Tomorrow is the draw for the 2010 World Cup in Cape Town. Apparently Charlize Theron, the South African actress with the fake American accent will also be there. Can anyone explain that to me?

More pertinent: The BBC just posted a story on its website speculating whether an African team can win the month-long competition and whether hosting the tournament on the continent gives its teams an edge. The piece is very conventional stuff–retired African footballers and Pele gets surveyed for their opinions. Everyone is positive, except the former South African striker, Shaun Bartlett:

“… All six of the African teams have their weaknesses – Bartlett mentions “poor goalkeepers”, “occasionally catastrophic defending” and “a tendency to concede late goals because they can’t concentrate for 90 minutes” – and a lot will depend on their ability to stay injury-free, especially with January’s Africa Cup of Nations looming in Angola.”

Yes, African footballers can’t concentrate.

HT: Chris Bolsmann

WITH A BANG !

След голямо отсъствие от терените, Якубу най-после се завърна, във мача на резервите срещу тези на Бърнли. Не само това, а и вкара гол още във 31 секунда, и е бил във основата на втория гол на Гослинг.
Третият гол е вкаран от новото попълнение – американеца Коуди Арнó.

Пред евертънТВ нигериеца е казал, че се радва да бъде отново в игра, и че с нетърпение очаква да започне пак да играе с първия отбор. Той тренира с отбора около месец, преди да бъде пуснат в игра. В момента е в Чехия с останалите, преди мача със Сигма.
А ето и хората, които пътуваха :

Хауърд, Неш, Хибърт, Бейнс, Йобо, Дъфи, Невил, Родуел, Озмън, Фелаини, Пиенаар, Кейхил, Гослинг, Саха, Воън, Якубу, Жо, Уолъс, Бакстър, Акпан, Агард, Търнър

evertonfc.com- Yakubu is set to return to action for Everton’s reserves on Tuesday.

The Nigerian striker will line-up against Burnley’s second string after recovering from an Achilles injury suffered in November last year.

He has been gradually stepping up his rehabilitation all summer and is now ready for competitive action.

The Yak is joined in a strong Toffees side for the opening game of the campaign by the likes of Iain Turner, Dan Gosling and Jose Baxter, all of whom have senior experience.

New arrival Shkodran Mustafi will also feature, joining Moses Barnett, Shane Duffy and James McCarten in defence.

Lukas Jutkiewicz, James Wallace and Hope Akpan, reserve-team regulars from last term, are also included.

American duo Anton Peterlin and Cody Arnoux are also in the squad along with Kieran Agard, Adam Forshaw and teenage keeper Connor Roberts.

The game against the Clarets kicks off at 7pm on Tuesday at the Stobart Stadium, Widnes.

Everton FC: Man kan ikke stå stille i Premier League

Stiftet: 1878 (som St. Domingo’s FC)

Stadion: Goodison Park (Kapacitet: 40.157)

Kælenavn: Toffees

Seneste tre ligaplaceringer (07/08/09): 6/5/5

Første fem kampe: 15/8 Arsenal (H), 19/8 Man City (U), 22/8 Burnley (U), 29/8 Wigan (H), 12/9 Fulham (U)

Manager: David Moyes (Siden marts 2002)

David Moyes er en populær mand i den blå del af Liverpool, og det forstår man godt. Klubben med den stolte historie – blandt andet ni mesterskaber og et rekordhøjt antal sæsoner i den bedste engelske fodboldrække – er nemlig efter et turbelent årti i 90′erne blevet genskabt under den 46-årige skottes lederskab. Ganske vist vandt klubben sin femte FA-cup titel i 1995, og sluttede året efter på en fin 6. plads, men derudover var der ikke meget at juble over. I 1998 redde klubben kun livet på en bedre målscorer end Bolton lige under nedrykningsstregen, og selvom man samme sommer ansatte Glascow Rangers’ succestræner Walter Smith var der ikke de store forbedringer at spore. Everton sluttede konsekvent i den nederste halvdel af tabellen under Smiths ledelse, og i  marts 2002 var holdet igen i en seriøs flirt med sin første nedrykning fra Premier League. Det var i denne situation at bestyrelsen besluttede sig for at fyre den gamle skotte Smith, og i stedet satse på den unge skotte Moyes, som i sin korte managerkarriere havde vist gode resultater med Preston North End.

Moyes formåede i sin første sæson at undgå nedrykning med en femtendeplads. De næste par år bød på voldsomt svingende resultater; en syvendeplads efterfulgt af en syttendeplads og en meget imponerende fjerdeplads (klubbens højeste placering i Premier League, og seneste brud på the big fours dominans) i 2005. Fjerdepladsen blev fulgt af endnu et magert år, dog med en stabil 11. plads til følge. De seneste tre sæsoner har stabiliteten imidlertid indfundet sig på Goodison Park, hvor det er blevet til en sjetteplads og to placeringer som “best of the rest” på femtepladsen. At klubben i sidste sæson desuden nåede sin første FA-Cup finale siden 1995 gør næppe Moyes mindre populær.

Hvis man endvidere tager i betragtning, at Evertons købekraft lader til at være kronisk underlegen i forhold til en række andre hold i ligaen, bliver præstationen over de seneste år nærmest ærefrygtindgydende. Moyes har formået at skabe en spillertrup som umiddelbart er fri for krukker, hvor de enkelte spillere kender deres roller på holdet, og hvor spillere kun bliver solgt, hvis prisen er meget høj, eller de ikke længere er ønskede. At fodbolden ikke altid er den mest spektakulære kan man så mene om, hvad man vil. På Goodison Park er de nok godt tilfredse.

Truppen generelt: En forbandet stærk startellever

På kassen står den bandende, tourettes-ramte amerikaner Tim Howard, og det gør han rigtig godt. Den tidligere Manchester United keeper har fundet fodboldlykken i Liverpool, og er sæson efter sæson er sikker og undervurderet sidste skanse for Everton. Backkæden er smal med udsøgt, og særligt ligaens måske grimmeste spiller – Joleon Lescott – holder et tårnhøjt niveau. Derfor er det ikke overraskende at nyrige Manchester City har brugt det meste af sommeren på at prøve at lokke landsholdsspilleren væk. Lescott kan i øvrigt også bruges på venstrebacken. Ved sin side har han en af sidste sæsons store oplevelser for Everton; Phil Jagielka, som også banker på til landsholdet. Alternativt kan bundstabile og sympatiske Joseph Yobo tage en plads i centerforsvaret, ligesom han kan . På venstrebacken bliver den tidligere Wigan-mand Leighton Baines bare bedre og bedre, alt imens Tony Hibbert på højrebacken kompenserer for sit måske begrænsede talent med al den fight og “væk-med-lortet” attitude man kunne ønske sig. Sidstnævnte har det dog med at forvandles til en hund i et keglespil nogle gange hver sæson. Desværre ofte når der er rigtig store modstandere på tapetet.

På midtbanen er Phil Neville defensiv ankermand og holdkaptajn, og den tidligere Manchester Unitedspiller har virkelig formået at løfte sit spil ud af sin storebror Garys skygge siden skiftet i 2005. Neville kan desuden vikariere på backpladserne. På højrekanten er Mikel Arteta grænsende til det geniale, og bidrager med den megen omtalte evne til at kunne afgøre kampe på egen hånd med fikse afleveringer og ryk med bolden. (Hans karriere tog i øvrigt pudsigt nok for alvor fart som oprydder for Okocha og Ronaldinho i Paris St)Nogle af de samme evner har sydafrikanske Steven Pienaar som har etableret sig som fast mand på venstrekanten over de sidste par sæsoner. På den centrale midtbane bidrager Tim Cahill med et klogt og kollosalt løbearbejde, som også resulterer i en stak mål og en masse farlige situationer frem af banen. Den egenavlede Leon Osman fuldender en målfarlig og stærkt sammenspillet midtbaneenhed. De nævnte spillere kan blandt andet suppleres af stortalenterne Jack Rodwell og Dan Gosling, som begge fik en del spilletid i sidste sæson, og spås et muligt gennembrud i år. Sidstnævnte sparkede sig i hvert fald i fansenes hjerter, da han i sidste sæson scorede sejrsmålet mod ærkerivalerne fra Liverpool i forlænget spilletid af FA-Cupens fjerde runde.

I hullet mellem midtbanen og angrebet fik det unge, belgiske rekordindkøb Marouane Fellaini en rigtig flot debutsæson, som blandt andet kastede 8 mål af sig samt en status tangerende det kultiske blandt supporterne for sin store afro og sin varierede spillestil. Helt på toppen råder Moyes over Louis Saha, Yakubu og Jo som ligesom sidste halvsæson er blevet lejet i Manchester City. Alle tre er spillere som kan lave mål for sjov, men med særligt de to første herrers skadshistorik in mente er det nok meget godt at holdet tillige kan trække på unge James Vaughan og Victor Anichebe.

Væsentlige transfere: Der er så stille på Goodison Park

En af hemmelighederne på Moyes’ succes i Everton er at han ikke skifter særlig meget ud i truppen, men i stedet har et fast skelet af spillere, som han satser på uge efter uge, og småjusterer på år efter år. Hele ikke dette transfervindue har budt på den store udskiftning omend en række marginalspillere er blevet sendt videre i systemet. De to udenlandske flop Nuno Valente og Andy Van Der Meyde er smuttet på fri transfer, ligesom Lars Jakobsen sagde nej tak til en ny kontrakt ved udsigten til mere spilletid i Blackburn.

Udover allerede nævnte Jo er den 20-årige irske højreback Seamus Coleman den eneste tilføjelse til truppen. Moyes har dog flere gange åbent erkendt, at Everton er nødt til at styrke truppen med en lille håndfuld spillere, hvis holdet skal have held med at konkurre både internationalt og nationalt.

Forventninger: Det står skrevet at fede år skal efterfølges af magre…

Lad mig tale rent ud af posen: Jeg kan faktisk rigtig godt lide det projekt David Moyes har kørende i Everton. Jeg kan godt lide at størstedelen af spillerne har spillet for klubben i en del år, at holdet forsøger at køre ret unge spillere ind på holdet og udvikle dem til bærende kræfter, og at større klubber bliver bedt om at skride eller lægge seriøse penge, hvis de vil have en Moyes centrale spillere. Det viste klubben da en endnu ikke 18-årig Wayne Rooney blev solgt for en kvart milliard, og det viser de for tiden ved at bede Manchester City få oliemillionerne op at lommen hvis de vil have Lescott.

Der er ikke desto mindre en kliche der hedder noget i retning af: At hvis man ikke bevæger sig fremad i Premier League, så bevæger man sig nødvendigvis tilbage. Der er med andre ord ikke noget der hedder at stå stille. Og det er desværre lidt det Everton gør lige i øjeblikket. Startelleveren er god. Den er rigtig god. Holdet har den kæmpe fordel at målene kan komme for en hel række spillere, og det er generelt ikke let at besejre Everton (omend Arsenal fik det til at se sådan ud i sæsonens første kamp).

Ikke desto mindre vil det være naturligt om der begynder at indfinde sig en hvis metaltræthed blandt en del spillere i truppen. Champions League fodbold virker temmelig langt væk, og adskillige af de umiddelbare rivaler til pladsen som førsteudfordrer til the big four lader til at have bevæget sig længere fremad i sommerpausen end Everton har. Kan Cahill, Arteta, Neville og Osman mande sig op til endnu en kamp om titlen som best of the rest? Kan de ligefrem mobiliserer ressourcer til et seriøst angreb på fjerdepladsen? Jeg tvivler. Hvis stammen af førsteholdsspillere desuden skulle være så uheldige at blive ramt en en håndfuld skader ser det endnu mere ubehagligt ud for Everton. Truppen er ganske enkelt ikke særlig bred.

Man skal aldrig afskrive David Moyes og Everton, men meget tyder i min optik på at der er et af de mere magre år på vej på Goodison Park. Hvis det lykkes Moyes at hente de fire spillere han snakker om kan det meget vel blive anderledes. Men transfervinduet lukker snart og konkurrencen i den øverste halvdel af ligaen er hårdere end længe.

Tip: Forventet placering: Nummer 7 Supersæson: For Everton er kvalifikation til europæisk fodbold efterhånden obligatorisk. Derfor skal der mere til for at imponere: Altså skal holdet helt op og slutte som nummer 4, hvis der for alvor skal kunne noteres fremgang. De vil sikkert heller ikke klage over en cuptriumf.

Bolton Wanderers

This season will probably turn out to be another also-ran season for Bolton, which is not a bad thing. Gary Megson has done a brilliant job of continuing the club’s Premier League status after the loss of Sam Allardyce.

Having picked up the likes of Zat Knight, Paul Robinson and Sean Davis, ‘the Wanderers’ have signed experienced Premier League players who will play good solid football but are unlikely to inspire the fans. Bolton will be expecting another season of grinding out enough results to stay up, with no real notable losses to the first team squad it should be pretty much as you were.

Prediction 15th

Burnley

Having come up from the Championship last year Burnley have bought in a lot of players, although no real stand out stars. The play-off winners look set to struggle in the Premier League and without spending more money it is hard to put up a real case for them surviving.

It seems Burnley have no intention of spending big and will try to punch their way through matches much like Stoke did so successfully last season. Burnley have kept almost all of their squad from the Championship and will hope that everyone can perform to their best.

The likes of Robbie Blake and Chris Eagles will have to step it up to the big time and play their hearts out to give Burnley any chance this year, although even that may not be enough.

Prediction: 20th

Chelsea

With a new world renowned manager in Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea have looked a refreshed force in the pre-season. No more so than evidenced by their Community Shield winning performance against Manchester United.

There have not been many changes to the team, the additions of Yuri Zhirkov and Daniel Sturridge may prove to be good signings but they are hardly the massive names that have been constantly linked with the club over the summer. Ancelotti himself has said he does not want to make anymore signings and whether you believe this or not it seems that Chelsea will have the familiar line up of last season.

The lack of creative flare that has stumped Chelsea over the past few seasons has not been resolved and if Chelsea want to win the league title they will have to use all their strength and power to overcome their rivals. A good creative midfielder would seem a must but perhaps Abramovic is still having nightmares about the signing of Deco to even consider signing another.

The reccession may have stopped Chelsea’s spending but there is still a feeling of optimism around Stamford Bridge, the sale of Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo has given all the big clubs a sense of opportunity this season. Ancelloti is a wise head and if given the freedom to manage properly he could become one of the greatest in the club’s history.

If the likes of Drogba, Ballack and Essien stay healthy Chelsea could again be the force they were a few years back. Lampard and Terry should provide the leadership in an aging squad. Should Chelsea not win the league this year then there will be many people calling for wholesale changes and the need for a better youth development system.

Prediction: 1st

Everton

No matter how well David Moyes does he never seems to get gifted with decent transfer funds to spend. After another 5th place finish Everton fans must be wondering if they can ever go any higher without serious investment. Moyes immediate concerns must be that his side will drop down the table this season as free spending Manchester City look set to charge towards the Champions League places.

Without any major changes to the squad thus far Everton will be heavily relying on top scorers Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill. Keeping these two fit will be the key. Everton must also hope that someone elses shines through this season and has a breakout year.

Although lacking in top quality fire power, Jo and Yakubu are quality forwards who could have good seasons, if they work well together up front Everton should be ok.

Everton are always a solid team. Moyes has built a side that is so tough to break down, rarely do they get thrashed even against the big boys. This season should be no exception and should they hold onto star defender Joleon Lescott and Mikel Arteta it looks as though a repeat of last season is very much possible.

Prediction 5th

By Ross Hart

The news that Everton manager David Moyes is set to sign a new five year contract at Goodison, worth a reported £17 million, will come as a great relief to all Evertonians. Talk of a new deal has been ongoing since the summer and it seems certain that the Scot will put pen to paper before the season’s first Merseyside derby a week tomorrow.

Great news for Everton but they went into last night’s UEFA Cup first round, first leg tie with Standard Liege on the back of mixed domestic form; 2 home league defeats countered by 2 away wins. The return of Tim Cahill to the team for Sunday’s victory at Stoke City underlined how valuable he is to the side as he netted the winner.

And they needed him last night for a game which is easily the most difficult draw out of all the English clubs. Liege were only knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers at Anfield in the 118th minute and were sure to provide a stern test of the Blues’ European credentials. And so it proved.

Key players like Cahill, Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan have returned to the team after missing the early part of the season but Moyes was without record signing, ironically from Liege, Marouane Fellaini, who was inelegible having played in that defeat to Liverpool.

And the Belgians served notice of their intent after only 9 minutes as they took the lead with a nicely worked goal. Steven Defour released Wilfried Dalmat on the right and the winger beat Joleon Lescott to the ball before sliding a low ball across the box for Dieudonne Mbokani to knock home.

Everton were rocked by the loss of a crucial away goal but worked their way back into the match with Cahill heading over.

But the equaliser arrived after 23 minutes and it was last season’s top scorer Yakubu who was once more on hand for Everton.

Mikel Arteta picked the ball up on the left hand side and played a neat pass inside and it found its way to the Nigerian via Leon Osman, and he placed the ball past Rorys Aragon in the Liege goal.

The first half was end to end stuff and after 35 minutes the visitors struck Everton with a second away goal. Marcos Camozzato played a cross ball into the box and as Joseph Yobo tried to intercept, he diverted the ball beyond Tim Howard.

But Moyes’ side responded 3 minutes later to equalise for a second time in the match. Segundo Castillo, making his home debut, rifled home a superb 25 yard shot with Aragon got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.

After such a superb opening period, the second only lacked in goals as the game continued to be played at a high pace, with the home side desperately seeking a way through to make the job in Belgium slightly easier.

Both sides had penalty appeals waved away by the Polish referee. Anichebe went down under a challenge with Oguchi Onyewu while in stoppage time Lescott was fortunate not to concede a penalty as Dalmat went down under his challenge.

Everton did go close through substitute Vaughan, but he headed just over from six yards. But the loss of 2 away goals means that while it is not mission impossible, it leaves Everton in a difficult position ahead of the return in Belgium.

The Blues have conceded 11 goals in just 5 games this season and the manager knows his team’s defending must improve if they are to progress.

“I’ve been saying that for a few weeks now and it’s getting to the stage where I’m going to have to start looking at it and if it’s going to stay the same,” he told BBC Sport.

“Hopefully, we can go to Belgium, keep a clean sheet and score a goal.”

Everton: Howard; Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott; Anichebe (Vaughan 64), Castillo, Osman, Arteta, Cahill; Yakubu.

Subs not used: Nash, Baines, Nuno Valente, Jutekiewicz, Baxter, Rodwell.

Everton goals: Yakubu (23), Castillo (38).

At Eastlands, United were in cruise control during the first half as they created chances and dominated possession against a lacklustre City side. Indeed the most fight shown by City came from a ballboy who forcefully threw the ball back to Ronaldo. With Carrick and Fletcher running midfield, and young starlet Rafael nullifying the threat of Robinho City lacked any sort of spark.

Therefore, it came as no surprise when a Wayne Rooney tap-in gave United the lead, following a shot from Michael Carrick that Joe Hart could only parry into the England forwards path.

In the second half and Ronaldo, expected to be announced as the European footballer of the year on Monday (the Ballon d’or), was sent off in strange circumstances. Having been booked for a foul on Shaun Wright-Phillips when it looked like he had played the ball, the Portugese winger handled from a corner, when had he headed the ball he would have surely scored. The United number 7 claimed he had heard a whistle from the crowd, but referee Howard Webb had no choice but to show him a second yellow card and the red.

As it was, United saw out the final twenty minutes fairly comfortably and took three points from the City of Manchester Stadium.

At Stamford Bridge Chelsea took a lead against Arsenal, lead by new captain Cesc Fabregas, thanks to an own goal by Swiss defender Johan Djourou, as he diverted a Bosingwa cross into his own net. Until that point the first half had been quite even and it continued to be so. After half time and Arsenal were dominated by Chelsea and it looked like a matter of time until the blues extended their lead.

However, cometh the hour and cometh the man as Robin van Persie, the injury-prone Dutch forward, turned the game on its head with two goals in three minutes.

Firstly, a crisp right-foot strike slammed the ball into the top right hand corner past Petr Cech, from the edge of the penalty area, despite replays showing he was in an offside position when the ball was played.

Three minutes later and he sent a sweet left foot strike low past Cech’s despairing dive into the bottom right corner of the net, inflicting on Chelsea their second home defeat of the season and giving Arsenal the slightest hope in their chase for the title.

Elsewhere this weekend and Bolton were the big winners as they destroyed Sunderland at the Stadium of Light 4-1. Djibril Cisse had given the Mack’ems the lead, but Matthew Taylor, Gary Cahill and Johan Elmander (2) sealed the win for Gary Megsons in-from side.

Everton were victorious against Harry Redknapps Spurs thanks to a deflected Steven Pienaar effort after 51 minutes. However, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, the prolific Nigerian forward, will miss the rest of the season for David Moyes side with a ruptured achilles, “A huge blow” according to Moyes.

Portsmouth threw away a two goal lead for the second time this week, only to beat Paul Ince’s Blackburn Rovers 3-2. Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe scored early in the second half, only for Matt Derbyshire and Tugay to bring Rovers level. However, ten minutes from time and a Sean Davis goal sealed the victory for Tony Adams’ side.

Bottom of the table West Brom were beaten again 2-1 at Wigan, with Emerson Boyce grabbing the winner, as Albion missed a host of chances. Stoke and Hull contested a hard fought 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium, whilst Aston Villa and Fulham, Middlesbrough and Newcastle both ended goalless.

The 2nd round of the FA Cup sponsored by Eon saw some terrific games and my congratulations go out to all those sides who have progressed to round three, but especially to the giant killers of Histon, who turned over Leeds United, and to Eastwood who emerged victorious against Wycombe Wanderers, the only side in the football league still unbeaten in the league.

Just thought that I’d add that the West Midlands derby between Wolves and Birmingham was a great advert for the Championship, which is still the most exciting and unpredictable league in England. An excellent match between the top two ended 1-1, goals from Cameron Jerome for Blues and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for Wolves, and was fiercely competitive, exciting and not lacking in quality. Give me an exciting game like this over one of the numerous bland and boring games the Premier League has dished up this season anyday.

Hull City 2 – Manchester City 2: It was exciting football, or crap defending, depending on your perspective.  This was a good road result for Man City, which says a lot for the Hughes regime.

Everton 1 – Middlesbrough 1: The type of result that will keep both these teams mediocre.  The normally prolific Yakubu scored his first goal in ten.  Is a streak to come? 

Tottenham’ın taze çalıştırıcısı Redknapp 10 gün içinde çıkacağı 3. önemli maç öncesi yaptığı basın toplantısında takımın en büyük eksikliğinin bitiricilik yönünde olduğunu söylemiş. Bu eksikliklerini gidermek için de İngiltere’nin önemli golcülerinden eski Tottenhamlı ve Beşiktaşlı Les Ferdinand’ı koç olarak takıma katmayı düşünüyor. “Zamanında Portsmouth’tayken Yakubu’da da aynı eksik vardı o zaman da aynı uygulamayı yaptık. İyi çalıştı ve şimdi önemli bir golcü haline geldi” diyerek uygulayacağı yöntemin geçerliliğini kanıtlamış. White Hart Lane’de bu akşam Zagreb’i ağırlayacak olan Tottenham için farklı anlamlar taşıyan bir maç. En önemlisi UEFA’da yollarına devam etmeleri için bu maçı kesinlikle almaları gerek. Arsenal’i elinden kaçıran ve Liverpool’u yenen takımda oyuncularımın kendilerine olan özgüveni geri geldiğini ekliyor Redknapp. Ayrıca Londra ekibine Dinamo Zagreb’ten gelen Luka Modric’te eski takımına karşı oynayacak.

Resme Not: “Artık gol atamazsanız benim daha yapabileceğim bir şey yok” der gibimsi…

Remember goFASTER>> – the handsome, charming chaps from way the fu*k up north (Liverpool indeed) who released the undeniable slab of 7″ genius, Flammable Leisurewear, on our very label just a few months ago?

Of course you do! And after a summer spending a little quality time relaxing and recouping after playing around 596 shows (or so) in the past year, they are set to relaunch themselves back into your hearts after shedding a member and gaining a fresh one – which is ace, as I for one really have missed their frenetic live sets over the summer months.

But more of them in the coming weeks (and months), for this blogpost is specifically asking ‘what of Chris gF>>’ – he of guitars/keyboards/green and white trakky top – who left the band a few months ago? Well, the good news is that he and every member of Supergrass, not to mention Dave Grohl (aka Ian the -still- drummer of GF) have formed a tasty little 2-piece side project, with quite clearly the best name of all time – EastFifeFourForfarFive. Something that I would literally kill to hear Stelling say!

They have a MySpace over here, a gig on the 6th November in Liverpool – and although the streaming speed of Virgin’s crappy internet is set in the stone age and I can’t hear their debut recording ‘Your Bike is In Slip’ – I have no doubt that they’ll be a Meatloaf-esque tour de force (the song is, after all, nearly 15 minutes long). They’ve already received magnificent press, The Yak (and we presume that’s big Nigerian striker Abdulrasaq Yakubu Aiyegbeni claiming..

So really – what more could you ask for?

Let us know if you’ve heard any better band names too – a Pukka Pie to anyone who can top this one…

Fernando Torres two goals in three minutes is the difference as Liverpool take the short trip to Goodison Park and come out 2-0 victors that was marred by the horrific refereeing of Mike Riley.

I am going to say it like I see it here, Mike Riley has officially ended the FA’s respect campaign over the last two weeks. Last week, Soccernet picked up 40 fouls Riley called between Chelsea and Manchester United. Today, Soccernet picked up 43 and the Guardian showed 39. Fact remains, the majority of fouls Riley has called over the last two weeks have not only been severely questionable at best, but have tested the patience of even the most patient people.

To make matter worse this week unlike last week, as far as I’m concerned, Tim Cahill was unjustly sent off ten minutes from the ninety. Yes the tackle was nasty, but it was just as bad as Arbeloa’s tackle four minute earlier. No one from Liverpool expected red, no one in the EPL Talk Chat expected red, and I’m convinced the only one who was convinced it was red is Mike Riley.

This is the second high profile match Riley has refereed in six days. As far as I’m concerned he’s made some serious errors in judgment that have to be taken into account. From the farcical ending to last week’s Chelsea/Manchester United fixture to Cahill’s sending off, Riley has made big mistakes that seem to be forgiven by the FA. Yes refereeing is a tough job and they deserve respect, but when a referee continues to make mistakes to the magnitude Riley has of late, it’s very hard to give Riley any at all.

As to the match itself, Riley’s whistle made sure there was no flow to the match. Liverpool though dominated from the kickoff. Everton only had about ten minutes where they were on the ascendancy, even then they were unable to test Jose Reina. Liverpool in the first half were unable to break Everton down in the final third. Everton’s back four and midfield were being way too forgiving and pretty much allowing Liverpool all the space they wanted when they were pushing forward.

Both Liverpool goals boil down too two fatal flaws. The first being losing possession in the midfield and the second being defenders abandoning their space giving Torres all the space in the world to do his job. On the first goal, Alonso gets the ball in the midfield and it’s Joleon Lescott abandoning his space trailing Kuyt’s run near post. How no one else was marking Torres I haven’t a clue. Torres with that much space and time one on one with any keeper in the world is rarely going to miss. On the second goal, it was Torres himself who starts the play in the midfield after Everton fail to possess a throw in. The final blow was when Joseph Yobo went in trying to clear a tackle when the ball fell perfectly to Torres. With Howard off his line, the finish was automatic.

Robbie Keane is starting to mold into the team, but Rafa has to let him be what he is, a forward. Playing on the wing has done him no favors, and it was only when he was able to get more central was when he was his most dangerous. Everton need to figure out a way to win at home. It would also help to get chances that challenge a keeper. Yakubu up front by himself is not going to work and hopefully once Louis Saha is fully fit, David Moyes will revert to a 4-4-2. Everton’s back line is also becoming a massive liability. It hasn’t helped Moyes that he is just now getting a chance to mold this squad.

A few other observations
1) As much as I slagged Riley off at the beginning of this piece, I have to give him all the credit for rightfully booking Yakubu to start the second half for diving. There was at least 2 feet of space between him and Jamie Carragher.
2) Marouane Fellaini just looks out of place. Unfortunately because of his price, expect him to continue to start.
3) Liverpool’s defense is reminding me of Manchester United’s from last season.

Photo thanks to the Telegraph via the PA

Photo from the Telgraph via the AP.

First batch of match reviews from the past weekend. The final batch will be up tomorrow morning. Note there won’t be a second full match review as I was unable to see Sunderland v Manchester City in full.

Everton v Portsmouth: Jermain Defoe’s two goals and assist see Portsmouth go away and get an emphatic 3-0 victory at Goodison Park.

I’ve gotten onto Harry Redknapp before for not being able to adapt his tactics. Saturday Harry showed me one thing, that he a trick up his sleeve, a 3-5-2. It was a shape that threw Everton for a loop, even more so as Portsmouth kept their shape extremely well.

Everton had their chances and it must be said that on any other day, they have one goal. However David James made three exceptional saves. The first in the twenty-second, then the Yakubu penalty save, and finally in the seventy-fifth.

Portsmouth have navigated a tough opening three weekend about as well as they could. Granted it’s just one game, but today the Crouch/Defoe partnership up front played like it did on the international stage when they played together.

I wonder if Jack Rodwell is ready for the top flight. He looked out of position most of the afternoon. Yakubu while he had a few good chances, shouldn’t be the doing any crossing. Last time I checked you’re a natural striker and should be letting guys like Leighton Baines and Mikel Arteta do what they do best.

West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers: Two goals in second half stoppage time gave West Ham United a pull away victory 4-1 against Blackburn Rovers from Upton Park.

The scoreline is way too flattering. This was a very evenly balanced match until the start of second half stoppage time. Blackburn had plenty of opportunities to pull level, and in reality I think Blackburn was robbed on Matt Derbyshire’s disallowed goal. From my eyes, Behrami kept him level.

Now on the ‘controversial’ goal that pulled West Ham United 2-0 up, the linesman got this right. Had the ball at any time hit off of Dean Ashton, the play is offside, but since it was Samba who made contact, the goal has to stand.

Blackburn had their chances and the finishing was off. Jason Roberts continues to impress, as long as he’s not on the spot. His penalty take was worse than Yukubu’s. But for Paul Ince’s men, it was just one of those days.

It was nice to see Craig Bellamy come on and make an immediate difference. Once he gets back to full fitness, it will make the attack all that more solid. West Ham have gotten off to the start they needed to, and while it hasn’t been easy in any of their first three matches, they are just pushing on. This result should quiet those who were thinking Curbishley was on thin ice.

Hull City v Wigan Athletic: Two goals inside the opening fifteen minutes were all Wigan Athletic needed. However Zaki added two more in between Emile Heskey brace as Wigan Athletic go to the KC Stadium and pound Hull City 5-0 in what I’m dubbing the Rugby League derby (okay I’ll work on the name).

Let’s be perfectly honest about this game, this was not at any point a competitive contest. This game was in effect over by minute twelve and it was more than confirmed in the sixty-third. The only time Hull City had any ascendancy in this game was the first five minutes of the second half.

Zaki is proving to be a quality loan signing more and more by the day. The key is going to be signing him permanently. This guy just scores goals and can do it in any fashion possible. However I thought Wigan were too lax at the back for their own good at times and Hull City did create a few decent half chances.

This was the ultimate wake up call for Hull City after four points in their first two games. Their back line was a mess all day long. The midfield never truly kept their shape and the chances they created weren’t that great. This is the ultimate learning experience and how they react over the next few weeks is going to be crucial to how the rest of the season goes.

Again, the second batch will be up tomorrow morning. More like late tonight, but it will be available as you wake up in the morning.

No standout performers from the Saturday games this week – or at least not in a good way. Ian Nolan, who for the past few seasons has performed very reliably for Bolton and been repeatedly overlooked by England, suddenly decided to change tack and play like an utter muppet. It’s an approach that has certainly suited Frank Lumplard and Gareth Barry this season, so expect Nolan to get his England call-up very soon. Martin Laursen lived up to the adage that if at first you don’t succeed, try try try again by having several attempts at hacking players down in his own box before finally managing to give away a penalty. Age was a big theme this weekend – Everton’s 7-year old boy wonder Jose Baxter got another runout, whilst at Ewood Park the premier league’s youngest referee, Stuart Attwell, had made his debut. At just 25 years of age, Attwell is exactly a quarter of the age of Blackburn’s geriatric midfielder Tugay.

Everton youngster Jose Baxter celebrates Yakubu's goal with his team mates

Let’s have a look at Saturday’s matches in slightly less detail:

Stoke City 3-2 Aston Villa

Villa came crashing back to earth after demolishing Man Shitty last week, conceding an injury time goal to lose to their first away game of the season. In contrast, this game saw two milestones for Stoke as they won their first ever game in the Big League, and apparently fielded eleven players all called Faye.  Rory Delap Faye was in the middle of things, being fouled by Martin Laursen at the thirty-fourth attempt to win a penalty which was converted by Liam Lawrence Faye. John Carew scored a fine equalizer after good work from internet onanist Ashley Young, before Ricardo Fuller Faye surprised everyone by showing a touch of the Denis Bergkamps in flicking the ball round a stationary Villa defender to collect it on the other side and fire a low shot past Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel – after Tugay, possibly the world’s second oldest man. Martin Laursen continued his fine goalscoring record, walking past a Stoke City defence that were wandering about like a collection of zombie extras in a George A. Romero film to tap the ball in from about three inches out. Rory Delap Faye’s long throws continually troubled a Villa defence that always seemed to be worried about when Gareth Barry would next give the ball away, and it was no surprise when Mamady Sidibe Faye couldn’t get his back out of the way of another long throw and it bounced off him and past Freidel’s mobility scooter to score the winner.

Fulham 1-0 Arsenal

Little Britain star Matt Lucas was in the crowd for this one, and just like his TV shows there was nothing funny about Arsenal’s poor performance. Surprise new signing Mikael Silvestre was not playing but his influence certainly extended to the pitch, as the Gooners looked as sloppy and uncoordinated as a walrus wearing boxing gloves trying to drink a milkshake on a rollercoaster -  Man Utd fans know exactly what I mean. Hair Bear Bullard notched his second assist in as many games, whilst Silky Oon gave such a terrific performance that he even inspired Bobby Zamora to play like an actual footballer. Unfeasibly named centre-back Brede Paulsen Hangeland crept in at a set-piece to stab home the only goal, which took a colossal effort on Arsenal’s part not to notice him as Hangeland is about thirteen feet tall. Adebayor continued the season as he started it, playing like he had bovine spongiform encephalopathy and being unable to hit a grain silo with sitar.

This is the face Adebayor pulls when he misses a sitter. Arsenal fans better get used to it.

Liverpool 2-1 Middlesbrough

Rafa Benitez surprised the Anfield crowd by selecting Dirk Kuyt instead of a footballer, whilst Boro surprised the Anfield crowd by looking much more like the home team for long periods. The Teeside club has handed a massive vote of confidence to Egyptian burger-lover Ahmed Mido by changing their away strip to Inter Milan-like stripes in an attempt to make him look thinner, and this seemed to inspire him enough to score a goal he actually meant this week with a terrific turn and shot. You’d think that the Liverpool defence would actually look less sluggish with Sami Hoopya not playing, but that certainly wasn’t the case as Boro looked dangerous up front the whole game. Jamie Carragher sent the unemployed masses in the stands into raptures with a deflected shot in the 86th minute, his fifth goal in five hundred games for the club and a strike rate that both Kuyt and Andriy Voronin would be proud of.  Minutes later the crowd all had to calm down when hubcap-stealer-in-chief Steven Gerrard lashed home a satisfyingly route-one winner deep into stoppage time. Gerrard looked slightly more effective than he did on Wednesday against the Czechs, but frankly that’s only the same as saying you’d sooner sleep wth Michelle McManus than Rik Waller.

Spurs 1-2 Sunderland

Whilst it might have worked for Mido, no amount of stripes is going to make Sunderland midfield wildebeest Andy Reid look any less gigantic. That didn’t seem to trouble the Wearsiders as they brushed aside a sloppy and unfocused Spurs team. Kieran Richardson scored a terrific opener, smashing a shot past that rarest of objects – a Brazillian international footballer that no-one’s ever heard of – with his weaker foot. Gareth Bale showed what an astute judge of players Sir Alex is by missing a host of sitters – thank the Lord United didn’t sign him – whilst upfront Darren “broken, not just” Bent toiled unsuccessfully like – well, like Darren Bent. Aaron Lennon wafted a succession of trademark “pinpoint” crosses thirty feet over the heads of his team-mates whilst the poor man’s Steven Gerrard, Jermaine Jenas, did whatever it is he does on a Saturday afternoon and still manages to get paid for in scoring the equalizer. Sunderland knew that as long as the Spurs team remained on the pitch a winner wouldn’t be long in coming, and sure enough debutant substitute Lord Frodsham couldn’t get out of the way of a Darryl Murphy cross and the ball hit his head to register the winner. It was notable that Dimitar Berbatov wasn’t even on the bench for this game, leaving Spurs with no recognised strikers and only Darren Bent to pretend he’s one. One has to go back the heady days of Bontcho Guentchev for a Bulgarian striker to go missing like this – he regularly did it on the pitch whilst playing for Ipswich. The other noteworthy news is that Diouf now hasn’t been booked in two games.

West Brom 1-2 Everton

At the Hawthorns the Boing Boing Baggies Baggies were unlucky to go down to a second straight defeat to an Everton side who weren’t particularly good. Worringly for Boing Boing boss Tony Mowbray observers keep saying how unlucky they are to be beaten when they’ve played so well – if their confidence and form goes, they could be on the wrong end of some proper tonkings. Even more worrying is the current premier league trend for away strips that look like highlighter pens – Wigan last week, Everton this week, Chelsea have one too – but then it’s not like anyone expects Chelsea to have any style. By contrast West Brom’s strip is very retro – they haven’t whored out the space covering their man-boobs to an evil giant corporation like everyone else, so kudos to them. By the way, they’re having a car boot sale next week to raise funds for three new players, and all are welcome (it’ll be in the church hall if it’s raining). Yakubu had a hand in both goals, allowing a defender to disposess him easily only for the defender to give the ball away to Mikel Arteta who crossed for Leon Osman to score. Yakubu then scored his hundredth goal in English football by running in a straight line and bouncing the ball off his head. Roman Bednar scored a penalty consolation after Everton skipper Phil Neville matched his twin sister’s skills with the ball in hand – unfortunately he was in his own penalty area at the time, and not playing goal attack like Tracey has for the England netball team at two commonwealth games. By the way, did you know that Gary, Phil and Tracey’s dad is called Neville Neville?

FYI, Phil - your sister can do this but you can't. Especially not in your own penalty area.

Newcastle 1-0 Bolton

Empty seats galore at St. James’ Park as 4767 fans came to their senses and didn’t bother turning up for this borefest between long-ball merchants Bolton and “big club” Newcastle – that’s despite Mike Ashley giving away pre-game free drinks and tickets being available on the day for cash. Seriously, it’s bad enough having to watch Newcastle at any time, but if the oppostition is the Ginger Mourinho’s route-one specialists, even that grouting starts to look attractive. The game was notable only for the aforementioned Nolan’s ineptitude, and little Michael Owen showing Gareth Bale how to score a headed goal from three feet out. Owen came on as substitute for his first appearance ofthe season, replacing Ola Bambi Martins who entered the record books for being the first player in premier league history to be substituted because of boredom.

Blackburn 1-0 Hull City

Hull City continued their impressive pig-headedness by refusing to change their hideous strip. Moreover, they refused to change their unbeaten start by coming from behind to gain a point at Ewood Park and are now a point above Arsenal in the table – oh that we could say that come next May! Jason Roberts scored the opener, being unable to miss despite being Jason Roberts, whilst some Australian called Garcia scored for comeback kings Hull just 90 seconds later. What’s up, not good enough to play cricket?

This is what an Audtralian that can't play cricket looks like.

No standout performers from the Saturday games this week – or at least not in a good way. Ian Nolan, who for the past few seasons has performed very reliably for Bolton and been repeatedly overlooked by England, suddenly decided to change tack and play like an utter muppet. It’s an approach that has certainly suited Frank Lumplard and Gareth Barry this season, so expect Nolan to get his England call-up very soon. Martin Laursen lived up to the adage that if at first you don’t succeed, try try try again by having several attempts at hacking players down in his own box before finally managing to give away a penalty. Age was a big theme this weekend – Everton’s 7-year old boy wonder Jose Baxter got another runout, whilst at Ewood Park the premier league’s youngest referee, Stuart Attwell, had made his debut. At just 25 years of age, Attwell is exactly a quarter of the age of Blackburn’s geriatric midfielder Tugay.

Everton youngster Jose Baxter celebrates Yakubu's goal with his team mates

Let’s have a look at Saturday’s matches in slightly less detail:

Stoke City 3-2 Aston Villa

Villa came crashing back to earth after demolishing Man Shitty last week, conceding an injury time goal to lose to their first away game of the season. In contrast, this game saw two milestones for Stoke as they won their first ever game in the Big League, and apparently fielded eleven players all called Faye.  Rory Delap Faye was in the middle of things, being fouled by Martin Laursen at the thirty-fourth attempt to win a penalty which was converted by Liam Lawrence Faye. John Carew scored a fine equalizer after good work from internet onanist Ashley Young, before Ricardo Fuller Faye surprised everyone by showing a touch of the Denis Bergkamps in flicking the ball round a stationary Villa defender to collect it on the other side and fire a low shot past Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel – after Tugay, possibly the world’s second oldest man. Martin Laursen continued his fine goalscoring record, walking past a Stoke City defence that were wandering about like a collection of zombie extras in a George A. Romero film to tap the ball in from about three inches out. Rory Delap Faye’s long throws continually troubled a Villa defence that always seemed to be worried about when Gareth Barry would next give the ball away, and it was no surprise when Mamady Sidibe Faye couldn’t get his back out of the way of another long throw and it bounced off him and past Freidel’s mobility scooter to score the winner.

Fulham 1-0 Arsenal

Little Britain star Matt Lucas was in the crowd for this one, and just like his TV shows there was nothing funny about Arsenal’s poor performance. Surprise new signing Mikael Silvestre was not playing but his influence certainly extended to the pitch, as the Gooners looked as sloppy and uncoordinated as a walrus wearing boxing gloves trying to drink a milkshake on a rollercoaster -  Man Utd fans know exactly what I mean. Hair Bear Bullard notched his second assist in as many games, whilst Silky Oon gave such a terrific performance that he even inspired Bobby Zamora to play like an actual footballer. Unfeasibly named centre-back Brede Paulsen Hangeland crept in at a set-piece to stab home the only goal, which took a colossal effort on Arsenal’s part not to notice him as Hangeland is about thirteen feet tall. Adebayor continued the season as he started it, playing like he had bovine spongiform encephalopathy and being unable to hit a grain silo with sitar.

This is the face Adebayor pulls when he misses a sitter. Arsenal fans better get used to it.

Liverpool 2-1 Middlesbrough

Rafa Benitez surprised the Anfield crowd by selecting Dirk Kuyt instead of a footballer, whilst Boro surprised the Anfield crowd by looking much more like the home team for long periods. The Teeside club has handed a massive vote of confidence to Egyptian burger-lover Ahmed Mido by changing their away strip to Inter Milan-like stripes in an attempt to make him look thinner, and this seemed to inspire him enough to score a goal he actually meant this week with a terrific turn and shot. You’d think that the Liverpool defence would actually look less sluggish with Sami Hoopya not playing, but that certainly wasn’t the case as Boro looked dangerous up front the whole game. Jamie Carragher sent the unemployed masses in the stands into raptures with a deflected shot in the 86th minute, his fifth goal in five hundred games for the club and a strike rate that both Kuyt and Andriy Voronin would be proud of.  Minutes later the crowd all had to calm down when hubcap-stealer-in-chief Steven Gerrard lashed home a satisfyingly route-one winner deep into stoppage time. Gerrard looked slightly more effective than he did on Wednesday against the Czechs, but frankly that’s only the same as saying you’d sooner sleep wth Michelle McManus than Rik Waller.

Spurs 1-2 Sunderland

Whilst it might have worked for Mido, no amount of stripes is going to make Sunderland midfield wildebeest Andy Reid look any less gigantic. That didn’t seem to trouble the Wearsiders as they brushed aside a sloppy and unfocused Spurs team. Kieran Richardson scored a terrific opener, smashing a shot past that rarest of objects – a Brazillian international footballer that no-one’s ever heard of – with his weaker foot. Gareth Bale showed what an astute judge of players Sir Alex is by missing a host of sitters – thank the Lord United didn’t sign him – whilst upfront Darren “broken, not just” Bent toiled unsuccessfully like – well, like Darren Bent. Aaron Lennon wafted a succession of trademark “pinpoint” crosses thirty feet over the heads of his team-mates whilst the poor man’s Steven Gerrard, Jermaine Jenas, did whatever it is he does on a Saturday afternoon and still manages to get paid for in scoring the equalizer. Sunderland knew that as long as the Spurs team remained on the pitch a winner wouldn’t be long in coming, and sure enough debutant substitute Lord Frodsham couldn’t get out of the way of a Darryl Murphy cross and the ball hit his head to register the winner. It was notable that Dimitar Berbatov wasn’t even on the bench for this game, leaving Spurs with no recognised strikers and only Darren Bent to pretend he’s one. One has to go back the heady days of Bontcho Guentchev for a Bulgarian striker to go missing like this – he regularly did it on the pitch whilst playing for Ipswich. The other noteworthy news is that Diouf now hasn’t been booked in two games.

West Brom 1-2 Everton

At the Hawthorns the Boing Boing Baggies Baggies were unlucky to go down to a second straight defeat to an Everton side who weren’t particularly good. Worringly for Boing Boing boss Tony Mowbray observers keep saying how unlucky they are to be beaten when they’ve played so well – if their confidence and form goes, they could be on the wrong end of some proper tonkings. Even more worrying is the current premier league trend for away strips that look like highlighter pens – Wigan last week, Everton this week, Chelsea have one too – but then it’s not like anyone expects Chelsea to have any style. By contrast West Brom’s strip is very retro – they haven’t whored out the space covering their man-boobs to an evil giant corporation like everyone else, so kudos to them. By the way, they’re having a car boot sale next week to raise funds for three new players, and all are welcome (it’ll be in the church hall if it’s raining). Yakubu had a hand in both goals, allowing a defender to disposess him easily only for the defender to give the ball away to Mikel Arteta who crossed for Leon Osman to score. Yakubu then scored his hundredth goal in English football by running in a straight line and bouncing the ball off his head. Roman Bednar scored a penalty consolation after Everton skipper Phil Neville matched his twin sister’s skills with the ball in hand – unfortunately he was in his own penalty area at the time, and not playing goal attack like Tracey has for the England netball team at two commonwealth games. By the way, did you know that Gary, Phil and Tracey’s dad is called Neville Neville?

FYI, Phil - your sister can do this but you can't. Especially not in your own penalty area.

Newcastle 1-0 Bolton

Empty seats galore at St. James’ Park as 4767 fans came to their senses and didn’t bother turning up for this borefest between long-ball merchants Bolton and “big club” Newcastle – that’s despite Mike Ashley giving away pre-game free drinks and tickets being available on the day for cash. Seriously, it’s bad enough having to watch Newcastle at any time, but if the oppostition is the Ginger Mourinho’s route-one specialists, even that grouting starts to look attractive. The game was notable only for the aforementioned Nolan’s ineptitude, and little Michael Owen showing Gareth Bale how to score a headed goal from three feet out. Owen came on as substitute for his first appearance ofthe season, replacing Ola Bambi Martins who entered the record books for being the first player in premier league history to be substituted because of boredom.

Blackburn 1-0 Hull City

Hull City continued their impressive pig-headedness by refusing to change their hideous strip. Moreover, they refused to change their unbeaten start by coming from behind to gain a point at Ewood Park and are now a point above Arsenal in the table – oh that we could say that come next May! Jason Roberts scored the opener, being unable to miss despite being Jason Roberts, whilst some Australian called Garcia scored for comeback kings Hull just 90 seconds later. What’s up, not good enough to play cricket?

This is what an Audtralian that can't play cricket looks like.

Having been on holiday for the past week, I have been devoid of any major football news recently. Not surprisingly, the Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Barry transfer sagas continue to rumble on, while Alexsander Hleb has left Arsenal for Barcelona.

But whilst at the beach on the final day before setting off for home, I picked up a couple of British newspapers to try and get up to speed with the footie news and, as an Evertonian, a small piece on David Moyes being close to agreeing a new contract with the club caught my eye.

The article said that the Toffees manager was close to agreeing a new 5 year deal worth £60,000 a week after seeking assurances about the club’s future transfer dealings from chairman Bill Kenwright. Everton have, so far, been quiet on the transfer front while losing a vital cog and one of the Premier League’s most underrated players in Lee Carsley to Birmingham City.

But, as players come and go, the most important thing for Everton has to be securing Moyes on a long term deal, which I’m sure they will, but I’d rather see it done sooner rather than later. In my view Moyes has cemented his place as one the top managers in the British game with his work at Goodison Park.

When he arrived, the club were a sinking ship. The memories of the successful era of the 1980s, when League and European success was the norm, had long gone as relegation battles became common place, with two great escapes in 1994 and 1998. Joe Royle’s 1995 FA Cup win wasn’t built on in the way the Goodison faithful had hoped.

In stepped Moyes. He steered the club away from relegation and has secured European qualification, including the club’s first ever Champions League campaign, 3 times. Much of this achieved on a shoe string budget, though he has three times smashed the club’s transfer record- £6 million on the departed James Beattie, £8.6 on Andy Johnson and £11 million on Yakubu, who had a terrific first season last term.

Moyes initially made Everton a hard working team who were well organised and hard to beat. Indeed, the number of 1-0 scorelines in Everton’s favour in that historic 04/05 Champions League season indicated that. But a team of grafters has slowly been added to with gifted, technical players- Mikel Arteta, one of the finest midfielders in the league, the aforementioned Yakubu, Joseph Yobo and Joelon Lescott, a fine footballer for a centre back and scorer of 10 goals last season.

Everton’s fans are keen to see the club build on last season’s fifth place finish, run to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup and Carling Cup semi final appearance. Hopefully a trophy and a top 4 finish could be achieveable and of course the manager needs funds to bring more quality to what is already a talented squad.

But firstly, the board should give Moyes the assurances he needs and sign him now. It is clear that he loves the club and its fans and it is hard to see him manage elsewhere. If he keeps progressing, he may become a target for an even bigger club than the Blues, but if the board back the manager in the transfer market, why would he want to go anywhere else? Under his guidance, Everton are going places and tying him down could be one of the most important the signings could make in recent years.

The ongoing Kirkby stadium yes/ no debate still rages on and may or may not have an impact on the manager’s transfer budget. The new stadium is a debate for another day, but what is clear is that an Everton with David Moyes will continue to be a prosperous and strong Everton. An Everton without, well, I’m not so sure it would be so bright.

Newcastle United are becoming one of my favourite teams in the Premier League. Yesterday, Everton defeated the Geordies 3-1 to claim 5th spot and a UEFA Cup place, while in 2005 a 2-0 victory over the same opposition, at home, on the final day secured 4th spot and a shot at the Champions League. Yep, the Toon seem to be a lucky charm for the Toffees.

And its a deserved finish for David Moyes’ team and an achievement that fully merits its own post on my blog. As an Evertonian, I am absolutely thrilled that the Blues can dig the passports out once again and hopefully the team can go one further in Europe than they did this season, when they suffered penalty heartbreak against Fiorentina.

Overall its been a very good season for the People’s Club, but one which did have some low points. I’ll reflect on those shortly, but let us rejoice in the positivity reverberating around Goodison at the moment, which goes all the way back to the summer.

The Blues had had a terrific season last season, finishing 6th and thus entering the UEFA Cup. The summer arrivals of Steven Pienaar, Phil Jagielka and £11.25 million record signing Yakubu from Middlesbrough sent a message to the rest of the league that Moyesey’s boys meant business and aimed to consolidate themselves as consistent European challengers.

The season started well enough, with 3 wins and a draw from their opening 6 matches. But the season could have been so different had a cold October night in Ukraine gone differently. Everton were sluggish in their UEFA Cup first round 2nd leg against Metalist Kharkiv, and at one point looked set for elimination. But goal machine centre back Joleon Lescott, James McFadden and young player of the year Victor Anichebe rode to the rescue to send the Toffees through and start what would prove to be a memorable European run.

League form continued to be good and although they were robbed by some blatantly shocking decisions by Mark Clattenberg in the 2-1 reverse to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, such as Lescott being wrestled to the ground in the box, the Blues began an assault on 4th and Champions League qualification.

In November, myself and some friends took in our first Everton games of the season at Goodison and we watched on as the Blues roared to victory over Birmingham, thanks to Yakubu, a stunning Lee Carsley strike and another from James Vaughan, both of which were in the final minute.

The Blues continued to bubble along nicely and a highlight was a 7-1 thrashing of Roy Keane’s Sunderland, with Yakubu notching 2 more on the way to 21 goals for the season.

Progress continued in Europe, smoothly winning their UEFA Cup group to reach the last 32, while the club also reached the Carling Cup semi finals. One of the disappointments of Moyes’ reign has been performance in the domestic cups, but the Blues went into the semi final first leg with Chelsea confident and backed by 6,000 fans in London.

They fell behind, but Yakubu equalised after Jon-Obi Mikel was sent off but disaster struck as Lescott scored an injury time own goal. Chelsea won the Goodison return 1-0 to end the dream and break Evertonian hearts.

More heartache would follow in the UEFA Cup last 16 as Everton dominated Fiorentina but could only win 2-0 in the 2nd leg to level the aggregate at 2-2 before losing the subsequent penalty shoot out. The Italians would reach the semi final, to lose to shock troops Rangers.

It was more shock and dismay that could best sum up Everton’s short lived FA Cup run. Possibly the lowest point of the season, a Gary MacDonald goal gave League One Oldham Athletic a stunning win at Goodison and sent the home side to another humilating defeat, adding to the likes of Shrewsbury Town and Tranmere Rovers.

In March we were back watching Everton win, this time 1-0 at Sunderland in a scrappy performance but a hallmark of the Everton team- they have a great ability to grind out a result when not at their best. And it was proven that day.

In the end, the pursuit of Liverpool for 4th place fell towards the final hurdle, not helped by the loss of key man Tim Cahill through injury. Despite late pressure from Aston Villa, Everton hung on and clinched continental competition for the 3rd time in 4 seasons.

Its been a remarkable turnaround under Moyes. When he took over, the club were constantly flirting with relegation. He came in, made them safe and while in season 2003/2004 they finished 17th, its been finishing in the upper reaches all the way. The board deserve credit for sticking with him even through some sticky times, such as when the Toffees struggled in the first half of 2005/2006, which included a 5-1 aggregate drubbing by Dinamo Bucharest in the UEFA Cup.

And to the players. Many questioned whether Yakubu would be worth the money Moyes paid, but its easy to see why he shelled it out. The Nigerian is strong, has quick feet, good pace, brings team-mates into play and knows where the goal is. Mikel Arteta has had another fine season, while Tim Cahill, Lee Carsley and Leon Osman continue to be important players.

Steven Pienaar has excited and impressed down the flank and I was delighted when he signed permanantly from Borussia Dortmund. But the main man for me has been at the back, and that man is Joleon Lescott. While Joey Yobo and Phil Jagielka have had good seasons, Lescott has been sensational. Deservedly an England international and part of Fabio Capello’s plans, the former Wolves man has grown in stature and his cultured and solid defensive play saw him awarded the Everton Player of the Year award. He also netted 10 goals, a remarkable total for a centre back.

So, Europe beckons once more. And I’ll end this long piece with a reference back to Newcastle United. Kevin Keegan, a man who I greatly admire, said “If Everton can finish fifth, why can’t we? We have a bigger stadium and more fans, but they all play for each other and that’s the spirit we don’t have.”

More fans and a bigger ground doesn’t mean you should get success. Newcastle as a club have done nothing of note since 1969 when they won the Fairs Cup, aside from blowing the league in 95/96 and disgracefully sacking the legend that is Sir Bobby Robson. Newcastle need to come away from this big club mentality and mould a team of grafters and build around it. Moyes has done that, and Everton are now one of the strongest clubs in England.

But, I’ll sign off this post with simply- We’re all going on a European tour. Come on you Blues.

Saturday, March 1st

Birmingham 4, Tottenham 1

Not many were expecting this result and it’s pretty certain that not a soul would have expected Mikael Forssell to hit for a hat-trick against the Hotspur no less. Sure enough, that’s what happened. The true ‘nail in the coffin’ came with Sebastian Larsson’s swerving free-kick beating Paul Robinson to his right and putting Birmingham two clear right after half-time. The Blues had Tottenham’s number this season, taking both match-ups, and this is the worst loss Juande Ramos has suffered since his takeover. It’s pretty safe to say that Pascal Chimbonda and Younes Kaboul will never be deployed centrally on defense again. Think of Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Onyewu’s worst days together with the Nats and multiply it exponentially. Ramos could barely watch…Birmingham will breathe a sigh of relief though as this puts them a little higher up in the fight for top-flight survival.

Reading 1, Middlesbrough 0

A big win for Reading, against a lesser quality side Birmingham’s opponent Tottenham, but three points nonetheless. James Harper has a knack for scoring those injury time goals then going dormant for a good 10 games, but he made his presence known against M’Boro. The Royals didn’t get many chances, but Shorey and Ingimarsson kept Middlesbrough rather quiet. Bobby Convey didn’t dress.

Manchester United 3, Fulham 0

Brian McBride couldn’t revive his magic versus United as the Cottagers were trampled on from the beginning. Eddie Johnson and McBride coupled up front as Fulham managed several decent attacks, but United got much-needed rest for their stars as their return leg vs. Lyon fast approaches and some contributions from unlikelies. Owen Hargreaves hit his first in a United shirt on a well-taken set piece, while Park Ji-Sung actually tucked away a header to make it 2-0 before half-time. Then with 20 minutes to go, Sir Alex Ferguson put in Ronaldo, Rooney, and Anderson and their entrances quickly pinned Fulham down. A Simon Davies own goal ensured the victory for Manchester and dug a deeper hole for the struggling Cottagers.

Chelsea 4, West Ham United 0

Another outclassing, but this one with a different theme. Lampard converted a penalty early on only to be shown a red after retaliating on a tackle made by Luis Boa Morte. Controversy ensued but by then Chelsea was up 3-0 thanks to Michael Ballack and Joe Cole. An hour without Lampard made Chelsea a much more disciplined squad, taking the chances when they had to. A counter-attack led to Ashley Cole’s first goal of the season (and in a long time) which he converted from a seemingly impossibly acute angle. Needless to say, that was West Ham’s luck. Jon Spector dressed but didn’t play for the Hammers.

Blackburn 1, Newcastle 0

Newcastle’s losses have become less embarassing at least, but regardless, their slide continues. Actually the only real embarassment in this match-up was missed chances. Obafemi Martins is his 30 minutes couldn’t find the target, nor could Michael Owen (who later apologized publicly to his teammates for his inaccuracies). One person who did find the net was young Rover striker Matt Derbyshire and he did it in dramatic fashion, 90th minute to push Newcastle farther down the table. Roque Santa Cruz tested Newcastle’s defense all day, but it was David Bentley who put Derbyshire through for the injury-time clincher. Brad Friedel played all 90 and once again led the Rovers to another shutout.

Other Results:

Manchester City 0, Wigan 0 – Sven-Goran Eriksson was understandably angry after this one as Citeh looks nothing like the first half of the season, Wigan held strong though

Derby 0, Sunderland 0 – Another angry manager in Roy Keane, but at least Paul Jewell should feel an ounce of happiness after this. Poor guy. Eddie Lewis went the whole 90, Benny Feilhaber dressed for the first time in a long time, but overall it was the worst played game all weekend.

Sunday, March 2nd

Liverpool 3, Bolton 1

The Reds were fortunate to be given a 12th minute gift of an own goal. Jussi Jaskaleinen – a keeper not used to odd mistakes like this – seemed to be tracking a Gerrard shot wide but instead corralled it into his own net. The play seemed to demoralize the Wanderers defense as Jussi was busy the rest of the game, playing rather well. Liverpool’s offense was too strong however. Though rumored to be restless at Anfield, Ryan Babel put together a fantastic game scoring the go-ahead goal and terrorizing the wings. Fabio Aurelio added the third with 15 minutes to go with a Jon Arne Riise-like strike. New signing Tamir Cohen pulled back a consolation goal for the relegation strugglers as their job was made worse by yet another home loss. Martin Skrtel is really starting to settle down in the back for Liverpool, but it’s going to take a while before anyone can compare him to Liverpool’s Nemanja Vidic.

Everton 3, Portsmouth 1

Someone should discipline Yakubu more often. David Moyes spouted praise for the Nigerian striker after he struck for yet another two goals in an organized victory over European competition hopefuls Portsmouth. Pompey fielded an odd line-up with Muntari and Kranjcar moving equally on the wings as well as in the middle, but Everton stuck on the course. Yakubu hit for an early goal in the 1st minute only to see Jermain Defoe continue his scoring run with new club Portsmouth and equalize before halftime. Tim Cahill came to the rescue with a high-flying header, wide open, but extremely acrobatic to break the deadlock. Yakubu added the insurance goal with about 10 minutes to go, giving him 18 for the season. With the win, Moyes got the added bonus of rest for an injury-hampered Mikel Arteta who they will certainly need for their final push. Even with the 3 points, Moyes is relatively certain it is Liverpool that will pull out the 4th place finish. What words can I even say about how Tim Howard is playing right now…

The big Nigerian striker provided the first goal in a 2-0 shutout of Sven’s sliding Citeh (and his 16th of the still young season). Last month’s CHI Best XI pick Joleon Lescott added another less than 10 minutes later as the Toffees rode their first half efforts into fourth place, surpassing Liverpool no less. Now they stand within a stone’s throw of Chelsea and their momentum is dangerous. Everyone keeps waiting for this team to have a terrible year, but David Moyes has them extremely consistent and that’s with long bouts with injury over the past season for their talisman Tim Cahill and the African Nations Cup absence and subsequent late return of Yakubu. Lee Carsley was the man of the match and is often neglected for many of his performances, which are never particularly pretty. Regardless, his efforts led to the second goal. The bald headed maniac kept his eye on a ball much of the Man City defense thought to be dead. His resulting cross led to Lescott’s nod-in, catching Richard Dunne on the backpedal.

Is it safe to say yet that Tim Howard is the best keeper in the English Premier League right now? Who’s better? Edwin Van der Sar? Brad Friedel? Fabio Capello’s possible pick for new English goalkeeper – Joe Hart – didn’t exactly have the greatest showing but is certainly showing greater upside than an aged David James, errant Paul Robinson, and equally as inconsistent Robert Green.