “I want to put more stiffness into their play, I want them to be more competitive than they’ve been, but the football we are playing, I don’t want that to change, I don’t want to lose that style, because there’s not an awful lot wrong with it.“We definitely need to rediscover our toughness and maybe we will have to sacrifice a little of the playing style we have got, to get better results.
“But the players we’ve got here, we can’t suddenly go and shell the ball forward, take long bombs into the box. I don’t think I’ve got that style of player. “We’ve evolved since I first took over, we don’t have that style. We play football, we pass the ball around and we are creative going towards the 18 yard box. “We have moved forward to where we are now. The Mikel Artetas, the Steven Pienaars, the Leon Osmans, we are in a different stage of our development now, and it is certainly not so simple as stopping playing a certain style and switching to another.” Some expected the morale-boosting draw with Manchester United to kick-start Everton’s season. But for Moyes a draw is nothing to be ecstatic about. “The thing was it wasn’t euphoric for me after Manchester United. It isn’t euphoric for us to draw 3-3 against Manchester United. We had beaten them the year before. “For me, you could probably see by my anger at the end of the game I didn’t have that mindset. My anger was on the referee, but I wasn’t thinking that was something special. “It was unbelievable to come back from two goals down with a couple of minutes to go and get a draw, that part you can say was incredible, but for me, I thought our performance against Manchester United was okay. “We played some good football but went in at half time down and we dropped our level in the second half, and the truth is I was actually disappointed we could only draw, so if the players were euphoric they didn’t get it from their manager, because I never felt like that. “I've got to go to Fulham which is a really difficult place to go and get a result and then I've got to go to Birmingham, so let's be fair it is a really tough spell we're in."
Everton boss David Moyes says Seamus Coleman could solve his right midfield puzzle
Sep 25 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
DAVID Moyes believes Seamus Coleman could provide the answer to his right midfield dilemma. The Everton boss admitted he is considering using the 21-year-old right-back further up field, as he struggles to find a solution on the flank. Moyes had hoped to have Victor Anichebe, who impressed in pre-season, available to play on the right, but the Nigerian has not been fit for any of the Blues opening Premier League games, and faces a further six weeks on the side lines after knee surgery on Thursday.
Coleman has been praised for his enterprising displays, with Moyes equally insisting the youngster still has much to learn defensively. He said: “We have considered that because, locally, we are really short of a right-sided midfielder. We didn’t get Landon Donovan, we now it’s not Ossie’s position but we have to do it somehow.
“We have thought of Seamus but it is a position he has never played. We are in a situation where we are trying to find a solution on that side of the pitch. “He has great ability going forward.ŠHe has come on fantastically and he is a real steal for what we paid for him. “Could he play there? Well, he would need space to run on to rather than be in a position with his back to goal.” Moyes is at least hoping to have Tim Cahill fit to return to his attack at Fulham today, after the Aussie trained yesterday. But he is sweating on late fitness checks over Leon Osman, who has a rib injury, and Tony Hibbert who is unlikely to have recovered from a groin strain. “Louis Saha is going to be out for another 2-3 weeks I would think,” added the Blues boss. “He's gone to a facility in France to get treatment and to be looked after and I think it'll be another couple of weeks before he is available again."
Fulham have injury problems of their own ahead of the fixture, Bobby Zamora has a long term ankle injury, whilst fellow strikers Moussa Dembele and former Everton man Andy Johnson will also miss out. Meanwhile, the Scot is anxious his players’ confidence is not sapped by their ongoing poor form. He said: “We’ve been knocked out of the cup, we didn’t play well in the league game before, the performance is OK but we are not picking up results, so you could definitely say that maybe under these circumstances we could lose confidence. “It might be something that happens if we don’t get results soon, and we may have to wake up to that fact. “The one thing we have got is a great group of players, epitomised by Phil Neville and the way he wants to do it. “The rest of them are right behind him as well. They are bitterly disappointed with their current level, because they are top players – a lot of them could go and play for top four clubs in any country. “So many of them are players who should be at the top level, and for them to be in this position, they find it incredibly difficult.
“There a real passion now to try and put it right. There’s a good chance the confidence could be affected by this run, even if we haven’t played that badly.”
Everton FC draw with Fulham but sink to bottom of Premier League
Sep 25 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
A HARD-working display earned Everton a point against Fulham at Craven Cottage, but still saw them sink to the foot of the Premier League table. The Toffees produces a tireless performance on their way to a goal-less draw, but enjoyed the better chances as they looked to banish the memory of their Carling Cup debacle on Tuesday.
With their forwards still mis-firing, the Blues came up against a side even more troubled in attack – Fulham fielding only Clint Dempsey in a patched up attack.
It was a game largely devoid of inspiration, but Moyes will at least be pleased with the attitude on display from the majority of his side. With Seamus Coleman deployed in a new right midfield role, Everton had potential attacking threat down both flanks but neither defence was seriously troubled during a drab first half. Moyes was able to start Tim Cahill after the Aussie trained on Friday, but the 30-year-old was forced off in the second half with a flare-up of his knee injury. The game livened up in final half hour, Yakubu and Mikel Arteta going close – but Damien Duff and Dempsey could also have given their side all three points. Yet the closest chance of the game went to Yakubu, who played his first 90 minutes of the season, when he drilled an injury time shot narrowly wide. The Nigerian slipped when in an even better position minutes later. It could have been a definitive moment in Everton’s season, but instead they had to settle for a grain of comfort at a place usually their bogey ground. With the Londoners seventh in the table after a far more positive start than their guests, Moyes could possibly have settled for a point. It means Everton’s winless start to this stuttering campaign endures, but their work ethic and drive hinted there will be eventual rewards. Whether it is at St Andrews, another notoriously difficult away fixture next week, remains to be seen. But that elusive slice of luck which can change a season for now remains just out of reach. With West Ham victorious, the Premier League table will make uneasy reading for Evertonians.
Fulham 0-0 Everton: Sunday Mirror match report
26/09/10 By Mirror Football (Sunday Mirror)
Mark Schwarzer of Fulham looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Blackburn Rovers and Fulham at Ewood park on September 18, 2010 in Blackburn, England
Everton suffered the humiliation of dropping to the bottom of the Premier League after failing to overcome Fulham at Craven Cottage. With West Ham springing a surprise by beating Tottenham, they leapfrogged the Toffees, who continued their worst start to a season since 1994-95. At the beginning of that campaign, a failure to win any of their opening 12 matches cost the then manager, Mike Walker, his job.
But David Moyes, the man in the hot seat at the moment, is confident he and his team can climb the table in the coming months. “You have to just keep doing what you’re doing,” said Moyes when asked how he hoped to do that. “There was no lack of confidence today. You try to do the right things, but we were lacking firepower. “You’ve got to say we probably had the best chances in the game, but we couldn’t take them. “My belief is that we’ve got a really good team and that has never changed.
“I might have questioned it because you can’t say that when you’re bottom of the league. But it’s up to us to get out of it.” Moyes was backed up by his Fulham counterpart and former Everton old boy, Mark Hughes. “I think Everton today showed they’re in a false position,” said Hughes. “They are a very good side. They’ve played well in most of the games I’ve seen and been unlucky not to get points. “They probably just need a win to get them going, and they’ll be fine. I don’t think there’s anybody too concerned at the moment in the Everton camp.” Moyes’s men would have got that win but for Mark Schwarzer’s heroics. Twice he saved his team in the first half, first from Steven Pienaar’s snap shot, then from Mikel Arteta’s fierce 30-yarder. But his best moments came late in the game, when he saved twice at full length from Yakubu as Everton threatened to snatch victory. Fulham, lacking the injured Bobby Zamora and Moussa Dembele, struggled to bother Tim Howard in Everton’s goal. Midfielder Dickson Etuhu went close in the first half with a forceful header from a cross by the impressive Carlos Salcido that Howard saved. The American keeper also superbly kept out a second-half effort by Clint Dempsey.
“It was a game of few chances,” said Hughes. “Both defences played really well.
“In the first half we didn’t really have a cutting edge, but in the second half we asked more questions. “Eddie Johnson came on and did really well for us. He just lengthened the game and was always threatening to get behind them. “But, in the end, we were indebted to Mark Schwarzer’s great save at the end, when Yakubu could have snatched it from us. “All in all, we’ve gone up against a good team today. I don’t anticipate they’ll be bottom for very long and we’ve come out with something.
“We’ll take the positives, which are a clean sheet and another game unbeaten.”
Now Everton have two away games, against Birmingham and Tottenham, with a home derby against fellow strugglers Liverpool in between. But they may have to tackle them without key player Tim Cahill, who limped off after 62 minutes with a recurrence of his troublesome knee injury. Fulham, on the other hand, are looking forward to the return of one of their injured strikers, former Evertonian Andy Johnson.
Fulham 0-0 Everton: Toffees winless run continues
26/09/10 By Mirror Football (Sunday Mirror)
Damien Duff of Fulham is challenged by Leighton Baines of Everton during the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham and Everton at Craven Cottage on September 25, 2010
Everton's wait for a first Barclays Premier League victory continues after they were held to a drab goalless draw at Craven Cottage. David Moyes will be the more satisfied manager after Everton controlled long spells of a match that did not show signs of life until the final half-hour. Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer made a fine save from Ayegbeni Yakubu in the 78th minute while Dickson Etuhu failed to convert the Cottagers' best chance. Fulham started with Clint Dempsey and Zoltan Gera in attack for today's Barclays Premier League clash with Everton. Damien Duff returned after missing the midweek Carling Cup defeat to Stoke with a calf injury while Diomansy Kamara featured in the squad for the first time in almost a year. Tim Howard returned in goal for Everton while Mikel Arteta replaced Diniyar Bilyaletdinov in midfield. South African Steven Pienaar was also recalled to the starting XI. Everton made the brighter start but it took a well-timed tackle from their defender Phil Jagielka to deny Dempsey a great chance. Carlos Salcido sped into the box and squared to Dempsey, who was about to shoot from the edge of the area only for Jagielka to intervene Tim Cahill, back having missed the last two games with a knee injury, became tangled with Brede Hangeland as Everton threatened and then Pienaar saw an attempt saved by Mark Schwarzer. Seamus Coleman was proving influential for the Toffees down the right side as Fulham continued to find themselves on the back foot. Schwarzer had to react smartly to gather a dangerous cross from Phil Neville with Leighton Baines lurking in the six-yard box. A dynamic run from Baines kept Everton on the front foot and Fulham's problems grew when Stephen Kelly limped off to be replaced by Chris Baird. Gera opened up his box of tricks to skip past Baines before producing a tame shot that failed to trouble Howard. Better was to come from Fulham when Simon Davies found Salcido who expertly teed up Dickson Etuhu, only for the Nigerian's header to find the arms of Howard. Arteta tried his luck from long range but the Spaniard's shot drifted narrowly wide of the right post. The impressive Salcido stopped Cahill in his tracks with a textbook challenge as the second half got off to an attritional start. Gera sent a shot across the face of goal and was then replaced by Eddie Johnson as manager Mark Hughes looked to inject some life into his side. Fulham responded by producing a slick move that saw Dempsey force a desperate save from Howard before Duff's follow-up was deflected to safety.
Cahill was then replaced by Leon Osman in the 62nd minute, just moments after Baines had gone close with an acrobatic overhead kick. Everton should have crept ahead when Coleman showed athleticism to find the near post where Yakubu failed to connect while under pressure from Schwarzer. Dempsey then went close as the match finally began to open up. A brilliant fingertip save from Yakubu's low piledriver showed exactly why manager Mark Hughes battled so hard to prevent Schwarzer from joining Arsenal last summer. Schwarzer advanced off his line to keep Yakubu at bay once more before Kamara, playing his first game for Fulham since January, saw a weak penalty shout rejected by Howard Webb. Yakubu had two chances to snatch victory but his first effort bobbled agonisingly wide of the right post before he missed a sitter with the last kick of the game.
SPARKY'S TOP MARK
TOP STOP: Schwarzer denies Yakubu
By Steve Lillis, 26/09/2010
MARK HUGHES admitted Mark Schwarzer saved Fulham from defeat against new basement boys Everton. The unsettled Aussie made several top- class saves, including one that denied Yakubu a last-kick winner. Craven Cottage boss Hughes said: "In the end we were indebted to Mark, but we were up against a good team and came out with something. "Both defences did well, but Mark was very good today. Everton are great from set pieces, but we dealt with it. I have to take the positives and we're still unbeaten." Sparky also dismissed Everton's league ranking, adding: "They showed they are in a false position. "Everybody can see they are a very good side. They are at the wrong end of the table, but I don't anticipate that for too long." Hughes was also delighted with left-back Carlos Salcido on his home debut, saying: "He showed what great experience he has."
HARD LANDING FOR SOFT MOYES BOYS
WAY AHEAD: Fulham's Clint Dempsey tries to find a route in on goal
Fulham 0 Everton 0
By Steve Lillis, 26/09/2010
MARK HUGHES and David Moyes ordered their teams to get tough - clearly their Welsh and Scottish accents were lost in translation.
You can bet when the pair shared an after-match tipple, any talk about this excuse for a match was over before the first sip of wine. Football will have been the last thing Moyes would have wanted to be reminded about as his team crashed to rock bottom in the Premier League for the first time in 16 years. It was a case of don't hurt us and we won't hurt you - and fans would have seen harder stuff among the women scrapping for bargains in the Next sale at Hammersmith Broadway. Fulham looked like a team who haven't a clue how to score. Everton hitting 20th in the league just days after an embarrassing Carling Cup loss at Brentford is all they need right now. With such players as Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill, Tim Howard and Steven Pienaar in their side, there is absolutely no chance of them being relegated. There is also Louis Saha to come back when he is fit. And they would not be bottom today had Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer not foiled Yakubu twice late on. Their bug-eyed boss is no mug and will know that the slide must come to screeching halt quickly, or top six expectations will be ripped up. And if that target goes, one might start wondering about the Scot's future, with a tiny section of fans becoming disgruntled despite the wonderful job Moyes has done over the past eight-and-a-half years. Although yesterday's rubbish was instantly forgettable, it is Fulham manager Hughes who looks to have just as many worries as the third- longest serving boss in the top flight. Fulham were poor offensively without broken leg victim Bobby Zamora and will struggle until he returns in February. Clint Dempsey was thrust into that role yesterday, but isn't a target man and isn't exactly a speedster. As always the American tried, but was frustrated and his marker Phil Jagielka sensed that, winding him up for fun. Carlos Salcido's crosses from the left were Fulham's most potent weapon and when he picked out Dickson Etuhu just before the break, the Nigerian headed wide. Etuhu should have done much better, having timed his run perfectly, and Fulham almost paid for that miss. Arteta found space outside the Fulham area and let rip with a 20-yard drive, which Schwarzer pushed behind for a corner. The Barbour coat-wearing fans at Craven Cottage don't do angry, but one or two stamped their feet when Hughes hauled off Zoltan Gera. It meant a rare opportunity for Eddie Johnson. Sure, the Yankee boy is an athlete and could be nicknamed Ben for his pace, but when he shoots at goal, people boating on the Thames are usually in danger of a soaking. Although Hughes claimed he was pleased with him, Johnson lacked belief when the ball was at his feet. He was put into one great position by Danny Murphy, but froze like a rabbit in headlights when Distin drew alongside him and made a tackle. Fulham wouldn't have scored all night and if anybody was going to settle the tedium, it was Everton.
Schwarzer is still bristling with anger that his summer move to Arsenal was blocked by Hughes. His performances since at Blackburn and Stoke in the past eight days suggested his mind was anywhere but playing for Fulham. Yet however desperate the Aussie stopper is to quit Craven Cottage, he is a consummate pro and there won't be any Billy big-time tantrums. Tubby Yakubu was hardly seen until the final 10 minutes, but when he did decide to play a part, Fulham were rocked. He did superbly to hold off centre- half Brede Hangeland and fired a shot towards the bottom corner, which Schwarzer saw late but saved. With the last kick of the game, Yakubu found himself in space with only Schwarzer to beat, but was denied by another top-quality stop. That was about as good as it got in a game that will be on the shortlist for any competitions being held for drab, goalless draws.
Fulham 0 Everton 0
Published: 25 Sep 2010
EVERTON tumbled to the foot of the table despite grabbing a point at Fulham.
The Toffees held Mark Hughes' men in this stalemate yet results elsewhere saw them sink to bottom spot. Yakubu nearly rescued the Mersey men from slipping — but his late effort was brilliantly saved by Mark Schwarzer. But boss David Moyes had a positive spin what happened — the only way is up! He said: "It's one way up now. Someone has to be bottom and it's us at this present time. "I don't think we look like a bottom-of-the-league team but we are so we have to get out of it. It's up to us to put it right. "We just have to keep doing what we're doing. We'll keep playing. "There was no lack of confidence from us against Fulham. We tried to do the right things. "The spirit's good. The players are all together and are all working for the cause to get a result. "My belief is that we have a really good team. That's never changed." Fulham chief Hughes agreed with the Scot and insisted nobody at Goodison will be panicking just yet. He added: "Everton showed today that they're in a false position and it's clear they're a very good side." "They're at the wrong end of the table but I don't anticipate that lasting for long. "In most of the games I've seen of them on video and TV they've played well and had impact. They've been unlucky not to get more points. "They probably just need a win to get them going again. I'd imagine no one in the Everton camp is too concerned." Fulham had the first sniff when Carlos Salcido zoomed into the box and squared to Clint Dempsey. Dempsey wound up and was ready to pull the trigger — but he was robbed by Phil Jagielka before he could give it both barrels.
At the other end, Steve Pienaar and Phil Neville both tested Schwarzer as the Toffees settled in. A storming run from Leighton Baines then kept the heat on Fulham, who were dealt a blow when Stephen Kelly was forced off injured. But the Londoners pulled themselves together and Zoltan Gera got his revenge by beating Baines — only to miss out when he scuffed the shot. Salcido then teed up Dickson Etuhu but the Nigerian's header was weak and straight at Tim Howard. Gera made way after the break when Mark Hughes sent Yank hitman Eddie Johnson into the mix. And it almost did the trick when Fulham carved Everton apart — only for Howard to deny both Dempsey and Damien Duff. Baines then went close with an overhead kick and Yakubu failed to connect with Schwarzer breathing down his neck. The Nigerian then thought he had made amends — only to miss out AGAIN. He looked nailed-on to nick the points but Schwarzer left him stunned by pulling off an astonishing save.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly (Baird 28), Hangeland, Hughes, Salcido, Davies (Kamara 71), Etuhu, Murphy, Duff, Dempsey, Gera (Eddie Johnson 55). Subs Not Used: Etheridge, Riise, Greening, Halliche. Booked: Salcido, Duff.
Everton: Howard, Coleman (Bilyaletdinov 88), Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Neville, Fellaini, Arteta, Pienaar, Cahill (Osman 62), Yakubu. Subs Not Used: Mucha, Heitinga, Beckford, Gueye, Barkley. Booked: Pienaar.
Att: 25,598
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Everton keep Fulham contained at the
Cottage
Paul Doyle at Craven Cottage
The Guardian, Sunday 26th September 2010 Steven Pienaar, left, of Everton is tracked by Danny Murphy of Fulham during the 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage. Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images Fulham and Everton got a point out from this game but spectators got virtually nothing. Never before had these teams drawn in the Premier League but here they never really looked like scoring. Endeavour abounded but the most obvious feature was the teams' lack of firepower. Everton came into the game on the back of their worst start to a season under David Moyes but morale did not seem damaged. In fact, they played with assurance as they took control of the match early on, obliging their hosts to chase as they circulated the ball methodically. Their problem in the campaign so far, however, has been turning possession into goals and that pattern re-emerged here. In the first half despite an array of passes they did not even come close to penetrating. It was Fulham, despite the enforced absences of all their strikers, who produced the game's first shot, Simon Davies firing over from 25 yards in the seventh minute. Fulham's goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was forced into action only twice in the first half, turning away long-range shots from both Steven Pienaar and Mikel Arteta. With a half-fit Tim Cahill struggling to get involved and Yakubu Ayegbeni hampered by ongoing mobility issues, the visitors' momentum continually petered out before the box, let alone the goal, could be breached. On the few occasions that Fulham broke forward, they too were constrained by an inadequate strike force. Injuries to Moussa Dembélé, Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson left them without a specialist striker, and, for all their foraging, Zoltan Gera and Clint Dempsey are not natural leaders of an attack. Though Fulham grew into the game in the second period, they did not create a better chance than the one Dickson Etuhu missed in the first half, when he headed a Carlos Salcido cross at Tim Howard from 12 yards.
With Louis Saha and Victor Anichebe injured and his summer recruit from Leeds, Jermaine Beckford, not yet having shown that he is ready for the Premier League, Moyes had little choice but to persist with Yakubu up front. As the game progressed the Nigerian was presented with chances to prove that was not a problem, but he could not do so. First he flicked wide at the near post after a terrific run and cross by Seamus Coleman. The Nigerian did better 10 minutes later when he spun past his marker and rifled in a low shot form 20 yards, but Schwarzer parried. In the dying seconds of stoppage time, however, Yakubu was given his best chance of the game, and spurned it by prodding tamely at Schwarzer after Marouane Fellaini had slipped him through. Given that his team were second-best for most of the match, Mark Hughes was relieved that their unbeaten record remained intact. "We are indebted to Mark for that great save at the end," he said. "You can see Everton are in a false position. They're a very good side and I don't anticipate they will be bottom of the league for long."
Moyes agreed: "I don't think we look like a bottom-of-the-table team but we are, so we have to get out of it. My belief is that we have a really good team, that's never changed. The only way is up."
Fulham 0-0 Everton: Daily Mirror match report
27/09/10 By Neil McLeman
Phil Neville claimed Everton are not in relegation danger despite sliding to the bottom of the table. And the Goodison captain insisted the perennial “slow starters” will pull clear of the drop zone like in his first season at the club. This London stalemate was better than the midweek capital punishment suffered at Brentford in the Carling Cup. And Fulham boss Mark Hughes insisted Everton were in a “false position.” But David Moyes’s side have still to win in six league matches and face a testing trip to Birmingham and then the Merseyside derby in their next two matches. It’s Everton’s worst start to the season since 1994-95 when Mike Walker was sacked by November. Still no victories after eight games and the Toffees will be in a really sticky situation.
Yet Neville, whose side held Manchester United a fortnight ago, stated: “We have too much quality to be in a relegation battle. I know that’s not a guarantee but the players are really determined. We had a couple of meetings this week and the character is still in the dressing room and it’s up to us to sort it out.” Everton have awakened from early-season stupor before. Last season they could blame a long injury list when they slipped to 19th after losing at Craven Cottage. But Neville also recalled his first season at Goodison in 2005-06 when they lost six straight games in the early part of the season. Neville recalled: “I remember saying to Leon Osman ‘do you think we’ll go down?’ He said ‘No, don’t worry. Everton are slow starters but the spirit will show through.’ “That comment has stayed with me ever since. The spirit now needs to shine through. He remembers it too. He had been at the club a long time and is blue through and through – that’s why I asked him.” Everton had the better chances at the Cottage but Yakubu could not beat keeper Mark Schwarzer. Neville continued: “On today’s performance you wouldn’t have thought we were bottom of the league. “But if you don’t win football matches it’s where you deserve to be. We have to go to Birmingham next week and at the moment draws aren’t good enough for us.” It was an uninspiring match between one side without a win and the other without any strikers. Fulham hit-man Andy Johnson returns to training today but Moussa Dembele is now out along with Bobby Zamora. And Mark Hughes challenged subs Eddie Johnson and Diomansy Kamara to step in and add pace and power to his forward line.
“It’s an opportunity for them,” he said. “Eddie needs a bit more self-confidence at times but he made an impact today so that will help him. “These guys have got to step up to the plate and give us options. We’ve lost key personnel and these guys are going to have to get the job done.”
FULHAM 0, EVERTON 0: NEVILLE WANTS TO SEE SPIRIT
Fulham 0, Everton 0
Monday September 27,2010
By Tony Banks (The Express)
FULHAM 0 EVERTON 0. PHIL NEVILLE has not often been bottom of the Premier League in his illustrious career with Manchester United and Everton. But he is now, staring up at every other club after another afternoon of Merseyside misery. Well perhaps not quite misery for Everton, for there were signs of life here for David Moyes’ men. Had Yakubu taken two glorious chances right at the death in this barely alive match, they might well have snatched their first win of the season. No one would have argued. Fulham, punchless without injured strikers Bobby Zamora and Moussa Dembele, ground out a draw and are a team waiting for their most potent assets to return. It did not make for a sparkling spectacle down by the Thames. In Neville’s first season at Everton in 2005-06, the Toffees lost their opening game, won the second, and then lost the next six to go bottom. It was not what the new man was used to. After all, he had won six titles at Old Trafford, three FA Cups and the Champions League. He said: “I remember saying to Leon Osman ‘Do you think we’ll go down?’ He said no, don’t worry. Everton are slow starters, but the spirit will show through’.
“That comment has stayed with me ever since. That spirit now needs to shine through. You come off the field quite pleased with the performance and find you’re bottom of the league. “The team, the players and the football we play now is almost unrecognisable from when I joined. We have progressed and improved, but the quality needs to come through now. “Now is the time to stand up and be tough. That doesn’t mean going out and kicking people, it means doing the right things and winning matches. It’s all about getting three points now.”
Everton FC manager David Moyes backs his rock bottom Blues
Sep 27 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
DAVID MOYES remained stoical after Everton sank to the foot of the Barclays Premier League following Saturday’s goalless draw with Fulham. The Toffees secured a point from a lifeless match at Craven Cottage but still went bottom after West Ham defeated Tottenham. It ended a miserable week for Moyes, who saw his side dumped out of the Carling Cup by Brentford in midweek. “It’s one way up now. Someone has to be bottom and it’s us at this present time,” said Moyes. “I don’t think we look like a bottom-of-the-league team but we are, so we have to get out of it. “It’s up to us to put it right. We just have to keep doing what we’re doing. We’ll keep playing. “There was no lack of confidence from us against Fulham. We tried to do the right things. “The spirit’s good. The players are all together and are all working for the cause to get a result. “My belief is that we have a really good team. That’s never changed.”
Everton, who must wait another week for their first Premier League win of the campaign, controlled the match but failed to make the crucial breakthrough with Yakubu missing a late sitter. Strikers Louis Saha and Victor Anichebe are injured and Moyes lamented their absence. “We had lots of possession and we created more chances than Fulham,” he said. “We had some opportunities later on and one or two in the first half. “I can’t come away saying we played badly though maybe we didn’t create enough chances. “We’re lacking in real firepower but you’d have to say we had the best chances in the game but couldn’t take them. “There’s a lack of belief in front of goal. Nothing’s going in and we can’t even deflect one in at the moment.” Tim Cahill started after two matches out with a knee injury and Moyes was pleased with his contribution. “Cahill has a bad knee and he did very well to play for us today. We always knew it would be bit of a gamble,” he said. “He wanted to play and we didn’t know how long we’d get out of him. To get an hour was quite good.” Fulham manager Mark Hughes, whose side remain unbeaten in the Premier League, does not expect Everton to be propping up the table for long. “Everton showed today that they’re in a false position and it’s clear they’re a very good side,” said Hughes.
“They’re at the wrong end of the table but I don’t anticipate that lasting for long. In most of the games I’ve seen of them on video and TV they’ve played well and had impact. They’ve been unlucky not to get more points. “They probably just need a win to get them going again. I’d imagine no one in the Everton camp is too concerned.”
Fulham 0 Everton 0: Greg O'Keeffe sees the Blues hit the bottom after drawing a blank
Sep 27 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
THERE have been 157 goals scored in the Premier League so far this season – sometimes it feels like Everton waste that many chances in a single game. Now they’ve paid the biggest price for their consistent failure to hit the back of the net, namely hitting rock bottom in the table for the first time in five years. Of course it’s a false position, for at least three of their opening six fixtures they have been the better side. Just as at Craven Cottage on Saturday, they have dominated possession and created the clearer opportunities. But while the rest of the top flight has witnessed a goal rush, converted chances remain an endangered species for the Toffees. The biggest test David Moyes faces now is preventing this pattern of results to become a vicious circle. With each passing win-less fixture, it gets harder to stop confidence sinking. After the Carling Cup debacle, Phil Neville used the metaphor that Everton must be prepared to climb a mountain. The Premier League table must look like Kilimanjaro to him at the moment. This season continues to make supporters of the blue faith feel like children who have woken up on Christmas morning to find only rocks in their stockings. The excitement and optimism of the summer might still be waning, but somewhere in this cagey encounter with Mark Hughes side were sources of optimism. Ayegbini Yakubu played a full game, and showed flickers of the Yak who scored 21 goals in his first season in royal blue. He might never regain the moderate but effective short burst of pace he had at his disposal back then, it certainly wasn’t there on Saturday, but his instincts look like they’re becoming re-honed. The Nigerian had three strong chances to grab those elusive points, tried repeatedly to get into the right positions, and turned his marker slickly on a couple of occasions. In the absence of anyone else, Everton sorely need the Yak to return to full fitness and form. Victor Anichebe’s latest injury blow was cruelly timed after his impressive pre-season, and Louis Saha’s fitness remains as unpredictable as British summer time. The Blues toiled tirelessly throughout, seeking to atone for the Brentford result in perspiration first and foremost. Seamus Coleman was promising on the right of midfield, with returning skipper Phil Neville providing the steadying presence behind him which is so vital if this experiment is to work. If Moyes can somehow get Neville and Coleman to develop a similar partnership on the right that Leighton Baines and Steven Pienaar enjoy on the left, opposition sides will be tearing their hair out. The Everton manager was also able to start Tim Cahill, after the Aussie trained on Friday, and his menacing presence was a welcome boost until being forced off in the second half with a flare-up of his knee injury. Steven Pienaar tested the excellent Mark Schwarzer early in the game, then Leighton Baines went close after a characteristic probing surge down the flank. But the clearest opportunity of an otherwise drab first half came when Dickson Etuhu steamed into the box, and headed a Carlos Salcido cross straight at Tim Howard. Later Clint Dempsey took advantage of a slip by Baines to turn his man and unleash a shot which was parried by Howard. Damien Duff missed the ensuing chance. In the second half, Mikel Arteta blazed narrowly over the bar – the opportunity created by Coleman. Straight back down the other end Simon Davies miss-kicked when he seemed poised to score after a rapid counter-attack. Clint Dempsey went close moments afterwards, his shot inches wide. Defensively, after porous moments against Newcastle and Brentford, the Toffees were solid, Sylvain Distin maintaining his composure throughout and looking back on track after recent slip-ups. Any of Yakubu’s final brace of chances could have been a definitive moment in Everton’s season, but instead they had to accept a small crumb of comfort at a place where they have won only once in 44 years. In other circumstances, Moyes could possibly have settled for a point with the Londoners seventh in the table after a far more positive start than their guests. But points are essential now. Last season’s outstanding run of form from November onwards might have made people sit up and take notice, but it came too late to propel the Blues to a European place. Everton simply cannot let this current malaise stumble on any longer. Thankfully, this display hinted it will not, their work ethic and drive suggested eventual rewards will arrive. Whether the turning point comes at Birmingham, another notoriously difficult away fixture next week, remains to be seen. That elusive slice of luck which can change a season also remains just out of reach, and surely that is due to change too. From this head-scratching new low, onwards and upwards is the only route Everton can go.
EVERTON (4-4-1-1): Howard, Neville, Distin, Jagielka, Baines, Arteta, Coleman (Bilyaletdinov, 88), Pienaar, Cahill (Osman, 61) Fellaini, Yakubu. Not used: Mucha, Heitinga, Beckford, Gueye, Barkley.
FULHAM (4-4-2): Schwarzer, Kelly (Baird, 27), Salcido, Hangeland, Hughes, Murphy, Gera (Johnson, 54), Duff, Etuhu, Dempsey, Davies (Kamara, 70). Not used: Etheridge, Riise, Greening, Halliche.
CARDS: Booked – Pienaar (75), Duff (85).
REFEREE: Howard Webb (Rotherham).
ATTENDANCE: 25,598.
Everton FC defender Sylvain Distin sure the Blues’ fortunes will change for the better
Sep 27 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
SYLVAIN DISTIN is convinced Everton’s luck is about to turn around after another impressive performance failed to yield a win for the Blues. The French defender insisted it is not time to panic, despite the Toffees being rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table after not winning any of their first six games. Distin is a journeyman of the English game, and has picked up plenty of experience on the way. He said: “Football is tough, you accept it and fight or you don’t like it and you go back home. If we didn’t have good performances I could say we’ve got problems, but against Fulham we played well and had chances so I can’t worry. “We’re happy we kept a clean sheet at Craven Cottage. Apart from Newcastle, I think we’ve had good games and good performances. When you look at the table we’re not in a good position, it’s really early but it’s still not nice to be in this situation.” Meanwhile, Phil Neville says Yakubu’s return to peak form is imminent. The striker played a full 90 minutes in the goalless draw at Craven Cottage – his first full outing of the campaign. “I think Yakubu showed good signs today – and a little bit when he came on against Newcastle,” Neville said. “I think momentum is a big, big part of Yak’s game, and the more 90 minutes he gets under his belt, the better he will be.”And Distin, who turned in a much improved personal display in West London, believes it is only a matter of time before the Blues surge up the table. He said: “If you play badly and don’t create chances then obviously it’s very difficult but I don’t think that was the case. We always believed we would win the game at Fulham, but the final pass and the final chance wasn’t there. “I don’t think we’re a bad side, and I don’t think we were out played so everything is positive apart from the result, points and table. “If we keep working the way we did, you can have two consecutive wins and then you’re in the top half of the table so that’s why I don’t think it’s time to panic yet. Even if the fans are disappointed they can see that we work hard “We were disappointed with the Carling Cup but there’s only so much you can do; we had many chances, didn’t score and got punished.”
Former Everton FC player Paul Gascoigne appointed manager of Garforth Town
Sep 27 2010 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post
EX-EVERTON player Paul Gascoigne has been appointed the new manger of non-League club Garforth Town. The former England midfielder has described the job with the Evo Stik First Division North League club as “a big challenge”. Garforth’s divisional rivals in our region include Witton Albion, Chester, Warrington Town, Skelmersdale United, Cammell Laird and Prescot Cables. Gascoigne, 43, said: “I feel strong right now. For me personally it’s a big challenge. It’s whether the players want to join me in that challenge. “I never knew when I’d get back into football. I want to take the club forward and I want the players to develop. I will give commitment to the club. “Going to a club like this does not bother me one bit. I love this type of football. It is not flash and the players won’t be flash. “I will get the same publicity at Garforth as if I was at a Premier League club and I don’t want the players to get carried away with it. “I am excited. I can’t wait to get in and get started – but of course, I will be nervous.” The former Newcastle, Tottenham, Lazio and Rangers midfielder believes his appointment with the West Yorkshire side will not be a repeat of his previous management role, at Kettering. Owner Imraan Ladak sacked Gascoigne after just 39 days, claiming the former England international was drinking too much. Gascoigne explained: “It went really well there. The chairman tried to blame it on the drink but it was totally untrue. He stopped me coaching and he wanted to become manager.”
Garforth owner Simon Clifford said: “This is not a publicity stunt. When we signed Socrates and Careca, that was. “Everyone says they love Paul but nobody does anything about it. “I want him to be an inspiration to someone who might have depression or problems in their lives. He’s walked through hell but he has kept on walking.”
The only way is up for rock bottom Everton FC
Sep 27 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
A QUICK search on YouTube unearths something that may easily have been missed at Griffin Park on Tuesday evening. Shortly before the first whistle of Everton’s Carling Cup debacle against Brentford, a supporter brandishing a mobile phone caught sight of the mascots from both teams leaving the field, hand in hand. However, the eagerness of the home team’s representative to keep a firm grip on his younger counterpart led to the comical sight of the Goodison mascot being dragged along the turf for a few moments before the grown-ups intervened. Now David Moyes faces a challenge of his own to get Everton back on their feet and haul his charges up the Premier League after they slipped to the bottom of the table at the weekend. In keeping with a curious season, it didn’t even require a defeat for Moyes’s men to plumb new depths of a worst start to a top-flight campaign in 16 years. A goalless draw at Fulham, coupled with West Ham United’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur, secured the ignominy of last place and meant Moyes had plenty to ponder as the Everton party boarded the 19.07 train from London Euston back to Merseyside. At the forefront will be a shortcoming that continues to undermine his team’s efforts – a lack of goals. It was frustratingly evident at Craven Cottage on Saturday, when Everton could and should have kickstarted their campaign with a first league win of the season against a Fulham side that remain unbeaten in the Premier League. Make no mistake, this was much, much better than the surrender at home to Newcastle United the previous week and the beating at Brentford. But when it comes to applying the finishing touch, Everton are still found sorely wanting. With Louis Saha sidelined, Victor Anichebe recovering from another operation and Jermaine Beckford finding the leap from League One to Premier League increasingly difficult, Yakubu has assumed the role of first-choice striker almost by default. The Nigerian has been backed by both Moyes and his assistant Steve Round during the past fortnight, the pair no doubt eager for the forward to shake off a summer of uncertainty in which his Goodison future was in the balance. It’s clear Everton need him, and there were signs at the weekend that Yakubu is regaining his appetite, if not his accuracy, one second-half shot after turning away from Brede Hangeland bringing the best out of Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. As against Newcastle the previous week, the forward should have scored in injury time. After the ball bobbled kindly into his path from Leon Osman, Yakubu pulled an angled shot just wide before a more glaring miss when he weakly poked at Schwarzer having been released by Marouane Fellaini’s neat pass. Of course, the impact of the serious Achilles injury that sidelined Yakubu for more than nine months shouldn’t be underestimated. The Nigerian has never been the quickest player but the explosive burst of acceleration that would often make the difference over short distances has not returned, as evidenced when easily beaten by Schwarzer to a through ball from which, two years ago, he would have most likely scored. Right midfield is also proving a problem position for Moyes. A succession of players – Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar, Mikel Arteta, Victor Anichebe, Marouane Fellaini and even Jack Rodwell – have tried but failed to plug the gap during the last 12 months. Having toyed with the idea for a few weeks, and been encouraged by his attacking performance against Brentford in midweek, Moyes handed the task to Seamus Coleman. And the Irish youngster was a qualified success on his first Premier League start. Coleman has pace to burn and his direct style and close control caused Fulham left-back Carlos Salcido moments of concern, but too often his final delivery and pass selection was found wanting. That will come with experience, but with Moyes insistent the 21-year-old is a right-back by trade, this role will only be temporary. Moyes had been alarmed by the lack of fight shown by his players during the previous week’s surrender at home to Newcastle and, to a lesser extent, the shoot-out defeat at Brentford. With skipper Phil Neville rejoined in battle by Tim Cahill, the devilment returned to Everton’s play and, while not exactly up against the most abrasive of opponents, there was no chance of the visitors being bullied out of the game. While a calculated gamble, Cahill was clearly less than fully fit after missing the last two games with an ongoing knee problem. The Australian relies on an all-action approach, and any niggles could lessen his impact. Fulham were there for the taking. With Bobby Zamora joined on the sidelines by strike partner Moussa Dembele, Cottagers manager Mark Hughes had even greater selection worries up front than his Goodison counterpart. Indeed, the home side created little. Tim Howard, a spectator for much of the game, made his first save, a comfortable hold of Dickson Etuhu’s header, on 42 minutes, and was only called into action once during the second half, denying Clint Dempsey after a slip from Leighton Baines gave the American a glimpse at goal. Dempsey later saw a shot deflected wide but that was the sum total of Fulham’s threat. Credit, though, must go to an Everton backline that kept its first clean sheet of the season. Sylvain Distin has endured a rocky few weeks, most notably against Manchester United, but on Saturday he was the pick of a solid bunch in the visiting defence. With more than 45 years since the last league draw between the two teams, a stalemate was long overdue, particularly given the lack of strikers on display and the fact Fulham manager Hughes had drawn 12 of his previous 16 Premier League games. Wins, though, are what Everton now need. And with a trip to Birmingham City to come, literally the only way is up for Moyes and his players.
No quick fix for Everton FC's problems says manager David Moyes
Sep 27 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
DAVID MOYES admits there is no quick-fix to Everton’s problems after they slipped to the bottom of the Premier League. A hard-earned goalless draw at Fulham wasn’t enough to prevent the Goodison outfit falling to last place in the top-flight following West Ham United’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Once again, Everton created the better chances at Craven Cottage but an inability to turn superior possession into goals leaves them still seeking their first league win of the season And Moyes said: “We’re in this position and I don’t think we’re going to get out of it quickly. But I’ve no doubt we will get out of it. “Someone has to be bottom and it’s us and we’re there and we have to do something about it, so we’ll start trying to move up. “We had Fulham away and we next have Birmingham away, they were always going to be two tough games. “We probably had the better opportunities in the end but we didn’t take them. We’ve not been scoring, but with the opportunities and efforts we had on goal, we’re getting closer to scoring.” Moyes believes Everton’s performance merited greater reward and that only the finishing touch in front of goal is lacking. “Normally when a side is at the wrong end of the table they tend to lack confidence but you couldn’t say that about us,” he said. “The boys took the ball, they took it under pressure and they tried to do all the right things. “I can’t ask for a great deal more other than getting the ball in the net. That is the one thing I can ask for more of. And we will try to do something about it. “I think most people who have watched Everton this season would say that is how we have been playing generally but they would also say we have been hitting a brick wall at the 18-yard line. “We didn’t have the killer pass or the player who could quite make the difference around the box.” Tim Cahill passed a late fitness test on the knee injury that ruled him out of the last two games, but was substituted during the second half. And Moyes admitted: “We always knew it would be a bit of a gamble. Cahill has a bad knee and he did very well to play for us. “He wanted to play and we didn’t know how long we’d get out of him. To get an hour was quite good.” Moyes handed Seamus Coleman his first Premier League start on weekend on the right of midfield. And the Goodison manager added: “We have been striving, as everybody knows, to find a solution (down the right). “I don’t think Seamus will prove to be the ultimate answer but he may be a short-term fix now and who knows, he may become a player who can play there.” Meanwhile, Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has described the prospect of signing Jack Rodwell as “impossible”. City are among several Premier League rivals tracking the teenager, but Mancini knows any swoop in January for Rodwell is likely to end in failure. The Italian said: “We put English players in the team but it isn’t easy because all the clubs that have English players won’t sell. “I like Jack Rodwell but will Everton sell? Impossible. If I can, I give young players a chance. I was just 16 when I first played in Serie A.”
Phil Neville: Everton FC are too good for a relegation battle
Sep 27 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
PHIL NEVILLE has dismissed fears Everton are facing a relegation battle this season but admits the Goodison outfit must start winning soon. David Moyes’s side ended a difficult week by slipping to the bottom of the Premier League on Saturday despite a hard-earned goalless draw at Fulham. Although a much-improved performance after the home defeat to Newcastle United and Carling Cup humiliation at Brentford, the result continued Everton’s worst start to a season since 1994. And while convinced Moyes’s men have the quality to soon move out of the relegation zone, skipper Neville has warned his team-mates not to feel sorry themselves and urged them to accept responsibility for their poor form. “You can’t say anything for certain, but I don’t see this season as being a relegation fight,” said the 33-year-old. “We have got too much quality, and I know that doesn’t guarantee you aren’t involved in a relegation battle, but the players are determined. “The defeat to Newcastle has hit us really hard, we’ve had a couple of meetings this week and the character is still in the dressing room and it’s up to us to sort it out. “The manager has been into us all week and we had a reaction at Fulham, but we need to start getting three points now. We lost to Newcastle and we lost to Brentford, but I didn’t see any confidence issues against Fulham. Everyone was brave, players wanted the ball and passed the ball, and on the performance you wouldn’t think we were bottom of the league. “But I’d forego a good performance now and just get a result.” Neville added: “You come off the field and are quite pleased with performance, then you find you are bottom of league. But if you don’t win football matches then that’s where you deserve to be. “We played well again, but that’s been indicative of five out of six games we’ve played, apart from Newcastle we’ve played well and not won the game. It’s about getting the three points now and not how we play. “How we didn’t win the game I will never know. We had chances and all the possession. We are in a false position but there’s no point feeling sorry for ourselves. Draws aren’t good enough at the moment, we need wins to get off the bottom of the league. And that’s our own fault.” Neville recalls Everton being in a similar position during his first season at the club five years ago. And he reckons the spirit Moyes’s men showed then to climb to safety must be on show again now. “When I joined the club five years ago we hardly won in the first 10 games,” said the skipper. “I remember saying to Leon Osman after 10 games ‘you don’t think we’ll get relegated do you?’ and he said ‘don’t worry, Everton are traditionally slow starters and our spirit will show through’ and that little comment has stayed with me throughout my Everton career. “Now our spirit needs to shine through again” Neville also revealed the players had received inspiration the night before the game by a visit from club owner Bill Kenwright. “We stayed at the same hotel last year and he visited us then,” he said. “I don’t think it was a rallying cry, but it was nice to see him. There’s no bigger blue than Bill Kenwright. He is a fan, and to see him there made us aware we are all in this together. “Nobody gets criticised when we lose more than the chairman, if we lose it always tends to be his fault. As players we take responsibility, it’s our fault and we are where we are because of the players and nobody else.”
Ian Snodin: Everton FC striker Yakubu needs to rediscover full fitness
Sep 28 2010 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Echo
A FULLY fit Yakubu could well have fired Everton to a much brighter start to the season. On a couple of occasions so far this campaign his lack of match fitness has just denied him the chance to find the back of the net. Saturday at Fulham was a case in point and there were one or two opportunities an on-fire Yak bangs home.
When his mind is on the job, Yakubu is a major handful for any defence and has a good scoring record. The more games we can get into Yakubu the better because he’ll be vital to Everton’s cause.
I’ll settle for scrappy 1-0 wins from now in
THERE have been suggestions that Everton’s bad run of form will end in dramatic fashion this weekend and they will perhaps hammer Birmingham. Not only do I think asking any side to score a hat full of goals at St Andrew’s is a tall order but I’m not fussed how the wins start coming. I would bet David Moyes would settle for three poor performances in the next three games, if we got 1-0 wins. Just getting that winning feeling back at the club and at the Finch Farm training ground is vital and doing so breeds confidence just like we saw last season with that great run.
But we have to grind out a win to start off with and do that anyway we can – let’s not get carried away with talks of taking our frustrations out on Birmingham and running up a big score. l Perhaps the most contentious matter over the weekend in the Premier League was Dirk Kuyt’s goal for Liverpool at Sunderland. I can see both side’s point of view on the matter but agree the goal should have stood. I would like to think that if Everton had been presented with an opportunity like that then our forwards would have reacted like Fernando Torres did. Equally I hope if it had been scored against us, we’d accept the decision.
Phil Neville was 100% right
CAPTAIN Phil Neville’s quotes this week about Everton being too good to go down are 100% spot on. Although we’ve seen good sides and big name sides go down, the Blues will not follow that path. David Moyes has assembled a squad which is too full superb players for anything like this to happen. I’ve not even let it enter my thinking and nor will the players, management or board. I hope the supporters have not either. We can’t be contemplating talk of being involved in a relegation fight and it was good to read what Phil had to say after the Fulham game. I’m not concerned, just disappointed with the way the season has begun, I don’t think anyone foresaw this kind of start. All the players and management would have been confident of getting off to a great start and already being up in amongst the front runners. But that optimism has been replaced by disappointment but Everton are not alone in having below par starts to the campaign and will be doing everything they can to make amends this weekend at Birmingham. I’m confident.
We should all wish Gazza well at Garforth Town
IT’S fair to say the news Gazza is back in football management this week with non-league Garforth Town is a bit of a strange one. But I hope I’m right in saying all Evertonians would wish Paul all the best in his new job. It is another great opportunity for Gazza and Garforth who have previously signed the legendary Brazilian player Socrates up for a game. I hope this new job keeps Gazza’s mind on football and blocks out any other distractions in his life. Good luck Gazza and we’ll all now be watching out for Garforth’s results.
Ian Snodin: Everton FC just need to pick up some luck at Birmingham City
Sep 28 2010 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Echo
SUNDAY’S game at Birmingham City promises to be very tough given their record – but I wouldn’t swap any of our players for theirs. Going unbeaten at St Andrew’s in a year is a tremendous record for Alex McLeish’s men but we can go there confident, despite our start to the season. When I compare the two sides, there is not one Birmingham player I would have in the Everton team. And when McLeish looks at the teamsheets at the weekend he would take at least six of Everton’s players if he could – without a doubt. We played reasonably well at Fulham on Sunday and dominated possession in what was never going to be an easy game, especially with the way things have panned out so far. In many respects, given our lack of goals and Fulham having a few injuries with their strikers, the game had 0-0 written all over it. People were saying it wasn’t a good result, especially as we went bottom of the table on Saturday night, but I would argue a point at Craven Cottage is something not to be sniffed at.
If the Blues had started the season a little brighter and were say, six or seven points better off, then most people would have been hailing that as a valuable point, gained from another solid performance away from home. In no way am I concerned the side are propping up the table, we are only six games into the campaign. If we’re still there after say 15 matches, then you’ll see me worried. David Moyes has still got the lads playing reasonably well but I feel we just need that bit of luck to help us turn things around. Yes, we got some of that in the last minute against Manchester United, but we didn’t get that against Newcastle United. I admit we were poor that day but Yakubu’s effort struck the post and rebounded straight back into Tim Krul’s arms and Marouane Fellaini has missed that great chance near the end. When things are going for you, those find the back of the net. One thing going in our favour at Birmingham will be the great following as usual. I believe there were around 2,000 Evertonians at Craven Cottage on Saturday and a similar following is expected in the second city.
Moyes got a great reception from the fans before the start of the second half and that level of commitment from the supporters rubs off onto the players. Hopefully next time I write this column we are talking about Everton’s first league win of the season. Here’s hoping.
Bill Kenwright still holds a European dream for Everton FC
Sept 28 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON owner Bill Kenwright is still holding onto a European dream for Everton this season, despite admitting to being “shocked and bewildered” by the club’s current position at the bottom of the Premier League. Saturday’s draw at Craven Cottage, coupled with West Ham’s victory over Tottenham, has left the Blues rock bottom.
But the Goodison chairman declared: “I can only say as a fellow fan I don’t believe we will be down there for much longer. “The name of the game isn’t to get out of relegation trouble, believe me, but to get up towards the European places and I know that’s what everyone, especially the manager, is aiming for. “We’re in a state of shock rather than a state of crisis, because we went into this season with high hopes, which to be honest with you Evertonians don’t normally do. “We were all set for what we thought for the first time in a long, long time was a season when we could hopefully deliver what Evertonians want and what Evertonians should get. “There was a real confidence so naturally there’s a real feeling now almost of bewilderment at where we are, especially seeing how we’ve played.” Kenwright added: “I don’t think it’s confidence. I went to the team hotel on Friday just to be there with the gang – it wasn’t to give them a gee up as some papers have said – it was just to be there with them and there’s an absolute knowledge in the squad of where they are. No-one’s hiding from that, but there’s also a confidence they will get out of it. “Of course they’re feeling bewildered by it all, but they know they will get out of it. When they went on to the pitch at Fulham it wasn’t a team lacking confidence. We played terrific football but we just couldn’t put the ball in the net.” Skipper Phil Neville revealed that Kenwright’s visit lifted the players. “The chairman came into the team hotel and had dinner with us,” he said. “He didn’t say anything – he just shook everybody’s hand and for me it was poignant. “Even though he didn’t say anything, he didn’t need to. It was as if we were all in this together. “Nobody gets criticism and stick when we lose a game more than the chairman and he’s probably the biggest Evertonian out there so you know he’s in the trenches with you, and you go out there and you die for this club.” The chairman added that manager David Moyes had been lifted by the backing he received from Everton fans at Fulham as he returned to the dug-out after half-time.
“The fans reaction was certainly noticed by me,” he went on. “When he got behind the goal at the Everton end it was wonderful because 2,000 Evertonians, to a man, chanted his name. I know this man better than anyone apart from his family, and saw his whole body lift. “As he gave the clenched fist to those supporters I know he was thinking ‘thanks for being with me and the team, we’re not going to let you down’.
“He was two feet taller as he walked round that ground. David was right in saying some team has to be bottom, I just wish it wasn’t us. We hate being down there.
“We’ve not played like a team that should be bottom of the league, even though we are and that in itself is quite shocking for Evertonians.”
Bill Kenwright still holds a European dream for Everton FC
Sept 28 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON owner Bill Kenwright is still holding onto a European dream for Everton this season, despite admitting to being “shocked and bewildered” by the club’s current position at the bottom of the Premier League. Saturday’s draw at Craven Cottage, coupled with West Ham’s victory over Tottenham, has left the Blues rock bottom.
But the Goodison chairman declared: “I can only say as a fellow fan I don’t believe we will be down there for much longer. “The name of the game isn’t to get out of relegation trouble, believe me, but to get up towards the European places and I know that’s what everyone, especially the manager, is aiming for. “We’re in a state of shock rather than a state of crisis, because we went into this season with high hopes, which to be honest with you Evertonians don’t normally do. “We were all set for what we thought for the first time in a long, long time was a season when we could hopefully deliver what Evertonians want and what Evertonians should get. “There was a real confidence so naturally there’s a real feeling now almost of bewilderment at where we are, especially seeing how we’ve played.” Kenwright added: “I don’t think it’s confidence. I went to the team hotel on Friday just to be there with the gang – it wasn’t to give them a gee up as some papers have said – it was just to be there with them and there’s an absolute knowledge in the squad of where they are. No-one’s hiding from that, but there’s also a confidence they will get out of it. “Of course they’re feeling bewildered by it all, but they know they will get out of it. When they went on to the pitch at Fulham it wasn’t a team lacking confidence. We played terrific football but we just couldn’t put the ball in the net.”Skipper Phil Neville revealed that Kenwright’s visit lifted the players. “The chairman came into the team hotel and had dinner with us,” he said. “He didn’t say anything – he just shook everybody’s hand and for me it was poignant. “Even though he didn’t say anything, he didn’t need to. It was as if we were all in this together. Nobody gets criticism and stick when we lose a game more than the chairman and he’s probably the biggest Evertonian out there so you know he’s in the trenches with you, and you go out there and you die for this club.” The chairman added that manager David Moyes had been lifted by the backing he received from Everton fans at Fulham as he returned to the dug-out after half-time.
“The fans reaction was certainly noticed by me,” he went on. “When he got behind the goal at the Everton end it was wonderful because 2,000 Evertonians, to a man, chanted his name. I know this man better than anyone apart from his family, and saw his whole body lift. “As he gave the clenched fist to those supporters I know he was thinking ‘thanks for being with me and the team, we’re not going to let you down’.
“He was two feet taller as he walked round that ground. David was right in saying some team has to be bottom, I just wish it wasn’t us. We hate being down there.
“We’ve not played like a team that should be bottom of the league, even though we are and that in itself is quite shocking for Evertonians.”
Phil Neville to give Everton FC 'warrior' Seamus Coleman licence to thrill
Sept 28 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
EVERTON skipper Phil Neville is happy to go back for the future – to allow young “warrior” Seamus Coleman the chance to progress. Neville moved back from his regular midfield role to play right-back at Fulham, with Coleman operating as a more attacking right-sided player in front of him. And the skipper believes the switch was good for both players. “Seamus is a fantastic player to have in the squad – he’s a warrior,” he explained. “It was good to play with him. I helped him and he helped me, and it all bodes well for the future. “The main part of Seamus’ game is going forward, and at Fulham he had the license to do what he wanted. If I was a left-back I wouldn’t like to play against him.”Striker Yakubu, meanwhile, has been axed from the Nigeria squad for their African Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea on October 10.
The Blues striker is missing from a 30-man squad for the game in Conakry, Guinea – but as he searches for his first goal of the season, Neville believes it is only a matter of time before the Yak is back on the scoresheet. “I think momentum is a big, big part of Yak’s game, and the more 90 minutes he gets under his belt, the better he will be,” said the Goodison skipper. “There was that little sharpness, that little glint in his eye at Fulham and I said to him at half time I could smell a goal coming. “Maybe he could have had one just at the end but it’s great to have him back playing. He’s had a horrific time with injury but it’s good to have him back firing.” With 18 international goals Yakubu is one of Nigeria’s leading scorers, but he hasn’t figured for his country since the World Cup where his miss against South Korea was branded the miss of the tournament.
Bill Kenwright admits to being bewildered at Everton’s poor start to the season
Sep 28 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
BILL KENWRIGHT admits to a feeling of “bewilderment” at seeing Everton slump to the bottom of the Premier League following their worst start to a season for 16 years. But the Goodison chairman has dismissed suggestions of a crisis and is confident the team can still challenge for European qualification. A goalless draw at Fulham at the weekend has left Everton with just three points from six games and still seeking their first top-flight win. It is in stark contrast to the end of the previous season, in which a run of just two defeats in 24 league games led many observers, including Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, to tout David Moyes’s men as possible title challengers. And Everton owner Kenwright said: “We’re in a state of shock rather than crisis, because we went into this season with high hopes, which Evertonians don’t usually do. “After last season, when we were depleted by injuries, it was really important to batten down the hatches and hold on to what we had, with the likes of Mikel Arteta, Jack Rodwell, Seamus Coleman and the like. “We were all set for what we thought for the first time in a long, long time was a season when we could hopefully deliver what Evertonians want and should get. “There was a real confidence so naturally there’s a real feeling now almost of bewilderment at where we are, especially seeing how we’ve played.” Everton have posted a number of encouraging performances but been let down by an inability to turn possession into goals.
But Kenwright is confident Moyes’s men will soon be scrapping at the right end of the table. He said: “I have only seen us beaten once, in the second half against Newcastle. All the others – Villa away, Fulham away – we thought we were bound to do it. We’re playing good football but are really in a state of bewilderment. “Moyes was right in saying some team has to be bottom, I just wish it wasn’t us. We hate being down there. “I can only say as a fan I don’t believe we will be down there for much longer. The name of the game’s not to get out of relegation trouble, but get up towards the European places.”Kenwright added: “I don’t think it’s confidence. I went to the team hotel on Friday just to be there with the gang, and there’s an absolute knowledge of where they are. No-one’s hiding, but there’s also a confidence they will get out of it.
“When we went on to the pitch at Fulham it wasn’t a team lacking confidence. We just couldn’t put the ball in the net.
“Brentford last week was a horrible, horrible Tuesday, but was another when we could have been five, six or seven up by 20 minutes.
“We’ve not played like a team that should be bottom of the league, even though we are. “An away point at Fulham in normal circumstances isn’t a bad result, but as we walked in afterwards I thought to myself ‘hey, I think we’re going to be bottom’, and that in itself was quite shocking. “I know the manager better than anyone apart from his family, and as he gave the clenched fist to the fans as he walked around the pitch at half-time I know he was thinking ‘thanks for being with me and the team, we’re not going to let you down’.” Moyes was forced to work within tight financial restraints during the summer transfer window which left him unable to sign a proven striker he believes would make a difference to his team. And Kenwright has reiterated he is striving to bring in new funds to bolster the squad. “It would be great to think getting a trophy is not about finance but we know the current world and I have to give David Moyes the money, I have to find the investment people who want to take over Everton – and we will find it,” said the Goodison chairman.
Everton FC will hit the goal trail and Yakubu can lead the way – Phil Neville
Sep 28 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
PHIL NEVILLE has predicted Everton are on the verge of rediscovering their scoring touch – and has backed Yakubu to lead the charge. The Goodison outfit were once again undermined by a lack of firepower when they slumped to the bottom of the Premier League following a goalless draw at Fulham on Saturday. Yakubu was criticised in some quarters after missing a succession of chances that would have earned Everton their first top-flight win of the seasonThe Nigerian, who played a full Premier League game for the first time in more than six months, hasn’t scored for David Moyes’s side since his strike in the 3-2 win at Blackburn Rovers in April.
But Neville believes there are signs the forward is close to recapturing his killer instinct and has warned opponents the floodgates will soon open for Everton.
“You saw glimpses of Yak getting away from defenders,” said the Goodison skipper. “We need to persevere with Yak now, he needs a run in the side to get his sharpness back. “He had an horrendous injury and he hasn’t had the fluency to get his sharpness back. I thought there were signs the goal is coming. We know the Yak, we know his record, he guarantees goals and once he starts scoring he will be like a new signing for us. “But you have spells as a team where you can’t score a goal and hopefully there is a team coming around the corner soon that will pay for it.” Neville’s view is echoed by Everton manager Moyes, who admits the striker is still not yet firing on all cylinders. “Yakubu is maybe not in the best condition,” said Moyes. “He played more than 90 minutes in midweek and he did it again on Saturday. “We’ve got one or two on the sidelines who could come into the side, but I think the Yak did well.” Everton are bottom of the table for the first time since Neville’s debut season at Goodison five years ago, but the utility man is convinced the squad are even better equipped to drag themselves our of trouble. “The football we play now is almost unrecognisable from back then,” he said. “That’s no disrespect to the team when I first joined – they had qualified for the Champions League – but they were a real up-and-at-’em, in-your-face kind of team. “We have progressed from there and our quality needs to shine through now. We have players who have played in World Cup finals, World Cups and big games and now is the time to stand up and be tough. That doesn’t mean go out and kick players, but to do the right things.” Meanwhile, Steven Pienaar has been nominated for the African Player of the Year Award. The Everton midfielder has been named on a shortlist of 17 for the accolade, which also includes Chelsea duo Didier Drogba and Michael Essien, and Manchester City’s Emmanuel Adebayor. Pienaar, who was crowned Everton's Player of the Season in May, played in all three of South Africa’s group stage games in this year's World Cup in South Africa and has won 53 caps for his country.
Wasteful finishing costs Everton FC dear
Sep 28 2010 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post
EVERTON under-18s lost their first match of the season when they were beaten 3-0 at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. Neil Dewsnip’s side went into the clash unbeaten in their first five FA Premier Academy League matches, and despite another decent performance failed to take the chances that came their way. Everton were 1-0 down after 12 minutes following a long throw-in that saw Blackburn score following a scramble. Dewsnip’s side had the chance to equalise soon after midfielder Femi Orenuga was brought down as he broke into the area onto Hallum Hope‘s clever pass. But Adam Cummins missed the resulting spot-kick and the chance was gone.
Just before the break Conor McAleny saw his shot cleared off the line ad Danny Murphy fired just wide from Luke Garbutt’s free-kick. While Everton felt they should have had another penalty when McAleny appeared to be brought down in the area.
The misses proved costly as Blackburn made it 2-0 in injury time at the end of the first half with an excellent header. Hope failed to take an opportunity to reduce the arrears. But Blackburn completed their win on 75 minutes through a free-kick which was headed in. Coach Dewsnip said: “It was a cruel scoreline in a way. But it was a game of taking your chances – they did, we didn‘t. “They started and took the lead from a Stoke City-style throw, but we responded well. We got a penalty, but missed it and we some fantastic chances and should have had another penalty. Going right on to half-time we were in the ascendancy and it seemed only a matter of time before we equalised. But just on half hour they went and scored a really good goal. At 2-0 at half-time we felt it was a bit harsh.” Everton will be look to put their defeat behind them when they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at Finch Farm this Saturday (kick-off 11am). Adam Forrester (back) and Adam Thomas (ankle) are both still out injured. EVERTON UNDER-18s: Davies, Barrow, Garbutt, Murphy, Connor, Orenuga, Dobie, Kinchella (Long 60), Cummins (Lundstram 75), Hope, McAleny. Subs: Roberts, Browning, Higgins.
Mark Lawrenson: Everton FC will never be in crisis as long as David Moyes is in charge
Sept 28 2010 Liverpool Daily Post
IN the past week or so I’ve heard some people expressing doubts over David Moyes and whether he has taken Everton as far as he can. The problem is, these people know very little about the club, the manager or indeed football in general. He has had a bad start. He hasn’t suddenly become a bad manager and his players haven’t suddenly become bad players. I’m not saying that Moyes doesn’t have his problems and that he needs to sort them out. He needs to find a way of getting goals because at the moment his team just can’t buy one. And although most Evertonians surely know that their club will be fine this season, at the start of the season they wanted more than that.
Looking at the squad, they would have envisaged Everton flying right from the start, not being stuck at the bottom after six games. But that’s the key statistic right there. Six games. There’s still 32 to go. Problem is, the hype and overkill that comes with the Premier League these days means that everything is good or bad, there’s no in between. So Everton get labelled a bad side following a winless start to the campaign and an embarrassing loss to Brentford in the Carling Cup.But I’ve spoken to a few fans who were at Griffin Park and I trust their judgement when they say that game could have been any score in Everton’s favour. Cup shocks can happen and in the context of a poor start to a season, you’re bound to be concerned. But Bill Kenwright won’t be and he knows he still has the right man to lead Everton up the table.
It might not feel like it now, but the signs this will happen are already there.
Aside from the obvious quality in this squad, have the performances really been that bad? Craven Cottage is a ground where Everton usually lose but they looked the more likely to win on Saturday against one of only two unbeaten teams in the Premier League. And their performance also proved there was no hangover to the Brentford loss – if there was you can bet your life a side with a home record as good as Fulham’s would have capitalised on it. Also, think of the domination of Aston Villa, the comeback against Manchester United. All that is missing overall is goals, and the United draw proves that this team has them in abundance. So my message is ‘keep the faith’. It might not make as good a headline as ‘crisis’. But how anyone could call it that at Everton when David Moyes is in charge is beyond me.
Everton reserves lose to Bolton despite Jose Baxter wonder goal
Sep 29 2010 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Echo
A JOSE Baxter thunderbolt could not prevent Everton Reserves from letting a lead slip to lose 2-1 at Bolton Reserves last night. Goals from Adam Blakeman and Tope Obadeyi were enough to cancel out Baxter’s stunning opener and hand Wanderers all three points and their first win of the season. It was a fast start by Everton and they could have been ahead early on had Magaye Gueye’s solo effort not sailed wide.
Joao Silva, playing as a lone striker, then saw his goal ruled out for offside as Everton threatened to break the deadlock, before Michael O’Halloran shot wide after good wing play from Tope Obadeyi.
Baxter, who was a constant threat in a side, then hit the side netting from a teasing Nathan Craig cross. Tackles continued to fly in and a total of five yellow cards were given out in the first half alone, including four to the visitors for late challenges.
Just over half an hour in, a mistake from James Caton gifted the ball to Gueye, who fed Baxter to fire a ferocious 20 yard drive past Lainton’s right hand and into the net.
The goal spurred Wanderers into action and they opened their account for the season through Adam Blakeman, who curled a left foot effort into the bottom right hand corner of the net after Everton had failed to clear a corner. And Wanderers took the lead in the second minute of added time, when Obadeyi powered a left-footed 20 yard drive past Iain Turner at his near post. Everton Reserves: Turner, Nsiala, Bidwell, Wallace (Akpan, 72), Duffy, Mustafi, Craig (Garbutt, 72), Barkley, Silva, Gueye, Baxter. Subs not used: Davis, Kinsella, McAleny.
Seamus Coleman: EFC should forget about Europe for now and start winning
Sep 29 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
SEAMUS COLEMAN today warned Everton to forget about qualifying for Europe as they bid to haul themselves off the foot of the table. The Irish defender insists talk of the top five is off the agenda until Everton start winning games, and admitted the Blues need points to lift their confidence. But Coleman, who enjoyed switching position to right midfield against Fulham, still believes this team can prove the doubters wrong when they finally click into gear. He said: “I’d like to forget about what’s going to happen at the end of the season and just start winning. “You don’t want to be looking towards the end of the season before you’ve kicked a ball because anything can happen in football. You need to take each game as it comes. Every game in the Premier League is tough, and you have to treat the lower teams the same as the top teams. Look at West Brom beating Arsenal at the weekend.” Coleman agrees with skipper Phil Neville that the pre-season talk about a challenge to the top four could have eased the squad into a premature sense of achievement. The 21-year-old, speaking last night at an awards ceremony to recognise the excellence of Everton’s disabled teams, said: “I agree with Phil. If we can put a good run together then people start changing their tones, and three or four games unbeaten and you’re flying.
“But we can’t look too far ahead. One win gets a bit of confidence back. Football is a lot to do with confidence, and wins will give us more of that.” Coleman is determined to hone his game by learning from the top defenders in the league, including his team-mates Phil Neville and Tony Hibbert. He added: “I keep an eye on the top full-backs and watch their game, but I don’t really base my game on anyone. I don’t want to be unrealistic and say I want to play exactly like someone. “But I spend more time looking at lads in the team; like Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville. If I’m on the bench I’ll look at the way they do it, or I’ll watch what they do in training. They’re two very experienced lads and both very good defensively, which maybe I need to work on a bit, so it’s very useful being able to learn from them. “Hibbo is similar size to me but he has the defensive side to a tee. I watch him in games when a winger comes up on him and nine times out of ten, you’re thinking Tony is going to come out with the ball after this. “If I can pick up wee bits from him I’d be more than happy. He can play anywhere. It’s good to be like that because it gives the manager food for thought, and gives you a better chances of getting games instead of being stuck in one position.”
Clean sheets key for Everton FC says Sylvain Distin
Sep 29 2010 by David Prentice, Liverpool Daily Post
SYLVAIN DISTIN believes that clean sheets – not greater firepower – will be the key to an Everton revival this autumn. The Goodison outfit have scored just four goals in their six Premier League games to date, with focus falling on the club’s goal-shy strikers. But Saturday’s goalless draw at Fulham was Everton’s first clean sheet of the campaign and Distin believes that is an equally significant statistic. “The clean sheet is not only for the defenders it’s the whole team,” he said. “If we don’t have any help from the strikers or the midfielders you can’t do anything. “It’s a team, sometimes you can make individual mistakes but you always have someone behind you to clean up.
“It’s not only about me and Jags, we obviously get on well and we don’t need to talk too much because we have a good understanding, but it’s all about team work.
“We are still looking for our first win, but instead of thinking about what we should have done I’m going to focus on the positives, the clean sheet and a point in a stadium where it’s not easy to play.”
A point at a Fulham team unbeaten in the Premier League this season would normally be considered a good result, but West Ham’s victory over Tottenham meant that David Moyes’ men found themselves rock bottom of the table. “It’s a little bit frustrating but at least we didn’t lose the game and it’s our first clean sheet,” added Distin. “I don’t think we’re a bad side. “If we keep working the way we did, you can have two consecutive wins and then you’re in the top half of the table so that’s why I don’t think it’s time to panic yet.”
Statistics prove why Everton FC are struggling this season (DATA VISUALISATION)
Sep 30 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
POINTS might win prizes on TV quiz shows, but goals win football matches.
Hence why Everton, pre-ordained to do something special in the Premier League this season, are rock bottom instead. It might well be a false, and temporary, predicament for David Moyes’ men – but the only way they can begin to climb up the league table is by putting together a string of wins. To do this, they are going to need one of their currently misfiring band of forwards, to step up to the plate – and rediscover their killer instinct. Unfortunately for those searching for a ray of hope, the statistics don’t make pleasant reading. As anybody who has watched the Blues this season so far can attest, they have not been short of chances. A midfield containing the artistry of Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar, Leon Osman and Marouane Fellaini has meant that chances in front of goals have not been in short-supply. It’s actually putting them away which has been the problem. As the above visualisation shows (click through to explore it fully) in the three home games so far, Everton have had 52 shots, above the division’s average of 49. On the road they have bettered the average even further, having 58 compared to 3 But the sobering part is that of those chances at home, only 11 were on target - below the average of 15. Away they fared slightly better, getting 14 on target compared to the average of 11. Think back to Aston Villa at Villa Park. Everton had an avalanche of chances – but in Brad Friedel were up against a fine goalkeeper on top form who thwarted them repeatedly. Then at Fulham, the chances rained down on the home side’s net, but veteran Mark Schwarzer was equal to everything which came his way. The Aussie seemed unbeatable, and against a side low on confidence in front of goal anyway, he held firm. Possession has not been much of a problem. The Blues have been competitive in terms of keeping the ball in all their league games, and beat the average home and away (home 54.7%, average is 51.3%. Away 63.9%, average is 48.7 %.) That crucial problem is when the ball gets to the edge of the area.
So, with none of the Blues strikers as yet covering themselves in glory – who is the man most likely to bang in a glut of goals, and go on a scoring run which can change his side’s fortunes? There are no runaway candidates yet.Tim Cahill has that traditional knack of popping up in the opposition box just when Everton need him, and the stats suggest he is the best-performing forward on the books so far in this campaign.
The 30-year-old, who is currently stuck on 99 career goals, has a shots to goals ratio this season so far of 0.25, with 0.62 of his efforts on target.
Throughout his career he has had a shot to goal ratio of 0.16, but has got has got half of them on target at 0.56.
Yakubu’s form has been a talking point for many. Question marks persist over whether he has put his horrendous Achilles injury of two years ago behind him, and whether his head was turned by West Ham’s summer pursuit of his services.
The stats aren’t kind. None of his shots this season have resulted in a goal (Shots/goals ratio: 0) and he has got less than half on target (0.43). Of course The Yak has proven himself as a goalscorer in the Premier League and his career figures are better (Shots/goals ratio: 0.19, Shots on target ratio: 0.54). Jermaine Beckford’s figures so far this season make grim reading, but his lack of starts must be taken into consideration (Shots/goals ratio: 0. Shots on target ratio: 0). Plenty for him to improve upon, but he must get the chance of 90 minutes too. The comes the man known as King at Finch Farm. Louis Saha’s career stats are suitable impressive (Shots/goals ratio: 0.15. Shots on target ratio: 0.54), but his lack of fitness so far this season means he too, has much to do. (Shots/goals ratio: 0.00 Shots on target ratio: 0.67).
Starting at Birmingham on Saturday, one of that group can be the man who saves Everton’s floundering early season.
Everton FC letters: Time for Reds fans to learn from their Blue rivals
Sep 30 2010 Liverpool Echo
WHY do Liverpool FC supporters think the football world owes them a life? Get over it, you are so fickle! A few years ago I remember reading what the Yanks where going to do when they bought the club and nobody objected then. I remember when Rafa came in and won the Champions League, he was the best thing since the ECHO became a tabloid. “In Rafa we believe!” was the cry. In fact it’s been cry cry cry, ever since. The Yanks gave King Rafa many millions to spend on players, he was so busy buying them he forgot to see if they could play football at all! But he was great when he was spending all those millions because he knew what he was doing. Well according to the supporters he did. So who is to blame? The Yanks? Rafa? What about you, the supporters? Stop whining and whingeing, get behind your players that you have got (before you chase them away) and enjoy the game for what it is.
Shankly is not about anymore, so get over it. By the way I am a Blue nose and a happy one. We have good days and bad days. That’s life is it not? Geoff Warriner, Kirkby.
AN encouraging point at Craven Cottage, which could have been more if the Blues had a cutting edge in the attacking third.
If Yakubu, who played well, had more matches under his belt we would have sealed the points.
His diligent display was due to the Blues playing the ball accurately and quickly to his feet as opposed to a fighting ball, which has been a flaw in Everton’s attacking play this season.
Essentially, Fellaini was assured in his favoured role, Coleman was resplendent at times down the right, but man of the match was Sylvain Distin.
Apart from the Man United game he has been outstand- ing, exhibiting pace, towering in the air but importantly, bringing the ball out of defence.
This could well explain Fellaini’s influence which Jagielka needs to note as Heitinga, apart from his pace can complement Distin in this area.
Personally, I would like to see either Pienaar or Bilayletdinov play behind the striker as both have the ability to thread the ball quickly into attacking areas, which could galvanise Yakubu’s and Beckford’s fortunes.
Equally, Bilayletdinov has excellent crossing ability. Too often the direct style to Cahill ensures profligacy ensues.
Everton need guile not brawn to unlock defences.
David, Aintree
OH dear, without a doubt we are going back to the mid seventies scenario, where the best we could hope for in a season was to beat that lot accross the Park, and finish better than 14th. We are lacking a striker with the intelligence to play as a striker, at the Premier League standard. This uncertainty in front of goal is like a flu epidemic throughout the team, so everyone becomes uncertain. The buck stops with MOYES!
Get it sorted by Christmas David or get out. Remember Billy Bingham? Those days are back again folks! Mark my words ... Keith
Everton FC fans' jury - their verdict on the Blues poor start
Sep 30 2010 Liverpool Echo
Michael Drummond, Speke
I AM sure most of the jury would agree with me in saying that I wasn’t looking forward to writing this week. I just don’t know where to start. Fair enough, we never win at Fulham away, but it’s pathetic that after we come away with a point the players say we played well but we just couldn’t score. It’s not good enough and it doesn’t help having players going on about it either! With Moyes sounding defeatist and accepting that ‘someone has to be bottom’, it does not give me great confidence for the trip to Birmingham. All I can hope for is that we don’t concede a goal, which is possible if we play our best back four with Coleman and Heitinga there. It would also be nice to have a decent right winger and not putting a squad player there who isn’t even a winger. Our best XI needs to be found and soon. Roll on the derby!
Tony Scott, Walton
THERE’S a massive, grey cloud looming over Stanley Park at the moment and it looks like it’s here until May. With managers playing players out of position, star players under-performing, a board happily plodding on, attendances down, millionaire players not caring and no money to spend, Merseyside’s top clubs are in massive danger of becoming also rans in English football’s elite. Twenty-three years ago Everton and Liverpool were at each others’ throats for the title, now it’s a case of whoever finishes above the other is more successful. The problem we have at the moment is we just can’t score. Maybe we should have kept a certain lad who plays for Manchester United. I think fourth place has already gone and any hopes of serious success this year is through the FA Cup. Until Everton get a 20-goal-a-season centre-forward, this is never going to change I’m afraid.
Debbie Smaje, Upholland
BOTTOM of the table, the only winless side in the Premier League, but David Moyes doesn’t think we look a bottom of the table side. As long as we continue to play with a ‘no lose’ attitude, rather than go out looking for wins, we’ll stay there. Against Fulham and Brentford, we created and missed a succession of chances, were fully in control of both games, yet Moyes refused to bring on a second striker to help that isolated lone frontman. There were some positive changes on Saturday, Coleman at last provided us with width on both sides, while we looked so much more solid with Fellaini played in his right position. But Yakubu was still isolated. Beckford warmed up for 25 minutes but never appeared, and came on in place of Yakubu at Brentford when he should have been up with him. Both strikers are struggling in front of goal at the moment, and they each need each other to see them at their best. Moyes needs to be brave enough to move away from 4-5-1 sometimes.
Cole Fraser, Litherland
THE league table doesn't make easy-reading at the minute. It’s frustrating but we can’t go getting carried away. Contrary to what some fans are saying, we don’t need to sack the manager. After 38 games, he will have guided us away from the position we currently find ourselves occupying. True, it’s a bit of a mess right now, but rest assured that we will come good. We know what these players are capable of and I have no doubt that they can turn this around. If we keep plugging away we will soon find ourselves climbing the table. Moyes just has to keep trying different tactics until something fits. However, it does worry me slightly that he seems reluctant to stray from his beloved 4-5-1. We need Johnny Heitinga back in the defence and I’d like to see what Magaye Gueye can do.
Everton FC’s disabled teams are top class
Sep 30 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
RISING star Seamus Coleman dished out the prizes at an event to recognise the excellence of Everton’s disabled footballers. The Republic of Ireland right-back was present at the club’s disability Player of the Year awards on Tuesday evening, organised to recognise another successful season for the Everton’s unprecedented 23 disabled teams. No other club in the Premier League has as many disabled teams as Everton, with the awards capping an excellent year for Danielle Evans who was voted female disabled player of the year. Aged just 14, Evans became the youngest player to play for the England ladies deaf team and was top scorer for Great Britain at the Deaflympics in Taiwan. She also inspired the Everton pan disability ladies to a third successive national championship. Everton’s disability manager Steve Johnson, believes the development at the club has been crucial in helping Danielle into the player she has become. He said: “Though Everton’s development programme is about grass roots opportunities for disabled people, with the correct support Danielle has progressed to play football at the highest possible level. “We are all very proud of her achievements and will encourage her to strive to attain further honours in her football career.” The club’s disability programmes continue to grow from strength to strength, with Everton the first disability-specific club to achieve the FA Community Charter Standard Award. In the past six years the charity has engaged with 17, 100 disabled participants and 2,850 in the past year alone. Everton’s 23 disabled teams field eight international players.
Steven Pienaar states case for Everton FC defence
Sep 30 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
STEVEN PIENAAR believes Everton are ready to get back to the defensive solidity which has been their calling card in recent seasons. The South African midfielder believes the Blues first clean sheet of a turbulent start to the season, at Fulham on Saturday, was a sign of things to come and backed David Moyes’ team to pick up where they left off against Birmingham this weekend. Pienaar, who insists he is yet to reach his peak in a blue shirt, feels the team have finally put the dismal home defeat to Newcastle United in the league out of their heads, and are ready to assert themselves.
Spectators have blamed Everton’s lack of a cutting edge in front of goal for hampering their form most this season, but Pienaar insists a water-tight back four is equally integral to success. He said: “If you don’t concede goals you’re not going to lose. For the guys at the back it was a boost that it was the first clean sheet of the season against Fulham and they played well. “The Newcastle game was disappointing. We let a lot of people down and we know it. We went into Fulham with our heads clear and showed we can play when we play 100%. “We all know Birmingham are difficult to play against away. Well organised and tough. It’s going to be tough but we just have to play our own game and hopefully get all three points. They are always well organised with a good foundation. We have to build on our last game and make sure we play with confidence and be sharper in front of goal.”The 28-year-old playmaker has gone from strength to strength since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2007. His move to England reinvigorated his career after a frustrating season in the Bundesliga, and last season his form earned him the club’s Player of the Year award.
But the talented midfielder, who impressed in the weekend trip to Fulham, insists his best is yet to come. “I think as a young player it is exciting and you get noticed,” the Bafana Bafana vice-captain said. “But you move on and go through different stages in your career and you get better as you get older – hopefully that is what I am doing.
“Every day is a different day and I think every day I am learning. I know I can improve further if I keep working hard at my game.” Pienaar also backed Yakubu to rediscover his form and get amongst the goals sooner rather than later. “We all know Yak is a proven goalscorer,” he said. “He is slowly getting back to where he was and the more games he plays the sharper he will get. Hopefully he will get his goal soon and that will kick-start things for him.”
Tim Cahill reveals Everton FC’s increased hunger to get first win
Sep 30 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
TIM CAHILL admits Everton’s Craven Cottage frustration has made them even hungrier to break their Premier League duck at Birmingham City this weekend.
David Moyes’s side are still seeking their first top-flight win of the campaign after failing to capitalise on a dominant performance in a goalless draw at Fulham last Saturday. The result saw the Goodison outfit slump to the bottom of the table and continued their worst start to a season in 16 years. But Cahill, who returned after missing the previous two games with a knee problem, reckons the performance gave plenty of reasons for encouragement. “We would have loved to have got our first win but it obviously just makes us hungrier now,” said the Australian. “We knew how tough it was going to be especially with our position in the table which put more pressure on the game. “We started off really bright and sharp and it’s been a while since I have had a chance to play up front with Yak. “We played well and had a few chances and got close to scoring – the football was positive.” Cahill lasted 62 minutes before being replaced by Leon Osman at Fulham, with Moyes careful not to overly risk the midfielder’s fitness. “I trained Thursday and Friday to have a chance of selection and got in the starting line-up, and in the second half I had to come off, I gave as much as I could until the knee had enough,” said Cahill. “Yak played well and I was happy for him to get some chances and hopefully they will turn into goals once he gets sharper, and also Seamus Coleman gave us a different gear with his attacking which was great to see.” Coleman, who was handed a first-ever Premier League start at Fulham at the weekend, agrees that a single victory could prove a turning point for Moyes’s men.“One win gets a bit of confidence back,” he said. “Football is a lot to do with confidence, and wins will give us more of that.” “If we can put a good run together then people start changing their tone – three or four games unbeaten and you’re flying.” Coleman added: “I’d like to forget about what’s going to happen at the end of the season and just start winning. “You don’t want to be looking towards the end of the season before you’ve kicked a ball because anything can happen in football. “You need to take each game as it comes. “Every game in the Premier League is tough, and you have to treat the lower teams the same as the top teams. “Look at West Brom beating Arsenal at the weekend.”
BLUEWATCH: Targets that got away come back to haunt Everton FC and David Moyes
Sep 30 2010 by Mark O'Brien, Liverpool Daily Post
JUST who can Everton rely on at the moment? Obviously not themselves, that’s taken as read, judging by the persistent lack of a league win and the Carling Cup exit, but we at least thought we could depend on West Ham to keep us off the foot of the table.
Alas though, no, even Avram Grant’s rabble managed to muster enough gumption to win their local tussle with Tottenham and leapfrog the Blues who were playing out a goalless draw at Craven Cottage – arguably the most predictable scoreline ever.
Even Robert Green managed to avoid hurling the ball into his own net while Frederick Piquionne, a player David Moyes was briefly linked with last season, scored the goal that sent Everton rock bottom. Another striker Everton have pursued in the past, Victor Obinna, also appeared in claret and blue, and it’s not gone unnoticed by Evertonians that the Nigerian who was denied a work permit when he was on his way to Goodison is now earning good reviews for the Hammers. That sense of injustice is only heightened by our own problems up front. Ayegbeni Yakubu and a half-fit Tim Cahill looked laboured at Craven Cottage, despite the late flurry of chances. In other circumstances, a point at any London ground would represent a fair day’s work, but Everton no longer have the luxury of simply being happy with their performance. You can’t say ‘on another day we would have won that’, because the evidence proves pretty categorically that that’s not the case. Everyone keeps saying that Everton are in a false position – traditionally slow starters who will eventually move right up the table. And while only the most pessimistic Blues are contemplating relegation, as things stand it’s difficult to make a case for this team achieving much more than survival this season – unless Louis Saha returns soon and hits top form there’s little to suggest that we can score enough goals to put a decent run of wins together.
Birmingham on Saturday is clearly another crucial game then. They are unbeaten at home for a year, so, just like at Craven Cottage, a draw would normally suffice. Not now though. If West Brom can win at the Emirates, surely Everton must go to St Andrew’s determined to take nothing less than all three points. After all, it’s clear now that no-one else is going to do us any favours.
September 2010