Season 2008-09 Diary
ToffeeWeb's comprehensive news archive
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If it happened and it was Everton-related, it's right here in the comprehensive Season Diary. Items are in reverse chronological order (more recent first).
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News Headlines & Features Nigeria into Olympic FinalAnichebe sets up second goal 19 Aug - Nigeria powered their way past Belgium in the semi-final of the Olympic football in Beijing, beating them 4-1, with Victor Anichebe setting up the second for Obasi before the Everton player missed a glorious chance to wrap up the game. They now will play Argentina on Saturday. Date set for Destination Kirkby 18 November 2008 18 Aug - So... more mis-information: the call-in that was set to delay the DK project by at least a couple of years will go to public hearing in just three months time! KMBC: "The council has formally accepted the date and we’re pleased the inquiry will be heard so swiftly. The people of Kirkby deserve a final decision on the regeneration of their town and holding the inquiry before the end of the year will bring clarity on the future of this development." No indication, though on how long it is expected to take... Moyes still stalling on contract 17 Aug - David Moyes seems to have become expert in saying a lot but actually telling us nothing, as evidenced by this bizarre speech on the Official Website, which concludes with: "Nothing has changed with the contract situation. I'm a little bit closer than I was at the end of last season, I'm just waiting to see how things go. We have one or two things to sort out, then I'll have a look at it. I wouldn't say my contract hinges on new players coming in. Obviously I want to see what happens in the next few weeks, but I wouldn't go as black and white as that." Everton 2 - 3 Blackburn Rovers Two great goals not enough 16 Aug - Everton looked pretty dreadful for large periods of the first half, when Blackburn threatened repeatedly and scored off a searing Dunn shot after 22 mins. But the magical Mikel Arteta turned the inevitable half-time boos into ecstatic cheers with a fantastic strike from a very narrow angle. In a sweeping move, Yakubu headed home Arteta's brilliant cross but seconds later Lescott was caught sleeping and Santa Cruz fired home easily. Jose Baxter came on for another record-book debut (youngest ever) and almost scored the winner but that honour went to Blackburn's Ooijer in the very last minute with a tap- in after Nelson's header hit the post. Disastrous for Everton, but not wholly undeserved. Match report by Lyndon Lloyd Vaughan in the frame? No suspension for Red Card 14 Aug - According to the increasingly unreliable local papers, James Vaughan will not be suspended because the FA did not receive any report form the US Soccer Ferderation regarding his sending off at Chicago Fire. That means he should be free to play against Blackburn in the season opener on Saturday... except for yet another injury that he picked up in training!!! Pienaar out for up to six weeks Could it get any worse? 11 Aug - As if David Moyes didn't have a big enough selection problem in midfield already, it now appears as though Steven Pienaar could miss the first six weeks of the new season with a foot injury. It is believed that the South African international, before this week one of just three fit senior midfielders, sustained a Is it safe to speak up now? New-found scepticism of Kirkby in the local press 11 Aug - With Destination Kirkby under threat, the volume of Kirkby scepticism has increased in the local press in the past week and the Daily Post's Chris Beesley — one of the few local journalists to offer support for KEIOC's efforts in promoting a Plan B last year — touches on many of the "No" voters' concerns about leaving the City. "What would happen to Everton ... in another 20 or 50 years if they were out of sight and out of mind from the football-mad youngsters living in the city?," he asks. It's a shame the local papers weren't more apt to challenge Keith Wyness' line around the time of the vote. Everton 1 - 1 PSV Eindhoven Late Blues penalty ties the game 9 Aug - The threadbare Everton squad, further depleted by last week's transfer of Andy Johnson to Fulham, ended their travels back home at Goodison Park for the final friendly before they kick the season off in earnest next weekend. For the sparse home crowd who had braved the summer rain, it was a chance to savour the skills of Dan Gosling, making his first home appearance after 8 months at the club. Amarant shocked the Blues on the half-hour with a very well-taken goal to put the visitors ahead. After lots of second-half subs that included Jutkiewicz, Baxter and the virtually unknown midfielder James Wallace, Everton had Yobo to thank near the end for winning a penalty that Mikel Arteta put away in style. Roll on the New Season! Kenwright's White Flag Slap in the face for loyal Bues 9 Aug - Unfettered by the pathetic obsequiousness of many local journalists from the Post and Echo who never seem to get their stories straight, Brian Reade in The Mirror today lays into the small-time thinking and acceptance of "also-ran status" that has been a hallmark of Bill Kenwright's nine-year rule at Goodison Park. At times it reads like a digest of the frustrations that have increasingly concerned Evertonians writing in to this website about exactly where the white-haired impresario has been directing us to... Destination Kirkby, where "any dream will do". Bradley and Kenwright to meet Keep Everton In Our City? 8 Aug - Councillor Warren Bradley will meet with Bill Kenwright next week (a tacit indication that the "Exclusivity Agreement" with Tesco no longer applies) for a hard-nosed discussion about alternative sites within the Liverpool city boundaries that could be promoted — with help from LCC — for a new Everton stadium. This is likely one option the club should be considering, while they decide whether to continue pursuit of Destination Krikby... Johnson finally seals Fulham move Restructured deal ends transfer saga 7 Aug - Andy Johnson's drawn-out move to Fulham is finally over after the Cottagers announced the conclusion of a restructured deal to bring the 27 year-old striker back to London. Reports yesterday suggested that Everton will receive £9m up front with a further £4m due in appearance-related fees and the hope is that David Moyes can finally name some incoming transfers of his own. The new season is just 9 days away... Destination Kirkby called in Public inquiry ordered for Tesco-led scheme 6 Aug - Everton have confirmed via the Official Site breaking news on Granada TV that the Destination Kirkby scheme for a Tesco-led £400m retail development and stadium for Everton FC has been called in by the Government for further scrutiny. Public inquiries of this nature usually take between 12 to 18 months which the club fear could kill their participation in the proposal due to rising costs. A Pyrrhic victory for opponents of the scheme if it does indeed spell the end of Kirkby stadium, it raises a number of questions regarding investment by the current Board at a very uncertain time for the club. Kenwright: “Watch this space” 5 Aug - In an interview with Sky Sports News, Bill Kenwright confirms that Joao Moutinho remains one of David Moyes's major transfer priorities and tells viewers to "watch this space" as further targets are pursued. The Blues supremo assured fans by way of a statement on the Official Site last Friday that signings would be made before the 16th August kickoff but nothing has been concluded yet. Kenwright reiterated that he expects the Andy Johnson saga to be concluded within the next 24 hours. Everton for sale? Kenwright feeling the pressure with EGM looming 4 Aug - Chairman Bill Kenwright is ready to sell the club to the right bidder and is seeking a multi-million pound injection that will help the club crack the top four according to today's Liverpool Echo. Weekend claims of foreign interest are backed up with the Echo claiming Kenwright has been in talks for years with Russian, American and Dutch investors who registered an interest in the club. Colorado Rapids 1 - 2 Everton Mikel Arteta opens the scoring 3 Aug - Dick's Sporting Goods Park... in Commerce City, Colorado!!! Welcome to the new age of |
Snippets & Rumours Cahill looking at mid-September20 Aug - Tim Cahill is targeting a mid-September return as he nears the end of another long recovery from a broken metatarsal sustained back in March. "I'm taking it steady and leaving nothing to chance," he says. Rumour: Ball in Tiago's court 20 Aug - Tiago Mendes could become Everton's long-awaited first signing of the summer if they can overcome the player's reluctance to return to England after being labeled a flop in his brief spell with Chelsea. The Blues have reportedly beaten Newcastle United to the chase and struck a deal with Juventus to take the Portuguese midfielder on loan for a year, covering his £500,000-a-year wages, with an option to make the move permanent next summer for a final fee of £8m. Tottenham apparently came to similar terms with the Italian giants in January but the 27 year-old rejected the move back to London.
CSKA apparently value Love at between £13m and £15m and Babaev doesn't seem to be rejecting outright the speculation linking the Brazilian with Goodison, just the loan aspect. Love is reputed to be undergoing a medical today with a view to joining the Blues but there has been no official confirmation thus far.
Somehow it seems as though Everton have persuaded CSKA Moscow to allow the 24 year-old to join the Blues on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent £13m signing next summer. The same reports also suggest that Alan Smith will follow this week and Stephane M'Bia will sign after the Olympics, while Joao Moutinho remains a possibility before the deadline if Sporting Lisbon can be tempted with 16m of our English pounds.
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