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[Season Diary]

Full Season 2001-02

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). Upcoming events are in grey.

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2002-03 >>

 June 2002


News Headlines & Features


Putting Everton on the map
30 Jun - We've had quite a few e-mails asking about those top Evertonian lads who have been putting the club's name in front of billions of TV viewers with giant flags at the World Cup, not only at England matches but countless others.  The now-famous "Everton FC Huyton" banner is the work of Ritchie Harrison, while "Cush" (aka Paul) from the USA is the proud bearer of the flag of St George with "Everton FC" in enormous black letters that was so prominent in the England-Brazil game.  Well in, lads!

Nyarko has finally flipped
28 Jun - More incredible garbage from the mouth of Alex Nyarko, who now says Everton fans didn't like him because he was married to a white woman!  Hands up, all you fans who had the faintest idea he was married to a white woman?  And hands up all those who would even care???  Unbelievable!

Moyes confirms Breen link
27 Jun - David Moyes has confirmed approaches to Gary Breen and Mart Poom, among a list of more than 10 players (unidentified) whom Everton have enquired about.  The 28-year-old Irish International would be on a free, but high transfer fees seem to be the problem with a lot of the other deals as Moyes refuses to pay over the odds for what are — let's be honest — essentially journeymen.

Which goalie will it be?
26 Jun - As the World Cup nears its climax, the Silly Season swings into full gear at home, with various sources touting the foundering deal for Mart Poom, while less reputable sites (e.g, Planet Football) quote Czech sources as gospel, claiming that Everton are about to sign young goalie Petr Cech.

Moore part-ex for McBride?
25 Jun - Since David Moyes has previously taken the USA's Brian McBride on loan while he was at Preston, perhaps it is not a huge leap to consider that he may once again be interested in the 30-year-old striker after his impressive form in the World Cup.  Rumours suggest he may offer Joe-Max Moore back to the MLS in part-exchange.

Stepping up the pace
24 Jun - Pre-season training for most of the Everton squad is just a week away, but David Moyes has already set the bar high in terms of effort and fitness levels he wants to see achieved.  Players are being requested to report for special training assessments in Lyon, France, ahead of the main effort that will begin in earnest next week at Bellefield and later at the training camp in Austria.

A Buyers' Market?
19 Jun - Everton's desire to off-load Alex Nyarko as finally forged a deal with Paris St Germain, where the God-fearing Ghanaian will initially go on loan for a meagre £300k fee upfront.  Another another £2.7M is due in January, when the French transfer window opens and his registration will finally be removed from Everton's books.

100 and counting …
18 Jun - Criticism of the Everton club management has been muted since the appointment of David Moyes but Everton fan Tony Wooly feels compelled to enumerate his strongly felt concerns about missed marketing opportunities in this hard-hitting piece about the apparent failings surrounding what should be a joyous celebration of achieving 100 seasons in the top eschelon of English football.

Window Shopping
16 Jun - David Moyes may only have a paltry £5M to spend this summer but, as his flying visit to the Far East a couple of weeks would suggest, that probably won't stop him running the rule over some of the talent currently on parade in Korea and Japan.  It also doesn't stop Lyndon Lloyd from casting his own eye on the players on offer and picking out some potentially affordable stars from the 2002 World Cup Finals.

Dropping like flies
16 Jun - Joe-Max Moore is the sole remaining Everton representative in the World Cup Finals after Sweden and Ireland became victims of agonizing defeats in the 2nd Round.  Niclas Alexandersson suffered a gash to the head and was later substituted as he and fellow Blue Tobias Linderoth crashed out to Senegal's extra-time "golden goal".  And Lee Carsley's Ireland went out in the worst way possible — losing a penalty shoot-out to Spain after the excellent Robbie Keane had forced the game into extra time with a 90th-minute equaliser from the spot.

Denmark 0-3 England
15 Jun - Three first-half goals — each coming with its own slice of fortune — propelled an impressive-looking England into the Quarter Finals at the expense of a less-than-solid Denmark despite another impressive performance by Everton's Thomas Gravesen.  Branded an 'enforcer', Gravesen was impressive going forward and enjoyed more space than he is used to in the Premiership, spraying passes around with surprising accuracy. England, however, proved too strong on the day and they await the wiinner of Brazil's matchup with Belgium on Monday.

As bemused as the rest of us
14 Jun - In a light-hearted article in today's Telegraph, Clive Tyldesley empathises with the head scratching that Everton fans have been doing as they watch all five of their World Cup stars advance to the second round while some of the Premiership's elite — Veron, Henry, Wiltord, Petit, Forlan, to name a few — have made embarrassing exits from the competition with their respective countries. The question is, will David Moyes be able to do what Walter Smith couldn't — get this world-beating form out of the likes of Alexandersson, Linderoth and Gravesen next season!

Yanks through on a knife-edge…
14 Jun - Joe-Max Moore made his 100th international appearance for the USA, coming on as a second-half sub to help the Yanks recover after falling behind to a devastating two-goal blast from Poland in the first 5 mins of their final Group D match.  The US needed to at least draw, or have Portugal — who dropped down to 9 men with two sent off — lose the other game.  The Poles grabbed a third goal just as Korea finally made their numerical advantage tell with a goal that would put the US through to a 2nd Round tie against CONCACAF rivals Mexico.  Portugal hit the post in the last minute, but could not tie the game and they now go home.  What a World Cup!

Blues kick off Season 100 at Goodison
13 Jun - Everton's historic 100th Season in the Top Flight will begin at Goodison Park against Tottenham Hotspur on 17th August and end, again at home, against Manchester United.  Chief Executive Michael Dunford had requested that Aston Villa be our first opponents but it seems as though the FA have ignored him.  The Anfield Derby is on December 12 with the return fixture on April 19th, while October looks daunting, as does the post-Easter run-in.  We apologise, but we have chosen not to endorse the Football Association's controversial and gratuitous copyright on the Premiership and Football League fixtures by paying for the privilege of displaying the Blues' full fixture list for the coming season.  You can view them at the Offiicial Site instead.

Sweden Top Group F
12 Jun - Everton's Swedish Blues Niclas Alexandersson and Tobias Linderoth are through to the second phase of the World Cup Finals as winners of the so-called "group of death" after holding Argentina to a 1-1 draw. Knowing that a draw would be enough to advance at Argentina's expense, the Swedes took the lead through a Svensson free kick but succumbed to a late penalty that ensured a nervy last few minutes as England perplexingly ground out a bore draw with Nigeria. Although they sure must have known that anything short of a win would pit them against high-flying Denmark in Round 2, Sven Goran Eriksson's side strolled to a 0-0 draw. Sweden will take on Senegal in the next round.

Gravedigger helps bury France
11 Jun - Thomas Gravesen helped Denmark to win Group A with a convincing 2-0 victory that dumped a humiliated France out of the 2002 World Cup thanks to goals by speedy winger Dennis Rommadahl and sharp-shooter Jon Dahl Tomasson.  Needing to win by two goals to advance to the next phase, Zinedine Zidane and his teammates ended up being eliminated without scoring a single goal in the tournament — the first ever defending champions to record such a feat.  Senegal join the Danes in Round 2 and await the results from England and Sweden's group to see who they will play.  In Group E, Robbie Keane scored again as the Irish beat Saudia Arabia 3-0 while playing abysmally.  Lee Carsely got his first 5 minutes on the field, subbing for Kinsella near the end.

Q & A with David Moyes
11 Jun - The official Everton Website features the results of an absorbing question and answer session based on queries submitted by fans with the man who can't seem to say the wrong thing when it comes to Everton — manager David Moyes.

Poll poleaxes Italy
8 Jun - Referee Graham Poll attained his dream of worldwide infamy as he disallowed two perfectly good Italian goals (admittedly on the basis of dubious decisions by the linesman) — including a bizarre one from ex-Everton player, Marco Materazzi, scored from inside the Italian half in added time at the end of a fascinating game in Group G of the World Cup.  Materazzi was somewhat embarrassed during the play that led to both of Croatia's comeback goals as they recovered from 1-0 down to win 2-1, although credit should really go to the scorers in each case — especially the superb volleyed lob from Rapaic for the stunning winner.

International Blues remain unbeaten
7 Jun - Everton's World Cup stars remain unbeaten in the tournament so far following the latest round of results. Niclas Alexandersson and Tobias Linderoth helped Sweden to the top of Group F — a spot they now share with England following their win over Argentina — with a 2-1 win over Nigeria (Henrik Larsson, widely thought to be a Blue, scored both goals), Thomas Gravesen played an hour of Denmark's hot and heated 1-1 draw with Senegal, while Ireland snatched a dramatic point from Germany — although Lee Carsley was again overlooked.

Alexandersson strike denies England
2 Jun - Niclas Alexandersson's sweetly-struck left-foot shot earned a draw for Sweden against England and denied Sven-Goran Eriksson a win in Saitama, Japan. Sol Campbell's emphatic first-half header had sent England on their way but the Swedes were a different side after the break and Alexandersson capitalised on a defensive error by Danny Mills to steal a point. Tobias Linderoth, although quiet for the most part, belted what might have been the winner over the bar from 20 yards out.

Gravesen shines for Denmark
1 Jun - Thomas Gravesen was fully involved in Denmark's spirited 2-1 win over Uruguay in the second Group A game at the World Cup.  Playing a broader, more attacking role stretching from deep midfield to advanced positions on the left, he seemed a much better player than his less-effective fist-waving Everton persona.  Earlier, Lee Carsley played no part in Ireland's creditable 1-1 draw with Cameroon.

 

Snippets & Rumours


Your World Cup picks
30 Jun - Your top choices as potential Everton players from the array of talent on show in Korea Japan 2002 are now up here.

Ebbrell scouts no more
28 Jun - John Ebbrell has moved on from his post as Everton's Chief Scout, a position he held for two years after having to give up playing the game due to persistent injury.

Ball and his crocked knee
27 Jun - It is now a year since he reluctantly left Everton for Rangers, and Michael Ball's struggle to regain full fitness continues as he suffers more pain in his knee, despite getting a clear scan.

Two-game Scots package deal
26 Jun - Catch Everton's pre-season games at Dunfermline and Hibs with this excellent long-weekend coach package from Liverpool next month.  Call Peter Hart to reserve your place on the bus!

Unsworth's Testimonial Hosts
25 Jun - BlueBlood, the Everton Former Players Foundation, will be helping to organize David Unsworth's testimonial events.  Unsie has agreed to do an off-line question-and-answer session for ToffeeWeb, so send in your questions and we'll do our best to get them answered.

Big Sky Fixtures
24 Jun - To accommodate live broadcast on Sky TV, three Everton matches have been given new dates: Manchester Utd (a) on Monday 7 October at 8pm; West Ham Utd (a) on Sunday 27 October at 4pm; and Liverpool (a) on Sunday 22 December.

More pre-season dates
21 Jun - The two additional games that will form pat of Everton's pre-season training in Austria are:
  • 12 July: Bruck/Mur v Everton (Bruck is 10km from Kapfenberg)
  • 16 July: Weiz v Everton (Weiz is 40km from Graz in the east)


No more World Cup for Joe-Max?
18 Jun - Everton's Joe-Max Moore reckons that a knee injury has put paid to any more participation for him in the USA's stirring World Cup campaign.  Meanwhile, in the last games of the 2nd Round, co-hosts Japan fizzled out in the rain against Turkey, while South Korea stunned Italy with a Golden Goal win 2-1 after trailing for most of the match following an agonizing early penalty miss — another gratifying indictment of Italy's ultimately bankrupt defensive philosophy???

No loan move for Nyarko
17 Jun - Everton have flatly rejected a ploy by Paris St Germain to secure the services of Alex Nyarko on another protratced loan deal.

Howarth says he's good enough
17 Jun - York City's young and little-used goalie, Russell Howarth, says that his trial at Everton last season was great, and he thinks he is good enough to play for the Toffees.  But what does David Moyes think???

Yanks on a roll
17 Jun - The United States advanced to the Quarter Finals with a mature and confident 2-0 win over their long-time 'local' rivals, Mexico.  Joe-Max Moore did not get to play in this one. And in the other game, Brazil rode their luck once again to defeat Belgium after the Europeans had a perfectly good goal disallowed, and kept the Samba boys at bay until late in the second half.

New goalkeeper link
14 Jun - The Ananova website contains a fairly strong link to Czech player Petr Cech, a young but highly rated goalkeeper at Sparta Prague.

Fixture Muddle Explained
14 Jun - The FA have written to Michael Dunford, explaining some of the reasons why Everton's request to play Aston Villa on the opening day of the new season could not be granted.  Perhaps the furore would not be so great if the false anticipation had not been fueled by misinformation diseminated ahead of the publication of fixtures, claiming "exclusively" that we would be playing Aston Villa...

No Nyarko/Mendey swap deal
13 Jun - Despite the incessant grinding of the Rumour Mill, suggesting that Everton will swap Alex Nyarko for PSG's Brian Mendey, the Club insists that nothing could be further from the truth.  Alex Nyarko remains an Everton player, and is scheduled to start pre-season training with the Everton squad on July 1.

Progress towards the Kings Dock
11 Jun - Positive steps towards the fruition of the Kings Waterfront Project were reported to the Everton Shareholders Association last night by Everton director Paul Gregg and project coordinator Steve Lavelle.  The planning application is now due to be submitted in October 2002.

No Moore time for USA
10 Jun - The USA battled manfully against 60,025 Koreans to survive a daunting encounter with the co-hosts unbeaten after an excellent early strike by Clint Mathis had given them the lead.  Joe-Max Moore was not selected off the subs bench as Bruce Arena watched his improving side brush off all but one of the numerous South Korean sorties on goal, leaving both teams with 4 pts each at the top of Group D.

Ipswich not playing ball
8 Jun - Everton have again been frustrated by Ipswich in their attempts to sign one of their players, this time £5m-rated Ireland international, Matt Holland.  The relegated Tractor Boys won't consider cash-plus-player deals which is, unfortunately, all David Moyes can afford.

Moyes returns from the Far East
5 Jun - Amid rumours that Ipswich Town have rejected a part-exchange bid by Everton for 30 year-old striker Marcus Stewart, David Moyes returns from his brief visit to the World Cup Finals where he took in China's game against Costa Rica.

Bit part for Joe-Max
5 Jun - Joe-Max Moore played the last quarter of the USA's historic 3-2 win over Group D favourites Portugal in the Suwon Stadium.  Pegged back from a shock 3-0 lead, Bruce Arena's side managed to hold on to record only their third win in the Finals.

Italian interest in Nyarko
4 Jun - The Official Site reported that Italian club Torino fancy taking Alex Nyarko off their hands but the club have since denied any approach for the Ghanaian midfielder.  Nyarko's move to cash-strapped Monaco fell through last month.

The Rumour Mill
3 Jun - While sensible Everton fans are watching the World Cup, others can wonder endlessly about the relentless grinding of the Rumour Mill, which attempts to second-guess every possible contemplation by David Moyes and his scouting team.  For them, we keep faithful track of all the tabloid twaddle — however tenuous and unlikely it may appear to be...

To the Big Stadium in the Sky
1 Jun - Former Blue, Stanley Bentham, has passed away at the age of 87 following a battle with Alzheimer's disease.  A team-mate of Goodison legend Dixie Dean, Stan helped the Blues to the league title in 1939 and served Everton for 28 years in all.

 May 2002


News Headlines & Features


Top Man of 2001/02
31 May - Pretty much as expected, David Weir has been voted ToffeeWeb's Player of the Season for 2001/02. You chose the Scottish international ahead of second-placed David Unsworth who was some 328 votes behind in the final reckoning. Congratulations to Davey and many thanks to all who voted — let's hope he doesn't end up leaving the Blues this summer like so many of the recent recipients of this honour!

New sponsor next month
30 May - Michael Dunford, Chief Executive at the Club, has revealled that negotiations are proceeding (with whom he cannot say) and he expects to be able to make a "major" announcement regarding a new shirt sponsor in June, with the new kit due for release in July.

Another great Moyes quote
29 May - David Moyes seems to know instinctively the right things to say to the masses of Evertonians he inherited when he became manager: "Everton's supporters are incredibly passionate, but I get the feeling they understand the difficulties the club has been in.  They realise the club will perhaps have to look at a different route to getting back to the elite of English football.  But the support is the strongest part of this football club — stronger than anything else."

Mad-Dog's ice-in-shorts caper
28 May - Bored by the lack of a major personality clash in the Danish squad, Mad-Dog Gravesen and his hard-as-nails enforcer teammate, Stig Tofting, decided it would be a barrel of fun to jump Jesper Gronkjaer, spray him with water, and shove ice down his shorts during a recent World Cup training session.  But things deteriorated after Gronkjaer hurt his eye and had a serious bust-up with Tofting over the merry jaunt, while our Tommy was off somewhere, polishing his dome...

How far away does August seem?
27 May - Lee Doyle takes a last lingering look at Everton's post-season situation as we approach the World Cup that promises a month-long hiatus in Club activities.  He considers some of the names among the host that have been linked, although David Moyes is still at least a month away from making his first signing.

Not-so-Great Expectations
25 May - With Manchester City about to splash a small fortune on Niclas Anelka, Everton fans can be forgiven for wondering why we can't do the same thing.  Neil Wolstenholme's summary re-states the realities of our current situation and concludes that the approach of David Moyes holds more promise for us now than the questionable strategy of throwing around money we simply do not have.

Not a selling club anymore
23 May - David Moyes makes another seminal statement that gets right to the heart of what is needed at Everton if the dreadful trends of the last 12 years are to be reversed.  "I am here to build a football club, not dismantle one.  I want to keep the players I want and if players are sold it's because I feel it's right to move them on."  Just as it should be.

KD news anticipated
23 May - Impatient to pre-empt the news itself, the Liverpool Echo is speculating that the Project Monitoring Committee, which oversees applications for Objective One European funding, will today invite Everton and its public partners to submit their application for £35M — meeting a key component of the stadium's £155M projected cost.  This would be a promising sign, coming after months of detailed presentations on the project by Liverpool Vision, NWDA, and English Heritage.

The Ruleteros Society
22 May - Everton fan John Shearon's next pilgrimage to visit CD Everton, namesakes of the Chliean Second Division, has been picked up on by the Daily Post, which features a fine story about John's plans to enhance the links between the two clubs through formation of the Ruleteros Society.

Possible plans for Goodison
21 May - More information on Everton's possible transition from Goodison Park to the Kings Waterfront was released today in a document from Liverpool Vision.  It includes thoughts about over 300 urns containing the remains of loyal Evertonians buried beneath the hallowed turf, and part of Goodison Park possibly becoming an extension of St Luke's church garden to accomodate them.  However, proceeds from the sale of Goodison are required to finance the new project, in which the private partners will be required to make legally binding committments to provide their share of the money...

Gravesen story is a myth
20 May - David Moyes has reacted to the nonsense spouted by the Sunday People at the weekend, in which the paper claimed that Thomas Gravesen would be leaving the club after having a bust-up with the manager about joining up with the Danish squad prior to Everton's last game of the season at Arsenal.  "It's just wild speculation," said Moyes.  No doubt it won't be the last as we head into the silly season...

Blues let Blomqvist go
18 May - In what you would hope is a decision motivated by the club's meagre budget (and not the clash of personalities between player and manager hinted at during a recent pitch-side spat), Everton will not be renewing Jesper Blomqvist's contract for next season.  It will come as a blow to the midfielder who recently learned of his omission from Sweden's World Cup squad despite appearing to have overcome the worst of his injury problems.  Since signing in November, Blomqvist was in and out of the team due to injury; he had shown signs that he could be a valuable player at Goodison.  For whatever reason, David Moyes felt otherwise.

Aston Villa 0 - 1 Everton
18 May - Everton's Youth Team salvaged a little pride with a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday in the FA Youth Cup Final.  Trailing 4-1 from the first leg, the young Blues weren't able to pull off a miracle comeback but Scott Brown scored the game's only goal with 12 minutes left.

Another Rollercoaster
15 May - Everton's 99th season in top-flight English football has ended and Lyndon Lloyd has taken time to make some sense of the wild rollercoaster that saw Everton top after 3 games, but eventually plunging toward relegation in a dismal spell prior to Walter Smith's long overdue sacking.  David Moyes saved us from that inevitable fate, and created his own slice of Everton folklore in the process.
Check out also our 2001-02 statistics page which illustrates that success over the bottom 10 teams ensured Premiership survival.

Everton 1 - 4 Aston Villa
14 May - Wayne Rooney notched his 8th goal of the competition — one short of the record — but Everton's young Blues have a mountain to climb in the 2nd leg of the Youth Cup Final after this heavy defeat in front of a bumper crowd of 15,000 at Goodison Park. Everton drew first blood when Rooney (who else?) headed home in the 24th minute but Villa equalised 13 minutes later when Stefan Moore sent an unstoppable header past Andrew Pettinger. The same player put the visitors ahead on 53 minutes, Peter Hynes made it 3-1 and Luke Moore increased the lead to 4-1 with 11 minutes to go.  Report by Richard Marland

Arsenal 4 - 3 Everton
11 May - What promised to be a festive season finalé against the new Champions took just three and a half minutes to kick into gear — Dennis Bergkamp dispossessing Alan Stubbs in the area before firing home to make it 1-0.  Kevin Campbell and Thierry Henry missed good chances before Lee Carsley slammed home the equaliser after good work by Tomasz Radzinski and Radz himself put the Blues into the lead with another fine goal.  Two minutes later, though, Henry restored parity for the home side, and added his second later on after Everton squandered many, many chances.  Salt was then rubbed in firmly when the party was rounded off by Frances Jeffers scoring against the team he loved as a lad.  But Watson had the last laugh with Everton's third goal.

More Moyes Muses
11 May - On the eve of the last game of the season, David Moyes talks to the Sporting Life about his expectations for the players he must blend and cajole into a smooth new Premiership force: "All the players who are here now will be here next season," so there is little point in Evertonians playing Championship Manager with a massive roll-over of the current squad: it just ain't gonna happen.  The emphasis must be on fitness and training.

Matt McKay forced to retire
10 May - Everton reserve team player Matt McKay has been out injured for most of the season, and that injury has now forced him to retire form football at the age of only 21.  McKay joined Everton from Chester for £500k four years ago, but failed to make an appearance for the first team.

An Interview with English Heritage
9 May - Mickey Blue Eyes has secured an interview with Rob Burns of English Heritage.  His main thrust is that they are not responsible for the recent delays announced in the project, but they do have definitive ideas about a number of aesthetic aspects in the design.

Arsenal – deservedly Champions
8 May - Everton will travel to the home of the new Champions for the final match of the season on Saturday after Arsenal beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford, to achieve only the second ever season-long unbeaten record in away games.  Preston were the only other side to do this, way back in 1888-89 when the Football League consisted of only 12 teams.

Ruining the Party
7 May - David Moyes will be determined to ruin Arsenal's Championship party this coming weekend with an Everton win at Highbury.  He wasn't around four years ago when the Gunners sealed the title with a humiliating 4-0 defeat of Howard Kendall's team, but we were and what could be a better way to celebrate another escape from the drop than to lay to rest the ghost of that horrible day in May 1998?

Feature article on David Weir
6 May - Scotland's Sunday Mail Sport Monthly for May features this article on Davie Weir, in which he talks about life at Everton, both under Walter Smith and David Moyes, and recalls his scholarship to Evansville University, Indiana, where he got a degree in advertising and public relations.

Feature article on David Moyes
4 May - This article Colm Kavanagh found for us (and kindly typed in by hand!) is from the Celtic View magazine and gives more insight into the background and philosophy of Everton manager David Moyes, including another great quote: "This is the kind of club I've always wanted to manage.  It's a club which makes a real difference to the lives of thousands of people."

Swedes leave out Jesper
3 May - Everton midfielders Niclas Alexandersson and Tobias Linderoth are both named in the Swedish squad that will take on England in the group stages of next month's World Cup in Japan & S Korea.  But Jesper Blomqvist was overlooked; does that relate to Moyes's limited use of the player since he arrived?  Or did the Achillies injury do him in? Either way, Jesper's not happy and has sounded off at his national side's coaching duo.

Pembridge ready for action
2 May - Mark Pembridge, selected for the Wales squad against Germany on May 14th, is presumably considered fit again after playing in three reserves games and at Falkirk on Tuesday — and scoring three goals in the process.  It will be interesting to see if Pembridge, who was always a first choice under Smith, is given a starting role at Arsenal in just over a week, given the paucity of Everton's recent midfield performances.

Monaco must decide on Nyarko
1 May - As part of the original loan agreement with Everton, Monaco have 14 days to negotiate an exclusive deal for Alex Nyarko… then he's up for grabs by anyone interested.  Or will David Moyes encourage him to return to Goodison for a fresh start?

 

Snippets & Rumours


Sampling the Orient
31 May - A true student of the game, David Moyes is in the Far East for the start of the World Cup where he intends to run the rule over some of the hottest prospects from Japan, South Korea and China, who would likely come cheap and offer huge marketing possibilities for the club.

Calling Berkshire-based Blues!
31 May - Dave Robinson has set up a fledgeling supporters club which is based in Reading, Berkshire (but will be open to anyone) and aims to offer buses/trains to matches (subject to demand). The Berkshire Blues will be affiliated to the club (this means official ticket allocations, etc) if Dave can get 30 members. If you're based in Berks, drop him a line at berkshireblues@yahoo.co.uk (address corrected).

Sub of the Season?
28 May - Buried deep among the list of season's plaudits handed out by Telegraph jurno Henry Winter, there hides the name of Davie Weir, who makes the subs bench in Winter's Premiership Team of the Season — his only Everton-related accolade.

Everton to play Anderlecht
27 May - A new game has been added to the pre-season schedule, with Wrexham presumably making way for a trip to Anderlecht on 6th August, and a return for Tomasz Radzinski to his previous club, who finished 3rd in the Belgian league.

2nd Annual BlueBlood Dinner
25 May - On Friday 24th May 2002, Rushden & Diamonds FC hosted the 2nd Annual Sports Dinner in Aid of BLUEBLOOD Everton Former Players Foundation.  Present among the many guests and former stars was Steve Bickerton, who recorded the unfolding of events in the manner of a Play in Five Acts...   I   II   III   IV   V

Final Fabulous Match in place
24 May - The final juicy piece of Everton's mouth-watering pre-season tour in far-flung Hibernia has now slotted neatly into place: a massive crowd is expected for the fearsome clash against lowly Queens Park, who managed to finish bottom of Scotland's Third Division last season.  A fitting precursor to our historic 100th season in the top flight, eh?

Five Steps to Success
24 May - Welcome to our new columnist, Matt Gill, who starts off what we hope will become a regular item by lining up five players that he believes could do a job for David Moyes.

All change at Aberdeen
24 May - Everton's pre-season fixture at Aberdeen has been called off, apparently over fears of crowd trouble (?).  Everton will now play Dunfermline Athletic at 3pm on Saturday 27 July.

Bradford stop the bleeding
23 May - Danny Cadamarteri is one of nineteen Bradford City players (including Benito Carbonne) whose contracts have been terminated after the club went into administration last week, mainly as a result of overspending on players, as well as the ITV Didital debacle.

Gemmill on target
23 May - Scott Gemmill scored in Scotland's 4-0 win over a Hong Kong XI today, reversing an unpleaseant losing trend under Berti Vogts.

If Everton watched, they must be keen?
21 May - Well, no…  But the most tenuous of links has not stopped this highly dubious speculation about Everton's "interest" in a couple of South Africans from reaching the Daily Post.

International Appearances
20 May - David Weir and Scott Gemmill participated in Scotland's fourth successive defeat under Berti Vogts (Job opening for Walter Smith soon…???) when they lost 2-0 to South Africa in Hong Kong.  Meanwhile, Joe-Max Moore came on as a late sub for USA against Holland as the Yanks went down by the same score.

Victory for Chilean Evertonians
20 May - The 'other' Everton, the Chilean 2nd Division side from Viña del Mar, beat Ovalle 5-1 yesterday to secure their place in the top 4 at the end of the First Phase of their convoluted league season.  Follow their exploits at John Shearon's unique website.

Gravesen may be next…
19 May - So speculates the Sunday People, which tells the tale of a pre-match "bust-up" with David Moyes over Mad Dog and the Danes before the Arsenal game.

Blues may appeal to FA
17 May - Everton are mulling over the possibility of appealing the fine for their part in the fracas at Craven Cottage this season after Fulham escaped their £30,000 penalty.

Unsworth testimonial confirmed
17 May - Spanish club Athletic Bilbao will be the opposition at Goodison Park on 10th August for David Unsworth's testimonial game.

Now it's Poom
17 May - As David Moyes does the rounds of potentially available goalies, he is now said to be considering Mart Poom of Derby County.  But his £4M price-tag may prove to be a stumbling block...

Moore starts for US team
16 May - Joe-Max Moore made a rare start for the US National team at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, setting up the first goal as the Yanks ran out 5-0 winners over Jamaica.

Monaco no-go for Nyarko
16 May - Alex Nyarko could be forced to make another go of his Everton career after Monaco decided against making his loan move permanent. With no other interest in him, David Moyes could inherit the challenge of accommodating the talented but emotional Ghanaian.

Radz on fire for Canada
16 May - Tomasz Radzinski scored two goals (and put one over Pinky, Stefan Henchoz) for Canada as the Canucks scored a surprise 3-1 victory over Switzerland in last night's friendly match-up. The Rad's first was described on the Canadian national side's website as "one of the finest that Canada have ever scored."

Interest in Davis cools
16 May - David Moyes now appears unlikely to persue any interest in Kelvin Davis after the Wimbledon goalie failed to impress sufficiently during a 2-day trial… or the Wombles wanted too much for him.

Ginola money madness
16 May - The Ginola folly by Walter Smith wasted Everton over £350k (£1,000 for every minute he spent on the pitch) for very little in return.  David Moyes fortunately shows no sign of indulging in the madness of high Premiership wages or rushing into any quck purchases.

Millsy's Season Review
16 May - Ian Mills has worked up his review of the season, with emphasis on marks out of 10 for the players David Moyes has at his disposal.  But 8/10 for the mad fist-waver?  Surely not, Ian?

A none-too glamourous pre-season
15 May - Despite rumours of an excursion on the Continent or to the USA, the highlight of Everton's pre-season tour will be Scotland, with games against Aberdeen, Hibernian and an as-yet unconfirmed third club north of the border. Shrewsbury, Wrexham and the annual Everton XI clash with Chester provide further evidence of a meagre budget at Goodison.

Everton release Ginola
15 May - Everton have set David Ginola free to ply his wears.  A once-great player, Ginola's arrival was perhaps the saddest and most pathetic last act of the Smith Era; he did absolutely nothing to halt the inevitable slide towards relegation.  Alex Cleland has also been released. Jesper Blomqvist's fate is still uncertain, but is expected to be sorted out within 48 hours.

Kelvin Davis on trial
15 May - Wimbledon keeper Kelvin Davis has been having a trial with Everton for the past two days as David Moyes confirms his desire to improve the goalkeeping position at Goodison.  He is also chasing Michael Duberry of Leeds.

Player of the Season
15 May - April's Player of the Month is unveiled here and we're now asking you to vote for your Player of the Season for 2001/02… or should that be top candidate for departure this summer!

Rooney: "My biggest night yet"
14 May - Fresh from more goalscoring exploits with England U-17s, Wayne Rooney tells the Official Website about his big moment leading the Everton attack against the Young Villains in the FA Youth Cup Final.

Pre-season with the Dons
14 May - Everton will travel to Aberdeen on Saturday 27 July for one of their pre-season friendly matches; kick off is at 3pm.

Youth Captain ready for action
13 May - The Daily Post has this nice feature on Youth Team captain, Stephen Schumacher.

Moyes blames individual errors
13 May - Although he does not name names, David Moyes knows who the guilty individuals were on Saturday, and plans to deal with the problem!

Joe-Max Moore in action
12 May - Joe-Max Moore played a small part in the US victory 2-1 over Paraguay, coming on as a second-half sub at RFK Stadium.

Be afraid, be very afraid..
12 May - According to this dubious source, the player fans love to hate could be coming to Goodison: Robbie Savage.  Maybe Ginola was just to soften us up — but he at least once had devastating skill as a footballer.

Everton equal ancient record!
12 May - Duncan Ferguson is leading scorer for the season with eight goals overall and just six in the Premeiership.  The last time Everton's leading scorer in the league managed a paltry six goals was in 1889 — the first season of the Football League — when they only played 22 games!  His name was Edgar Chadwick and he played in every game.  And Duncan Ferguson this season played in 22 league games.

End-of-term marks from Moyes.
11 May - We played very well but defensively we were awful and in attack we were profligate.  Everton slip to a disapointing 15th and there will, of course, be no InterToto Cup jaunts in July.

Rooney hat-trick
10 May - Wayne Rooney restored some national pride as he helped England to secure 3rd place in the Uefa U-17 Championships in Denmark, banging in three goals against Spain in a 4-1 win.

Calculating success
10 May - Dr Chris Hope, Cambridge mathematician, has come up with a formula to measure a manager's success rate, weighted by recent results.  Using his formula, Joe Royle was doing OK but Walter Smith should have gone in 1999.

Player of the Month
9 May - We're about to wrap up voting for April's Player of the Month, so get your votes in now for the player you feel made the greatest contribution to the team last month.

Jimmy: the new Archie?
8 May - David Moyes has persuaded Jimmy Lumsden to leave Preston and come to Everton where he will join Alan Irvine as first-team coach.  53-year-old Glaswegian…sans baseball bat?

Carsley is not for rolling over
7 May - With poor performances against Leicester and Blackburn still fresh in the mind, brave words ahead of the Arsenal match from Lee Carsley (who has been named in Ireland's World Cup squad) have a slightly hollow sound — and the fear remains that InterToto Cup ties could still disrupt family hols...

Blomqvist still waiting…
7 May - In the Daily Post, Andy Hunter seems convinced that Jesper Blomqvist will not be offered a new contract at Goodison, to compound his World Cup frustration.  Despite promising signs of class, he has failed to make a telling difference under Moyes, and has been dogged by more injuries.

Backroom boys say No!
7 May - David Moyes has been rebuffed by his former assistant manager Kelham O'Hanlon and chief scout Clive Middlemass, who both turned down a move to Goodison Park.

Reserves lose mini-derby
6 May - Everton Reserves brought their disappointing season to an end with a mini-derby defeat at the hands of rivals Liverpool.  With the likes of Clarke and Rooney on international duty, the Reds fielded a stronger line-up and ran out 1-0 winners.

Ginola to Portsmouth?
5 May - The Official Everton website is now generating its own transfer speculation, with Harry Redknap reportedly interested in picking up David Ginola's free contarct when the season ends.

Rooney scores again!
4 May - Wayne Rooney's seventh-minute strike gave England a 1-0 victory over Yugoslavia in their UEFA European Under-17 Championship quarter-final today.  With England now through to the last four, Rooney is very unlikely to play any part in Everton's last game of the season against Cup Winners Arsenal.

More Transfer Rumours
3 May - Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, Lecce striker Davor Vugrinec, and Italian international Massimo Maccarone are the latest players to be linked with moves to Goodison as the rumour mill gears up for a busy summer. Meanwhile, Empoli are tracking the mad Dane, Thomas Gravesen. All to be taken with large pinches of salt, we're sure.

More Moyes Wisdom
3 May - Reinforcing the message, backed by the grim reality of limited cash, David Moyes says: "The fans know we are going down another road.  Improvement is not difficult this way, it just makes it slow."

Harvey on Rooney
3 May - An excellent and eminently sensible piece on Wayne Rooney, from the Evertonian who has nurtured and protected this young talent so far… Colin Harvey.

Z Z Z Z Z Z Zamora…
3 May - The Echo appears to be employing astrology in resurecting the Zamora link via David Moyes (ex-Preston), now that Peter Taylor has left Brighton, and five major planets are forming a unique alignment in the heavens...

Russell Howarth
2 May - Not much new information in this piece from the BBC which just confirms David Moyes's obvious interest in the young York City goalie.

Fire Sale?
1 May - David Unsworth gives David Moyes high praise and believes he has what it takes to keep Everton making steady progress under his guidance; Blackburn was just a blip.

 April 2002


News Headlines & Features


Falkirk 0 - 3 Everton
30 Apr - A weakened Everton squad travelled to Falkirk and put three first-half goals past hosts Falkirk to clebrate their 125th year of existence, and walk away with the Alex Scott Memorial Trophy.  David Moyes rotated his depleted squad to give some of his fringe players and reserves a chance to impress, and brought in a surprise package to keep goal — young Russell Howarth, highly rated of York City. 

Everton 1 - 2 Blackburn Rovers
28 Apr - Everton made a poor start, allowing Jansen to notch an easy header inside 10 mins.  Everton pressed but the first half was pretty poor.  Everton perked up in the second half and an excellent finish by Chadwick off Weir's header from a superb Unsworth corner put the Blues back in it.  But not for long... as Cole nodded in a rebound following a great save by Gerrard.  So, a very flat end to the home campaign as David Moyes suffers his first defeat at Goodison.  Report from Steve Bickerton.

Top-ten still possible?
27 Apr - The results in today's Premiership games helped Everton to maintain their current position and keep half an eye on that elusive top-ten finish, with Charlton and Fulham both drawing, Southampton and Middlesbrough losing — and Liverpool losing at Spurs as a nice bonus!

Davey is a Stayer
24 Apr - Current Everton Captian, David Weir, favourite for Player of the Season, has downplayed talk that Manchester United have him lined up for a big transfer.  If true, this could hopefully end the depressing trend over the last six years that has seen Everton sell off their best player(s) each summer.

InterToto Tussle
23 Apr - Everton's pursuit of a possible place in the InterToto Cup took a slight knock as Fulham won their game in hand (3-0 over Bolton) and edged Everton down one place to 12th on goal difference.  In the other Premiership game today, Newcastle were held 2-2 at Blackburn.

Premiership Safety Assured!
21 Apr - Arsenal's 2-0 defeat of Ipswich Town today finally removes the last vestige of mathematical improbability that Everton would be relegated this season.  The achievement by David Moyes to turn around an utterly dreadful situation left to him by a moribund Walter Smith and his defeatist squad of spiritless players is absolutely fabulous.  Given nine games to patch up a gapping hole in the sinking ship, he did it in seven — probably fewer once the final table is cast in stone — and Everton are now assured a historic 100th season of top-flight football. 
David Moyes: WE SALUTE YOU!

Vital, vital win for the Moyes Boys
20 Apr - Nick Chadwick made his full debut for Everton and very nearly scored before their goalie clattered him on 25 mins and he was carried off on a stretcher!  Radzinski came on but it was Steve Watson who opened the scoring with a lovely finish just before half-time.  A fairly uneventful second half saw a few chances for both sides but Everton held on for a crucial victory that takes them up to 11th and almost certain top-flight football for a historic 100th season. Match Report from Lyndon Lloyd.

Kings Dock Application Delayed
19 Apr - The promoters of the Kings Dock project are looking at delaying their planning application for as much as six months so that it can be more detailed and fully include all the associated developments along with the stadium for Everton FC.  Apparently, English Heritage are also asking for more aesthetic changes to make the project more "interesting".

Double Exposure
16 Apr - The egregious demands of TV coverage may be a pain for the travelling fan, who must suffer the annoyance of 5:15pm kick-offs in far-away Southampton.  But the upside for exiled Blues includes more opportunites to see Everton *Live* (or almost live).  Both of Everton's next two games (at Southampton and at home to Blackburn) are live on Sky TV, and will be carried in overseas markets at various transmission times (check your local listings).

Late goals save Everton's blushes
13 Apr - David Moyes's Everton recovered from a miserable first-half performance and a 0-2 deficit against relegated Leicester City to salvage a draw that elevates the Blues to the magic 40-points mark.  Brian Deane scored twice in the first half-hour to ruin Paul Gerrard's return.  But everything changed after Tomasz Radzinski was withdrawn for Nick Chadwick with 30 mins to go and the 19-year-old scored almost immediately to set up the fightback.  Then, with five minutes on the clock, Duncan Ferguson popped up at the far post to notch his fourth goal under Moyes and earn the draw.  Reports by Steve Bickerton and Rob Burns.

Rooney steps up a notch
9 Apr - Everton Reserves beat their Sunderland counterparts 2-0 at the Halton Stadium in Widnes with goals coming from Joe-Max Moore (penalty) and Mark Pembridge (a screamer!).  An interesting sub on the hour mark was Wayne Rooney, making his first appearance for the reserves.  Report from Steve Milne.

We need a goalscorer
8 Apr - Colm Kavanagh makes a somewhat controversial observation that Tomasz Radzinski is unlikely to really deliver for us, and that we should be thinking about bringing in a decent striker in the summer — someone who can do the job and put those bums on the seats...

No Moyes miracle at Stamford Bridge
6 Apr - European hopefuls Chelsea comfortably overcame David Moyes's Everton thanks to two goals by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who had effectively sealed the game by half time.  An uneventful second half was very nearly brightened by a late push by the Blues but Tomasz Radzinski fired wide from a very narrow angle with four minutes to go before Duncan Ferguson cracked a shot off the crossbar in a clear signal that it wasn't to be Everton's day.  Gianfranco Zola scored the home side's third at the death.  Match Report from Alex Bell.

Young Blues book place in Final
3 Apr - Everton are in the Youth Cup Final again following a 2-1 win in the semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur.  Leading Spurs by the same scoreline from the first leg, the young Blues roared into a 2-0 half-time lead thanks to a double strike by wonderkid, Wayne Rooney.  Although the Londoners pulled a goal back in the second half, Everton held out to win 4-2 on aggregate and set up a date in the final with Aston Villa.  Read this great Match Report from Tony Wooly.

Unnecessary Comparisons
3 Apr - Nothing quite like setting the bar as high as you can…  Over on the Soccernet website, Bill Kenwright is tempted into making some very silly comparisons for David Moyes to live up to after just four games in charge at Goodison.  David Moyes clearly has more than enough of what it takes to set his own targets and be his own man without this kind of nonsense being spouted.

Everton win battle of 10 men
1 Apr - Allessandro Pistone and Nick Chadwick scored their first Everton goals as the Blues got the better of Bolton in this pulsating relegation six-pointer.  Both sides were down to 10 men within the first half hour; first Duncan Ferguson was sent off punching Fredi Bobic in an off-the-ball incident, then Kostas Konstantinidis chopped down Radzinski and was awarded his second yellow card.  Pistone fired home 5 minutes before half-time and Tomasz Radzinski missed two sitters before finally finding the net to make it 2-0 on 57 mins.  With 15 mins to go, Bruno N'Gotty set up another frantic finale when he headed home from close range but Radz teed up substitute Chadwick to slot home and seal the points with four minutes left on the clock.  We know have Four Match Report for your enjoyment.

Weir's agent confirms United interest
1 Apr - Following mounting speculation, David Weir's agent has confirmed that Manchester United are interested in signing the Scottish international defender in the summer. Naturally, Weir is perhaps the leading contender for player of the season which, given the evidence of the past few years, means he is surely on his way in the close season!

 

Snippets & Rumours


Let the culling begin
30 Apr - Just when you think there is no longer anything left for him to talk about, Colm Kavanagh catches the moment with a probing and candid analysis of the players that David Moyes must make some hard decisions about if the standard of Everton's football is to show any meaningful improvement.

Silly season gets into full swing
30 Apr - We've had Hedman and Manninger… now it's that pillock Robbie Savage for £5M.  And you wonder why we hate transfer speculation here at ToffeeWeb?

Unsworth on the new boss
29 Apr - David Unsworth gives David Moyes high praise and believes he has what it takes to keep Everton making steady progress under his guidance; Blackburn was just a blip.

Rooney relishes international stage
29 Apr - Wayne Rooney scored a superb individual goal and made a second for England 2-0 victory over Holland in the European U-17's Championships in Denmark.

The size of the challenge
29 Apr - David Moyes knew the size of the task when he took on the mangership of Everton last month.  He says the evidence from yesterday's game shows the immensity of that challenge is still there.  Let's hope he retains the spirit and enthusiasm needed to raise the standard, desires and fitness levels of the players he has inherited...

Moyes not happy
28 Apr - David Moyes expressed his frustration with the players who failed to perform against Blackburn.

Radzinski targets top 10
28 Apr - Another piece on the aspirations of our Polish Canadian striker, this one from the Sunday Times.

Radzinski has a point to prove
27 Apr - Tomasz Radzinski's interview with the Canadian Globe & Mail gets a further recycling at the Sporting Life website.

Carsley slays relegation jinx
27 Apr - Lee Carsley has suffered relegation with his last two Premiership teams… so he is especially relieved not to be involved in the dogfight at the bottom in the last weeks of this season.

Chadwick could be fit
26 Apr - Nick Chadwick is reported to be close to match fitness after getting flatened by Southampton goalie Paul Jones last week.

Oster, sharp-shooter
25 Apr - It's no laughing matter for Mark Maley, teammate of John Oster at Sunderland, who ended up getting shot in the face by the air-gun weilding ex-Everton winger.

Reserves overcome 'Boro
25 Apr - Everton Reserves beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at the Halton Stadium in Widnes — their second game this week.  Tal, Pembridge and Moore were expected to play a part, but didn't and must now be in the squad for Everton's final home game of the season on Sunday against Blackburn.

Irvine returns to Goodison
24 Apr - Everton have confirmed that former Blues winger, Alan Irvine, will join Everton's backroom staff at the end of the season.  He turns down a coaching role with the FA to become Moyes's No 2.

Nyarko price-tag too high
24 Apr - Alex Nyarko is proving difficult to sell as Monaco are baulking at the asking price required to make his season-long loan move permanent.  Will he now get the chance of a fresh start at Everton under David Moyes?

Radzinski talks about Canada
24 Apr - Tomasz Radzinski talks to the Canadian press about playing for Everton and his International career with the national side in his adopted country.  (To read the story, type "Radzinski" in the seacrh box and follow the links.)

Naysmith Injury Blow
23 Apr - Gary Naysmith's recovery from ankle ligament damage is not going well as he still feels discomfort after an operation that was meant to fix the problem.  Everton are now saying the young Scot will be out for at least another four months!

Rooney & Brown for England
23 Apr - Everton youngsters Wayne Rooney and Scot Brown have joined up with the England squad for the UEFA Uuder-17s Championship in Denmark, which starts this Saturday.  Rooney may not return until as late as May 10th, and will not be available for Sunday's televised first-team game against Blackburn.

Good enough for the World Cup…
23 Apr - …but not good enough for Everton?  Joe-Max Moore is named among the US Squad that will travel to Japan and South Korea this summer despite failing to impress, with just half a game under David Moyes.

Decision soon on Training Complex
22 Apr - The Echo suspects that Lee Manor Comprehensive in Childwall could become the site of Everton's long-promised training complex and youth academy to replace Bellefield.

Moyes eyes better days
21 Apr - David Moyes knows that Everton fans expect improvements over the dreadful litany of recent seasons but he remains realistic about his objectives and what he can achieve given the limited finances he knows he must operate under.

Still not completely safe…
20 Apr - Before today's game, Everton slipped to 14th as Fulham and Blackburn won; Derby are relegated and Sunderland now hover above the drop zone threatened only by Ipswich, who have two games in hand on the rest but must play at Highbury tomorrow.

Rooney and Pettinger in squad
19 Apr - Wayne Rooney and Andrew Pettinger have both travelled down to Southampton with the Everton first team.  Pettinger is more likely to play a part as sub goalie on the bench as Simonsen is injured; Rooney is going along "for the experience".

Injury Update
18 Apr - Carsley and Campbell may be in contention for places in the Everton Squad that faces Southampton, with Tobias Linderoth making a separate claim for attention after an impressive performance against Norway.  Ginola and Tal remain doubtful.

Reserves lose to Man Utd
18 Apr - Everton Reserves lost to Manchester United, going down 2-1 at Old Trafford, with Wayne Rooney making his first start at this level.  Lee Carsley played his part and Mark Pembridge scored the Everton goal but there was concern when Steve Simonsen limped off after 70 mins with a sore hip after Everton had used all three subs allowed.  Report by Steve Milne.

International Action
17 Apr - Weir, Gemmill and Moore were involved for their contries with both Scotland and the USA on the wrong end of 2-1 scorelines.  Whilst most Premiership players appeared for only 45 mins, Davie Weir again played a full 90 mins for Scotland.

Ian Ross Interview — Part 2
17 Apr - The second part of Mark O'Brien's fascinating interview with Ian Ross is now available on the WSAG website.  Ian talks about David Moyes, the People's Club, being a journalist, life at the Club and the Kings Dock project, Bill Kenwright, and lots of other very pertinent issues.

Southport 1 - 3 Everton
16 Apr - An Everton 'Reserves' XI have beaten Southport 3-1 in the semi-final of the Liverpool Senior Cup, the goals coming from a blend of youth (Rooney & Symes) and experience, with Kevin Campbell opening the scoring.  Match details from Steve Milne

Ian Ross Interview
16 Apr - In an excellent interview published on the WSAG website, Ian Ross expresses his frustration that replies he has given in confidence to certain fans have been posted on ToffeeWeb to ridicule him.  He of course means The People's Forum (not this Website!) where posting is now limited to registered users and abusive messages are removed at the discretion of the Forum Administrators. 

The dangers of complacency
15 Apr - Some key quotes from David Moyes signal his intent for improvements at Everton as they slip a place after the Chelsea defeat: “We started very poorly and showed Chelsea too much respect…  We made it harder than we should have done…  I’m not inte

Journo Stirrer
15 Apr - Why does John Edwards always seem to be stirring it?  His latest trick is to make out that Chadwick (and not Radzinski?) is guilty of missing glorious chances.  The kid is just 19 with two goals in his last two sub appeareances… what more can you want?

After-Match Comments from Moyes
13 Apr - He tells it like it is: “We were very poor in the first half… We should have been more goals down, but we got away with it… The goals we lost were criminal… ...all credit to the lads.  They’ve come back when I thought they were dead and buried.”

The Rooney & Symes Show
13 Apr - Wayne Rooney and Michael Symes kept their eye in for the FA Youth Cup Final by bagging a goal each in the Under-19s 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday.  Brief report from Steve Milne.

Where has Idan Tal been?
12 Apr - In the treatment room, of course!  Nice of somebody to finally explain the absence of the Israeli international from both the senior squad and the reserves since David Moyes arrived…  He's been out with a troublesome knee injury.

Save Lincoln City
12 Apr - No one is really sure what Everton's new affiliation with Lincoln City entails, but it will mean nothing if the Nationwide League club goes under at the end of this season. Fans of Lincoln will be collecting outside Goodison tomorrow trying to reach the £75,000 needed to save the Imps.

Injury Update
12 Apr - Ginola, Blomqvist, Alexandersson, Campbell, Unsworth, and Pembridge all appear to be on the fringe of the squad that David Moyes will select from for the Leicester game, based on their personal fitness. 

New Satis? Website
12 Apr - The editor of the Everton fanzine SATIS?, Phil Pellow, has set up an excellent new website with match reports, lots of articles from the fanzine, and plenty of downloads.

Moyes talks up the Barcodes
11 Apr - David Moyes would like to emulate the forward strides made by Newcastle, who were in the Premiership depths just two seasons ago: "… a team that is full of young, enthusiastic talent and can improve over the years."

InterToto Oracle
11 Apr - Everton just need to finish above Fulham (and Derby County) in the Premiership for them to gain entry to the 2nd Round of the InterToto Cup on 6 July 2002.  That's the conclusion from an analysis appearing in The Echo and other sources…

International Duty
10 Apr - A number of Everton players have been selected by their respective countries to play in upcoming friendlies, including Weir & Gemmill (Scotland), Alexandersson & Linderoth (Sweden), Gravesen (Denmark), and Moore (USA).

Another EfKD Press Release.
9 Apr - The exchange of views on the funding of Kings Dock with European Objective 1 money continues between EfKD and Walton MP Peter Kilfoyle…  And the Everton FC Website finally publishes a timeline for the project.

Villa in Youth Cup Final
9 Apr - Everton'a opponents in the FA Youth Cup Final will be Aston Villa who beat Barnsley, 3-1 in the second leg of their semi-final at Barnsley.  Provisional dates are Tuesday May 14th at Goodison Park, and Saturday May 18th at Villa Park.

Swedish injury troubles
9 Apr - Jesper Blomqvist may have trouble with his Achillies tendon, and Niclas Alexandersson has "sore glands" as David Moyes prepares his team to secure Premieship status against Leicester on Saturday.

Pistone warms to Moyes
8 Apr - In his comments on the defeat at Chelsea, Alessandro Pistone believes David Moyes's attacking instincts will pay rich dividends for Everton next season.

EfKD recognition
8 Apr - Excellent coverage at The BBC for the efforts of the Everton for Kings Dock campaign to expose the misinformation being propogated about European Objective One funding by local MPs in their Early Day Motion No 923.

Best form of defence
7 Apr - Not much in the news today, but this piece from The Star includes extended coverage of David Moyse's comments after the Chelsea game, and more on what he wants to see from Everton.

Rooney on target again
6 Apr - Wayne Rooney helped the Under-19s to another good victory, scoring two goals in the 4-0 victory at Huddersfield Town as Colin Harvey's charges make a push to improve their final position in the Group Table with just two more games to go.

Moyes pulls no punches
6 Apr - Some key quotes from David Moyes signal his intent for improvements at Everton as they slip a place after the Chelsea defeat: “We started very poorly and showed Chelsea too much respect…  We made it harder than we should have done…  I’m not interested in other results, I’m just concerned about Everton winning football matches."

People's Club T-Shirts
6 Apr - Speke form the Harbour the Everton fanzine, has commissioned a rather excellent T-Shirt memorializing a certain quotation ascribed to one David Moyes on the occasion of is appointment as Everton Manager.

Moyes stays upbeat
5 Apr - David Moyes remains upbeat as he leads Everton off to visit Chelsea on the back of three wins from four, and 11 goals scored; 11 goals conceded.  "We need to tighten up a little at the back but at the moment, in our case, the best form of defence certainly seems to be attack."

Full of Remorse
4 Apr - Duncan Ferguson has publicly apologised for his petulance against Bolton that led to an automatic red card that could have cost Everton the game. And over on his official website, Jesper Blomqvist admits his temper tantrum was out of line too.

EfKD Press Release
4 Apr - Phil Pellow and Michael "Blue Eyes" Durkin of the Everton for Kings Dock campaign have their say on the mis-information about European Objective 1 monies spouted in the House of Commons Early Day Motion No 923.

Vogts failed to take Weir off
4 Apr - TibalFootball.com carries this story that Berti Vogts was supposed to give Davey Weir only 45 minutes playing time for Scotland last week, less than 48 hours before the masacre of St James Park.

Reserves downed by Bolton
3 Apr - Mark Pembridge made his return from injury by playing an hour alongside Tobias Linderoth for the reserves at Bolton this evening but couldn't prevent the Blues from going down 2-1 with David Moyes in attendance.

Dunc will stay Captain
3 Apr - Duncan Ferguson will still captain the Everton team despite being fined one or two weeks' pay for his moment of madness against Bolton.

Most embarrassing
2 Apr - Tomasz Radzinski talks of this most embarrassing moment in front of goal as he failed to score from all of two yards out on Monday, but it all came good in the end.

Daft Duncan
1 Apr - In The Echo, Duncan Ferguson talks proudly of his leadership role as Everton captain… before he got sent off after just 20 mins for punching Fredi Bobic.  Our fearless leader will now be suspended for the last three games of the season.

Everton up to 12th!
1 Apr - Other results today:
Derby 0 - 1 Middlesbrough
Sunderland 2 - 1 Leicester
Ipswich 0 - 0 Chelsea
Fulham 0 - 1 West Ham
Blackburn 2-0 Southampton

 March 2002


News Headlines & Features


Moyes's honeymoon is over
29 Mar - Newcastle gave David Moyes's Everton a lesson in breathtakingly effective attacking football and exposed some worrying defensive frailties as they ran out 6-2 winners at St James' Park. Ferguson put the Blues ahead after 6 minutes but the Magpies scored twice before Alexandersson restored parity before half time. Bobby Robson's Europe-chasing outfit stuck four past Everton in a second half in which Moyes's men were carved open with ease.
Match Report

Unsworth talks to McNulty
28 Mar - David Unsworth is one of the more vocal and demonstrative Everton players these days, and he continues that trend in an interesting interview with Phil McNulty of the BBC.  "David Moyes has made us really go for it as a team..." which tends to confirm a lack of basic organization under Smith.

Koumas loan approach rejected
28 Mar - Everton have had their approach to sign Jason Koumas on loan until the end of the season rejected by neighbours Tranmere Rovers. David Moyes, who had targeted the Welsh midfielder during his time at Preston, wanted to add Koumas to the Everton squad before today's transfer deadline but will now finish the season with the squad he inherited from Walter Smith as the deadline expired at 5pm this afternoon.

Watson back in Reserves win
26 Mar - Steve Watson took an important step on the road to recovery when he turned out for Everton Reserves against Leeds United at Halton Stadium, Widnes, tonight after being out injured for three months.  Watson played for an hour as the Blues' second string overcame a strong Leeds side to win 2-0, thanks to goals by Nick Chadwick and Kevin Southern.

All Change
26 Mar - Our intrepid match previewer, Lee Doyle, returns from a holiday in the sun and looks back on a tumultuous fortnight at Everton while he's been away, reflecting on some of the better aspects of Walter Smith's reign.

Pride of Moyesyside
25 Mar - Colm Kavanagh was one of the first to question and then lambast the mystical halo that wafted around Walter Smith.  His bold and outspoken stance drew much criticsm from those who still believed Walter could do it for us.  It is good to see him writing positively once more about a new manager who's arrival has restored our pride in being Evertonians.

Kenwright's Masterstroke
24 Mar - After he got so much stick from the media and even some of the supporters for the timing of Walter Smith's dismissal, Bill Kenwright can take satisfaction from the impact that David Moyes has had in his first week in charge. It's fair to say that the the 7-goal thriller at Derby wouldn't have happened had the ancien regime still been in place, and the introduction of the new man now means that Everton have safety within their grasp.

Moyes magic makes the difference
23 Mar - What a game!  The David Moyes honeymoon continues in fine, fine style with a priceless win in a nail-biting seven-goal thriller at Pride Park, after Everton were leading 3-0 at one stage.  Goals from Unsworth, Stubbs, Alexandersson and Ferguson finally proved enough despite a very strong and spirited fightback by a bruised Derby side.  Could anyone imagine such a game under Walter Smith?

Something for Nothing?
21 Mar - Given the poor flow of information on the Kings Dock project, many Evertonians believe the club will be getting a new stadium and all the benefits for minimal outlay.  Neil Wolstenholme takes us down the money trail once again and shows us how a 50% share also means 50% of the investment and 50% of the risk.

Ginola still part of the fold
19 Mar - David Ginola will remain on the Everton books until the end of the season after the mercurial Frenchman held clear-the-air talks with David Moyes about his future at Goodison Park. After being omitted from the squad at the weekend, speculation had it that the club were prepared to simply tear up Ginola's contract, but the 35 year-old will stay until May, unless he receives other offers ahead of next week's transfer deadline — in that case he could move on to pastures new.

Great words from Moyes
18 Mar - How refreshing is it to hear the manager of Everton using words like these: "I was once told that winning is important, but wanting to win is more important.  And I want the players to realise that — we need to want to win every game."

"The best team I played for"
16 Mar - Gary Lineker is not everyone's favourite, but it is nice to hear him at last remembering the brief spell he had after joining the best team in the world (according to World Soccer), who were creully denied the Championship and FA Cup double in 1986 by a spawny Liverpool side.  "They were also the only team I played for whose names I can still reel off - Southall, Stevens, van den Hauwe, Ratcliffe, Mountfield, Steven, Bracewell, Reid, Sheedy, Sharp and me."

"There's no club like it"
16 Mar - Evertonfc.tv commentator Darren Griffiths summed it up as David Moyes's heroic new charges withstood a second half barrage to hold on desperately to a 2-1 lead after Thomas Gravesen was stupidly sent off after half an hour.  Having taken the lead after just 27 seconds through David Unsworth, Everton were coasting on 12 minutes when Duncan Ferguson picked up a scuffed van der Saar clerarance to make it 2-0.  But Gravesen's dismissal for two bookable offences put the home side on the back foot and within 7 mins of the restart Fulham had scored through Malbranque.  The Blues had to throw everything into defence of their advantage, and Fulham hit the bar with 5 mins to go, but Everton's 10 men held out for a precious win.
Read this superb match report from Steve Bickerton

Gascoigne seals Burnley move
16 Mar - Paul Gascoigne is no longer an Everton player after leaving Goodison with barely a whisper to join Nationwide League Burnley who have picked up his contract until the end of the season.  After telling new boss David Moyes that he felt his future lay elsewhere during discussions on Friday morning, Gascoigne put pen to paper at Turf Moor after nearly two largely unproductive years with Everton.  He was signed by Walter Smith on a free transfer from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2000 and his loyalties obviously lay with his old boss as he didn't waste any time exiting the Goodison stage.

Moyes takes Goodison hotseat
14 Mar - Everton unveiled David Moyes as their new manager at a 7:15pm press conference after they came to an agreement with Preston over compensation for the 38 year-old Scot. Moyes agreed personal terms following negotiations yesterday evening and becomes Everton's fifth manager in 10 years.  Moyes takes full charge of team affairs immediately ahead of Saturday's crucial game with Fulham after Archie Knox cleared his Bellefield desk this morning.  Everton are rumoured to have agreed to pay £1M compensation to Preston for their new boss, slightly more if he secures the club's Premiership status this season.

The Blame Game
14 Mar - The media may be reacting with disbelief at the sacking of Walter Smith and accusing the Board and the fans of being unfairly hasty, but for those who have watched Everton's rapid descent into relegation danger with the realisation that the "canny Scot" had seemingly run out of ideas to get back to winning ways, the decision was a simple one.  It may yet prove to be a gamble but the reality is that even when he had things better, Smith never looked like restoring the club to its former glory.

Everton call time on Smith
13 Mar - Walter Smith's reign as Everton boss is officially over after the club confirmed his dismissal with a statement at a press conference this morning.  The 54 year-old Scot's contract has been "terminated" after 3 years and 8 months in the job following a miserable run of results and performances that left Bill Kenwright no option but seek a change in the Goodison hotseat.  The club did not name a successor but Preston North End have confirmed that Everton have made an official approach for David Moyes but denied he has a clause in his contract giving him permission to discuss offers to manage in the Premiership.  In the meantime, Archie Knox is in charge of team affairs ahead of Saturday's match-up with Fulham.

Young Guns through to Youth Cup semis
12 Mar - Everton's youngsters overcame a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 against Nottingham Forest tonight in the 6th Round of the FA Youth Cup.  Having survived an onslaught of Forest pressure during which Andy Pettinger made some crucial saves before an goal gave the visitors the lead, the Blues hit back with young goalhound Wayne Rooney (who scored twice for England's U-17s at the weekend) scoring the first and setting up the winner for David Carney.  Everton last won this competition in 1998.

Refinancing package confirmed
12 Mar - Everton's refinancing package is described as selling bonds leveraged on future income from season-ticket sales.  The deal is touted to bring in £30M of much-needed cash, but Bill Kenwright will be able to pull this trick only the once, and it puts the club in hock for 25 years...

Waiting for the puff of white smoke
11 Mar - The pressure is mounting on Bill Kenwright and the Everton Board of Directors to take decisive action that will bring Walter Smith's blighted tenure as Manager of Everton to an end.  The Club and the media have been bombarded with demands that he should go: his four-year record of failure demands as much.  But, with the transfer deadline fast approaching, the Board of Directors are reported to be split over this critical issue...

The time for change, Bill, is now
10 Mar - Changing managers at this stage of the season might ordinarily be suicide but, with Everton's collapse gathering momentum, it might be the only thing that can save the club from the disaster of relegation.  With the team in utter disarray, surely it is the end of the road for Smith and Knox?  With 11 days left until the transfer deadline, a temporary manager and a new striker could provide the catalyst to propelling our once-great club to Premiership safety.  Lyndon Lloyd implores Bill Kenwright to have the courage to take the leap of faith.

So much for that talk of Europe…
10 Mar - Everton started well, even threatening the Boro goal, but a long ball ffrom Ince was header over Simonsen by Pistone and Whelan tapped in a simple opener.   Just 2 mins later, Boksic hits the bar, Nemeth follows up to head in off the post, followed 5 mins later by a third goal — another comedy of errors where Ince scored off Simonsen.  Everton put up a fair effort in the scond half, with Chadwick making a difference, but this surely must be the final nail in Walter Smith's guilded coffin.

Ginola jumps ship?
9 Mar - David Ginola has apparently walked out on Everton just 36 hours ahead of Sunday's FA Cup Quarter Final at Middlesbrough.  The 35 year-old winger is said to be furious that he will not be partnering Tomasz Radzinski at The Riverside in Kevin Campbell's absence.  The story is featured in today's edition of The Sun and, while Everton are expected to announce that he has a hamstring injury, reliable sources on Merseyside have informed us that the rumours he has walked are true.

Mickey meets Joe Dwyer
8 Mar - Staunch Kings Dock proponent, Mickey Blue Eyes, has been talking to Sir Joe Dwyer, head of Liverpool Vision, about the current status of the project.  In his own inimitable style, he debunks many of the scurilous rumours floating around, but cannot resist his ritual digs at an unidentified nemesis: the Melledrew Tendency....???

Survival in our own hands
7 Mar - Everton's destiny is in their own hands as the 2001/02 season enters the final straight. With win-at-all-costs games against fellow relegation candidates Bolton, Derby, Leicester and Blackburn between now and the terrifying finale at Highbury, Walter Smith's side will have no one to blame but themselves if 48 consecutive years of top-flight football come to a tragic end.

Relegation threat fails to spur insipid Everton
6 Mar - Walter Smith's Everton remain a point off the relegation zone after meekly allowing West Ham revenge for their 5-0 drubbing at Goodison in September.  Having shaded a first half in which the visitors at least created some chances, the Hammers pressed home their attacking superiority with the only goal when Joe Cole's shot deflected off Trevor Sinclair and past Steve Simonsen.  Smith's three substitutions after Kevin Campbell limped off failed to ignite any spark up front and there was barely a shot on goal for the Blues all second half.  We have a couple of really depressing fans' reports for you to read...

Smith gets one thing right
6 Mar - "I sense huge disappointment in the supporters, the directors, everybody."  Walter Smith tells Brian Viner of The Independent in yet another favourable media spin on his life at Goodison Park in this lengthy interview with the bealeagured Everton manager.

Walter Smith: The Reasons
5 Mar - The only person to leap to the defence of Walter Smth is Gary Tan from Singapore.  As ToffeeWeb Editor, I found it hard to refrain from comment, but I will just highlight one phrase: "We have been mismanaged for years and Walter Smith and Bill Kenwright cannot be blamed for that."
Er... Run that by me again...

Walter Smith: The Excuses
5 Mar - The litany of excuses that are usually meted out in defence of Walter Smith are analyzed and systematically debunked by long-time Everton fan Geoff Atherton in this unsolicited Fans Comment article.  As the squad returns to full fitness but the quality of football continues to be dire, is there anyone who has a good word to say about the defensive dross our manager calls football?

The China Syndrome
4 Mar - Following a strange report in the Daily Post that Everton were setting up a Youth Academy in China (don't laugh!), The Echo buries this denial by Ian Ross in another story: "Ted Sutton has accepted an invitation by the Chinese authorities to see how things operate over there.  They will exchange views and ideas.  That is the sole purpose of his visit." Can you say "Bernie Ecclestone"?

Everton miss gilt-edged opportunity
3 Mar - Everton's attacking short-comings were laid bare again as they failed to grab three crucial points from Leeds United who played 51 minutes with 10 men after Dominic Matteo was sent off for a second bookable offence. Referee Andy D'Urso had a characteristically appalling game, denying Tomasz Radzinski two clear penalties and failing to give Alan Smith his marching orders for three dreadful challenges. Tobias Linderoth missed perhaps the best chance when clear on goal and substitute David Ginola flashed an injury-time effort inches wide.

Goodison on the Grounds Tour
1 Mar - As part of his tour of English football grounds, Preston fan Steve Johnson visited Goodison Park recently and suffered the bore-draw with Crewe.  Aside from his unbelievably negative comments about Everton's scintillating football, his write-up provides an excellent independent fan's view of the Old Lady that is Goodison Park.

 

Snippets & Rumours


Ginola, injured, thinks ahead
31 Mar - David Ginola, who says a calf strain has kept him out of contention for any of David Moyes's games in charge so far, talks of how much the game has changed and how he should consider a different role, such as coaching.

Results are favourable
30 Mar - Everton slip just a place to 14th (below Fulham on goal difference) after a relatively favourable sequence of results in the Premiership today.

Naysmith & Hibbert out for the season!
30 Mar - Davis Moyes's options for building on youth in the critical season run-in were dealt a cruel blow as both Gary Naysmith and Tony Hibbert were ruled out for the duration — both requiring ankle surgery.

Celtic are after Ginola
30 Mar - The process of shipping out the old and the lame from Goodison Park could take another step if Celtic follow through on a declared interest in taking David Ginola north of the border.

Wilson's medal goes for £80k
28 Mar - Ray Wilson's 1966 World Cup-winning medal went for a hefty £80,750 at auction as the old Everton fullback mades a tough decision to sacrifice nostalgia in order to provide for his family's future.

Nyarko shows his face
28 Mar - Alex Nyarko made a surprise visit to Merseyside for the express purpose of introducing himself to his new manager, David Moyes!  Everton still hold the player's registration… will the Moyes magic wand be turned on him next???

Sky is really the limit!
28 Mar - Everton fan Tom O'Brien has a good rant about Sky TV's decision to rearrange Everton's televised game at Southampton next month with a stupid kick-off time: 5-15pm on a Saturday evening.

Internationals
27 Mar - In a busy night of Internationals, Moore, Weir, Gemmill, Blomqvist, Linderoth and Alexandersson were all in action for their respective countries.

Youths earn 1st leg advantage
27 Mar - Everton's youth team will take a one goal advantage to London for the second leg of the Youth Cup after winning 2-1 tonight thanks to goals by Carney and Symes -- both goals were, of course, created by Rooney.  Report by On telly again!
27 Mar - Following the addition of Southampton (A) to the PPV schedule, Everton's last home game of the season with Backburn the following weekend has been moved to Sunday April 28th at 4pm, live on Sky Sprorts 1.  That makes it
Andy Hinchcliffe retires
27 Mar - A key member of Joe Royle's FA Cup winning top-six side of the mid-1990s, Andy Hinchcliffe has been forced to retire following knee surgery.  How we need someone who could swing in corners like he used to

Moyes unlikey to be tempted
26 Mar - Deadline Day beckons… but David Moyes will hopefully resist any temptation to spend the limited transfer funds he has on any panic buys and instead concentrate on continuing to motivate the players he inherited — many of whom are internationals involved

Southampton kick-off put back
25 Mar - In a move guaranteed to alienate many travelling fans, Everton's game at Southampton on April 20 has been put back to a 5:15pm kick-off to accommodate the dictates of Pay-per-View tv.  The upside for exiles means (hopefully) yet another Everton tv da

Ginola bid from the Unibond League
25 Mar - Accrington Stanley have made an audacious bid to capture the silky skills and flowing locks of David Ginola.  "We are not amused" intoned an unidentified Goodison doorman.

Walter, thank you
25 Mar - Everton fan Phil Roberts outlines more of Walter Smith's failings at the Goodison helm but offers heartfelt thanks for his greatest achievement — forcing out Agent Johnson.

Vote for Duncan
24 Mar - Everton Newsgroup fans are pushing Duncan Ferguson for the PFA Fans Player of the Month award.  Click the link to put in your vote for the Big Yin.

Carsley withdrawn from Irish squad
24 Mar - Lee Carsley has been withdrawn from the Ireland squad after suffering knee-ligament damage that caused his early substitution at Derby.  Carsley is now likely to be missing for 3 or 4 weeks.

Post-match comments
23 Mar - David Moyes is happy for his players that they can celebrate a win in the league for the second Saturday in succession — something they have not been able to do all season long!

Modest Moyesy
23 Mar - "Don't expect miracles," David Moyes tells the fans before Saturday's thrilling game…  Well, it's a bit late now, David!  "We're going to try and implement one or two things which hopefully will be noticeable…"  Oh, we noticed alright! 

Why the 50-50 split?
22 Mar - The reason for the small but significant change in ownership and investment split for the Kings Dock is finally revealed in the latter part of this Daily Post Business News article on Kings Dock housing partners.

Finance Package confirmed
22 Mar - Everton have confirmed the completion of the £30M financing package that is leveraged against the future sales of season tickets.  David Moyes has less than a weak to pursue some good player investments with at least part of the loot.

Gazza's paranoia
22 Mar - Ian Ross expresses his puzzlement at Gazza's parting shot, wherein he talked of an unidentified backstabber who did for him at Everton.

Hall of Fame
22 Mar - The 4th Annual Gwladys Street Hall of Fame dinner took place at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool on Thursday night.  An absolutely top night was had by the 500 for so dedicated Everton fans and Blueblood supporters lucky enough

It's "The People's Club"!
21 Mar - The editor of The Echo does his best to downplay and defuse the inflamatory repercussions developing in response to the words uttered by David Moyes to describe Everton's standing in the City of Liverpool.

The new Manager and the old Captain
21 Mar - Ian Mills finds time among his A-Levels to tell us about Captain Duncan and a nice gesture from Bill Kenwright on the night he appointed David Moyes as the new Everton manager.

West Brom fail with Ginola bid
21 Mar - West Brom's attempt to pick up David Ginola from Everton has apparently come to nought.

Blomqvist selected for Sweden
20 Mar - Jesper Blomqvist passed another milepost in his recovery from long-term injury when he was selected for the Sweden squad along with his fellow Everton midfielders, Linderoth and Alexandersson.

Young reserve moves on
20 Mar - Everton Reserves midfielder Tom Kearney has joined Bradford City on a free transfer until the end of the season.  Kearney made six appearances for the reserves this season.

Saturday's game is on telly
19 Mar - Evertonians exiled in Europe and overseas should take note that Everton's next game — away at Derby County on Saturday — will be one of the two live / tape-delayed Premiership matches broadcast on tv throughout the world.

FA Youth Cup Dates
19 Mar - The home leg of the FA Youth Cup semi-final against Spurs will be played at Goodison Park on Wednesday 27 March at 7pm.  The return leg is at White Hart Lane, the following Wednesday 3 April, also at 7pm.

Boa Morte conned Ref!
19 Mar - Well, it doesn't actually say that Thomas Gravesen was the unwitting victim of a cunning plan to get him sent off.  He may have made no contact, but that doesn't matter as the ref is assessing the intent of the challenge.  Is he ever going to l

Hallelujah!
18 Mar - "A manager who has been at a club for almost four seasons ought to bear some responsibility for a fundamental inability to score goals." Take a bow, Paul Wilson of The Observer, the first journo to grasp the Evertonian lament of Smith's regime.

Howie knows youth is the future
18 Mar - We missed this one on Friday, but Howard Kendall makes a lot of sense when he talks of the way Walter Smith sold off the youth of the club, much to its detriment.

Back-stabbed Gazza wanted out
17 Mar - It sounds a bit paranoid, but Gazza claims that he was stabbed in the back by someone at Everton regarding his renewed relationship with ex-wife Sheryl, and this is why he wanted to leave Everton — before Smith was sacked.

Ferguson caps unlikely
17 Mar - It appears that Bertie Voights will not be successful in persuading Duncan Ferguson to reverse his long-standing decision about NOT playing for the Scottish FA.  Good on ya, Duncan!

Gravesen misses Bolton
17 Mar - Thomas Gravesen's red card against Fulham will cost Everton his services for the home game against Bolton Wanderers on Easter Monday (April 1st).

Campbell may be next
16 Mar - The rumour from a number of sources is that Kevin Campbell could also be close to leaving Everton, with a move to either Charlton or Villa on the cards...

Moyes's passion already evident
16 Mar - As his newly-acquired players left the pitch following today's epic 2-1 victory over Fulham, David Moyes made sure that captain Ferguson and his players acknowledged the supporters who raised the Goodison roof.  Don't you just love this guy already?!

O'Hanlon stays behind
16 Mar - It would appear that Kelham O'Hanlon, assistant manager at Preston, has decided not to join David Moyes in his new role at Everton — the People's Club!

Viewpoint: Winds of change
16 Mar - With the bright Blue future of the Kings Waterfront project offering hope for a new dawn, Lyndon Lloyd argues that the Moyes appointment promises to lay the foundations for a revolutionised and modern Everton.

The Rumour Mill
15 Mar - Walter Smith could join Manchester United as Sir Alex's right-hand man in the summer and strong rumours suggest that David Moyes's first signing has been sealed: Jason Koumas from Tranmere for £2.7m

Transfer deadline day
15 Mar - It seems as though we were mis-informed of the date of the deadline for incoming transfers.  The English transfer deadline is 5pm on 28th March and not the 21st as we were first led to believe.

Reserves beat Bradford
14 Mar - Andy Holden took his reserves side over to Bradford City and came away with a great 2-1 win despite few first-team players (Tal, Cleland) being involved.  Southern got both goals.

Survival of the fittest
14 Mar - A sympathetic Stephen Bierley looks at the dismal state of the School of Science in this piece from The Guardian.

Ashley Ward!
14 Mar - The thought that Walter Smith was actively engaged in trying to bring Bradford City's star striker Ashley Ward to Goodison Park provides an approriate epitaph marking the end of his era.  Ward has been relegated with Norwich, Barnsley, Blackburn and

£1.2m for Moyes?
14 Mar - Soccernet /The Daily Mail suggest that Preston will be seeking over a million pounds in compensation for the loss of David Moyes. They expect Moyes's personal terms to be agreed, but plenty of wrangling at boardroom level as well.

Big Nev binned
13 Mar - While he was busy mouthing off at the Goodison board for dismissing Walter and arguing that relegation would be good for Everton, Nationwide Conference club Dover Athletic have sacked Neville Southall as their manager.

Meanwhile, the dogfight continues
13 Mar - While Everton sort through their managerial crisis, Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town went head to head tonight in a relegation showdown that saw Sour-ness' men come out on top 2-1.

Monaco hope to sign Nyarko permanently
13 Mar - French League side Monaco have announced that they would like to make Ghanaian midfielder Alex Nyarko's loan from Everton a permanent move. Rumours suggest Everton have rejected an initial bid of around £2m; the club are hoping for at least £3

Journos still defending Smith
12 Mar - Although the mood of the fans is finally being recognized by the media, journos are still happy to ignore Smith's flaws and trot out the usual litany of excuses.

In the next 48 hours…
12 Mar - With Bill Kenwright in London, and not due back on Merseyside until later in the week, no snap decision on Walter Smith's future is expected, despite rampant anticipation among Evertonians.

Boro Match Report
12 Mar - For those with the inner strength to analyse Sunday's dismal defeat, Richard Marland has sent in his usually perceptive match report.

Running on empty
11 Mar - Colm Kavanagh turns his focus on the Everton Board, who must bear the brunt of responsibility for the dire straits Everton now find themselves in.

He's got values, so that's OK
11 Mar - James Lawton of The Independent is the latest in a long line of journalists refusing to lay any blame for Everton's malaise at the feet of Walter Smith. Sadly Smith's "values" aren't producing attacking football at Goodison at the moment.

Club in Cream talks
11 Mar - Everton have confirmed that they are in talks with Liverpool nightclub Cream about a possible sponsorship deal when the contract with One2One expires at the end of this season. Cream owner James Barton is an Everton fan.

And so the rumours begin
11 Mar - Walter and Archie to be turfed out of Goodison over the next couple of days?  So says a message board source.  And according to TEAMTalk, Joe Royle will take temporary charge.

ToffeeWeb Poll
10 Mar - With Everton without a league win since mid-January and the spectre of relegation looming, the club is at a cross-roads with 9 games left.  Would changing managers be suicidal or is it our only hope?  You decide: v

Falling Giants
10 Mar - With Walter Smith shrugging off yet another humiliating disaster for Everton as a bit "disappointing" but nothing to fall on his sword over, the stronger reaction of long-suffering fans is beginning to flow…  The latest are from Phil O'Shea at the Ev

One last hurrah?
9 Mar - As the end of Paul Gascoigne's turbulent career draws ever nearer, Kevin McCarra in The Times hopes that the ageing star can produce perhaps one more imperious exhibition of his skill and creativity before the fans, if he plays a surprise starting

More feedback from the fans
8 Mar - More Everton fans are sending in their views on the current increasingly dire situation at Everton.

Boro Meet in Chicago
7 Mar - For Stateside Blues in the Windy City, the newly formed Everton US Supporters Club — Chicago branch will be meeting bright and early on Sunday at 7am CST in Gingers Ale House to watch the Boro match *Live*.

Open letter to Ken Rogers
7 Mar - Neil Wolstenholme has been driven to express his frustrations to Ken Rogers at The Echo.

Campbell set to miss Riverside tie
7 Mar - Kevin Campbell has to be rated a major doubt for Sunday's FA Cup Quarter Final clash at Middlesbrough after limping off against West Ham with suspected knee ligament damage. He must wait 24 hours for conf

The Media Love Affair
6 Mar - Brian Viner's lengthy interview with Walter Smith fits in well with what Everton fan Peter Fearon describes in detail as a baffling media love affair with the dour Scot.  Why?

Naysmith may play
6 Mar - Gary Naysmith appears to have recovered from ankle ligament damage and is inculded in the squad for tonight's game at West Ham.

The gap gets ever narrower
5 Mar - Defeats for Derby at Arsenal and Bolton at Sunderland will gladden Everton hearts but Blackburn's victory over Aston Villa brings Souness' men to within a point.

Everton fined £25k
5 Mar - Everton were found guilty of failing to control their players in the fracas at Fulham, but were only fined a tenth of the maximum £250k penalty allowed under the FA's new rule.

Burnley bid for Gazza
5 Mar - Burnley have made enquiries about the availability of Paul Gascoigne, who has been dropped from the Everton first-team squad for the last three games.  But Walter Smith says he is going nowhere.

Nick Chadwick: Goalscorer
4 Mar - Whisper is quietly, but there is this kid who plays for the reserves… and he scores goals for fun.  Everton drew 1 - 1 with Sheffield Wednesday at the Halton Stadium in Widnes this evening.

Blame the Ref
4 Mar - The appalling Andy D'Urso gets the full blame for Everton's inability to defeat the 10 men of dirty Leeds.

Radzinski only needs to score…
3 Mar - "All I know is that, if I score goals, we have a chance of surviving in the League and progressing in the FA Cup.  Let's face it, it's high time the strikers started striking."

More blandishments form Smith
2 Mar - "As the last few games have shown, we are a much better team when we can play two genuine strikers together." — but we still can't beat 10-man Leeds!

Ginola needs more time
1 Mar - David Ginola asks Everton fans for patience as he needs time to regain sufficient match fitness that will bring more magic from his boots. 

 February 2002


News Headlines & Features


Smith & Jones reject rumours
28 Feb - Wolves boss Dave Jones has moved to quell suggestions that he is about to become the new Everton manager at the expense of Walter Smith, whose tenure is becoming increasingly shaky, in the minds of the media at least. Jones, a former Everton player, insists he is staying at Molineux for the foreseeable future

Letter from Guy Buzzard
28 Feb - A letter from Everton's Commercial Manager, Guy Buzzard, to an Everton fan on the ToffeeWeb Discussion Forum provides some indication of his plans for improving the fare offered at the Megastore, and addresses a specific question about getting an Everton mechandise outlet established in Liverpool City Centre.

Onward and Upward!
26 Feb - The Clinical Brothers fired Everton into the FA Cup Quarter Finals as the Blues came from behind to finally dispose of plucky Crewe at Gresty Road.  Tomasz Radzinski cancelled out Dean Ashton's 24th min strike with a headed goal on the stroke of half time and Kevin Campbell struck the winner with 20 mins to go to set up a trip to Middlesbrough in the Sixth Round.

The Key to Salvation?
24 Feb - With Everton struggling for goals in recent weeks, the fit-again Tomasz Radzinski has emerged as the potential key to the Blues's hopes of pulling away from the relegation trapdoor.  If the explosive striker can stay healthy until season's end, his attacking strengths and the dimension of speed he adds to the attack could lead the way to Premiership safety.

A result to savour
23 Feb - While the normally optimistic and positive Lyndon Lloyd offers a somewhat critical match summary, we balance that with a rare excursion into the realm of positivity by our resident Irish columnist, Colm Kavanagh who offers Walter Smith credit where it is due.

Honours even at Anfield
23 Feb - Tomasz Radzinski fired his first away goal for Everton as the Blues again drew first blood in the Merseyside derby after Walter Smith made a rare but decisive half-time switch.  The Canadian scored within 6 minutes of coming in place of David Ginola. However, despite resolute defending, the Blues couldn't hold on for the win and Nicolas Anelka nipped in for the equalizer with 19 minutes to go. 

Now Idan Tal is unhappy
21 Feb - You have to wonder about Walter Smith's ability to bring good players into Everton, only for them to become disillusioned and eventually leave.  The next in that long list who have rotated through over the past four years appears to be Idan Tal, who complains about not being played and has even seen Kevin Campbell played in midfield ahead of him.  Or is he also being "misquoted", with his comments "taken out of context"?

Small Public Meeting
21 Feb - Proponents and opponents of the Kings Dock scheme held a small meeting attended by less than 100 people in St George's Hall last night.  The perceived benefits and drawbacks of the project were hotly debated by both sides.  And this article by Mikey Blue Eyes blows the whole EUO1 argument away.

Fate forging our Destiny
20 Feb - Everton Fan Tony Wooly turns his attention away from the Kings Dock to assess the parlous state of Everton FC and cycle of decline that seems to have taken hold like never before.  There is no criticsm of Walter Smith; only a deep and abiding sadness at the chasm gapping before us as Everton slip to 16th place in the Premiership.

Kilfoyle weilds the knife
19 Feb - Peter Kilfoyle, Labour MP for Walton, takes another opportunity to show his steadfast opposition to Everton's Kings Dock project on the basis of what it will do to his Walton constituency.  In this article, he questions the Objective 1 European funding Everton are relying on to get the project off the ground.

Pitch in a state
19 Feb - The poor state of the pitch at Goodison Park is put down to a combination of factors including a very wet winter, a run of four home games, and the addition of two Youth Cup games, which must be played at the senior club stadium.  And not much can be done to fix it.

Blomqvist's calming words
19 Feb - Jesper Blomqvist thinks Evertonians have nothing to worry about and that it is only a matter of time before Everton start scoring goals again…  Perhaps the players should try to keep their mouths shut and produce the goods where it matters — on the field?

Replay Ticket Details
18 Feb - Everton will travel to Crewe's Gresty Road stadium on Tuesday of next week to replay their FA Cup 5th Round tie.  Kick-off time is 7:45pm,and thegame will be broadcast live on Sky Sports as well as Fox Sports World in the US, and a number of usual live TV carriers around the world.

Player of the Month: January
18 Feb - ToffeeWeb's readers have selected goal machine David Weir as Player of the Month for January.  No doubt swayed by his cracking volley at White Hart Lane, voters chose the defender ahead of Paul Gascoigne.

Toothless Wonders
17 Feb - Walter Smith persisted with the totally ineffective 4-5-1 formation that had Campbell ploughing a very lone furrow up front.  Everton struggled throughout, totally unable to score.  Typicallly late substitutions were insufficient to gain any advantage over a plucky Crewe side who were doing their best to frustrate Everton, and deservedly earn a replay at Gresty Road

Gravesen apologizes
15 Feb - In a strange U-turn, all the inuedo and recriminations are forgotten, and the man who was/wasn't injured is rehabilitated back into the fold as if not a bad was ever spoke, bringing to an end another strange chapter in the evolving saga of Everton FC...

Carsely; understated debut
14 Feb - In the Liverpool Echo, Claire Gray registers her appreciation for the subtle and little-noticed ball-winning skills of one Lee Carsley… and that "delectable and perfectly timed sliding tackle" on Matthew Upson — does she not know it happened to break his leg?

We can but dream
13 Feb - Everton trying to get into the InterToto Cup?  Somehow it just doesn't sit right.  An ill-concieved set-up with not one but three finals!  The three winners of the final matches receive a scaled-down replica of the trophy.  This benighted competition kept us out of Europe in 1996-97.  And does Walter know how many more injury opportunities it will create?

The state of the store
12 Feb - Many people have expressed concern about Everton's Club store — we won't call it the Megastore until it is worthy of that title.  Here is what Evertonian Geoff Stevens thinks in a letter sent to Graeme Sharp.

More to come
11 Feb - Bill Kenwright hints to the Daily Post that there is more spending to come as he suggests that Walter Smith will have some more funds for squad improvements.  "Whatever Walter wants it is my intention to give it to him."  Uh-oh…  Soundbyte alert!

Close… but no cigar
10 Feb - Ginola' s magic came oh so close to giving Everton the lead in a what was a very good first half by current standards.  But Walter Smith's customary reluctance to make key substitutions until way too late in the second half gave Everton's limited players no chance after a soft, flukey lob by Wiltord drifted over a confused Steve Simonsen, who really should have saved it.  Reports by The Squire and Richard Marland.

Juggling Walter's Balls
10 Feb - The surprise acquisition of David Ginola, on top of Linderoth, Blomqvist and Carsley, means that Walter Smith suddenly has plenty of options in midfield. Could the master of conservative football be about to employ two wide players at the same time? Lyndon Lloyd takes a look at the balls Walter has to juggle for the relegation run-in.

Smith's strongest suit
10 Feb - With the arrival of three new faces at Goodison in the last 10 days — and hints of at least one more next week — in the second of two comment articles, Lyndon Lloyd takes up the defence of Walter Smith's transfer dealings during his time at Goodison and argues that if Wally's only good at one thing, it's dealing in the transfer market. And let's face it, he has to be!

And Ginola is Next!
8 Feb - After the pain of Carsley comes the pleasure of Ginola, and a transfer completed in the old Everton style without anyone getting a sniff!  David Ginola will hopefully bring some much-needed flair to the Smith's moribund squad, despite his recognized problems with attitude, size and temperament...

Carsley finally signs
8 Feb - The drawn-out transfer of journeyman defensive midfielder Lee Carsley was finally concluded today, with Everton eventually coughing up almost the full £2M valuation demanded by Coventry City.  Carsley can be fully expected to appear in the squad v Arsenal on Sunday.

An unpalettable choice
7 Feb - Another fan expresses his frustrations all too eloquently and ends with an unpalettable choice.  But a few of our other readers disagree with Paul Fearon's radical analysis.  Read their comments here.

Rooney makes his mark
6 Feb - An excellent performance by young Wayne Rooney gave Everton's youngsters the edge over Manchester City in the 5th Round of the FA Youth Cup, with Rooney scoring two and making two in a great 4-2 victory.

Mortgaging the future?
5 Feb - Everton are about to follow in the steps of other teams like Leeds Utd and conclude a substantial loan deal that is secured against future season-ticket sales over the next 25 years.  This EuroWeek article published last week provides some financial details, to which we have added analytical comments from Neil Wolstenholme.

Smith is just not good enough
5 Feb - Strong words from an exasperated Everton fan and season-ticket holder, Neil Armitage.  But understandable given the unchanging litany of ineptitude that has bedeviled far too many of Everton's on-field performances over the last four seasons under the dubious guidance of Mr Walter Smith.

Gravesen ostracized by Smith
4 Feb - Against Ipswich, the Everton midfield was crying out for someone like Tommy Gravesen.  This report indicates the homesick midfielder was fully fit but was not even considered for selection on Saturday.  Are such decisions really in Everton's best interest?

Say it isn't so!
3 Feb - Colm Kavanagh has been very quiet for the best part of a month; but even he cannot maintain his silence through the latest Everton débâcle to be overseen by Mr Walter Smith.

Dismal Everton sink to another home defeat
2 Feb - Tobias Linderoth was treated to capitulation Everton-style on his first appearance for the club as Walter Smith's idea-less side succumbed to resurgent Ipswich at Goodison Park.  In a must-win game, the Blues found themselves 1-0 down to Peralta's goal after just 11 minutes and, although David Unsworth levelled the score from the penalty spot 17 mins later, Matt Holland fired home the winner from a free kick just before half time.  Reports from Garry Sheils and Julian Cashen

Could Carsley be next?
1 Feb - With Walter Smith promising new more new signings within the next week or so, rumours emanating from Merseyside suggest that Coventry City's Lee Carsley could be the next midfield player to arrive at Goodison Park in a £2M deal.  Carsley has been linked with a move to Everton before but he joined Blackburn Rovers instead.

 

Snippets & Rumours


Traffic consultants on the job
28 Feb - Unnamed Traffic Consultants have started work related to the transport and access issues surrounding the proposded Kings Dock project.  Ken Rogers also offers some comments on Kings Dock in this Echo editorial.

Naysmith doubtful for Sunday
28 Feb - Gary Naysmith picked up an ankle injury at Crewe and is rated doubtful for the visit of Leeds this weekend. Niclas Alexandersson and Kevin Campbell are both expected to shake off calf complaints also sustained in Tuesday's win.

Youth Cup match date
27 Feb - Everton's youth team will play Nottingham Forest in the 6th Round of the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday March 12th at Goodison Park: Kick off is at 7pm.

In defence of Kevin Campbell
27 Feb - Everton fan Mik Unadkat gives some good reasons why we should get behind Kevin Campbell, now that his partnership with Radzinski is on again.

Gravesen suspension
27 Feb - Tommy Gravesen picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Liverpool and will now miss the quarter final at Middlesbrough; KO 1pm on Sunday March 10th.

Gazza to play v Crewe?
26 Feb - More, er, untruths exposed in the Echo… no doubt they were fed a story from the Club that Paul Gascoigne would be involved against Crewe… helping the kit-man?

FootballLinks.net
26 Feb - If you want links to other football clubs, with an emphasis on British and European football, this new website is reasonably comprehensive.

Two sides to every issue
25 Feb - In the continuing debate over the critical tone of our support of Everton here on ToffeeWeb, long-time fan Richard O'Malley provides a strong rebuke to those who complain of 'negativity'.

Gazza may play tomorrow
25 Feb - Walter Smith has suggetsed that Paul Gascoigne will be involved in the cup replay at Crewe tomorrow night.

Divided we fall
24 Feb - In a letter to the ToffeeWeb editor, Terrence Leong expresses concern at the recent spate of negative Fans Comment articles.

Danny scores on debut
23 Feb - Dannny Cadamarteri scored the fourth and final goal in his debut for the Bantams — a big win at Gillingham.

Gazza thinks of retirement
23 Feb - With his swansong probably being that classic display against Leyton Orient, Paul Gascoigne is talking about retiring, perhaps at the end of this season.

It started with Heysel
23 Feb - Kevin Ratcliffe provides a recent history lesson for Sun readers curious about the continuing decline of Everton.

Duncan out again
23 Feb - It should come as little surprise that Duncan Ferguson has been ruled out of today's derby game

Hope against Hope
22 Feb - More from Everton fan Tony Wooly on the perceived inadequacies and failings of the internal club structure at Everton.

Danny finally moves on
22 Feb - While Everton search in vain for a new striker, Danny Cadamarteri has completed a free transfer to Bradford City, on a short-term contract that will last until the end of the season.

Danny in court next month
21 Feb - The next stage of Danny Cadamarteri's run-in with the law is set to take place when he appears before the City's Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on 20th March.

When will it happen?
21 Feb - More concerned comment from Everton fans as Stephen Stobie wonders when we will actually realize our potential as a team.

Bradford in for Danny
21 Feb - Danny Cadamarteri's hometown club of Bradford are looking to sign the soon-to-be free-agent striker if their move for Leicester's Arnar Gunlaugsson falls through.

Team speculation for the derby
20 Feb - An update of sorts on the players available for the upcoming derby clash at Anfield, and the chances for any of the walking wounded to be fit enough to make an appearance in what is fast becoming one of those 'watershed' games…

Reserves match postponed
19 Feb - Tommy Gravesen was expected to make an appearance for the Reserves tonight alongside Alessandro Pistone, who is also on the mend, but their visit to Blackburn Rovers has been called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Watson has minor operation
19 Feb - Despite Walter Smith's adamant rebuttal of rumours that Steve Watson would need an operation on his ankle, guess what?  Yes, he will now be missing for a further three weeks (at least).

Financial Guidance from the best
18 Feb - EFC's Financial Controller, Mike Cheston, is to address a conference on European Football Finance next month in Madrid.  The topic?  The financial costs and risks(!) of qualifying for Europe!!!

Post-Match Indictment
18 Feb - The fact that Everton were simply woeful against the mighty minnows from Crewe has not escaped Soccernet's Ian Ladyman.

FA Cup 6th Round Draw
17 Feb - Another favourable tie awaits Everton in the 6th Round of the FA Cup — provided they can actually overcome the annoying resilience of Crewe Alexandra: a trip to Middlesbrough.

Morrison & Wright?
17 Feb - When the newspapers believe Everton have money, the links start flowing thick and fast…  £5M for Clinton Morrison from Crystal Palace?  Steve Wright from Liverpool?  Place your bets now.

Danny in the dock again
15 Feb - In a strange development following Danny Cadamarteri's run-in with Joeline Joel last year, he has now been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice!  He will appear before the magistrate's court on Wednesday.

Watson may need surgery
15 Feb - An operation may be the only answer to Steve Watson's nagging ankle problem that has kept him sidelined for more than a month.

Same old striker problems
14 Feb - With Ferguson injured and suspended, Cadamarteri injured, Radzinski still recovering from injury, Moore considered too light-weight, and no new signings, Walter Smith is likely to opt for Campbell playing alone up front against Crewe, despite the failure of this 'tactic' against Arsenal.

Luke Ashton has Hope
14 Feb - We've fixed the bad link to young Luke Ashton's commentary on where we are and where we might be going… sounds more like "fear" than 'hope"...

Idan Tal scores for Israel
13 Feb - Idan Tal put Israel into a surpise 1-0 lead against Germany only for the Germans to finally run out 7-1 winners. Other Everton players in action for their countries include Joe-Max Moore, Mark Pembridge, Lee Carsley, and the 'injured' Tommy Gravesen, who played 45 mins for Denmark in Saudi Arabia, and got himself booked!

Tickets for Crewe
13 Feb - There are still 15,000 tickets left for Sunday's 5th Round FA Cup tie with Crewe Alexandra, that will be televised live on BBC1.  KO: 1:30pm.  Everton say buy now to avoid that last-minute rush...

Liverpool Senior Cup
12 Feb - Everton's 3rd Round tie in the Liverpool Senior Cup at Southport was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Doubly hamstrung
12 Feb - Duncan Ferguson is to see a specialist about the problem he as with the hamstrings of both legs as he continues his marathon struggle to regain match fitness.

Gravesen to Apologize?
12 Feb - In the Daily Post, Andy Hunter believes that homesick defender Thomas Gravesen will proffer an apology for the problems he has cited regarding life at Everton, with the sudden illness of his father having upset him.

Give Rooney a chance
11 Feb - With Everton scoring a pathetic 3 goals in the last NINE league games, Austin Rathe at the Everton-Mad website thinks it is time Wayne Rooney was given a chance to show his goalscoing prowess in the big league.

Ginola blasts Gregory
10 Feb - David Ginola tells how his relationship with the Villa management cratered and almost destroyed his footballing career.

Premiership Roundup
9 Feb - Everton slip a place as Sunderland win at Derby; Bolton climb out of the bottom three with a win over West Ham; and Abel Xavier claims the first goal in Liverpool's 6-0 rout at Ipswich.

A new beginning
9 Feb - David Ginola talks of securing his release from a nightmare at Aston Villa, and looks forward to helping Everton both in the Premiership and the FA Cup.

Splendid Isolation?
9 Feb - Andy McNabb writes in as a fan who has recently emigrated to Australia, but succumbs each week to a preoccupation with things Everton.

Gazza'z Golden Locks
8 Feb - Gazza provides a unique and comical welcome to David Ginola, doning a nice platinum blonde wig in his honour during training.

Derby on Jumbotron
8 Feb - The derby match at Anfield on 23 February will be screened live at Goodison Park on the Jumbotron big screen.  Tickets from the Park End box office.

Oh no... It's back on again!
8 Feb - Everton officials claim that Coventry have accepted their final, final, final, revised offer for Lee Carsley, who they will try to get registered before 12 noon so he can play against Arsenal.

They think it's all over…
7 Feb - Many Evertonians are breathing a sigh of relief at the prospect that Coventry have blown off Everton's £1.7M offer for their journeyman defender and Gravesen lookalike, Lee Carsley.

"Tedious and intolerable"
7 Feb - That's how Danish coach Morton Olsen describes the ridiculous situation Everton have created with one of their few remaining international "stars", Tommy Gravesen, who is no longer allowed to train with the Everton first team.

Jeffers looking for nice welcome
7 Feb - Despite making only two starts for Arsenal since his massive transfer last May, our very own scally Franny Jeffers thinks he will be in the somewhat depleted squad to play Everton on Sunday as the Gunners are hit by suspensions and injuries.

The reason Sir Alex is staying
6 Feb - … is because Mancheater United actually had their beady eyes on our very own Walter Smith to replace him.  Yeah, right!

Carsley signing iminent?
6 Feb - Lee Carsley, who has been relegated with the last two teams he has played for, is expected to complete a £1.7m transfer from Coventry to Everton tomorrow.  But in Coventry they say No Way!  Who is telling the truth?

FA Youth Cup tie tonight!
6 Feb - Manchester City are Everton's opponents in the FA Youth Cup 5th Round tie tonight at Goodison Park (KO: 7pm).

Reserves beat the Mancs
5 Feb - Everton Reserves beat Manchester City 3 - 1, with goals from Kevin McLeod and Danny Cadamarteri (2).  Recovering injury victims Mark Pembridge and Leon Osman also came through in this excellent win against a strong Man City side.

Wilson auctions World Cup medal
5 Feb - Everton full-back Ray Wilson, who was part of the victorious 1966 England team, is selling off his winner's medal.

Osman back in training
4 Feb - Young Everton reserves prospect Leon Osman is finally back in training after missing all of the season so far with damaged knee ligaments.

More needed for Carsley
4 Feb - There are suggestions in this story that the Lee Carsely transfer may not go through quite so easily… a gratifying thought for those who see him as a journeyman unsuited to wearing the Royal Blue of Everton.

"Get behind your team"
4 Feb - After scoring the winning goal for Ipswich, that's what Matt Holland has to say to the Everton fans who may be feeling bruised and battered this morning as they reel from Saturday's dreadful result.

Everton in for Steve Wright?
3 Feb - Koptalk is carrying the rumour that Everton might be thinking about making a move for Liverpool's young Steve Wright, who has not yet had his contract renewed.

Fickle, us?  Never!
2 Feb - As long as Walter's Everton aren't losing, the fans won't be turning on him if the January Poll is any indication.
Poll Result

Quartet to return
1 Feb - Teamtalk reckon that Everton will be able to welcome back four key first-teamers who were mssing v Aston Villa: Weir, Blomqvist, Gascoigne, and Radzinski.

 January 2002


News Headlines & Features


Everton's Linderoth coup
31 Jan - Swift on the heels of Abel Xavier's departure to Liverpool, Everton have signed highly-rated Swedish international midfielder Tobias Linderoth for £2.5M., rising to £3m dependent on appearances. The 22 year-old — a rumoured target of Panathanaikos, Newcastle Utd and Bologna — arrived on Merseyside today from his club Stabaek and signed on the dotted line.

A job well done
30 Jan - With David Weir off on paternity leave, Peter Clarke made his first league start and there were recalls for Danny Cadamarteri and Joe-Max Moore.  However, Everton's injury curse struck again on 24 minutes when Tony Hibbert was withdrawn for Alec Cleland and later left the ground on crutches.  After a fairly uneventful first period, Paul Merson smacked a shot off the crossbar as Villa began to assert themselves in the second half but Everton's makeshift defence performed admirably to earn a valuable point.

Xavier move rationalised away
29 Jan - For any Evertonians still frowning over the transfer of Abel Xavier to Liverpool, David Prentice spells out some more of the cold hard realities that constrain Everton's limited ambitions; once again, it's all about money, or the lack thereof.

ToffeeWeb Viewpoint: Resignation rather than outrage

Xavier set for Anfield switch
28 Jan - Portuguese international Abel Xavier has turned his back on his supposed dreams of returning to the Continent and is expected to sign for rivals Liverpool for a nominal £800,000 fee within the next 48 hours. While not an event that will "shock Evertonians around the world," as the Official Site puts it, it is certainly a surprise move.

Capeling on Crowd Chaos
28 Jan - In The Echo, Len Capeling has a go at the club over the crowd chaos that ensued following the lock-out at the Leyton Orient cup tie, when many season-ticket holders failed to get in to watch the match.

FA Cup 5th Round Draw
27 Jan - In the 5th Round of the FA Cup, Everton have been drawn at home to Crewe Alexandra.  The match will be shown live on BBC1 on Sunday February 17, with a 1:30pm kick-off.  This will be the first time Everton play Crewe in a senior competitive match.

Everton 4 - 1 Leyton Orient
26 Jan - Everton took the lead after 12 mins when a cross from Hibbert was turned into the Orient net by McGhee.  Duncan Ferguson made it 2-0 after great work by Gascoigne.   But Orient were right back in it when Simmo spilled a long shot and Canham scored.  But Gazza again fed Campbell just before half-time to make it 3-1.  In a quieter second half, Campbell secured the win after another brilliant Gazza run.  Report by Richard Marland.

Bill Kenwright Interview
26 Jan - Bill Kenwright was a guest of Alan Jackson on BBC Radio Merseyside.  He starts with "two games left for Smith" rubbish; moves on to the future of Bellefield, the whole money-go-round.  Click here to listen

Injuries still abound
25 Jan - None of the players predicted to return to bolster the Everton ranks this weekend are now expected to appear from the murky depths of the Bellefield treatment room.

The FA Cup 4th Round
24 Jan - Paul Green has assembled for us a range of memories from key Everton matches in the 4th Round of the FA Cup over the past 21 years that have in turn heralded forthcoming triumphs or ended in miserable tears.

Abel shown the door
23 Jan - The latest International quality player to be shown the way out of Everton is Abel Xavier, who was unimpressed with the Club's idea of a pay-as-you-play deal.  Xavier has been placed on the transfer list in the hope of getting a little money now, rather than none in June.

Notification of possible disruption
23 Jan - Following more pain with our web hosts, ToffeeWeb is on the move again. While this will mostly be a seamless process, there may be a period where the e-mail forms (for polls, feedback etc) won't be working, or you come across a broken link. Things should be almost back to normal and we thank you for your patience. E-mail any broken links or problems to webmaster@toffeeweb.com in the interim.

Brian Viner in The Independent
21 Jan - Brian Viner's regular column always turns back to the subject of Everton, no matter how hard he tries… and this time he comes up with a little known connection to the weekend's FA Cup opponents, Leyton Orient.

Blomqvist Knee Check-up
21 Jan - Jesper Blomqvist has returned to see a doctor in Croatia for a check-up on the knee injury that kept him out of football for 30 months.  But Walter Smith isn't too worried... so why should we be?  Maybe because of The Echo headline Blomqvist Injury Scare!!!

Everton grind out precious point
19 Jan - It took Les Ferdinand just four minutes to score his customary goal against Everton but David Weir's volleyed reply was quick and impressive. Everton fought and defended well against both the referee and a lively Spurs side and Scott Gemmill had what appeared to be a clear penalty denied late in the second half before Tottenham hit the bar in injury time.  Reports from Paul Preston and the Squire of Beckenham

That's the Spirit!
19 Jan - In what can only be a good move in all sorts of ways - scouting, marketing and general awareness of the club abroad, not to mention the possibility of having first option on some raw Aussie talent - Everton have joined Rangers and Blackburn in a new initiative whereby players from Australian club Northern Spirit will undertake 3-week training stints at one of the British clubs to gain more experience of professional football.

The Curse
19 Jan - It was too good to last, of course.  Just as Jesper Blomqvist started to make a difference at Everton he is struck down by the Curse of Smith & Knox: an ankle injury sustained in training...

Broken Talisman
18 Jan - One of our readers, Nick Armitage, sums up a lot of feelings about Duncan Ferguson: the fearsome figure who once played for Everton, and the listless lumberer who now occasionally graces the pitch.

Spurs v Everton
17 Jan - Lee Doyle has White Hart Lane down as one of our bogey grounds, but it doesn't stop him hoping for a win on Saturday — why, he even makes it sound like a distinct possibility!

Chadwick waits patiently
16 Jan - Nick Chadwick talks at length on the Everton website about how he understands that he must bide his time and develop his game as he awaits more opportunities to prove his worth for that covetted first-team place.

Soccer-Stats.com
16 Jan - More stats than you can shake a stick at.  Seems a little bit more meaningful than the Opta stuff, with neat interactive ways of sorting or re-sequencing the data based on your selections.  Cleva!

Everton Celebrity Fans
15 Jan - Some of the Rich and Famous who may (or may not!) have leanings towards support for The Blues.  Know of any more?  Send an e.mail to the ToffeeWeb Editor

Gravesen Saga, Part 17
14 Jan - Exclusive TeamTalk phone-interview with Walter Smith on the subject of his wantaway midfield machine.  Manager shocks supporters and players, reverses cold-shoulder trend, says he wants player to stay.  But, then again, if he's homesick, that wouldn'ae be our fault, now, would it?

Blomqvist strike earns vital win
12 Jan - Jesper Blomqvist headed his first goal for Everton — only his second in English football — to give Everton a precious win at Goodison Park against fellow strugglers Sunderland.  The Blues — with Campbell up front and Hibbert in defence — had the better of the first half and could have gone into the break further ahead.  The second period followed the pattern of the first until Niall Quinn entered the fray and the home side survived some nervy moments late on to hang on.
Reports by Matthew Fearon, Rob Burns and Richard Marland

We spoke too soon…
11 Jan - After Fulham were charged yesterday with failing to control their players, the same charge has now been levelled at Everton in regard to the brawl at Craven Cottage.  Both clubs have 14 days to answer the charges, and risk a fine of up to £250k under a new FA regulation.

Fulham may be fined £250K
10 Jan - Some Evertonians subscribe to the persecution complex that has the media and the establishment going for Everton at every opportunity... so how do they explain that Fulham (but not Everton!) are being charged by the FA for failing to control their players in the 22-man brawl that followed Boa Morte's clash with David Weir last month?

Understanding profit and loss
10 Jan - Neil Wolstenholme has kindly provided this detailed explanation of some of the finer points when it comes to understanding the real meaning of Everton's Profit & Loss account, as analysed previously by Paul Holmes.

Captain Campbell back in training
9 Jan - Kevin Campbell has resumed full training after being sidelined with a mystery back complaint since November. The Blues' captain has been doing light workouts since Christmas and rejoined squad training this week, and could — although he surely shouldn't — be risked at some point against Sunderland on Saturday.

The Money Trail
8 Jan - Paul Holmes has been poring over the accounts of Everton FC Co Ltd covering the last financial year. Some of his findings are a little more disturbing than the bland spin that a loss of 'only £3M' is a sign of progress. See how well you can follow the Money Trail...

Smith under no illusions
7 Jan - While Evertonians may be tempted to breath a sigh of relief that the purse strings are finally to be loosened, Walter Smith is much more realistic about what can really be achieved with the limited new money that may be available — based as it is in the the one-off mortgaging of future season-ticket sales.

FA Cup: Stoke City 0 - 1 Everton
6 Jan - Everton are in the draw for the 4th Round of the FA Cup after successfully negotiating the pothole in the Potteries with a 1-0 win at the Britannia Stadium. After a fairly even first half during which Ferguson — partnered by Moore — hit the post, the Blues scored the game's only goal on 53' when a well-worked free kick was belted home by defender Alan Stubbs.
New reports from Jonathan Martin & Julian Cashen.

More nonsense from the Daily Mail
5 Jan - After serving up an unbelievable story last Thursday that Everton fans at Stoke would decide the fate of Walter Smith, John Edwards of the Daily Mail reacts with journalistic desperation by trying to tear apart Bill Kenwright's statement about future finances at Everton.

Vote of Confidence
4 Jan - Carefully avoiding the dreaded phrase, Bill Kenwright has issued a press release to The Echo assuring Evertonians that a new financial package has been put in place which will support development of the new Youth Academy and give Walter Smith money to improve the first team squad.

Ian MacDonald resigns!
2 Jan - Wondering what had happened to the Fans Focus Meetings? Well, Ian MacDonald of the EISA had been sitting on this report of last November's meeting while the Club saw to getting a summary published in The Evertonian... Most of this is so out of date now that it is unfortunately irrelevant, but all fans should read Ian's Endnote, where he explains why he's stepping down from this important voluntary role.

Middlesbrough 1 - 0 Everton
1 Jan - It's alarm bells not holiday bells at Goodison as Everton begin 2002 with a fifth straight defeat, this time at The Riverside. Everton started brightly with Cadamarteri injecting some pace to the attack before he went off injured after 37 mins. Watson followed him early in the second half and 'Boro took the lead immediately after his departure – Festa scoring from a poorly defended corner. The Blues were abysmal in the second half and couldn't find the crucial equaliser. It's freefall time again...

 

Snippets & Rumours


£5 Sweetener
31 Jan - Everton will offer a £5 discount to all season-ticket holders for the FA Cup tie against Crewe, in some recompense for the dislocation they suffered at the Orient game (although Mr Dunford says it makes amends for the Derby discount they missed out on...).

New Jam Tarts link
31 Jan - According to TeamTalk, Walter Smith has his eye on another Hearts defender, this time Andy Webster.

Ferguson suspension?
31 Jan - By our reckoning, Duncan Ferguson picked up his 5th yellow card of the campaign last night, and will now be suspended for the cup-tie v Crewe.

Yankee Doodle Daniel
31 Jan - Everton's hero of the 1995 FA Cup Semi-Final, Daniel Amokachi, has joined US Major League Soccer side, the Colorado Rapids.

Tobias Linderoth
30 Jan - Planet Football reckon that the fee Everton will pay Norwegian club Stabaek for the Swedish midfielder is £2.5M; sources on Merseyside say £3M.

Labour Pains
30 Jan - The latest distraction to Everton's Premiership campaign is new-born babies for both David Weir and Idan Tal, putting their attendance at Villa Park in doubt.

Walter's extra £1 Million
30 Jan - As Abel Xavier completes his transfer to Liverpool, Walter Smith puts on his best spin-cap and rationalizes it away as good business for the Blues. 

Blue Murder on the Orient Excess
30 Jan - Another disgruntled season-ticket holder wishes to say his piece about Saturday's lockout v Leyton Orient.

Hearing date set
29 Jan - The date of 19 February has been set for Everton's hearing before the FA on the charge of failing to control their players in the Fulham fracas.

Dunford on crowd chaos
28 Jan - Michael Dunford has provided TeamTalk with an empassioned explanation about the admission policy against Leyton Orient, and he appologises to the many fans who were locked out.

Oster's bad knee injury
28 Jan - Sunderland's transfer-listed Everton old boy, Jon Oster, has suffered damage to his cruciate knee ligaments playing for the Reserves and he will be out of the game for some.

Lincoln 2 - 7 Everton
27 Jan - Everton Ladies moved in to the quaterfinals of the Womens' FA Cup when they went to town with the Club's new friends, Lincoln City.

Macken link resurfaces
27 Jan - Over at Soccernet, they are making a somewhat weak link between Everton and Preston's forward, Jon Macken.

Gemmill Suspension
27 Jan - Scott Gemmill will be suspended for the visit of Arsenal on 10 February, having picked up his 5th yellow card of the campaign in the cup tie with Leyton Orient.

Right decision; wrong result
27 Jan - Everton are guilty of making the right decision on admission prices to encourage a good turnout for yesterday's cup tie… and are now reaping the wrath of the extra 5,000+ fans who turned up but were locked out as the ground reached its legal 90% capacity for unreserved seating.  Sometimes ya just can't win...

Well said, SuperKev
26 Jan - Kevin Campbell speaks out about Everton's continuing state of decline as good players like Xavier are allowed to leave the club, investment in the future fails to be made, and a relegation struggle is the inevitable result.

Kilfoyle on Kings Dock
26 Jan - Walton MP Peter Kilfoyle sounds off in the Echo; and EfKD's Philip Pellow replies… Click the link to visit the BBC Liverpool website and cast your vote on Kings Dock.

Qualified regional support
26 Jan - Yesterday's meeting of Merseyside regional councils gave their qualified support for the "impressive" Kings Waterfront development that is planned to include a new Stadium for Everton — but they want to know more about the finacing (don't we all!).

Come in, No 10…
26 Jan - Is Duncan Ferguson's time up?  If you believe those who voted in our Quick Poll, the Big Yin has outlived his usefulness.

Blomqvist to be rested
25 Jan - A worrying sign, given Walter's previous optimism, that there may be more to Jesper Blomqvist's recurrent knee problem — the one that nearly ended his career…

"Please don't go"
24 Jan - Poor Gazza is reduced to a blubbering idiot as he cries crocodile tears all over Abel Xavier's SkySports News interview.  Hilarious!

Marseille in for Xav?
24 Jan - Planet Football are posting the rumour that Abel Xavier has been in talks with Marseille over a possible move to the South of France.

Everton v Leeds Utd
23 Jan - Everton's game against Leeds United at Goodison Park in early March has been switched to Sunday the 3rd, probably due to Leeds Utd's Euro-League involvement.  Rumours of live TV coverage are unconfirmed at this time.

Youth Cup: Everton 2 - 0 WBA
23 Jan - Everton's youth team beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 in the 4th Round of the FA Youth Cup at Goodison Park, the goals both coming from young ace, Wayne Rooney.  Next up: Manchester City.

Gravesen future unclear
23 Jan - Time is running short for Tommy Gravesen to find a new club before the European transfer window closes… or was it all a case of huff and bluster?

The Case of Gazza's Elbow
21 Jan - Oyvind Leonhardsen claims that Paul Gascoigne elbowed him during the game at Tottenham…  And, since it's Tottenham who's complaining, the FA are all ears.

"Best away result"… Eh?
21 Jan - Davey Weir is doing a good job for Everton.  But the excess of hyperbole in this lavish Daily Post feature indicate what little else is really happening in the news at the moment...

Whither now, Big Dunc?
19 Jan - The media seem to have finally got wind of a possible move away from Everton for Duncan Ferguson, who has seemed somewhat disinterested this season.  Birmingham City top the short list of possible destinations...

The Bruise Brothers?
18 Jan - The media have Walter Smith starting his favourite striking pair of Campbell and Ferguson at Spurs on Saturday.

Olsen to help Gravesen
18 Jan - According to Soccernet, Tommy Gravesen's path out of Goodison will be assisted by Danish coach Mortin Olsen who will use his old contacts to help him find a new club.

KD needs Councils' support
17 Jan - The Echo anticipates mixed support for the Kings Dock project from regional councils who must back the £35M of European Objective 1 money the development is seeking.

Reserves Crash 5-1
16 Jan - Duncan Ferguson had little positive effect for the Reserves side tonight as Aston Villa crsushed the Blues 5-1.

Zamora interest waning
16 Jan - After rampant speculation that Everton would be making / have already made a £3M bid for Brighton's Bobby Zamora, a touch of reality is now creeping in to the stories, although Walter Smith was at Withdean last night to watch the lad miss a penalty.

Kings Dock Finance
15 Jan - The Echo is reporting more details on the money trail of finance for the new Everton stadium planned at the Kings Waterfront development. All from an unidentified "senior source" — not the Goodison doorman!

U-19s Beat Bolton
15 Jan - Back from their winter break, the Under-19s completed the Youth Academy double over Bolton today, after the Under-17s did their bit on Saturday.

Ferrante not Interested…
15 Jan - Who said he was?  Well, Planet Football believe Everton were nosing around Torino looking at their 30-yr-old striker, Marco Ferrante.

Everton bid £3M for Bobby
15 Jan - … but it won't be enough to pry the £5M-valued Zamora away from Brighton, says the Electronic Telegraph… but Teamtalk say No Bid.

Jesper in World Cup sights
14 Jan - The Swedish camp will give Jesper Blomqvist every opportunity to make the international grade in time for him to figure in the World Cup.

In bed with Imps
14 Jan - Third Division Lincoln City have announced that an alliance has been agreed with Everton, although it may not be a player-development connection like that between Liverpool and Crewe.

Bobby not-so Dazzler
14 Jan - An Australian website reckons Everton are now favourites to sign Brighton's Bobby Zamora, "the hotest prospect in the lower divisions."  Apparently he is currently going through a bad patch...

Gazza on the Demon Drink
13 Jan - Paul Gascoigne told Football Focus he would like to help youngsters in the game understand how the physical effects of alcohol ruined his career: "Without the drinking I could have been one of the best players in the world – I know I would have been."

It must be Sunday
13 Jan - Davey Weir to Manchester United for £8.5m. Joe-Max Moore to ask for a transfer. Rumours abound, as usual.

Player of the Month
12 Jan - Voting has closed in December's POTM poll and the winner is announced.  What a shame he might not be around next season. Click here

Property Developer pulls out
11 Jan - Countryside Properties, who had been earmarked as a potential developer on the residential side of the Kings Dock project, have pulled out because of "grey areas"…

Shurely Shome Mishtake
11 Jan - The BBC lets slip that Walter Smith is being lined up as a replacement for Dick Advocaat as Rangers Director of Football.  Maybe this is just a couple of weeks behind the times...

Supporters Club Quiz
10 Jan - Late notice about the Supporters Club Everton Quiz tonight (Thursday) at 7:00 pm in the Alex Young Suite.  £1 to get in.

When it's time to leave
10 Jan - This piece in The Echo presents the latest episode in the all-too-familiar saga of yet another key Everton midfielder being readied for early departure from Goodison Park.  But don't worry: it's all Gravesen's fault.

Come one, come all
10 Jan - Following the big success of lower ticket prices against Derby, Everton  have reduced prices for general admission to all the main sections of Goodison Park for the upcoming FA Cup clash with Leyton Orient.

Mortgaging the future
9 Jan - The Echo reveals some more details of Everton's refinancing package under the entirely wrong headline, Out of the Red.  This deal will substantially increase Everton's overall debts.

I wanna tell you a story...
9 Jan - The Echo's Len Capeling seems to have his nose well out of joint after being led up the garden path by what he claims to be a deliberate series of mixed messages from the club during the managerial crisis last week.  Life as a journalist must be just awful.

Chadwick with Reserves winner
8 Jan - Rising star striker Nick Chadwick bagged his sixth goal of the season for Everton's second string with the only goal in the game against Newcastle tonight.

The Ian MacDonald Letters
8 Jan - The wise ones always say: quot;Choose your battles carefully"... Ian MacDonald of EISA is not happy with the administration of Everton. This reply from Sir Philip Carter neatly sidesteps Ian's real concerns and asks him to explain what amounts to "a slur on the integrity and function" of the administration of the Club.

Kings Dock latest
7 Jan - Star turns will start being lined up for Kings Dock in the next few months... hang on, is the cart not getting in front of the horse here?  Bovis Lend Lease to invest £155M??  While Everton invest just £30M??  But end up with 49% of the pie??? Curiouser and curiouser...

FA Cup: 4th Round Draw
6 Jan - In the draw for the 4th Round of the FA Cup, Everton have been drawn at home to Leyton Orient of Division 3.

Money, money, money
5 Jan - Dominic Fifield of The Guardian reckons that the refinancing deal Bill Kenwright referred to will give Everton £1M for improvements at Bellefield, £2M for the new Youth Academy, and £9M for strengthening the squad.

Super Kev loves Walter
4 Jan - In The Echo, Kevin Campbell comes out with fulsome praise for Walter Smith, saying the whole squad is behind him, and that bringing in a new manager now would have caused turmoil.

Another injury crisis
4 Jan - Everton will be without at least six and possibly eight players against Stoke as the injury crisis bites as hard as the cold weather.

Players are behind Walter
3 Jan - A delegation of Everton players has provided The Echo with strong verbal backing for their beleaguered manager... now, if only they can convert those fine words into actions on the pitch...

Radz puts Club before Country
2 Jan - Canadian international Tomasz Radzinski has pledged to forego the Gold Cup in the US next month if Campbell and Ferguson are still sidelined at Goodison. Someone tell him we're going to need him come what may when he's recovered from his own injury!

Smith will not be quitting
2 Jan - In response to the widely spread rumour that Walter Smith is half-way out the door, having overseen the loss at Middlesbrough, the Everton Manager tells the BBC's Phil McNulty that he will not be quitting Everton.

Christmas Woes off the field
2 Jan - Ian MacDonald reports on the depressing failure of any players to turn up for the EISA kids' Christmas Party, and how he personally feels about what this means to his diligent efforts in working with the Club.

New Year, New Everton?
1 Jan - Luke Ashton lives in Widnes and follows Everton passionately, including Reserves games. This is how he feels about things Blue.

Fan power will decide
1 Jan - The Independent reckons that fan power will determine Walter Smith's future at Everton. Alan Nixon claims that Bill Kenwright will listen to the fans and turn on his beloved Walter Smith if they do... Sounds a bit fishy to me! Exercise a bit of your own fan power: vote in the January Poll

 December 2001

    Dec 31The Gravesen Saga  The Echo is claiming that Tommy Gravesen is staying in Denmark with his sick grandfather until Wednesday, when Smith told him to be back in training today — even though he is injured for tomorrow's game.  All building up nicely for the much-needed mid-season injection of cash to bolster Everton's yawning coffers...

    Dec 31 - Win or be sacked?  According to The Sun, the Everton Board have told Walter Smith that he must beat Middlesbrough on Wednesday and secure victory in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup against Stoke on Saturday — or face the sack.  Doesn't say where Everton will find the £2M needed to pay off him and Knox! 

    Dec 31 - Cup tie on TV overseas  The distinct possibility of an FA Cup 3rd Round upset has the TV cameras travelling to Stoke next Saturday for the visit of Everton.  The cup-tie will be broadcast live in most parts of the world (but not the UK); check your local listings.

    Dec 30 - Royal Blue Mersey  Another of our columnists, Ian Mills is not too impressed with much he has seen from Everton over the Christmas period...

    Dec 30:  Another fine mess?  Everton's current on-field crisis of confidence has its roots in endemic mismanagement that has dogged Everton off the field for the best part of the past decade.  Colm Kavanagh reckons it's time some action was taken to get the Club back on the right track... and no, he is not talking about Kings Dock.

    Dec 30: Viewpoint: Let's go down A Swedish Everton fan, Thomas Green, has written to us summing up some of the many frustrations Evertonians the world over must feel following yesterday's woeful performance.  He thinks relegation may actually be a good thing, but for many, that would surely be too painful to stomach.

    Dec 29:  Everton 0 - 3 Charlton Athletic  An utterly dismal day at Goodison Park.  Radzinski lasted for just one decent shot on goal before a groin injury forced his replacement by an unfit Ferguson.  Graham Stuart scored in a very poor first half.  The second half was no better, with Jason Euell scoring Charlton's second.  And for good measure, Stuart's substitute Konchesky added the third.  Charlton's first win at Goodison since 1949!

    Dec 29 - Gravesen fuels the fire  More comments from Mad Dog in another Danish newspaper may well seal his fate with Everton, where such blatant honesty cannot be tolerated.

    Dec 28 - Club reply on store closure  Everton have replied to a fan's e.mail request for an explanation of why the store was closed for the two days before Christmas. 

    Dec 28Gravesen given a smack  If Ananova are to be believed, Walter Smith is upset about Tommy Gravesen's truth-telling to a Danish newspaper.  Phil McNulty makes some big-picture observations... but somehow, this all seems a little bit too contrived... 

    Dec 27 - Gravesen's frustration  Tommy Mad Dog Gravesen moans that Everton will be unable to build a decent team because they have no money.  Somebody should tell him Everton are surviving only by selling their best players and replacing them with aging crocks.

    Dec 26:  Everton 0 - 2 Manchester United  Toil and effort versus quality and skill.  It is only right which one should win out in the end, and that was down to two moments of magic from United.  They tore through Everton's previously resilient defence (commanded masterfully by Abel Xavier) with two superb goals to take all the honours.  That makes it three defeats on the trot, dropping Everton down four places to 13th.

    Dec 26 - Smith still here in 2005?  In this interview at the Electronic Telegraph, Walter Smith reveals his desire to be the Everton Manager leading the Club into the new pastures of the Kings Dock.

    Dec 25 - Megastore Holiday  No-one would expect Everton's Club store to be open on Christmas Day, but what about the two days before Christmas?  Peak shopping days?  Apparently not for Everton's megastore... unless they simply ran out of stock? 

    Dec 24 - Pistone now crocked  Alessandro Pistone has suffered knee ligament and is expected to be out of action for the next six weeks.

    Dec 22:  Sunderland 1 - 0 Everton  The game went ahead despite heavy snow in the Northeast and the Black Cats' new signing Claudio Reyna scored the only goal to see off a typically inept Everton.  Gravesen started but was withdrawn for Alexandersson after just 22 minutes following a hot-headed performance and a very early yellow card.  Moore and Tal were surprise inclusions in the starting line-up, but the American couldn't find his third successive goal.

    Dec 21
    - Boa Morte Card rescinded  Boa Morte's red card picked up after the fracas he initiated with Davey Weir has been rescinded on appeal to the FA.  Davey Weir's second yellow in the same incident remains and Davey serves his sentence against Sunderland

    Dec 20: Feature: What does he have to do?  Despite taking just 30 minutes to score the winner against Derby, Joe-Max Moore only made it onto the pitch at Leeds last night because of an injury to Allessandro Pistone.  Will his sweet left-foot consolation volley that sparked an unlikely comeback convince "Tictac" that to score goals you need strikers – irrespective of how they're built – and that Goodison's resident Yank can score goals.

    Dec 20 - Paul Gregg's new focus  Everton Director Paul Gregg is leaving Clear Channel (previously SFX) to concentrate on other things, including his role at Everton in the Kings Waterfront Development.

    Dec 19:  Leeds United 3 - 2 Everton  Joe-Max Moore made further mockery of Walter Smith's insistence on omitting him from the start with a cracking volleyed left-footer late on and David Weir struck in stoppage time from an Idan Tal corner to set up an exciting finish at Elland Road.  Mark Viduka (18') and two from, yes, you guessed it, Robbie Fowler (25' and 70') had Blues fans wondering how many (particularly after Smith had to withdraw Pembridge for Gascoigne and Pistone for Moore because of injury) but the late rally restored some respectability to the scoreline.  Report by Rob Burns

    Dec 19:  At the risk of seeming ungrateful..  The cat-calls for Walter Smith have died down since mid-table mediocrity become the established norm for Everton this season.  So it is a little disconcerting to read that Thor Martinsson (an Evertonian in the Faeroe Isles) thinks the time is now to act on the manager's demonstrated lack of ability.

    Dec 19 - Player Status update  As the injury crisis deepens after the Leeds game, keep track of the current status of players in the Everton Squad with our updated index page.

    Dec 18Campbell back when?  Campbell will return 'next month' or 'in the New Year' after a presumably miraculous cure of his back problem some time between now and then...

    Dec 17 - Reserves draw Mini-Derby  Everton Reserves drew 1-1 with Liverpool, Nick Chadwick getting on the scoresheet yet again, and hopefully nudging Walter with a little reminder that he is a striker, perhaps ready for his debut...  Reserves Apps & Stats — you can't get this anywhere else!

    Dec 17 - No justice for Weir  It must surprise no-one that Everton's appeal today for referee Phil Dowd to review video evidence of Fulham's fracas ( where David Weir was unfairly given his marching orders for a second yellow card) fell on typically deaf FA ears.  Davie's dismissal stands and he will miss Saturday's match at Sunderland.

    Dec 17:  Undercover action by Everton  It is good to see that the Club is planning to take direct and more meaningful action against the racist element, by bringing in undercover police officers and stewards (and Bill Kenwright?) to sit amongst the fans for the next away games.  

    Dec 17Danny Cad on trial again?  No, not that kind of trial... he's gone to Barnsley so they can size him up for a possible transfer when his £10k/week Goodison pay packet ceases at the end of the season... or before?

    Dec 16 - POTM November  There really was only one choice for ToffeeWeb Player of the Month last month and he swept the voting.  Take a bow, Steve Simonsen.  Do Everton finally have a safe pair of hands?

    Dec 15:  Everton 1 - 0 Derby County  Everton toiled their way to a deserved victory over Derby, but the solitary goal by half-time substitute Joe-Max Moore was not indicative of the Blues' dominance.  Bad luck and profligacy in front of goal — Pistone twice headed against the woodwork — in the first half continued into the second as Gravesen (later withdrawn with a horrific head injury), Alexandersson, Gemmill and Radzinski missed good chances.  Moore, finally given his chance, tucked home the crucial goal with 15 mins to go.  New Report by Richard Marland

    Dec 15 - EiFC 5 - 0 ToffeeWeb  Teams of Everton fans from internet mailing lists and our discussion forum took each other on for charity on Saturday, and to make a statement against racism.  The EiFC won again, that's 2 out of three in this continuing series. 

    Dec 14 - Xavier stalling?  This Daily Mail story at Soccernet makes it sound like something has changed regarding Xavier's deliberations about his future... but the facts of the story remain the same: his is not going to decide until the New Year.  Are they just running a little behind the times?

    Dec 14 - Bill the Boss  Bill Kenwright says that he will sit with the Everton fans at Sunderland to help weed out the racists.

    Dec 13:
      Being positive on Kings Dock  With Arsenal setting the pace by securing planning permission for their Ashburton Grove stadium, Ken Rogers of the Echo compares and contrasts their optimism with our doubters who think that Everton should be putting aside the dream and concentrating on strengthening the team.

    Dec 12 - FA Cup: Stoke City v Everton  Everton will travel to Stoke's Britannia Stadium for the 3rd Round of the FA Cup on Saturday 5 January 2002 (KO: 3pm – All Ticket).  Stoke beat Halifax 3-0 in tonight's 2nd Round replay after drawing the initial tie 1-1 on Saturday.

    Dec 12 - Willing investors  We asked ToffeeWeb's readers if they would buy shares in Everton if the board initiated a Share Issue. Click here for the not altogether surprising result.

    Dec 11Cut-price match tickets  A cold December afternoon at Goodison against lowly Derby County hardly ranks as a Category A game... so Everton are cutting ticket prices substantially (£10 for adults; £5 for kids and OAPs) in an effort to get a few more people in through the turnstiles on Saturday.

    Dec 11:  The wrong approach   Everton's management have made a strong statement against the racist element, but the only threatened action — banning all fans from away games — promises to punish the innocent while letting the guilty go free.  Prosecuting racists is notoriously difficult; but is this blanket approach appropriate?   Or does it represents an easy option that avoids tackling the real problem: the individual racists?  Vote in the December Poll

    Dec 10:  More non-news about Kings Dock  Our old friend, Mickey Blue Eyes has provided Phil Pellow at the From The Terrace website with more direct non-news from Sir Joe Dwyer about the latest developments at Kings Dock.  But we can't tell you anything more due to "commercial confidentiality"...

    Dec 10 - Club seeks justice for Weir  Everton will appeal today for referee Phil Dowd to review video evidence of Saturday's fracas at Craven Cottage where David Weir was unfairly given his marching orders for a second yellow.

    Dec 9 - FA Cup: Halifax or Stoke  Everton will travel to either Halifax or Stoke in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup.  Ties will be played during the first weekend of 2002.  Halifax and Stoke drew 1-1 on Saturday, and replay on Wednesday 12 December. 

    Dec 9Zamora Rumours continue  Rumours persist that Everton will close a deal with Bobby Zamora, Brighton's goalscoring sensation.  But don't be surprised if he actually joins West Ham...

    Dec 9:  Viewpoint: Our Shame  Mindless racism and hatred from a section of the Everton support at Leicester two weeks ago was not an aberration.  Our match reporter describes a sickening continuation of this pathetic and cowardly behaviour that marred yesterday's game against Fulham, and poses a serious threat to the Club's future.  

    Dec 8 - Disciplinary Woes  In one game, Everton's much-improved disciplinary record this season takes a knock, with Weir and Pistone now facing one-match suspensions.  "I thought the decision to send David Weir off was disgraceful - he's the only player that has ever been sent off for clearing the ball, being pulled down and stamped on by the opposition." — Walter Smith.

    Dec 8:  Fulham 2 - 0 Everton  Paul Gascoigne started the game, but Everton were toothless as Fulham took control, Hayles scoring with a simple header before the break.  No changes at half-time, and Everton conceded a second to Hayles from a corner.  So much for 11 defending our corners!  Weir and Boa Morte were later dismissed after an ugly brawl caused by Boa Mote's dreadful challenge.

    Dec 7:  Devil's Advocate  Bill Kenwright wants everyone to talk up the wonderful project that is Kings Dock.  But Paul Holmes has scratched below the surface and taken a closer look at the Money Trail...  In the continuing silence from Goodison Park he has more questions than answers about how it is all really going to work out.

    Dec 7
    - McNulty Rant  Journalist Phil McNulty ignores the pleas to avoid negative press about Everton, pointing up the Club's abject failure to strive for anything other than mediocrity on the field until Kings Dock becomes a real money spinner.

    Dec 6 - Xavier looking elsewhere?  Fears that Abel Xavier will simply walk away for free at the end of the season have been strengthened by this less-than encouraging piece at the Sky website.  Everton feel Xavier is only worthy of a pay-as-you-play deal, so you can hardly blame him... 

    Dec 5 - Player of the Month  A not too surprising winner, Thomas Gravesen was your choice for October.  Now vote for your November POTM by clicking here.

    Dec 5:  Communication is the key  The Independent Supporters Association are an important bridge between the Everton Board and the general fanbase and, as usual, they were represented at this week's AGM.  Their main plea was for better communication, especially between the club and fans, but also in the local press.  Read their presentation.

    Dec 5Bid on a signed football  UCL Hospitals Charitable Foundation is running an auction of footballing memorabilia to benefit its cancer appeal and they have a football signed by the Everton team up for bidding.  Check it out if you're interested.

    Dec 4:  Cash crisis deepens striker worries  With Duncan Ferguson injured again and rumours surfacing that Kevin Campbell could be facing another lengthy lay-off or even that his career could be over, thoughts turn to who Everton can acquire as replacements. Attempts to draft in a loan striker have yielded little success but media reports suggest that the club are looking to squeeze some cash out from somewhere to buy Brighton's Bobby Zamora.

    Dec 4 - Reserves draw with Bantams  1-1 after 90 seconds... Everton went on to draw this Reserves match 2-2, with Jesper Blomqvist playing for the first half.  Read the excellent coverage now available (finally!) at the new Official Website.

    Dec 4:  The return of Gazza fever  Paul Gascoigne is back in the Premiership spotlight after his introduction in the second half against Southampton inspired Everton to a hitherto unlikely 2-0 victory. His dreams of representing England in the Far East next year may be far-fetched but Walter could offer him another year at Goodison.

    Dec 4Transfer windows are coming  Europe's 11 leading football leagues have agreed in principal to restricting player transfers to two calendar windows, one in the summer close season, one during January.

    Dec 3:  Everton AGM  Everton FC Co Ltd held their Annual General Meeting this evening, in the positive atmosphere created by a much-needed win.  Little of any substance was really discussed or revealed, which has become the norm for these meetings, as this report confirms.

    Dec 3 - Kings Dock Developer  Everton have signed up prestigious developers Bovis Lend Lease as construction partners for advancing project planning as part of their preferred bid that will include a new stadium for Everton. 

    Dec 3 - Goal of the Week  Tomasz Radzinski's excellent strike against Southampton has been chosen as Goal of the Week by the BBC.

    Dec 3 - Bela Lugosi?  The 27-year-old Argentinian midfielder Gonzalo Belloso has been handed a four-day trial at Goodison Park.  Belloso joined Strasbourg in 1999, and was on loan with Mexican club Cruz Azul earlier this year.

    Kings DockDec 2:  Everton 2 - 0 Southampton  Following another turgid 45 minutes, Everton burst out of the starting gates at the beginning of the second half and took the lead when Radzinski latched onto a Watson flick on and buried the ball past the 'keeper.  Lively substitute Gascoigne was denied a penalty, Gravesen missed two complete sitters and cleared the ball off the line at the other end before Pembinho made the game safe late on.   

    Dec 2:  Put the fans in charge!  Defenders playing up front is all well and good in a dire emergency but with two fit strikers available for selection in form of Cadamarteri and Moore, Walter Smith is persisting with Watson up front and the recent goal drought (today's result aside) has been testament to the success of that tactic. The latest ToffeeWeb Quick Poll shows how much the fans agree with the manager's strategy!

    Dec 1 - Belt stays just as tight  Another searching analysis of Everton's dismal corporate finances – this one by Paul Walker of the Press Association – concludes that Smith must continue to operate frugally in the transfer market, with the likelihood that more players will be sold to finance modest squad restructuring for the foreseeable future. 



 November 2001

    Nov 30: New Official Everton Website Following in the trail-blazing footsteps of ToffeeWeb, the revamped Official Everton Website (if it's working!) uses Active Server Pages to convey vastly improved presentation and content to Everton fans on the Internet, the highlight being a vast selection of video clips in the BlueVision Video Lounge.  How long before we are no longer needed???

    Nov 29
      Test your Everton knowledge with this fun Everton Crossword puzzle at Planet Football.  [Click on LAUNCH below the crossword graphic]

    Nov 29:  di Canio Fair Play Award Everton's favourite West Ham player, Paulo Di Canio, has been further rewarded for his magnanimous gesture at Goodison last season: Fifa have given him their Fair Play award for 2001.  Rumours from the Vatican suggest that sainthood is not far behind...

    Nov 29 - Xavier's contract talks  Abel Xavier's future at Everton hangs in the balance – if the negotiating stances described in the Daily Post are to be believed.  Xavier wants a decent 3- or 4-year deal; Everton are offering a desultory pay-as-you-play package.

    Nov 28 - Yin and Yang  We knew it was rubbish when they said Duncan would be back inside two weeks.  Walter Smith has now learned that his talismanic (arrgh!) striker (who has not scored in open play this season) will be out 'til after Christmas.  What next? Unsie up front?

    Nov 28:  Viewpoint: Where's my Share?In a long article edited for ToffeeWeb's Viewpoint, Ian MacDonald reviews the business of owning shares in Everton FC Co Ltd, and makes a rallying cry for the Board to initiate the long-overdue Share Issue for the fans, expressly to benefit the equally long-overdue Youth Academy.

    Nov 27FA Youth Cup Win! Everton's youngsters out-maneouvered West Ham during extra time this evening, winning 2-1 following a goalless first 90 minutes.  

    Nov 27The Judderman ponders his future Everton will open talks with Abel Xavier this week about extending the Portuguese international's contract.  Rumours have suggested he is eyeing a return to the Continent but his form was great until he was poleaxed by Paul Gerrard the other week.

    Nov 26:  Have we beaten the "lesser teams" hoodoo?  ToffeeWeb's statistics tables reveal little that is spectacular this month following Everton's recent dip in form.  However, without wishing to tempt fate, the evidence so far shows that Everton are finally playing well against those teams battling away in the bottom half of the table - a failing of previous seasons has been the Blues' inability to perform against "lesser teams".

    Nov 26 - Transfer Merry-go-round  Strong but unconfirmed rumours suggest that Everton are on the verge of signing Dion Dublin from Aston Villa.  How strange it would be if he were to end up at Goodison after the shenanigans surrounding Howard Kendall's attempts to sign him eight years ago!

    Nov 25
    - Ball Explodes  Michael Ball's anger at being substituted on 74 mins of the Glasgow derby today erupted into a physical confrontation with Rangers manager Dick Advocaat that is certain to see the young Evertonian in serious trouble.

    Nov 25:  Strike a Light!  Everton play to another turgid draw while Campbell and Ferguson are injured, with the excellent Steve Watson struggling to be a striker up front, while a clutch of other strikers on the books are overlooked.  Colm Kavanagh stays remarkably restrained in his latest analysis of Everton's mixed fortunes.

    Nov 24:
      Leicester City 0 - 0 Everton  Walter Smith persisted with the Radzinski-Watson partnership up front (and left Joe-Max Moore on the bench throughout) but what few chances there were wasted by both sides.  Frank Sinclair had a header volleyed off the line by Gary Naysmith and Trevor Benjamin's "goal" was disallowed for an obvious foul on Steve Simonsen.  Paul Gascoigne's introduction on the hour did little to lift the tedium.

    Nov 24 - Out in the cold?  Michael Ball talks to Michael Walker of The Guardian about leaving Everton for Rangers, turning down Middlesbrough, and his chances of getting into the England team.  "There was one part of me that was saying I could never play against Everton."

    Nov 24 - Sounds like Gazza may start   SoccerNet, who have previously spent a lot of energy writing Gazza off, now claim that Walter Smith could be planning to use him as a not-so secret goal-scoring or creating weapon at Leicester.

    Nov 23
    - PFA Deal averts strike  The PFA has finally agreed a deal on their share of the Leagues' TV revenue in lieu of appearance fees. The strike, which would have affected Everton's next match at Goodison, has been called off.

    Nov 22:  Kings Dock: Where are we now?  At the Everton From the Terrace Website, Phil Pellow reviews the progress towards a new home for Everton in the Kings Waterfront Development, and provides his personal views on some of the remaining issues that need resolution.

    Nov 22 - Strike Fine Threat  Everton have raised the stakes in the impending PFA strike threatening to fine players who refuse to play in front of the cameras.

    Nov 21:  Tal's position looks weak  Idan Tal, projected as one of the more promising of Walter Smith's previously unknown signings, is becoming increasingly frustrated by his failure to be included in first-team action.  He has many fans, but his consistent failure to make a real impression during the few games he has played does not auger well for him, especially with Blomqvist snapping at his heels. 

    Nov 20:  Millsy's Royal Blue Mersey  One of our younger contributors, Ian Mills, is on half-term from his A-Level school work, and provides his own personal assessment of Everton's recent improvements, with the record now showing just one loss in the last six matches.

    Nov 20 - Duncan's Ankle Op  Duncan Ferguson will be out of action for just two weeks after a surprise operation to remove a biece of bone from his ankle?  And the rest... He'll surely be out 'til Christmas. 

    Nov 19: October Player of the Month  The month of October saw Everton draw one, win one and lose one - the latter rather unfortunately at home against Newcastle.  Which player do you think was the pick of the bunch in the games against Ipswich, Aston Villa and Newcastle?  Vote for your Everton Player of the Month for October.

    Nov 19 - The Reserves crash at Sunderland 2-4, where new signing Jesper Blomqvist had an impressive run out, along with Pembridge, Moore, Tal, Cadamarteri, and Nick Chadwick, returning from injury.  The last two scored the goals, as reported by Matthew Fearon

    Nov 19 - Gazza wants to stay  Paul Gascoigne has restated his desire to stay for Everton and, if possible, get back into the England squad. 

    Nov 18:  Everton 0 - 0 Chelsea  Everton slip to 12th after another nail-biting mid-table six-pointer turns into a drab and dismal exhibition that fully merited the scoreless result.  In the end, Everton were lucky to escape with a point – thanks to an excellent Simonsen save off a wicked Zola free-kick.  No doubt we should celebrate this as confirmation of our hard-won mid-table mediocrity? 

    Nov 17 - Bad day in Blackburn  The Under-19s were beaten by a late goal at Blackburn, as Steve Milne reports.  The Under-17s lost 1-3 to the cloggies as well. 

    Nov 16 - New Year Radz Worry  Looking forward to the New Year, Everton are fearful that Tomasz Radzinski could be missing for 3 or 4 vital games in January if he accepts a call-up to the Canadian National squad for defence of the Gold Cup in North America.

    Bill KenwrightNov 15:  Poll: Is a Share Issue the way to go?  Still £20M in debt and running out of home-grown talent to flog for small fortunes, Everton's financial future doesn't have to rely solely on the uncertain prospect of the Kings Dock.  The board could initiate a Share Issue whereby fans could invest in the club and inject millions into the coffers, albeit at the expense of the value of the current shareholders' stock.  Would you buy shares in Everton if you were given the chance? 

    Nov 15Who?  Everton are interested in Mexican Pavel Pardo.  So say the Daily Star...

    Nov 15:  Viewpoint: Everton Accounts  The release of Everton's accounts, and the remarkably positive spin that has been placed on the large debt of around £20M, prompts Neil Wolstenhome to consider the broader picture and make some key recommendations to the Everton Board ahead of next month's AGM.

    Nov 15Gazza's reward?  In the Daily Post, Andy Hunter leads with a story that Walter Smith is thinking about extending Gazza's contract, given his new attitude and sobriety since June.

    Nov 14Radzinski can't save Canucks  The return of Tomasz Radzinski to international action is not enough to save Canada from defeat against diminutive Malta, who won this friendly 2-1.  Radz was booked and pulled off on 57 mins – thankfully uninjured.

    Nov 14:  Injury doubts for weekend  Walter Smith heads towards Sunday's PPV match-up against Chelsea knowing that his strike force may be severely depleted with injuries to Campbell and Ferguson, and fears about Tomasz Radzinski playing for Canada on Thursday. 

    Nov 14 - Glass Ankles Jeffers  An update on Francis Jeffers and life at Arsenal reveals that an ankle injury which is keeping Jeffers out of the squad may need surgery and a lengthy layoff.  So these injuries are not just an Everton curse, and could impact the £2M slice of his £10M transfer fee that is appearance-related.

    Nov 13 - Reserves Beaten  Everton Reserves – without new signing Jesper Blomqvist, injured in training!!! – lost 1-3 to Manchester United after leading at half-time.  Report from Steve Milne

    Nov 12 - Myhre moves on  Thomas Myhre's painful demise at Everton become final today as he completed a move to Turkish side Beshiktas for a fee of around £300k.

    Nov 12:  Get it Right  This contribution from Evertonian Patrick Hart highlights the shameless ignorance our friends in the media show when they fail to recognize or acknowledge Everton's substantial record and place in the history of English football.

    Nov 12 - Time to give Simo a go  By far the biggest return of votes for one of our Quick Poll votes has delivered a damning verdict on Paul Gerrard who fell way short even of the outgoing Thomas Myhre.  The fans obviously think Steve Simonsen now deserves his chance between the sticks.

    Nov 11:  Up for the Cup  At the behest of FourFourTwo magazine, Ian MacDonald of the Everton Independent Supporters Association has pieced together this little story of the second time Everton won the FA Cup, in 1933.

    Nov 11 - Fantasy Transfer Land  It's Sunday, and time for some classic tabloid-inspired nonsense from TeamTalk.  This story has Duncan Ferguson being sold to finance the arrival of Birmingham's Bryan Hughes.  Yawn...

    Nov 10 - Gazza for England  A guest on Frank Skinner's ITV chat show, Gazza tells how he would love to be a member of Sven's 2002 World Cup squad.

    Nov 10:  EFC Business: better or worse?  Compared to last year, Everton FC Co Ltd made a smaller financial loss (down to £3.7M from £11.2M) at the cost of massive borrowing (up to an incredible £29.7M from £15.2M), with £1.6M paid in interest.  These figures exclude transactions after 31 May 2001, such as £8.75M in net income from transfer fees. 

    Nov 10 - Alexandersson does well Niclas Alexandersson played a solid part in Sweden's 1-1 friendly draw with England at Old Trafford.  Tommy Gravesen picked up an injury for Denmark v Holland and was substituted at half-time.

    Nov 10U-19s doing better  Steve Milne reports on a good 1-0 win for the U-19s against tough opposition from Coventry, with Michael Symes the scorer.

    Nov 9:  Shareholders Meetings  An open meetng of the Everton Shareholders Association takes place on 20 November.  Shareholders may obtain tickets for themselves and invited guests at £5 to cover the buffet.  Also, the delayed Everton AGM is scheduled for 3 December 2001.

    Nov 9Players approve strike action  Players of the PFA have overwhelmingly approved the call to strike if necessary to further their claim for the agreed 5% of TV income in lieu of the players receiving appearance money for playing in front of the cameras.  Everton's Sky match v Southampton on 2 December may be at risk if an agreement can't be reached.

    Nov 9 - Canadian Confusion  Act now!  Order your unique red Everton kits form this Canadian website before they are all gone!  (Maybe Tomasz Radzinski thought he was joining the other lot...)

    Paul GerrardNov 8:  Smith signs Blomqvist  Everton have secured the services of Swedish winger Jesper Blomqvist on a free transfer from Manchester United, with a contract until the end of the season.  His addition to the squad should undoubtedly add some much-needed flair – if he can remain fit – although Idan Tal and Kevin McLeod might not be too chuffed!

    Nov 8
    - Internet mis-information  SoccerAge mischievously claims that Thomas Gravesen has admitted he may leave the club if he doesn’t get an improved contract, when their direct quotes indicate no such thing.  Incompetent journalism!  

    Nov 7 - Young Finn on trial  One strange name on the teamsheet for last night's reserve games was that of Jukka Sauso, a 19-year-old Finn who is on trial with Everton.

    Nov 6 - Reserves overcome Bolton  Paul Gascoigne starred in Everton Reserves' 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers this evening - the Blues securing the result that the seniors should have held on to at the weekend!  Tal and Pilkington were on target. 

    Nov 6:  New Academy/Training Site?  If the Daily Post is to be believed, Everton are considering selling off Bellefield and Netherton in order to buy a new site in Liverpool for the development of a modern training facility that will presumably include a permanent home for the long delayed Everton Youth Academy. 

    Nov 5 - New Arsenal TV date  Are we allowed to relay the copyrighted information that the home fixture against Arsenal has been moved to Sunday February 10 at 4 pm, for live coverage on Sky tv?  Probably not...

    Nov 5:  Who wants to be Number One?  Colm Cavanagh asks the question of Everton's erratic band of goalkeepers, which is soon to be depleted by one when Tommy Myhre reportedly completes his move to Beshiktas later this week...  

    Nov 5 - Gravesen up for grabs?  Fireworks indeed if that cheeky old bugger Bobby Robson got anything more than a fire-fly in his ear after trying to buy Thomas Gravesen.  We'd say "No" , but this is how it starts...

    Nov 3 - U-19s draw at Bolton  The youngsters have not been doing too well this season, although Wayne Rooney keeps up his impressive scoring form in this 1-1 draw. 

    Nov 3Sport First, Britain's first newspaper dedicated to sport (oh yea? So what of the Sporting Life?) list three Everton players – Alessandro Pistone, Thomas Gravesen, and Paul Gascoigne – in Saturday's Team of the Day.

    Nov 3:  Bolton Wanderers 2 - 2 Everton  No Ferguson or Watson; Gerrard demoted to the bench as Simonsen gets his Premiership debut.  But D'Usro is the ref, and he gifts Bolton a goal after 10 mins from a non-free-kick.  Just before the break, Stubbs levels it with a brilliant shot from a free kick.  GAME ON!  And then, the greatest moment in recent Everton history as some beautiful football ended with Gazza burying a great shot!  But heavy pressure from Bolton – down to 10 men! – finally pays off in the 94th minute when they equalise.  Another 2 points needlessly surrendered...


    Nov 2FA Youth Cup 3rd Round  Everton's youngsters have been drawn to play West Ham United away in the 3rd Round of the FA Youth Cup.  Games are to be played on or before 8 December 2001. 

    Nov 1 - Beshiktas in for Myhre?  More rumours about Tommy Myhre being wanted by Turkish side Beshiktas, but it seems doubtful they would pay the £0.5M Everton claim he is worth.



 October 2001

    Oct 31 - Campbell injury doubt  Duncan Ferguson may be set for a recall to the starting line-up as Kevin Campbell is still suffering from the injury that caused his substitution against Newcastle.  

    Oct 30 - Simo in for Debut?  The Daily Post is talking up Steve Simonsen – who they still think was Britain's most expensive goalkeeper, despite only about £500k changing hands at the time – for his baptism in the Premiership after Paul Gerrard incurred the implacable wrath of Walter Smith.

    Oct 29 - Reserves lose at Leeds  Everton Reserves lost out to Leeds United and a headed goal from their new signing Seth Johnson in the FA Premiere Reserves League (Northern Section).  Report from Steve Milne

    Oct 29Nostalgia Time  The Independent's resident Evertonian, Brian Viner, turns 40 and casts his mind back to 1971...

    Oct 28 - Gazza for Coach? Over at The Telegraph, Patrick Barclay looks at the likelihood that Gazza could transition into coaching when his playing days finally end.

    Oct 28: SuperKev on Walter the Saviour  The Official Website has wheeled out team captain Kevin Campbell to talk up the fine reputation of Walter Smith, insisting that he is amazed the cannie Scot stayed with Everton and prevented the drop down to the Nationwide at the end of last season, what with all those injuries, etc, etc. 

    Oct 27 - Idan's Israel fail to qualify  Idan Tal's Israel team fail to reach the World Cup qualifying play-offs after being held 1-1 by Austria.

    Oct 27Xavier in hospital  After sickening accidental head-butt from his own goalie that lead to Newcastle's first goal, Xavier was knocked unconscious and taken to hospital for observation.  He now misses a mandatory three weeks of matches.

    Oct 27:  Everton 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd  After going into the break a goal down – Paul Gerrard gifting a goal to Newcastle when he took out Abel Xavier leaving Craig Bellamy to slot into the empty net – more pathetic defending in the second half consigned the Blues to another defeat.  Nolberto Solano fired in a second on 47 minutes.  David Weir powered home 2 mins later to set up the fight-back but missed chances - Tomasz Radzinski the chief culprit - meant that Smith's men - the better side overall - failed to make amends and Acuna rubbed salt into the wounds with a late third.   BBC Audio Report from Stuart Hall 
    Match reports from Rob Burns and Matt Fearon

    Oct 27ToffeeWeb Forum  BraveNet have shut down while they move to a new location, so we have had to relocate the ToffeeWeb Forum again.  Please bear with us and bookmark this link

    Oct 26:  Still Talking Blue  The long-awaited sequel is here!  Author Becky Tallentire is taking orders for signed copies of her second collection of hard-hitting personal interviews with 15 of Everton's heroes that spans the last 50 years of success and failure on the pitch for the Royal Blues.  The book costs £14.99 (plus p&p: UK - £2; Europe - £3; USA - £5; Australia £6).  Order yours now!  Enjoy some special excerpts from Becky's new masterpiece!

    Oct 26:  Clubs need Stability  The BBC's ex-Echo journalist, Phil McNulty draws out Walter Smith on the recent rash of managerial sackings at various football clubs, with the Everton manager emphasizing the need for stability rather than knee-jerk reactions to poor performances on the field of play.  

    Oct 26 - Is Paulo di Canio about to sign for Everton?  It would be nice, but you never can trust these unsubstantiated rumours...

    Oct 25 - Funeral for Jim King  A great turnout of Evertonians past and present attended the funeral of Jimmy King, a leading figure in Everton's Official Supporters Club for over 20 years, who died suddenly at the age of 70.  

    Oct 25 - Radz for Canada  The Daily Post is talking up Radzinski's case for a return to the International Soccer scene with powerhouse team Canada... who have already failed to qualify for the World Cup.

    Oct 24:  The leaving of Goodison  Helen Carter writes for The Guardian about the potential socioeconomic impact that Everton leaving Goodison Park could have on the predominantly working-class community of Walton.

    Oct 24 - Barry Horne speaks for PFA  Over at the BBC Website, PFA Chairman Barry Horne answers questions from the fans about the threatened players strike in response to the Premier League's unilateral reduction in the percentage of TV income that goes to the players group in lieu of TV appearance fees.

    Oct 23: - Colm is for turning  Many months ago, Colm Kavanagh was one of the earliest to suggest in his 40th ToffeeWeb column that Walter Smith was not up to the task of managing Everton.  He hasn't quite admitted the need to eat his words just yet, but the signs of rapprochement are being kindled in his latest comment piece where he considers "The Devil You know..."

    Oct 23Reserves beat Blackburn  A strong Everton Reserves beat Blackburn 3 - 0 with rotating members of of the first-team squad getting a game – except Pembridge, who is already ruled out of the Newcastle match.  Full line-up and report from Steve Milne

    Oct 22 - Goalmakers  A new feature at ToffeeWeb will help you keep track of the players who are making the final touches that lead to goals for Everton.  Mark Pembridge and Gary Naysmith are the leading providers with three each so far.  Kevin Campbell can also claim three penalty-winning moves. 

    Oct 22 - Gravesen Impresses  The Daily Mail, aka ESPN Soccernet, are recycling some old Gravesen/Tyson tales in the light of Mad Dog's inspiring performance on Saturday.

    Oct 21 - Prosinecki linked again  Sunday is the day for wild rumours... today its a reappearance of the links to Robert Prosinecki, who has been very impressive for Portsmouth.

    Oct 20Get yer chequebook out!  If there is any money to spend on players, ToffeeWeb's visitors say emphatically that Everton should at least invest in a classy midfielder.  Belated September Poll Result

    Oct 20: Everton 3 - 2 Aston Villa  After a nervous start, a strong Everton team took the game to Villa, with Watson scoring a great close-range header after 30 mins.  In the second half, Radzinski and then Gravesen scored in the space of a few minutes, and Goodison Park went nuts!  But a quick reply from Hadji, and a strong finish from Villa – with a last-minute goal from Peter Schmeichel! – had Evertonians in fear and trepidation until the final whistle... New Report from Julian Cashen

    Oct 20Mad Dog says Madsen  Some websites are reporting that Tommy Gravesen is pushing for Everton to sign his Danish teammate, Brondby's highly-rated striker Peter Madsen... Doh!  Now everybody knows!  

    Oct 19 - Quiz Nite at Goodison  Shape up and line up in teams of four for the next fun-filled Everton Quiz Nite on Friday 19th October at 7.30pm in the Legends Lounge, Park End at Goodison Park.  £1 a head on the door.  Prizes & signed memorabilia.  Over 100 turned up last time so don't miss out!

    Oct 19 - Fan club leader dies  Jimmy King, a leading figure in Everton's Official Supporters Club for over 20 years, has died suddenly at the age of 70.  He worked tirelessly to promote the interests of Everton fans and was one of the Fans Focus representatives.

    Oct 18 - Elleray the Idiot  The FA will not penalize Mauriccio Tarrico for the horrendous tackle that put Thomas Gravesen out of action for 6 weeks because David Elleray now says he saw nothing wrong with it!!!  And it takes TWO MONTHS to figure this out???  This, the precious disciplinary system that fines Everton thousands for picking up too many stupid yellow cards – from their referees!!!

    Oct 17 - Swedish link  TeamTalk suggest that Everton have been in contact with Helsinborg about defender Christoffer Andersson, citing the need to replace Michael Ball.  No matter that Everton have an abundance of defenders, not to mention Naysmith and Pistone in the wing-back spot...

    Oct 17:  Viewpoint: More Villans than heroes  Everton have a lousy record against Villa in the Premiership, their last win coming 6 years ago.  Walter Smith has managed just two goalless draws in the way of points in his time as Goodison boss, but can his class of 2001-02 lay to rest the club's Villa bogey on Saturday?

    Oct 17Reserves lose at Boro  A mainly young Everton Reserves team with limited experience traveled to Middlesbrough where they suffered their first defeat of the season.  We have half a match report from Steve Milne.

    Oct 16 - Gemmill's slow recovery  Scott Gemmill is still suffering from an injured back and is unlikely to play for the Reserves on Wednesday, although Gazza is expected to get another run out.

    Oct 15Joe-Max says his piece  Joe-Max Moore has expressed his annoyance at the speculation that some newspapers and websites carried at the weekend, suggesting he was unsettled at Goodison.  On the Club website, he confirms his commitment to Everton.  

    Oct 14 - Davey Jones: stay or move?  Wolves fans deduce the probable from the possible as they ponder whether they will soon be seeing their manager David Jones heading for Goodison Park.  Also, read this article about Dave Jones in The Observer.

    Oct 13:  Ipswich Town 0 - 0 Everton  Walter Smith opted for a bizarre 5-2-3 formation with Dunc, Radz and SuperKev up front!  But the plan backfired as Campbell missed numerous golden chances.  Neither side could break the deadlock.  Read a new report from Paul Collyer.

    Oct 12 - Moore has itchy feet?  Some sources, including The Echo, see fit to claim that Joe-Max Moore would likely welcome a move away from Goodison after the loss of his early goal-scoring form has led Smith to largely ignore him in team selections.  Moore, however, says it is nonsense, and he will play out his contract.

    Oct 11 - Player of the Month - September  The winner of this month's ToffeeWeb POTM poll - voted by you - would also be prime candidate for "most improved Everton player" on last season. He's also excelling at international level. Click for more.

    Oct 11 - Kings Dock reality check  At the From the Terrace website, Phil Pellow casts a worrying eye over the latest rumblings about the Kings Dock project, which may yet turn out to be the pathway that ultimately leads to... Ground Sharing!!!!

    Oct 11Tony Grant moves on  Another ex-Blue who was destined to be a great star has moved on from Manchester City to Burnley, now that he no longer has the protection Joe Royle – one of the few who believed he could one day make the grade.

    Oct 10Ball gets Rangers debut Two months into his new career at Rangers, Michael Ball finally gets a full debut in last night's 3-0 CIS Cup win over Airdrie.  Ball's new start has been dogged by a knee injury.

    Oct 9 - Here comes Sun Jihai  If Teamtalk is to be believed, Everton are interested in signing Chinese International from his club, Dalian Shide.  Rochdale's Kevin Townson is also being looked at...

    Oct 9:  Jevons' last-minute Kop-killer  We don't usually give a monkey's about Liverpool, but this story of an ex-Blue's cup-killing exploits makes very nice reading: Grimsby stun Liverpool "An extra-time strike from Phil Jevons knocks holders Liverpool out of the Worthington Cup."  

    Oct 9Nearly all fit  Walter Smith is almost close to having a fully fit squad, with Ferguson and Gemmill recovering, but Gazza is still doubtful for the weekend trip to Portman Road.  

    Oct 8 - Smith  denies Scots link  Walter Smith has firmly denied weekend suggestions that he may be tempted to take on the job of Scottish team manager now that Craig Brown has finally gone. He also denied rumours of a return to Ibrox.

    Oct 8 - Everton's Youth Cup winning captain Mick O'Brien has been released on a free transfer by Torquay and has joined Chester City. 

    Oct 7:  Go Joe-Max!  Joe-Max Moore, who hasn't scored a goal for Everton in nearly two seasons, became a US hero today as he scored both goals (one a penalty) that gave the USA the win they needed to put them into the World Cup Finals yet again, despite a rather poor performance.

    Oct 6 - Tommy the Tank  Tommy Gravesen inspired Denmark to steam all over Iceland, scoring two goals in a 6-0 win that sends the Danes to Korea/Japan for the World Cup Finals.  Also, Mark Pembridge was impressive in a rare Welsh win over Belarus.

    Oct 6:  Weir scores for Scotland  On a day of emotional lows and highs for England, who scrapped through to the World Cup Finals with a last-minute Beckham free-kick, David Weir stepped up to head the winner for Scotland in a 2-1 win over Latvia.  His first goal for his country in his 30th full international.

    Oct 6 - Youth Teams Beaten  The mighty forces of Crewe Alexandra's youth teams have humbled Everton's youngsters at home, the Under-17s losing 0-1 and the Under-19s crashing to a 2-4 defeat.

    Oct 5Echo Money Tales  The Liverpool Echo finally catches up with the news about the failed media deal, and figures out that the cash from the Jeffers and Ball deals is coming in on the drip.  In a third piece, Mark Thomas puts this together in the context of Kings Dock.  And then he dreams about 2005.  Why this sudden plethora of financial stories???

    Oct 5Cadamarteri interest  Both his hometown club of Bradford City and Stoke City have reportedly shown an interest in Danny Cadamarteri whose Everton days are over following his recent brush with the law.

    Oct 4: - Behind closed doors  An Everton XI drew 1-1 with Preston in a private training game at Bellefield today.  Team: Gerrard (45' Simonsen), Hibbert, Xavier, Stubbs, Unsworth, Pistone, Cleland, McLeod, Radzinski, Campbell, Clarke.  Campbell equalised Preston's earlier strike.  Radzinski hit the post.  Watson, Gazza and Dunc were in attendance but did not play any part.

    Oct 4 - Naysmith carrying injury  TeamTalk report that Gary Naysmith may not be fit enough to play for Scotland at the weekend, after picking up a knock in the 5-0 blitz of West Ham

    Oct 3 - Mixed bag of stats  Everton are among the highest scorers in the Premiership at the moment (shades of 1999-00), but old habits persist; namely a poor record in the first 45 minutes of matches and against the top half of the table. Check out some early season stats. 

    Oct 3 - Gazza to miss just one game  Gazza is expected to be fit for the visit of Aston Villa in a couple of weeks after sustaining minor knee ligament damage early on against West Ham. 

    Oct 2:  Rhino has the hump  The Daily Post were claiming that David Unsworth is not a happy camper despite scoring a nice goal for Everton Reserves on Monday night.  Squad rotation is one thing, but being made the scapegoat for Everton's earlier run of defeats might be a bit unfair.  Rhino now vows to fight for his place.

    Oct 2 - Player of the Month : Vote for who you think was Everton's best player during the mixed month of September.


    Oct 1Reserves draw again  Everton Reserves traveled to a rampant Newcastle (current Reserve League leaders) and were held to a fourth successive 1-1 draw, with David Unsworth (dropped from Saturday's big win) scoring the goal. Read this report by Steve Milne.  

    Oct 1:  Viewpoint: Rounding another corner  The 5-0 humiliation of West Ham was a fantastic way for Walter Smith and Everton to answer their critics, but they will have to deviate from history if they are to prove that the manager has what it takes to turn the corner permanently and keep the Blues in the top half.  Previously under Walter, big wins have been followed by depressing form.



 September 2001

    Sep 30 - Poor old Gazza  Paul Gascoigne will be out for a few weeks following yet another self-inflicted injury when he damaged knee ligaments trying to tackle Kanouté.

    Sep 29:  Tomasz Radzinski capped a wonderful day for Everton against West Ham Utd by rounding the 'keeper to notch the Blues' 5th goal with 15 mins to go.  Despite losing Gazza early on, Everton dominated and went ahead on 45' when Campbell headed home.  Don Hutchison scored a farcical og 5 mins into the 2nd half; Thomas Gravesen danced through to smash home No 3 just minutes after Hutchison's gaffe and Steve Watson fired in the fourth.  New report by Julian Cashen

    Sep 28 - Sing that again, Slav Ex-Everton player Slaven Bilic, multi-lingual qualified lawyer, now wants to add 'pop-star' to his CV...

    Sep 28: An Open Forum? This strange account of a private shareholders' meeting has suddenly appeared on the Official Website, nearly two months after the meeting was held at Goodison Park.  It seems more like a thinly veiled slap in the face to the Echo's David Prentice rather than a realistic report on that old meeting!

    Sep 27 - Radz back in training  Expectations are high that Tomasz Radzinski could finally be given his full Everton debut against West Ham at the weekend, now that he is back in training, and Duncan Ferguson has a recurrence of his old groin strain.

    Sep 26Andy Gray backs Smith  Andy Gray stands firm with his fellow Scot, claiming Walter Smith has done a good job with one hand tied behind his back.   

    Sep 26 - More injury worries  We are trying to keep track of the developing injury crisis but it's hard when players get injured in training on a Friday.  Here is the Echo's projection for our injury problems this Saturday. 

    Sep 26:  Everton fan Alan Doyle feels that Walter Smith cannot be blamed for the recent run of dismal results.  In defence of Walter Smith he continues to manage Everton through "very difficult circumstances" and deserves even more chances to prove that we can cling on to 12th place in the Premiership...

    Sep 25: - Many Evertonians have been describing their own reactions to the latest Everton defeat over on Kenny Fogarty's ToffeeWeb Forum.  Seems like our columnist Ian Mills feels your pain, judging by his latest ToffeeWeb contribution.

    Sep 24 - Reserves draw again  Everton's reserves game against Manchester City ended in a 1-1 draw with Joe-Max Moore getting the goal and Danny Cadamarteri making an appearance.  This was their third such result in the new campaign.  Report from Steve Milne

    Sep 24 - Materazzi drops a few:  1) While playing for Everton he was sent off '"for being Italian."  2) The players told him to go back to Italy.  3) He would only return to the Premiership for a London club.

    Sep 24 - Everton fan and Championship Manager designer Paul Collyer has set up an Everton web forum reserved for suggestions on making improvements at Everton FC.  What sort of things do you want to see changed for the better?  Provide your input to the Everton Supporters Forum.

    Sep 23Gazza: the full Interview  Gazza has publicly admitted that he has a drink problem.  This exclusive interview in The Observer brings out the very human aspects of his poignant life-story, in which Walter Smith has played a significant part.  We have finally tracked down the full version at the Guardian website.  

    Sep 23:   Stability as a means to an end may be all well and good.  But if "stability" is a euphemism for continuing decline denoted by asset-stripping, incompetent management, dire football, poor results, lower attendances... well you get the drift.  So does Colm Kavanagh who wonders if the Camel's back about to break?.

    Sep 22:
      Everton traveled to Ewood Park without Tomasz Radzinski, who was not fit, and lost 1-0 to Blackburn Rovers.  Hibbert and Gazza started; Everton missed a penalty that Ferguson executed poorly, letting Friedel save.  Then Blackburn grabbed an easy goal through Grabbi.  Everton tried very hard but they just could not score.  Read this report by Rob Burns.

    Sep 22 - A little later than planned, the results of ToffeeWeb's Player of the Month for August poll are in and, unsurprisingly, The Big Yin got the nod. Check out the results.

    Sep 19 - David Unsworth has been rewarded with a new three-year contract extension.

    Sep 19Cada was leaving anyway  Danny Cadamarteri claims he was leaving at the end of the season anyway, since Everton can't "guarantee him first-team football"... nothing to do with the fact that he is simply not good enough?

    Sep 18Cada to be released  Danny Cadamarteri will be encouraged to leave the club before his contract expires if "suitable arrangements" can be made... 

    Sep 18 - Leeds game rearranged  Everton will now visit Elland Road on Wednesday, December19 (7:45pm), unless Leeds are knocked out of the Worthington Cup by Leicester City on October 8, in which case the game will be staged a week earlier on Wednesday, December 12. 

    Sep 18:  It may feel like cutting off your own arm but in Cold hard reality, ToffeeWeb Webmaster and columnist Lyndon Lloyd believes Walter Smith should take the bold decision of relegating Duncan Ferguson to the bench.  Everton's attempts to challenge at the right end of the table may depend on a more mobile attacking partnership.

    Sep 17: Big Yin or Big Yawn? Everton fan Ben Fardey is not too impressed with our Duncan Ferguson.  But Declan O'Shaughnessey reckons the problem lies in the lack of supply from our inadequate midfield.  Send your considered contributions to the ToffeeWeb Editor.

    Sep 17 - One of Everton's 1960s stars, winger Alex Scott, passed away last week at the age of 64.  This link Alex Scott dies leads to his obituary in The Guardian.

    Sep 16:  We haven't heard much from Colm Kavanagh since the start of the season.  But our Irish columnist has some thoughts about yesterday's derby: Taking it on the Chin.  And they're not as negative as you might have expected from the poor result.

    Sep 15:
    - What can we to say about another dismal, depressing, defeat?  Everton were simply not good enough; outplayed by Liverpool in all areas of the field by the red horde.  Watching this game unfold hurt deeply.  Instead of 10 league places separating Everton and Liverpool, there is now just one.  Latest report is from Jenny Roberts

    Sep 15 - Alan Stubbs is featured in this article in the Telegraph by Henry Winter.  Stubbsy talks of his childhood as an Everton fan, and how it is a dream come true for him to now be playing for The Blues. 

    Sep 15 - Joe-Max Moore's pain  Joe-Max Moore talks to The Guardian about how he reacted to the terrible events of this horrendous week back in America.

    Sep 14Gough puts his boots back on  Richard Gough is reportedly making a footballing comeback after leaving Everton for apparent retirement in May. The 38 year-old defender will make a two guest appearances for injury-hit Australian National Soccer League side Northern Spirit  

    Sep 14:  Gravesen back in the frame Thomas Gravesen is set to return to first team action after making a rapid recovery from the horrible Tarrico tackle that took a gouge out of his leg.  Thomasz Radzinski could make his debut, probably from the bench.  But Nick Barmby has been dropped by Liverpool to avoid unpleasant recriminations from Everton fans.

    Sep 14 - Cadamarteri fined  Danny Cadamarteri was fined £2,000 plus costs of £4,000 after being found guilty of assault.

    Sep 14 -  Former Blue Sandy Brown has apparently been hospitalised after suffering a second stroke yesterday. The ToffeeWeb team extends its best wishes to Sandy and his family.

    Sep 13 - Alex Scott dies  One of Everton's 1960s stars, winger Alex Scott, has passed away at the age of 64.

    Sep 12:  Everton fell prey to the banana-skin once again as they lost 4 - 5 on penalties at Goodison Park to First Division Crystal Palace.  It was 1-1 after both 90 mins and Extra Time.  Duncan Ferguson scored his third penalty of the season after 6 mins; Freedman equalised from the spot 4 mins later.  Captain Campbell blasted the first and ultimately decisive penalty kick over the bar in the shootout.  Report by Paul Waring

    Sep 12Leeds game off  Everton's fixture against Leeds United next week has been postponed as a result of this week's cancellation of all remaining Uefa matches due to security fears, with the Leeds match against Maritimo rescheduled for 20 September. 

    Sep 10Life when you're poor Walter Smith tells The Telegraph he is "blissfully happy" at Everton FC, operating on a shoestring budget.  Perhaps he is actually reflecting on his annual salary – estimated to be around £750k...

    Sep 10 It appears certain that Paul Gascoigne will finally be given some time on the field when Everton take on Crystal Palace at Goodison Park in the 2nd Round of the Worthington League Cup on Wednesday. 

    Sep 9 - Mad Dog fit again  Tommy Gravesen says he'll be fit for the Goodison derby game on Saturday.  Will Walter Smith agree?

    Sep 9 - Thanks, but No thanks  Second division Notts County say an agent offered them Paul Gascoigne on loan, but they decided to say no.

    Sep 8Danish wonderkid [Rumour]  Everton are reported to be interested in 16-year-old Mads Beierholm who has burst on the scene in Denmark, scoring 2 goals in 6 games.  

    Sep 8:  The bubble bursts in predictable fashion as Manchester United's rotation squad demonstrate that the Table really was upside-down, and little of substance has really changed at Everton.  A poor display, with United making over 20 strikes on goal to a pathetic 5 from Everton.  Gascoigne?  Not even on the bench.  

    Sep 7:  Danny Cadamarteri has been found guilty of causing actual bodily harm to Joeline Joel, who sustained a suspected fracture of the jaw in a late-night fracas in Liverpool city centre last October.  Sentencing is deferred until next week but will not involve prison time because the attack was provoked.

    Sep 7
    - Everton fans reps have been getting down one-2-one with senior Everton executives to discuss a wide range of current issues in the latest Fans Focus meeting.  We bring you an easy-to-read version of Ian MacDonald's detailed notes on this informative exchange of views. 

    Sep 7Smith rules out Scots Job  Walter Smith has made it clear he has no interest in taking up the job of Scotland manager, should the post become vacant any time soon.

    Sep 4:   Three of Everton's walking wounded played in tonight's Reserves match at Sheffield Wednesday.  Paul Gascoigne, Abel Xavier and Alec Cleland all played the full 90 minutes, in which young Nick Chadwick was again on the scoresheet, grabbing a late equaliser for Everton.  Read Steve Milne's Report

    Sep 4Taricco to be charged  The video review committee have recommended to the FA that Mauricio Taricco of Spurs be charged for the horrific studs-up tackle that took a piece out of Thomas Gravesen's leg at Goodison last month. 

    Sep 4 - Jeffers England Hat-trick  Francis Jeffers, recently of Everton but now with Arsenal, scored a hat-trick for England U-21s in their 5-0 defeat of Albania.  "His subtle movement off the ball was a class above anything else on show on the night."  Ho hum. 

    Sep 4 - Player of the Month  Who do you think was Everton's best player in the month of August (i.e. the season so far!). Vote Now! Poll closes 5pm BST Friday September 7th.

    Sep 4Everton v Man U on TV  Everton's home fixture against the reigning champions on Boxing Day will now be available on PPV (KO: 3pm), while overseas Blues can catch this weekend's clash at Old Trafford live or on tape delay (depending on location).   

    Sep 4 - Radzinski setback  The Everton injury curse is likely to rule Thomasz Radzinski out of the Old Trafford clash on Saturday: he is still having hamstring problems.

    Sep 3Man U (h) on Pay-Per-View... on Boxing Day, that is.  Everton's home fixture against the reigning champions on Boxing Day will now be available on PPV.  KO: 3pm.

    Sep 3Poyet Red Card Stands  The FA have declined the opportunity to rescind Gus Poyet's red card, awarded for a cynical bodycheck on Steve Watson a fortnight ago.

    Sep 2 - Spotted playing for a 'Sunday park' team in Ireland was former Everton player from the 60s, Mick Meegan.  Meegan is 67, and he finished the game. They don't make them like that any more.

    Sep 2Hutchison on his move  Don Hutchison's strange description of his move from Sunderland to West Ham appears to carry the hallmarks of further disharmony between player and manager... 

    Sep 2 - Petrov declined Smith's offer  The Sunday tabloids also publish a claim that Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov turned down an £8M transfer to Everton last season.  The claim was subsequently denied by Walter Smith.

    Sep 1 - International Blues Plenty of involvement of Everton players in today's World Cup qualifiers: Weir, Naysmith & Gemmill for Scotland; Joe-Max Moore for the US; Alexandersson for Sweden; and Tal for Israel.

    Sep 1 - Player of the Month  Who do you think was Everton's best player in the month of August (i.e. the season so far!). Vote Now! Poll closes 5pm BST Friday September 7th.

    Sep 1:  The results for the August ToffeeWeb Poll are in and it seems the majority of us don't want the naming rights to the new stadium sold to a corporation and that it should simply be called the Kings Dock.  Check out the results, along with some of the other imaginative suggestions for the ground's moniker, and vote in the September poll.


 August 2001

    Aug 31Gravesen's secret to success "I can't play well if the team is not doing well."  Hmmm... that may explain what was happening last season, with the lost dog impressions...

    Aug 31 -  Thomasz Radzinski is back in training after recovering from a hamstring tear that has kept him sidelined so far this season.

    Aug 31:  Everton Press Officer, Alan Meyers leaves the club today, to be replaced by Darren Griffiths, the excellent commentator for Internet audio webcasts of Everton matches.  

    Aug 31 - The inaugural Blues Quiz night will take place on Friday night in the Legends Bar in the Park Stand at Goodison (8 pm start).  Every one is very welcome - and admission is only £1.  There will be a bar, and food is available.

    Aug 30 - Hedman Deal Collapses Coventry were presumably asking too much for Magnus Hedman as Everton fail to agree a fee for the Swedish No 1 goalie.  Maybe it was all a scam to put the willies up Paul Gerrard?

    Aug 30 -  Everton's home fixture against Chelsea has been moved to Sunday 18 November with a 2pm kick-off to facilitate pay-per-view coverage. 

    Aug 29 - Cut-Price Palace Everton are to give the fans a welcome gift by cutting ticket prices for the Worthington Cup 2nd Round tie with Crystal Palace in two weeks.

    Aug 29 - Everton's remarkably successful Youth Academy gets a big spread in today's Daily Post.  Much of the credit goes to 1960s legend, Colin Harvey,

    Aug 28:  Everton Reserves, reigning champions of their Northern section of the FA Premier Reserves/U-21 league, kicked off the new season against Aston Villa with Danny Cadamarteri opening the scoring on 62 mins only for Villa to equalise.  Paul Gascoigne played. 

    Aug 28 - More Elleray madness  David Elleray has admitted he made a mistake in sending off Gary Doherty for committing the foul on Kevin Campbell that gave Everton the match-saving penalty against Spurs.  Ferguson's goal, of course, still stands. 

    Aug 28 - Pembridge injured Mark Pembridge has had to withdraw from the Welsh squad after having to be substituted against Middlesbrough due to a calf injury.

    Aug 27Gemmill speaks softly A rare chance for hard-working Scot Gemmill to bask in the limelight after his screamer that sealed the win for Everton on Saturday.

    Aug 25Everton to face Palace  Everton were drawn at home to Crystal Palace in the 2nd Round of the Worthington League Cup this morning.  The tie will be played in the week commencing 10th September. 

    Aug 25:  A Scott Gemmill wonder volley following a first half header from Kevin Campbell gave Everton a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough and sent the Blues back to the top of the Premiership on goals scored.  

    Aug 24 - Tal awaiting his chance  Everton's Israeli winger Idan Tal says he has benefited from his first full pre-season and is hoping to get the chance to show Blues fans what he can do.  One thing is for sure, as a player who can beat a man with skill, he deserves an extended run in the side.

    Aug 24 - Dunc doubtful for 'Boro  TeamTalk claim that Duncan Ferguson has joined the growing Everton injury list and will miss Saturday's match v Boro.  Walter Smith, however, is hopeful that he and Steve Watson will pass late fitness tests.

    Aug 23 - Tarrico Video Trial  Argentinean Mauricio Tarrico's unforgivable lunge at Thomas Gravesen will be the subject of a video review by the FA disciplinary panel!

    Aug 23 - Naysmith fit again  Gary Naysmith should make a welcome return to the Everton squad this weekend, and has been called up for Scotland, along with Davey Weir and Scott Gemmill. 

    Aug 23Add Watson and Pistone to the lengthening list of walking wounded who may miss Saturday's encounter with bottom team Middlesbrough.

    Aug 23 -  Former Blue Anders Limpar talks to Umbro about Everton's prospects this season suggesting that the 1995 cup win shows that anything is possible. He's not convinced Ball will be missed, though.

    Aug 22 - The atrocious tackle by Tarrico left Thomas Gravesen stunned and numb. He talks to the Echo about how it could easily have broken his leg – a tackle David Elleray saw nothing wrong with! It leaves Walter Smith with a burgeoning injury list.  We count up to eight of the Premiership squad who are now out injured... But the official website says none!

    Aug 21 -  The midfield star of the first half against Spurs, Thomas Gravesen, is facing 4 to 8 weeks off with a badly gashed leg that required 30 stitches thanks to Tarrico's reckless tackle. 

    Aug 20 - Everton 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur: Everton had their long-suffering supporters - not to mention their manager - tearing their hair out as their long-ball tactics failed to kill off Tottenham after the visitors had been reduced to 9 men. Duncan Ferguson's second penalty in two days earned a point following Darren Anderton's controversial opener.

    Aug 20 - Walter Smith knows what he wants from Everton at Goodison Park this season: a return to the form of two seasons ago, when we were scoring for fun!

    Aug 18 -  Everton gave two fingers to the critics predicting their doom this season with a hard-earned opening-day win at Charlton Athletic.  David Weir atoned for an earlier blunder that had allowed Jonatan Johanssen to put Charlton ahead by smashing home the winner 13 minutes from time.  Duncan Ferguson's penalty had equalised for the Blues just past the hour.

    Aug 18 - Everton for Europe  After a nightmare last season, the Everton players are heading for Europe under the leadership of their new captain, Kevin Campbell.

    Aug 17 - Unsworth:  Spot on  A nice piece on David Unsworth in the Liverpool Echo exemplifies Rhino's attributes that goes beyond penalty-spot confidence.

    Aug 17 - Ball move gets green light Michael Ball's transfer to Rangers has finally been sanctioned by the Ibrox board despite the fact that the player doesn't look like being able to play for six to eight weeks because of injury.  The fee is believed to be £6.5M, although this has yet to be confirmed.

    Aug 17 -  A rumour from France suggests that although Marseille want to sign Attilio Tokoli from Dunferr, he's saying he wants to join Everton. Is Walter planning an early season surprise?

    Aug 16Nyarko Loan Move Alex Nyarko has joined Monaco on an extended loan deal with a view to a permanent £3.5M transfer. 

    Aug 15: New fitness régime Hopefully, the appointment of a new Head Physiotherapist at Everton, and expansion of the medical facilities at Bellefield, does not portend a season with more injuries than the last nightmare?  We will of course be better prepared to deal with them...

    Aug 15 - Myhre in the mire Thomas Myhre wallows in self-pity at the way Walter Smith has written him off. 

    Aug 15: Season Preview: The Curtain Rises  Another of our correspondents chips in with his analysis of Everton's chances in the Premiership this season; Julian Cashen puts the pressure firmly on Walter Smith to produce the goods before Christmas – or else! Walter himself believes Everton are in good shape for the new season.

    Aug 15 - Nyarko Loan Move  Midas Soccer claim that Alex Nyarko has joined Monaco on a two month loan with a view to a permanent £3.5m transfer.

    Aug 14:  Season Preview: What's Another Year?  Less than a week to go, and Colm Kavanagh has somehow found the time to consider Everton's future season without maligning the reputation of Manger Walter Smith, or mentioning Paul Gascoigne.  Is he in denial???

    Aug 14 - Everton to go down The Guardian's Dan Rockwood [who he?] is calling time on Everton's precarious life in the Premiership.

    Aug 14 - Ball forced to prove fitness Rangers are requiring that Michael ball trains hard with the Rangers players for a week – despite his niggling knee injury. 

    Aug 13:Espanyol were the opposition for Everton's last pre-season game – and a very special opportunity to remember the incomparable Alex Young in this, his testimonial.  After Unsworth missed a penalty in the 2nd minute, Joe-Max Moore glanced in an excellent Pembridge free kick on 24 mins.  There was no further score.

    Aug 13 - Visions of Gold A nice little poem that captures something special about Alex Young, and bridges the gap in time between then and now – and written by a red!

    Aug 13 - Everton set to struggle The BBC sports pundits weigh in with a predictably unenthusiastic assessment of Everton's prospects for the coming season.

    Aug 12 - Gravesen, Alexandersson, Tal and Myhre all will miss the Alex Young testimonial against Espanyol on Monday night as they are involved in midweek international matches.

    Aug 12:  Radzinski the realist This interview with Thomasz Radzinski in the Sunday Mirror pulls no punches in terms of pre-season optimism, with the Polish-Canadian expressing neither surprise nor regret that the club he has joined aspires to attain the lofty position of 10th in the Premiership.

    Aug 12: - Different Worlds The widening chasm between Everton and Liverpool in terms of investment, aspirations and achievement, is analysed in depth in this two-page spread by Ian Ridley in The Observer.

    Aug 12 - Ball may need Op The Mail is the usual source for bad news about Everton, and they don't let us down with this story that Michael Ball's £6.5M move to Rangers is all but dead in the water: .  

    Aug 12 - "Treated like an adult" Fans of Walter Smith will not want to read much into the comments of a certain Arsenal player who clearly still loves the club he left in pursuit of greater footballing achievements... 

    Aug 11 - Alex Nyarko may still go to Monaco on loan after it was revealed that the French League club has rekindled their interest in the want-away Ghanaian. 

    Aug 11:  Everton took a reserve side down to Herefprd, and ran out 2-1 winners over the non-league side, with goals from Nick Chadwick and Idan Tal.  

    Aug 10 - Walter smith has named Kevin Campbell as the man to lead Everton's onslaught on the Premiership this season.  Davey Weir is given the role of vice-captain.

    Aug 9 - Gary Naysmith is expected to be fit enough to get a run-out against Hereford United at the weekend.

    Aug 9 - Prodan slinging mud With Everton for once playing a cagey game to avoid another Bilic/Williamson saga, Daniel Prodan slags off Walter Smith and the club in this selfish outburst following  the collapse of his move to Goodison: 

    Aug 9:  Everton Shareholders attended a special Shareholders' Forum at Goodison Park this evening, to put questions about the Kings Dock project and other issues to Everton's Board of Directors, including Bill Kenwright and Sir Philip Carter.  ToffeeWeb has a report of what was discussed.

    Aug 9 - Michael Ball's transfer to Rangers has been delayed by injury concerns, with rumours that the player could be unable to play for up to a month.

    Aug 9 - Ince builds tennis court! .. in Heswall!  Midas soccer are doing their dubious best to keep the prospect of Paul Ince's transfer to Everton smouldering away...  

    Aug 8 - Israeli defender Shimon Gershon has thanked Everton for the week's trial in Tuscany but expects to stay with Hapoel Tel Aviv with Walter Smith looking unlikely to follow up his interest in the defender.

    Aug 8 - £50,000 threat Everton get headline billing in The Telegraph for incurring a £50k suspended fine based on another poor disciplinary record of 5 red and 89 yellow cards last season. 

    Aug 7 - Prodan Plug Pulled Everton have called off the transfer of Daniel Prodan after negotiations hit the rocks – not over the cash for agents problems rumoured yesterday, but over clauses related to medical issues that Prodan and his advisors had trouble accepting.

    Aug 7:  The fourth and final stop on Everton's Northwest Mystery Tour is Wigan.  Wigan got an early goal but SuperKev equalized just before the break.  Kev completed his hattrick and Stubbs got one, then Ferguson and Alexandersson to complete the rout.

    Aug 7:  Emotional goodbyes for Ball: After being branded as a greedy mercenary, lifelong Evertonian Michael Ball showed some inconsistent emotions as he said his goodbyes to the club, indicating this was not the outcome he wanted.

    Aug 7 - Myhre rejects Spurs move  Tommy Myhre has turned down an opportunity to double his money as second-string goalie at White Hart Lane, saying he must have first-team football – for the sake of his teetering International reputation.

    Aug 6:  Season Preview: The new season will be crunch time for Walter Smith who - given the current boardroom stability and unlikely repeat of last season's injury crisis - must prove once and for all he has what it takes to manage in the Premiership.

    Aug 6 - Negotiations surrounding Daniel Prodan's proposed move to Goodison are progressing slowly but are apparently stalling over various points of disagreement concerning the Romanian international's personal terms.

    Aug 6: - Brian Viner, in his occasional Everton-centric column in The Independent,  ruminates over the enigma that is Everton, the loss of Michael Ball and tries to pick three teams worse than the Blues for relegation this coming season.

    Aug 6:  SoccerNet quotes Walter Smith's confident expectation:  'We are hoping that Paul will be back with us in a couple of weeks. When the injuries clear up, he will be back playing for Everton again.'

    Aug 6 - Make sure you bookmark the very smart-looking new website for the increasingly popular Everton fanzine Speke from the Harbour, edited by Mark Staniford.

    Aug 5:  The Sunday People claims that Paul Gascoigne is once again close to a parting of the ways with Everton after more injury worries are threatening his ability to play a part in the new season campaign.

    Aug 4 - The annual ferry-ride to the Birkenhead side of the Mersey ended in the usual pre-season defeat to Tranmere and the entirely predictable collateral damage in the form of a hamstring problem for Radzinski.   

    Aug 4 - The £6.5M transfer of Michael Ball to Glasgow Rangers entered its final stages as the young Evertonian reached agreement on personal terms with Walter Smith's old club. 

    Aug 3:  Webmaster Lyndon Lloyd thinks there has been no public outcry over Michael Ball's imminent sale to Rangers, and wonders if that is because the fans aren't sure of the real reasons for his departure? Viewpoint

    Aug 3:  A journalist at SoccerNet departs from the Club line about the Michael Ball saga, giving more credence to the belief that the loss of this rare young talent is the work of Walter Smith.

    Aug 2 - Everton have confirmed that Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle has made an enquiry about transfer-listed goalkeeper Thomas Myhre, although no official bid has been lodged.

    Aug 2 - According to the Echo, Michael Ball relishes the prospect of playing for Rangers, but still wants his £750k "loyalty" bonus sorted.  

    Aug 1: - It seems Walter Smith will of course get his way, selling yet another Everton Player of the Year (his fourth, Everton's sixth in six seasons!), this time to his old club, Rangers.  By far the best young prospect to come through the Youth Academy for a decade, lifelong Evertonian Michael Ball is being forced out of Goodison after the Club terminated negotiations on a new contract.

 July 2001

    Jul 31:  Walter Smith fielded another somewhat negative line-up in Everton's second pre-season friendly against Burnley at Turf Moor, and pulled off goalscorer Alexandersson at half-time for presumably defying the carefully honed 0-0 tactic he is perfecting for this season's Premiership campaign... Only joking!!!

    Jul 31SoccerNet (aka the Daily Mail) claim that Daniel Prodan arrived at Everton last night for his medical and to talk personal terms, in preparation for his imminent transfer, pending a work permit from the Department of Employment.

    Jul 30:  There are signs that significant progress is already being made to improve the transport infrastructure around Kings Dock as part of a new £200M MerseyTram proposal being submitted for government approval.

    Jul 30:  One of the things Gazza brings to Everton is publicity and a much-needed elevation in profile.  So it's nice to see positive stories in the media, who even picked up on David Moyes as he spotted a rare sight: Everton performing wing-play!

    Jul 29:  The Sunday People has a nasty habit of publishing the most scurrilous Everton rumours... which eventually turn out to come true.  So, what price Michael Ball to Liverpool?

    Jul 28: - It's finally time for Everton to play some football, as they travel to Deepdale for their first pre-season friendly, against David Moyes' plucky Preston North End.  Read our preview from Ian Mills.

    Jul 27 - Football agent Dennis Roach is to be investigated by the FA on five charges, including aspects of Duncan Ferguson's transfer from Newcastle.

    Jul 27 - Michael Symes was Burscough's tormentor for the second week running, with five more goals to help an U-18 team trounce the local opposition.  Report now in from Steve Milne 

    Jul 27:  Walter Smith believes that "after a really difficult period in its history, the club is now turning itself around" and “Next season can be the best since I arrived here.”  See why Walter Smith is the man leading Everton to a bright new future in this Press Association article.

    Jul 27 - Monaco have backed out of any loan deal for Alex Nyarko; they probably couldn't afford his wages!

    Jul 27:  Ian Mills was down at Bellefield this week, and heard some disturbing news from David Unsworth who says he may not be staying... Millsy's Mersey

    Jul 27:  The ToffeeWeb Editor has stirred a hornets' nest with his no-holds-barred denunciation of Walter Smith's tenure at Goodison.  We're asking for your views on this emotive issue and have published the pick of the responses from both sides of the debate here.

    Jul 26:  Will the sweeping and seemingly unstoppable changes that are threatening to forever alter football as we know it brush Everton Football Club aside in a globalized rush for television money?  Read this analysis by Colm Kavanagh.

    Jul 25:  Is Walter Smith destroying the very essence of Everton FC with the imminent sale of Michael Ball, and the probable signing of Paul Ince?  The ToffeeWeb Editor is convinced.  

    Jul 25 - In place of the cancelled friendly at Chester City, Everton travel to Shrewsbury Town today for a game played behind closed doors.  No other details have been made available.

    Jul 24: Israeli Shimon Gershon will come over to train with Everton, but there is no talk of a transfer, says Walter Smith.

    Jul 24: - The departure of Sean Doherty from Everton's Youth Academy is confirmed on Fulham's website.  The loss of this very talented England Youth international who has the promise to be a player of the future cannot be disguised as anything other than a stunning blow to Everton's youth program.

    Jul 22 - At a press conference called for Monday morning in Liverpool's Maritime Museum, long-awaited confirmation is expected for the selection by English Partnerships of Houston Securities as the preferred bidder for the Kings Dock.

    Jul 22:  The grandiose and impressive bid for Kings Dock may herald a new era of commercial success at Goodison, but it seems that Everton are still not thinking in terms of a big club or recognising that the paying customer is the key to financial success...Viewpoint: the 'Big Club' Mentality.

    Jul 22:  Usually reliable media sources are indicating that Romanian captain Daniel Prodan will be offered a place at Goodison Park this week, placing further pressure on Michael Ball's position in the left side of the defence.

    Jul 21:  Walter Smith will face the wrath of an FA Disciplinary Hearing next week as Everton's big haul of red and yellow cards last season – compounded by some atrocious refereeing – has again put us top of the Badboys charts.

    Jul 20: - After a singularly unimpressive career with Everton, consisting of four sub appearances and just one start in a League Cup game, Peter Degn has finally left Everton.  He returns to his native Denmark, joining Brondby for a 'nominal fee'. 

    Jul 20 - After a successful trial in Tuscany, Water Smith appears to be keen on making Daniel Prodan his third signing of the summer.  The feeling appears to be mutual.

    Jul 19:  Shirt Numbers for senior Everton players remain relatively unchanged for the coming season.  Only 24 have been announced, with Xavier, Degn and Myhre bringing up the rear, and no place for Alex Nyarko.  Full Squad.

    Jul 19 - A young Everton Reserves team beat Burscough 4-1 tonight with goals from Symes 2, McKay and Chadwick.

    Jul 17 - Everton have told WBA boss Gary Megson that midfielder Kevin McLeod is not for sale.

    Jul 17Tomasz Radzinski is finally an Everton player after being unveiled at a press conference at Goodison Park on Tuesday morning.  Read this ToffeeWeb Viewpoint.

    Jul 17 - Soccernet journalist Colin Wood claims that Alex Nyarko has incurred a £30,000 fine from Everton for failing to appear at Bellefield.

    Jul 16 - Romanian captain Daniel Prodan has joined the Everton squad for pre-season training in Tuscany.

    Jul 16 - EISA Chairman Ian MacDonald sat down with Walter Smith last week and candidly discussed the long list of concerns that frustrated many Evertonians last season.  Read his Interview here.

    Jul 16 - A new away kit was unveiled by Everton today: grey shirts with black shorts.

    Jul 15 - England U-17s lost 2-0 to Brazil, Sean Doherty earning a penalty that his Everton team-mate Scott Brown had saved by goalie Vitor.

    Jul 15 - An Everton team composed of ageing heroes from a distant era of fame and success failed to move beyond the group stage.

    Jul 15:  Twenty-three members of Everton's Premiership squad for next season's campaign left for a week's fitness training at Il Cioccio in Tuscany.  Notable for their absence are Michael Ball, Abel Xavier and Alex Nyarko.

    Jul 13 - It took Jeffers just 9 mins to open his account for Arsenal, scoring the opener in a friendly against the mighty Boreham Wood.

    Jul 13 - Everton and the tough-talking Belgians have finally agreed a fee of around £4.5M for Tomasz Radzinski.  The Canadian striker will travel to Goodison early next week for a medical and to sort out personal terms. 

    Jul 13 - Everton have called off their friendly with Chester City, citing spurious "safety" concerns... however, we know the real reasons.

    Jul 13 - Early Casualties?... or imminent departures???  Michael Ball and Abel Xavier may both miss the Italy trip; calf strain and virus are the respective "ailments".

    Jul 12 - Tony Cottee finally brought his professional footballing career to an end today, after 18 years.  Scoring 99 goals in 6 seasons at Everton, he will be remembered as the striker who didn't quite cut the mustard.

    Jul 12:  While we await the outcome of the painfully protracted Radzinski saga, our up-beat columnist, Colm Kavanagh, runs his laser-honed eye over what remains of our attacking force for the coming season – Kevin Campbell and Duncan Ferguson.

    Jul 12 - Having rejected a trial at Goodison, Daniel Prodan is being invited to join Everton's pre-season training camp in Italy next week.

    Jul 11:  The layout of the Kings Dock project has been revised to address a number of issues and concerns raised about the original concept.  Changes include a moat around the external pitch area, foot-bridges across The Strand, improved provisions for car-parking, and a proposal for a special ferry terminal. 

    Jul 11:  Contract talks between Everton and representatives of Michael Ball have broken down without resolution, leaving the player's future in the balance, with two years left on his existing contract.  Walter Smith seems certain to want to cash in, but Ball's value is now down to a pathetic £6.5M.

    Jul 10:  The odysseys surrounding Michael Ball and Tomasz Radzinski drag on with Everton sitting down with Ball for "showdown talks" after the defender reportedly rejected a £5M contract offer.  Radzinski meanwhile could invoke a clause in his contract that allows him to move to a top European league should the opportunity arise. Everton plainly aren't giving up on their number one transfer target.

    Jul 9 - Grimsby Town have confirmed the transfer of Phil Jevons from Everton, following a successful medical.

    Jul 9 - On the Sky website, Everton fan and snooker star John Parrott says he is happy to see Alan Stubbs in a blue shirt, but appears to be under no illusions about the difficult task Everton will face again this season, as they struggle to keep in touch with the mid-table mediocrity.  

    Jul 8 - Despite reports at the weekend that Michael Ball would accept a new contract at Everton, nothing is certain, and the rumours of a move – this time to Chelsea – have resurfaced.  Bill Kenwright told the ESCLA AGM on Saturday that the only serious enquires came from Blackburn, who could not match his Everton wage-packet, but that his deadline for agreeing terms had now passed.  

    Jul 7 - Thomasz Radzinski is amongst the scorers as Anderlecht destroy FC Knokke 9-0 in a friendly while Belgian fans run riot!

    Jul 7:  Despite numerous rumours about his imminent departure, Everton apparently expect David Unsworth to negotiate a new deal following successful talks with Walter Smith over his role in the squad.  Unsworth still has 12 months to run on his existing contract.

    Jul 6:  In the Tomasz Radzinski transfer saga, an improved offer was supposedly rejected by Anderlecht yesterday.  The player, who had missed training in protest, has apparently called off his ill-advised "strike".

    Jul 6 - David Weir has had a minor operation to remove a blockage in his nose.

    Jul 5:  Alan Stubbs was finally unveiled as an Everton player today after a protracted transfer deal that followed literally years of rumours, speculation and links suggesting the lad from Kirkby would eventually join his boyhood Club.  Stubbs arrives as a free transfer from Celtic but has secured a 4-year deal that will hopefully see him become the backbone of a more resilient Everton defence.

    Jul 5 - Everton have sold lifelong Liverpool fan Phil Jevons to Grimsby for the princely sum of £150,000, potentially rising to £250,000 on appearances.

    Jul 4:  Walter's back from holiday and hinting at further transfer activity while Everton have called a noon press conference for Thursday to officially unveil the signing of Alan Stubbs.  

    Jul 4:  Everton are holding out for a successful resolution to negotiations for Tomasz Radzinski after making an improved offer – assuming Anderlecht haven't shopped them in to FIFA for an illegal approach to their player!

    Jul 4 - Having knocked back a bid by FC Copenhagen to extend Thomas Myhre's loan spell, Everton have rejected their offer to take the Norwegian off their hands completely as well short of their evaluation of the player.

    Jul 3 - Everton U-19 defender Michael Price, who was released in May, has joined Hull City.

    Jul 3 - Abused by Archie Knox, Stephen Hughes has left Everton to join Watford on a free transfer.

    Jul 3 - The Kings Dock dream looks to have taken another important step closer to becoming a reality last night when a Board Meeting of English Partnerships was believed to have concurred with Liverpool Vision's recommendation of Houston Securities as the preferred bidder to develop the 14.6 ha site with, among other things, a new 55,000-seater stadium for Everton Football Club.  Official confirmation is not expected until the end of the month.

    Jul 2:  Boyhood Evertonian Alan Stubbs is expected to be unveiled as Everton's first signing of the summer on Wednesday.  The player has turned down Celtic's offer of a three-year extension to his contract, in favour of a "dream move" back to Merseyside for the scouser.

    Jul 2 - Another key decision for the Kings Dock bid is expected tonight as the Board of English Partnerships will hopefully ratify Liverpool Vision's recommendation for 'preferred bidder' status.

    Jul 1:  Joe-Max Moore started for the Yanks against Mexico in the huge Estadio Azteca, with over 100,000 rabid Mexicans sizzling in the torrid heat and sappingly thin atmosphere.  The USA struggled to keep up with a Mexico team desperate for points, who dominated the first half with only moderately effective territorial possession.  It was 1-0 after 16 mins when a Joe-Max Moore foul led to a simply executed free-kick floated in to an unmarked Mexican who placed it well wide of Kasey Keller and into the net.  Joe-Max Moore's contribution centered around fouls, although, to be fair, the ref was blowing for most of the US contact. Moore failed to appear for the second half....

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