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News Headlines & Features
Misery at Maine Road for Moyes
31 Aug - The size of the task of rebuilding at Goodison that faces
David Moyes hit home today as Everton failed miserably to claw back any
points from newly-promoted Manchester City despite playing against 10 men
for over an hour. Nicolas Ankela scored twice in three first-half minutes
as City dominated, but when Sean Wright Phillips fouled Gary Naysmith in the
area, was sent off and David Unsworth scored from the spot, the Blues looked
to be in with a chance. However, despite having all the second-half
possession, Moyes's men were poor in the final third and allowed Anelka to
notch his hat-trick late on. Guy McEvoy was there and sent in
this report.
Kings Dock hits the skids
30 Aug - The deafening silence about the Kings Dock project over
recent months has been shattered by "news" that funding for the project may
have hit some problems. We were confidently told that Everton's £30M
investment portion was "ring-fenced" but it appears that this may not be the
case, with Liverpool Council failing to give Everton planning assuarances
over the future use of Goodison Park.
Other reports are focussing on the role of Paul Gregg, who Liverpool
Vision have asked to guarantee the sum. The talk is of Gregg using the
uncertainty over funding to precipitate a power struggle within the Everton
Board... Ho hum.
10-man Everton save it at the death
28 Aug - A last-gasp goal by David Unsworth earned Everton a draw and
preserved their unbeaten start to the season after Alan Stubbs had received
an automatic red card in the 48th minute and Stern John had scored for
Birmingham from the resulting penalty. After both sides had hit the
woodwork in the first half, Everton started brightly in the second but
Thomas Gravesen's suicidal backpass sent John away and Stubbs hauled him
down in the area. With the seconds of stoppage time ticking away, though,
David Unsworth's shot ricocheted off the post and Kenny Cunningham and in to
make it 1-1.
Reports from
Steve Bickerton and
Rob Burns
Redemption for Wright
24 Aug - Kevin Campbell may have become the first Everton player to
score a winning goal at the Stadium of Light but all the talk will be of
Richard Wright whose second-half save from a Kevin Phillips penalty earned
the Blues' first win of the new season. After the hosts had made all the
early running, Tomasz Radzinski finished a fine Everton move by setting up
Kevin Campbell to slide in and make it 1-0 after 27'. In the 2nd half,
Wright embarrassingly fumbled the ball into the net but, mercifully, the
referee disallowed it. Then he pushed substitute Niall Quinn over in the
box, the official awarded a penalty but the Everton Number 1 pulled off a
wonder save to preserve the Blues' advantage. Report from
Guy McEvoy
Linderoth rejects quit claims
23 Aug - Swedish international midfielder Tobias Linderoth has
dimissed suggestions attributed to him by a Swedish newspaper that he will
quit Everton if he does not start getting regular first-team action. The 23
year-old admits that he was interviewed by the publication in question, but
insists that his comments were taken out of context. He held clear-the-air
talks with with David Moyes this morning and his manager is downplaying the
situation.
A different take on the Johnson era
22 Aug - The persona of Peter Johnson is loathed and despised by many
Evertonians… but did the suffering eveyone went through in that painful
period actually play a critical role in ensuring that Everton emerged on a
much more realistic financial basis? Are we not in a far better position
than many other clubs now the screws are being turned? That's what Everton
fan David Flynn believes.
In defence of a hero
20 Aug - In response to a recent piece by Colm Kavanagh, Ted Neeson
comes to the defence of Duncan Ferguson, a hero of the 1990s who epitomised
what it meant to be an Evertonian during those mostly dismal years… While we
should never belittle the achievements of our past heroes, Ted's eloquent
words fail to address the more difficult question of what Dunc the Captain
is doing for us now.
In support of Kevin Campbell
19 Aug - Over at the Sport Network website, Chris Kirwan provides
regular commentary on Everton matters. In this piece, he comes to the
defence of beleaguered striker Kevin Campbell, whose style of play is not to
the linking of all Evertonians.
Radzinski salvages opening-day draw
17 Aug - A wonderful goal by Tomasz Radzinski rescued a point for
Everton after the opening-day celebrations for the club's 100th Top Flight
Season were in danger of ruined by nemesis Les Ferdinand. The man who always
scores against Everton put the visitors 2-1 up almost as soon as he had come
on as a substitute but Radzinski equalised with 9 minutes to go. Wayne
Rooney started in a three-man attack alongside Campbell and Radzinski and
repaid the manager's faith by laying the ball off for Mark Pembridge who
smacked home the first goal of the season after half an hour. Spurs grew in
confidence in the 2nd half, though, and Matthew Etherington levelled on the
hour mark.
Duncan: Our Hero?
15 Aug - While the club seeks to wind us up into a frenzy over
celebrations of our 100-years (sic — it's 100 seasons!)
in top-flight football, Colm Kavanagh brings us down to earth with this
critique of Duncan, Our Hero. Is David Moyes's decision to make him captain
a final test to inspire him to recover that faded greatness he showed us oh
so briefly?
The Real New Dawn?
14 Aug - David Moyes's first full season in charge, the emergence of
a possible Everton legend in Wayne Rooney, pace at the back with Joe Yobo
and a touch of Brazilian flair with Rodrigo… 2002/2003 promises to be an
exciting season as Everton look to finally break the shackles that have kept
them rooted in the wrong half of the Premiership for 6 years. We take a look
at the Blues' prospects for the new campaign in our annual Season Preview.
This could be Jeffers's season
13 Aug - So says Arséne Wenger about his glass-ankled striker, who is
now in line to play for Arsenal Reserves in 10 days time as he struggles to
achieve full fitness for the Gunners and repay some of that £10M transfer
tally that may one day find it's way into the Goodison coffers. But you
can't help wondering about the Arséne's comments after his mixed messages
about Richard Wright...
Bill's bounty brews bad blood
11 Aug - Bill Kenwright is fuming at the implication that his recent
£200k donation to the Labour Party could be construed to in any way be an
attempt to buy power and curry influence with the key decision-makers who
will need to sign off on the use of Government money to partially finance
the proposed Kings Waterfront project and its new Everton Stadium. An MEP
on the EU funding committee says the money must be returned to Kenwright.
Everton 0 - 1 Athletic Bilbao
10 Aug - The Goodison curtain-raiser celebrates David Usworth's
stalwart service to his beloved Everton over the years, and kicks off the
100-season celebrations in fine style, despite the pouring rain. A
disappointing encounter saw Everton create chances but fail to convert, with
Alexandersson possibly the most guilty. Then Bilbao scored on the stroke of
half-time. The usual slew of subs disrupted the flow in the second half
with the game petering to an uninspiring end... and now we are ready to take
on the Premiership! Read the
Match Report form Steve Bickerton.
Long road to recovery
9 Aug - An opinion about the demise of Joe Royle that is sadly not
shared by many Evertonians is expressed by David Unsworth in the Daily
Post: "The club really paid the biggest price. It lost Willie and Joe
and the majority of that team, who they were fantastic towards. They were
top drawer and it has taken a long time to get a partnership back that can
compete at the level they were at at the time." And that contains a strong
indirect condemnation of the dire Walter Smith era...
We do this for every game
7 Aug - So said a Brussels policeman when our reporter from the
friendly with Anderlecht, Steve Bickerton, asked him about the water cannons
and CS gas being used on Everton's notoriously peaceful supporters after
last night's game. From the accounts we have received so far there was less
bedlam in Belgium than police heavy-handedness that appears to be routine
for Anderlecht home games. Apart from more dispicable racial abuse and
jibes about the Nazi occupation from some, the Blues supporters sound as
though they behaved themselves. Read Steve's
thorough account of the day.
Blues crash in Belgium
6 Aug - After struggling over ticket allocations, Everton played
Anderlecht tonight in their penultimate pre-season friendly, with David
Moyes selecting a team line-up closer to the one he wants for starting the
season. The three R's — Rodrigo, Radzinski, and Rooney — got some time up
front but none of them could find the net. Everton went behind in the first
half to a de Bilde penalty after Naysmith was accused of handball. Then
Zane scored the second near the end to secure the win for the Belgians.
Report from Steve Milne
Canter at the Racecourse
3 Aug - In the seventh pre-season match for the first-team squad,
Radzinski and Rodrigo were on target for Everton as David Moyes indulged in
a little squad rotation against Wrexham at The Racecourse. Li Tie and Lie
WeiFeng appeared for the second half and made some nice touches. Rooney
appeared for the last quarter, but yet again failed to score. Reports from
Guy McEvoy and
Steve Milne.
New Squad Numbers
1 Aug - Well… some of them are new. Most players from last season
keep the same numebrs with the exception of Paul Gerrard, who slides from 1
to 35! Nice to see a significant number of the fringe/reserves players
getting in the squad from the start, especially Leon Osman; another sea
change from the dark days of the Walter Smith era. Still a couple of spots
left open in the middle order — possibly being saved for two of the three
trialists, Loumboutis, Said and Daley?
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Snippets & Rumours
Everton say No to Moreno
31 Aug - It was always unlikely that Everton would take on Moreno
Torichelli, and his week-long trial ended as the transfer window closed; he
has now returned home to Italy.
Kan-Kan goes to Southampton
31 Aug - Andrei Kanchelskis, who had his best-ever season in British
football with Everton, has moved on to join Southampton after being released
by Glasgow Rangers.
Blomqvist to Charlton
30 Aug - As the new transfer window rapidly closes, Charlton have
completed the signing of Jesper Blomqvist, who was released from Everton at
the end of last season.
Unsworth claiming dramatic equaliser
29 Aug - David Unsworth is staking his claim to the injury-time
equaliser against Birmingham until the FA says otherwise. The ball took
deflections off Jeff Kenna, the post and Kenny Cunningham on its way into
the net but Rhino says it's his.
Duo extend Blackpool stay
28 Aug - Blackpool will have Everton reserve duo Peter Clark and
Kevin Southern at their service for another 3 months after Steve McMahon
extended the term of their loan.
Toriccelli coming on Trial?
26 Aug - In a surprising move, Everton are planning to take
32-year-old Moreno Torricelli, the highly accomplished Fiorentina defender,
on trial until the end of the week — when the transfer window slams shut.
Wright a doubt for Brum game
26 Aug - Richard Wright sustained a badly bruised arm in the early
challenge from Gavin McCann on Sautrday, and is now a major doubt for
Everton's midweek game against Birmingham City — making Wrighty's amazing
penalty save even more heroic!
Everton Ladies crash again
25 Aug - The Everton Ladies team fell to their second defeat of the
season against the professional ladies of Fulham, who ran out 3-0 winners
today and now top the Ladies league.
China's answer to Beckham
24 Aug - In an interview with The Guardian, Li Tie describes
his cult status in his home country and the passion the Chinese have for
football and, now, for Everton. He estimates about a billion people will be
watching today's game in Sunderland!
UEFA site gets Rooney fever
23 Aug - Everton are again featured on the Uefa.com website; this
time they are turning the spotlight on Wayne Rooney...
Blues must wait for Yobo debut
22 Aug - Following a frustratingly slow recovery from heavy bruising
to his fibula sustained in pre-season, Everton have announced that Joe Yobo
is unlikely to be fit in time for Saturday's trip to Sunderland.
Ferguson fitness update
21 Aug - Duncan Ferguson has returned to light training under the
influence of pain-killing injections on his troublesome back problem, which
David Moyes believes is nothing more than an injury that needs to be cured…
and that will take until at least the middle of next month!
Reserves see off Owls
20 Aug - Kevin McLeod — who was so impressive in Everton's pre-season
build-up — scored the only goal as the Reserves (including Unsworth, Yobo
and Rodrigo) beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 in the FA Premier Reserve League
(Northern Section).
Amoruso link
19 Aug - Both Channel 4's Football Italia website and Planet Football
have suggested that David Moyes may be looking to bring Perugia striker
Nicola Amoruso in on loan for a year.
Past historic, future perfect
17 Aug - A nice article recalling Everton's past exploits, the
celebrations for our landmark 100th Top Flight Season, and the groundwork
being laid for the future is featured on the UEFA website this week.
Moyes expects high standards from Wright
17 Aug - David Moyes had no scruples telling Richard Wright that he
should have done better on both of Tottenham's goals that denied the Blues
an opening-day win.
The Reason
16 Aug - From The People's Forum, Preno's excellent post
succinctly sums up The Reason we Go to The Game!
Moyes the Master
16 Aug - Can you ever tire of reading the words uttered by David
Moyes? Everton truly have found a gem of a manager who is determined to
more than do the Club proud. In this interview in the Daily Post, he sets
out his stall as a manager intent on winning — and making sure the players
are fully on board.
Flavour of the Moment
16 Aug - The Echo reports that Everton have over-taken Manchester
United and Liverpool as the favourite team in China as a result of the
sponsorship deal with Kejian and the arrival of the two Lis.
Striking the balance
15 Aug - David Moyes seems to understand the need for Everton fans to
strike the right balance between rampant enthusiasm and cautious optimism as
the new season gets ready for the off. He knows what needs to be done, and
he knows it can't be done overnight; he hopes the fans understand this and
don't expect too much too soon...
Cause for optimism
15 Aug - More good press in the broadsheets with this article by
William Johnson in The Telegraph, as Everton's 100-season achievement
receives wider acknowledgment as we move nearer to Saturday's big kick-off.
Yobo & Li Tie in the frame
14 Aug - Both Joseph Yobo and Li Tie played in a behind-closed-doors
practice game against Burnley yesterday, and may therefore appear in the
starting line-up against Spurs on Saturday — according to Andy Hunter of the
Daily Post.
Clarke on target for Blackpool
13 Aug - Peter Clarke scored two of Blackpool's goals in their 5-2
hammering of Luton on Tuesday night. The Everton youngster played in his
second game for the club alongside Keith Southern, who is also on a month's
loan.
Duncan out for a month
13 Aug - Everton's team captain could be at least a month away from
competing as he struggles through pain-killing injections to get 100% fit
and conquer his back problems. Since Big Dunc has never been
100% fit, does this mean he has played his last game for Everton?
Weir backs the Li's
13 Aug - David Weir has come out in support of giving Li Tie and Li
Weifeng plenty of encouragement and a decent chance to show Everton fans
what they can do on the field.
Moving in the right direction
13 Aug - One of our readers came across this article in the
August/September issue of Football & Stadium Management, featuring an
interview with Goodison Groundsman, Bob Lennon.
Page 2
Appearance Stats
12 Aug - Our summary table listing players' appearance and goal stats
for the pre-season friendlies will be available until the end of the week,
for those who are interested. Who was the only player to feature in all
nine senior matches?
Season Preview
11 Aug - In The Observer, Ian Whittell presents a very
balanced and moderately up-beat preview of Everton's 100th season of
top-flight football.
Injury list grows…
9 Aug - It's the usual story with injuries as Everton prepare to
celebrate the dedication and commitment of David Unsworth with his
testimonial against Athletic Bilbao tomorrow. Stubbs now joins Yobo,
Chadwick, Ferguson and Campbell on the treatment table.
Ball out for a year
7 Aug - Michael Ball is unlikely to play a competitive match for
Rangers throughout the whole of 2002 after undergoing a second operation on
his troublesome knee at the hands of a specialist in the US. The
implications of this for Everton are a continuing shortfall in payment of
the full £6.5M transfer fee, which the club is now unlikely to see.
Cut-price Barmby makes Leeds move
7 Aug - Reviled badge-kissing turncoat Nick Barmby's adventure with
the club "he always wanted to play for" is over as he is on the verge of
making a £2.75m switch from the Dark Side to Leeds United. He still hasn't
played against Everton at Goodison since his controversial departure for
Liverpool two years ago.
Police precipitate fan trouble
7 Aug - Disappointingly, clashes involving Everton fans in the
streets before and after the Anderlecht game marred the visit to Anderlecht
that nearly didn't happen because of the local police's refusal to allow
traveling support. A club statement on the incidents is expected soon.
Gazza: the real reasons
6 Aug - Why didn't DC United go for Gazza? Coach Ray Hudson explains
that, with just eight games left in the MSL this season and the infamous US
Immigration and Naturalization Service to deal with, it just wasn't worth
it. (From 2 Aug)
Labour's biggest benifactor
6 Aug - Bill Kenwright heads the list of political contributions over
the last three months, with a massive £200,000 gift to the strained coffers
of the Labour party, which is £4M to £5M in the red.
Youngsters go out on loan
6 Aug - Two of the younger graduates of Everton's youth programme
have gone out on a month's loan to Blackpool. This should give them some
decent competitive match practise in the Second Division, while David Moyes
beds in his new foreign stars.
Everton will bring Premiership to China
6 Aug - Our Hong Kong correspondent, HK Dave, reports on a Chinese
news article that predicts the presence of the two Lis at Goodison Park will
help drive interest in English football in the world's most populous
country.
New move in shirt sponsorship
5 Aug - Some dubious and rather mixed up commentary on Everton's deal
with Chinese mobile phone manufacturer, Kejian, from the business section of
CNN.
Blues off to Belgium
5 Aug - The Everton squad for tomorrow's game at Anderlecht includes
Scot Gemmill but the Li's (who do not have visas for Belgium) are left
behind, as is Paul Gerrard and most of the junior squad members. The
pre-season injury list is now headed by Ferguson and Yobo, with Chadwick and
Pistone close behind...
Singing the Blues
4 Aug - Today, 100 Everton fans got to help some of the players and
the senior management at Goodison record a special CD with two songs
celebrating the achievement of 100 season in top-flight football. Special
words have been set to two old standards, O come all ye faithful, and
Home on the Range... The CD, which sounds better than it sounds(!),
goes on sale next week.
More injury woes
2 Aug - Nick Chadwick's groin strain is causing concern, along with
Ferguson's latest mystery ailment, a back problem, and Scott Gemmill's
stomach strain. No mention of Joe-Max Moore who is rumoured to still be
with the club… But the Chinese contingent of Li's has arrived and is
expected to be on show at Wrexham tomorrow.
Waggy sacked by Tranmere
2 Aug - In a bizarre move from Lorraine Rodgers, the Tranmere boss,
Dave Watson was sacked as manager after the team lost a pre-season friendly
7-0 at home to Birmingham City.
Moyes widens the pitch
1 Aug - David Moyes has taken steps to redress a move by Walter Smith
that came to epitomize his negative tactics when he narrowed the hallowed
Goodison Pitch for 78 to 70 yards — the minimum allowed. In an interesting
compromise, David Moyes is having the pitch widened... but only to 74 yards.
Yobo signs improve
1 Aug - A second scan on Joseph Yobo's sore ankle has failed to
reveal any hairline fracture of the bone… so it must be time for those
miraculous painkilling injections to get him fit for the new season!
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![[Season Diary]](/images/news/season_diary.gif){kind=small}