The Mail Bag

Moyes Book Cancelled?

Maybe this is old news & I'm just the last to hear about it, but I recently received a mail advising of the cancellation of the David Moyes book: Manager.

"We regret to report that the release of the following item has been cancelled: David Moyes "Manager"."

I'm not too disappointed, as I'd prefer to see Moyes write books at the end of a long and successful career as Everton manager. However, I'm a bit surprised that the plug would appear to be pulled on a book that was orginally advertised for pre-order quite some time ago.
Dennis Stevens     Posted 01/07/2010 at 01:59:50   Comments (6)

Summer Sales?

June is usually the time when there is a wholesale clear-out of young talent from the Everton Academy and Reserves squads. But I don't recall seeing anything recently about young players being released.

Checking the player lists provided on the Official Website and comparing them with the records we have compiled of appearances for the Reserves and Academy sides would seem to confirm that very few have left. The following Reserves players who featured at some point during the last season appear to be no longer with us:

• George Krenn (was released last August)
• Lars Stubhaug (returned to Norway)
• Karl Sheppard (joined Galway Utd in February)

Hallam Hope and Ross Barkley are not listed but I think they are still classed as Schoolboys. The rest of the regulars, including last summer's new arrivals, Luke Garbutt. Femi Orenuga, Cory Arnoux, Anton Peterlin, and Shkodran Mustafi are still at the club... although I'm sure a number of them were only given 1-year contracts, so I guess we'll see what happens in the next few weeks.

Has anybody seen anything hidden away in the darker corners of the Echo or any other local sources?
Michael Kenrick     Posted 30/06/2010 at 14:24:57   Comments (17)

New Kit 'Technology'

I am on the whole excited by the new kit being released; however, the continued talk of 'brand new technology' is making me think I should prepare myself for another dud!

I as a fan believe that, if Le Coq want to develop the technology of a shirt, the main areas that would interest fans would be pie juice and bovril repellent material with wonderbra-esque developments that improve the look of an out-of-shape male's bust.

Let's face it, the majority of these shirts are not worn for playing football in... and, as much as I believe in giving the players the best shirt to compete in, please please please just concentrate on what it LOOKS like — I am sick of looking a twat with the biggest ever triangle on my chest!
Rob Wilkinson     Posted 30/06/2010 at 08:58:47   Comments (40)

Who's this Gueye?

Apparently we have bought or are about to buy another young striker:

Sky Sports sources reported on Monday that Goodison Park officials had approached the French club with an offer of just under £1million for the 19-year-old.

Gueye said: "I was over the moon when I heard that Everton had agreed a fee with my club.

"I was so happy and I am looking forward to developing in the best league in the world."

Apparently this guy is absolutely rapid and can also play in midfield. My guess would be that Moyes perhaps see's him as the pacey winger we have been looking for. At 19, I would imagine he will be plying his trade in the reserves this season. At least to start with.

Good to see early business at least even if we are yet to make any 'marquee' signings, whatever they are.
Sam Hoare     Posted 29/06/2010 at 12:16:43   Comments (23)

Moyes – Tactical genius

So here on ToffeeWeb, for many years people have hammered David Moyes for his 4-5-1 approach.

The media are up in arms that Fabio was too rigid in his 4-4-2 formation and that all the teams are playing ''modern'' formation (4-5-1). Brazil, Spain and Holland all play with one up front and United, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea all play this way now.

Moysie has been using this system since we came fourth all them years ago. Granted the first year we used the system it was very defensive but more recently it has evolved into us playing some great play and some neat interchanging.

I think Moyesie deserves more credit for his tactics and it would appear that the national press agree with his formation.
Kevy Quinn     Posted 28/06/2010 at 17:31:31   Comments (31)

Everton and England

I have just watched that ridiculous England match and the the deluded comments of the players post match. The only person who sounded objective was Milner, who has only just joined the circus.

I sense that Jags & Leighton have dodged a massive bullet by not being part of that fiasco. Fancy being influenced by Terry, Lampard, Cole, etc??

Hopefully our current players can form some part of a better future for a national team and a successful Everton team? I sense a tipping point for the pampered prima donna European approach.

Did you see the different approach between the Italian, French, England teams and the USA, African, Asian teams? There may have been a difference between skill, stature, and wage but there was a massive difference between desire and patriotism...

I hate everything that England stands for these days but still retain great memories of Reid, Lineker, Steven, Stevens, Bracewell all appearing in the same team. Seems so long ago now...

What for the future after today?
Neil Patten     Posted 27/06/2010 at 22:56:56   Comments (142)

No surprise for Wilson!!!

"Well, it was no surprise to me. In fact I predicted this 4 - 1 disaster (and the ludicrous goalline decision) in my post FOUR MONTHS AGO! My Wilson-like football knowledge knows no limits and continues to make me loadsa money." -- Dave Wilson
Michael Kenrick     Posted 27/06/2010 at 16:49:55   Comments (95)

The end for Arteta?

Well, today it has been revealed that Mikel Arteta wishes to return to Spain for the sake of his son, as he has been diagnosed as being partially sighted. This although being silly season seems to warrant a certain amount of acknowledgement as I don't believe it to be just lazy journalism, surely even a journo' wouldn't stoop to using a players child as a reason for wanting a move away?

If this turns out to be true, I have no problem with Arteta returning home, he has been an exemplary servant for the club and he would leave with mine and probably every Evertonians support and best wishes.

What worries me the most is where would it leave Everton? Who could we get to replace him? Would the likes of Peinaar, Fellaini, Bily and Johnny H want to stay (I believe the style of football he promotes within the team is integral to this).
Luke Berry     Posted 27/06/2010 at 13:08:22   Comments (36)

Daddy Donovan

I have just read an interesting article from Goal.com which I know is not the most respected football rumour rag, however it has attached the story from Sports Illustrated who are probably one of the most respected Sports Journalism organisations in the states, with what appears to directly quote Landon.

Basically he thinks he may have got a girl pregnant during his time over here and accepts it may be true and if so that he will take responsibility. Clearly that probably means a lucrative maintenance package but I just thought I'd throw it out there to see if the general consenus would be whether or not it would help or hinder a permanent deal? I have copied the article below.

Sports Illustrated's website, SI.com, has broken the story that USA star Landon Donovan stand accused of paternity by a British woman.

According to SI, a British tabloid is set to run a story in which a U.K. woman says she is pregnant with Donovan's child.

"I was informed of the possibility during the World Cup, and if I need to take responsibility, then I will provide the appropriate support," Donovan reportedly told SI.com.

Donovan and his wife, actress Bianca Kajlich, announced their separation last summer, though the split was said to be amicable. A divorce has not been finalized.

In fact, the two appeared to be close to reconciliation. In several recent interviews, Donovan publically thanked her for helping him mature and blew her a kiss after on-camera remarks at the World Cup.

In turn, Kajlich had posted supportive messages on her Twitter account for the USA's world Cup campaign in general and Donovan and particular.

"Man oh man. Tough loss. So proud of our boys..." Kajlich posted after the USA loss to Ghana.

Donovan was a key part of the USA's World cup campaign scoring three goals before the Americans were ousted from the tournament.

In the winter of this year, Donovan went on loan to Everton Football Club and lived in Liverpool for ten weeks before returning to his hometown Los Angeles Galaxy club.

Up England

OK you wimpering bastards professing your disinterest/venom for England's National Side.

Here's the Yank from NYC saying the sausage-eaters will be on a flight home this time tomorrow. Don't come in here after the game proclaiming what you knew all along if England loses. Make a call. Say it now.

England or Germany?

I say, if no one interrupts Capello's nap while the game's on, Rooney can sneak forward and score at will. Yes Germany has a predator or two. But connecting to them will take 2nd place to worrying about England's attack.

England 2-1. Fuck the Deutchers. England's better.
James Flynn     Posted 27/06/2010 at 02:31:23   Comments (34)

If the worst should happen

As the Everton contingent gradually head home from the world cup maybe it is time to start dreaming of next season. Frankly, I'm a glass half empty sort of guy so I'd like to look at the worst that can happen and then see how I can cope. In my view the worst that can happen is that Pienaar goes and the money is not available to David Moyes. Where will that leave us on the opening day of the season?

In goal, Tim Howard has exhibited some of his usual flaws but he's good enough.Right back? Soon it will be Coleman but I'll start with Neville, an admirable captain. At left back Baines. He must be smarting and I believe he will have a fine season.

Centre backs? Jags, fit and approaching his peak Yobo, yes not a great world cup but he has, in my opinion, one fine season in him.

Midfield, Vic on the right Not ideal but this is the worst case scenario. Again, this is his time to prove he has it. Heitinga in the holding role, he just might come back as a world cup winner and is more than a central defender Along side him the best player at the club, Mikel .On the left Bily. Ideally I would play him behind the striker. He will be rested and more settled and will score some special goals but in the presumed absence of Pienaar he should start on the left.

Up front? Cahill behind Beckford. Tim has showed in the world cup that he retains his zest and enthusiasm and he too has one more great season.

Finally Beckford. Unproven at top level, arrogant and possibly damaging to morale. But, pacey ,arrogant (yes it can be a positive) and with more to prove than any player in the premier league. I have a gut feeling that he will be something special for Everton.

Look at our bench. Ruddy, yes I'd have him as second choice. Distin, Fellaini, Osman, Saha , Yakubu and some decent young players, Duffy, Silva and Baxter.

So, if the worst comes to the worst we might just be ok. I have loads of reservations about the management of Everton but I'm trying to be positive. .
Andy Crooks     Posted 27/06/2010 at 01:09:38   Comments (4)

Chile FA slam Torres

It should be of no surprise to anyone that Harold Maynes-Nichols, the president of the Chile FA, should condemn Fernando Torres for his "lack of sportmanship" in getting Marco Estrada sent off last night in the Spain v Chile match. What was missed by our well-prepared commentators was the fact that Estrada was an ex-Everton player, having clocked up 84 games for the Ruleteros of Viña del Mar before moving on to Univesidad de Chile in 2006 and Montpellier this year.

Anyone wishing to congratulate Señor Maynes-Nichols in person for his astute assessment of the offending / offensive Torres can do so at Goodison Park on 4th August when the FA President will be one of the guests of honour at the Everton FC v CD Everton pre-season friendly.
John Shearon     Posted 26/06/2010 at 18:06:52   Comments (9)

Everton imagery in unusual places

Did anyone else watch BBC coverage of Glastonbury lastt night ? On "the other stage" the cameras panned round the crowd and took long shots of the stage. In all of these shots a large Everton flag was very visible and in some shots covered the screen!

We could possibly use this as a thread to look out for and report on all things Everton in unusual places.
Steve Guy     Posted 26/06/2010 at 09:17:54   Comments (11)

The rest of the WC player ratings

No question about it, our Everton World Cup representatives continue to do us proud in South Africa. Here's how I rate the final five Blues overall for their first-round performances:

Howard – 8

Could our keeper have been more commanding? He inspired a ragtag, injury-hit defense, with two center backs who had never played together before. He made every save he was supposed to make, and wasn’t at fault for any of the three goals he gave up. He owned his area. And his usual weakness – distribution – helped put the US through. That great throw to Donovan was actually his second in the final minutes.

Donovan – 6

Yes, I still count him, because I still think he’ll be back, at least on another loan deal. The glory of the The Goal and that powerful finish against Slovenia have obscured the fact that the US captain didn’t exactly come up big for the most part – he had an anonymous second half against Algeria until the goal, and he pretty much let BelHadj run rampant up the left side. But clutch is clutch, and Donovan is now a US legend.

Cahill – 5

This rating reflects a man-of-the-match performance in Australia’s biggest win ever – a great goal and end-line-to-end-line inspiration – that salvaged a catastrophic World Cup for Tiger Tim. Especially given the deified media status he holds in Australia, which Jip described in his post, I’m very glad he didn’t go home in disgrace.

Mucha – 3

Beating Italy is splendid, but , I am thoroughly unimpressed with our new keeper. He’s quick and athletic, but totally unconvincing in the air and clearly not in command of his defense. He flapped at one cross so badly that he had to be rescued by the RS Skrtel on the line. I’ve never seen Ruddy play, but I understand why you guys who have seen him would prefer to have him back at Goodison this season as Howard’s backup.

Heitinga – 7

You know what’s great about Heitinga? It isn’t just that he’s barely put a foot wrong in three games, that he’s been immaculate on and off the ball, that Holland have given up one goal (from a penalty) and only nine shots on goal. What’s really great is that he’s only our second-best center back. I’ll say it right now – Jags, Johnny and Howard give us the best defense in the Prem, and I think we’ll prove it this season.
Mike Gaynes     Posted 24/06/2010 at 23:00:46   Comments (37)

No escape from Tim Cahill

As an Evertonian who moved to Darwin, Australia, three weeks ago; I’m sorry to report that I now have an over\-exposure to Tim Cahill. Let me explain. All the World Cup games are on one TV channel over here (SBS 1), so, from pretty much 7pm onwards every night, all that channel shows is football — at first highlights from the previous day, then the live matches through the night.

It really is the only thing worth watching over here, so that’s how I’ve been spending my evenings. The trouble starts when it comes to the ad breaks. Typical break goes like this:

• Sony advert — starring Tim Cahill (people following his training regime – so close as to “feel the experience’)
• Advert for local BBQ centre
• Optus advert (mobile company) — starring Tim Cahill (and Lucas Neill playing football against alligators and elephants).
• Advert for local car dealership
• Sony advert — starring Tim Cahill (playing football on a Playstation, as Tim Cahill of course).

Sometimes they will have Lucas Neill in them. It’s like that all night. But then I go to the supermarket — one of the first things I see is a big stack of Weet-bix (sic) with Tim Cahill on the box and a big cardboard cut out of him. And he’s in magazines everywhere. There is no escape...

Then again it could be a good thing. Okay, so Australia (or the Qantas Socceroos as they are known as) are out, but at least Tim scored. And this advertising seems to suggest that he is their favourite / most marketable player. So Lucas Neill features in the adverts, but has to say “Hi I’m Lucas Neill” (I guess as they don’t recognise him).

I know people have previously moaned that we don’t have any famous players that they layman in the street could name, but perhaps we do, just not if you ask an English person. Hopefully when Everton come over for the pre-season tour they will be able to build upon the popularity of Tim and get more people to the match and start to follow Everton.

And one last thing — at least it isn’t Harry Kewell!
Jip Foster     Posted 23/06/2010 at 23:42:41   Comments (30)

Landon Donovan

To my mind, easily the outstanding performer in the group, with three telling performances. And under pressure too. It was Donovan's emphatic finish that started the comeback against the Slovenians and he started and finished the move that saw them qualify... Oh, and avoid the Germans in the knockout round.

He was nothing but quality throughout and clearly was the dominant figure on a very well organised team. We should sign him up, except he's worth how much now? Nice job missing another trick, lads, he'll be good for whoever is lucky enough to get him.
David  Cornmell     Posted 23/06/2010 at 21:49:35   Comments (21)

Not Good Enough

England may have won, but it wasn't enough to win the group. We desperately needed to score more goals. We now have to face the possiblity of playing Germany, and then Argentina. We don't stand a chance. Not based on our form so far.
Dave Smith     Posted 23/06/2010 at 16:58:09   Comments (59)

First three Evertonians out...

... , 3 (or 4 or 5) remaining.

With the first group completing play, the first three Boys in Blue are done at the World Cup. My rankings:

Pienaar – 5
I predicted beforehand that South Africa would become the first host team to fail to make the second round, amarket value and generate big-money bids from CL teams. And that’s how it turned out. The Pocket Rocnd that Pienaar would do little to enhance his ket was every bit as commanding against France as he usually is for Everton, but he did little of note in the first two games and never came close to making the impact he makes for us. I think Moyes’s gamble of not re-signing him before the WC has paid off.

Yobo – 4
We saw the Yobo we all know as he captained Nigeria – some great tackles, excellent positioning and otherwise intelligent play marred by ugly blunders at the rate of about one per game. He abandoned his mark in game one and headed a clearance directly into an attacker’s chest in game two, yielding unnecessary scoring chances both times. And it’s an ominous sign that he came off at half-time in the biggest game of his life. That said, I don’t think Nigeria’s elimination was in any way his fault – he did his best. Let’s just hope he’s healthy again by September.

Yakubu – 3
What can you say? Three minutes after one of the worst misses in tournament history, he tucked away the penalty with absolute composure. Overall, it wasn’t good. The Yak was definitely fitter and more mobile during the World Cup than he was during the EPL season, and he showed some nice touches. But the old explosiveness was nowhere to be seen.

Every time he was 50-50 with a defender for the ball, he got outrun. We saw all we needed to see in minute 58 against the Koreans... first he couldn’t reach a perfect pass from Etuhu, and then he was presented an open chance and was hopelessly slow on the ball, losing out meekly to a faster defender. He was put clean through in game 2 and had it saved by the keeper. That’s not the Yak we knew. And it never will be again.

Still in the tournament: Heitinga, Cahill and Howard, plus Donovan and Mucha (who aren't Blues yet, but will be). Go get 'em, boys.
Mike Gaynes     Posted 22/06/2010 at 21:22:31   Comments (32)

The French “bomb-de-temps”!

Call me old-fashioned, but I honestly believe that players representing their team, never mind their country, should show more professionalism with regards to their Manager and their supporters. Alright, it’s feasible that the French Management Team may have continued doing something to allow things to boil over in such a way, but the events of the last 48 hours should not have been allowed to happen in any sport – or business, or life, for that matter.

If an Everton player behaved the way that Anelka did in South Africa (no matter which International country he played for), or if an Everton player led or joined in the events culminating from that farce, what would your reaction be to him?

Personally, I would want rid of him – tantrums and childish behaviour like that can only destroy any team strengths you may have – as proven with this whole ridiculous episode.

Yet another negative for this World Cup, and I am relieved that we had no players involved.
Gerry Quinn     Posted 22/06/2010 at 17:15:51   Comments (55)

Cheating

After watching the Brazil game last night and seeing the Kaka incident on view to millions throughout the world, I just thought what a great opportunity for Fifa to make a real statement about cheating in the game. They missed the chance with Thierre Henry.

I would love to see them rescind the red card given to Kaka and give a red card and subsequent ban to the Ivory Coast player. The referee did not see the incident so I can't understand why he sent him off. If either the referee's asistant or the 4th official advised him, they obviously need to go to 'Specsavers'.

Players receive retrospective punishment from video evidence for incidents the referee has missed so why not for cheating?. By not doing anything about this type of thing, Fifa are in fact condoning cheating.
Ron Haslam     Posted 21/06/2010 at 10:12:27   Comments (50)