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Season 2004-05


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May 2005


 

News Headlines & Features

Forssell deal imminent
30 May - Everton have confirmed that they are close to agreeing a deal with Chelsea to bring Finnish striker Mikael Forssell to Goodison Park. The 24 year-old was in the middle of a second season-long loan with Birmingham City when he suffered a long-term knee injury, but while Steve Bruce was keen to sign the Finn permanently this summer, Everton's guarantee of Champions League football at a bigger club looks to have secured his services. Assuming a fee is agreed with the new champions, Forssell won't travel to Merseyside to complete negotiations and undergo a medical until 9th June at the earliest because he is on international duty with Finland.

Dark Side - The Empire Strikes Back?
30 May - The Everton Way is never a straight forward path! Despite securing fourth in the Premiership, finishing ahead of our Merseyside rivals Liverpool, we remain waiting for confirmation that what is ours remains ours. The UEFA suits will meet in Manchester on June 17th to discuss matters arising from Liverpool's fortuitous Champions' League victory. Many of you will rightly query what is there to discuss.  The others may want to sign this petition... just in case...

Let's Be Positive
29 May - Evertonians continue to struggle with the nightmare scenario that played out last week after Liverpool produced the spawniest of victories to achieve the unthinkable. The clamour to have them in next season's competition is becoming deafening but at least the threat to Everton's participation now appears to have gone. Nonetheless, the historical overtones continue to sicken Lee Marman, who cannot forget what the red hordes did to Everton's moment of potential glory 20 years ago. Lee's positive hope? That we go on to win something next year...

Everton complete Davies deal
25 May - Everton have finally completed the formalities concerning Simon Davies' transfer from Tottenham and the 25 year-old has signed on the dotted line in a 3.5m deal, potentially rising to 4m depending on appearances. He is David Moyes's first major signing of the summer, with the promise of more to come. Negotiations with Scott Parker are said to be on-going, while a 4m bid for winger Mikael Forssell is also heavily mooted.

Family Enclosure Evictions
24 May - The issue of fans many of them season ticket holders of very long standing losing their seats and being relocated to make way for corporate facilities continues to sting, as this frustrated letter by Mike Owen to Keith Wyness attests. While the club may feel it can't do anything right while it answers to criticism that it hasn't been maximizing reveue from corporate hospitality, it feels very much like the ordinary fan is being made the victim of the Board's singular failure to attract any significant new investment into the club... other than that earned by the heroes on the pitch and the dugout, of course.

More disinformation about Vaughan's interest
23 May - Someone is being economical with the truth as more stories are bandied about in the local press regarding the interest Stephen Vaughan has in taking over control of Everton Football Club.  Vaughan, who has overseen turbulent times at Chester City, says he has now spoken to Paul Gregg about buying his shares... Gregg says they talked about Vaughan's ability to buy out Woods and Kenwright.  Vaughan apparently has 20M available, which could see him gain a controlling interest... if the parties are willing to sell.  Meanwhile David Moyes apparently believes things in the Boardroom have stabilized, and he expects the Fortress Sports Fund money to come through during the close-season.

Moyes under no illusions about Beattie
22 May - David Moyes seems to be talking a lot just at the moment, and what he says to The People about his biggest signing (and his biggest risk), James Beattie, seems to be bang on the nail.  Quite how Beattie is to impress and and win over the fans in the next three months remains a mystery, as he has run out of games, but Moyes is definitely looking for the lad to improve and show the critical Goodoson fans just what he is capable of.  Meanwhile, the girls in Spain are finding out first hand.

Everton cruelly denied more money!
21 May - Everton's financial interest in the outcome of the FA Cup Final was ultimately frustrated by the first-ever penalty shoot-out to decide the victor of this great old tournament at the Millenium Stadium.  Just one save from Jens Lehman made the difference despite total dominance throughout an excellent (but goalless) game by Man Utd and Official FA Man of the Match, Wayne Rooney.  So a vital injection of 150k to the Everton coffers, courtesy of the unique conditional payment scheme that was agreed as part of United's deal for Rooney, is forgone... but that look on Sir Alec's face at the end was worth every penny!

Everton to land 4m Davies
20 May - Simon Davies is on the verge of completing his long-awaited move to Everton after Tottenham Hotspur accepted an offer for the midfielder that could rise to 4m based on appearances. The Welshman was hotly rumoured to be hours away from making the switch to Goodison on transfer deadline day in January but the stories came to nothing. Further rumours emerged a month ago that the move was a done deal and that looks to be the case as the 25 year-old travels to Merseyside to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms.

The People's Club - you're havin' a laff
19 May - Success breeds success... Or should that be, success breeds contempt and resentment? Mike Keating is one of the unfortunate season-ticket holders at Everton whose years of unfailing loyalty have been rewarded by a nice kick to the back of the stand, courtesy of an Everton corporate machine in search of ever more income from the rickety Old Lady that is Goodsion Park. Surely they could have handled this better!

Moyes Manager of the Year!
17 May - David Moyes scooped up the top honour from his fellow league managers for his sterling work in turning the Blues around this season from relegation certainties to Champions' League qualifiers.  The award came at the LMA dinner, and Moyes was clearly over the moon with the accolade a tremendous reward given by his keenest competitors.  Well done, Davie!

There but for the grace of God...
17 May - Have you been smirking at the potential financial meltdown that is being mooted for Manchester United as their unwelcome suitor secures 75% ownership?  Could never happen to Everton, right?  Well... perhaps you should look at things just a little more carefully; consider what the Fortress Sports Fund could mean in terms of ownership, and ask how Paul Gregg may actually have acted to protect the long-term interests of the Club against our own group of would-be foreign owners.

Out of our Heads
16 May - It is the end of a momentous season for Everton and especially for David Moyes, who has seen so much of what he believes about football and management vindicated by his valiant band of boys.  Rob Fox takes time to review these achievements and consider the new challenges that now lie ahead for this inspirational leader as he once again enters the transfer fray in an attempt to build on the foundations of a great Everton team.

Blues vanquished by 10-man Bolton
15 May - Everton's ignominous end to an otherwise magnificent season was completed today when they went down 3-2 to Bolton who were a goal and a man down by half time after Tim Cahill had given the Blues a 1-0 lead and Bruno N'Gotty had been dismissed for violent conduct on the Australian. But Jaidi headed home a Diouf free kick on 51 mins and it got worse when Kevin Davies fired past Wright to make it 2-1. Almost immediately, however, Lee Carsley levelled matters again when he cracked home from 18 yards, but when Richard Wright dropped a corner, Stelios Giannakopoulos was on hand to nod home and leave the Toffees with a negative goal difference for the season. Elsewhere, WBA pulled off their miracle and stayed up, sending Southampton, Palace and Norwich down.

Everton-in-Europe T-Shirts
14 May - Everton are back in Europe for the first time in a decade, and this time we'll be playing in the Continent's most prestigious competition. Thanks to David Moyes and his players, we Blues can hold our head high and wear the colours with pride, so to celebrate, ToffeeWeb is proud to unveil a limited-run series of three T-shirts to commemorate this superb achievement. We're taking orders now click for details.

Show Me the Money!
13 May - With the end of the season approaching, Colm Kavanagh takes a moment to congratulate David Moyes and his players on a magnificent achievement this season and examine the changes that need to be made this summer to enable us to have a fighting chance of competing with Europe's elite. Of course, everything depends on the provision of money from the Board... but will there be enough?

Band of Brothers
12 May - This piece by ToffeeWeb reader, Chris Jones, may have been written before yesterday evening's Highbury debacle, but the sentiments still ring loud and true. What Everton have achieved this season in qualifying for the Champions League against all the odds and the predictions of all the pundits is quite remarkable. How a club managed to sell its best player twice and still end up riding the coat-tails of England's elite should become the stuff of Premiership legend.

Humiliation at Highbury
11 May - Professional pride was nowhere in sight as Everton received a footballing masterclass from irresistable Arsenal. Three times the Gunners carved the Everton defence open with consummate ease to go 3-0 up by half time thanks to goals by Van Persie, Pires and Vieira. They doubled their advantage with three more fortunate goals scored by Pires, Bergkamp and an Edu penalty after half time, before Henry skinned Hibbert down the flank, Reyes cut the ball back and Flamini completed the rout. After Mikel Arteta found himself clean through in the 3rd minute but shot tamely with just the 'keeper to beat, the Blues showed barely a glimmer of evidence of how they have qualified for the Champions League. It may have been a meaningless fixture but our worst defeat in living memory was an unnecessary blight on the week's celebrations. Match report

Weir not amused
10 May - David Weir reveals that he is unimpressed by the much-reduced salary that forms the base of a new one-year contract offered by Everton.  The 35 year-old Scot, who knows that a better two-year deal is on the table at Leeds United, says he deserves better for the commitment he has shown to the cause.  His case is likely to be similar to the Blues' other out-of-contract stars; it is common knowledge that Leon Osman is not being offered the 15,000-a-week he desires but Duncan Ferguson is more likely to accept a big pay cut in order to play one more season at Goodison Park.

Champions League Qualification
9 May - Time to start looking forward to August and developing some understanding of the exceedingly complex system of qualifying rounds that precede the group stages of the European Champions League. Phil Roberts has done a great job figuring it out and explaining what the various scenarios could look like. The bottom line is that Everton will enter the Third Qualifying Round in August where they could be seeded thanks to England's standing in Europe. Failure to progress to the group stage would see us transfer to the Uefa Cup instead.

Everton are back!
8 May - Everton secured fourth place in the Premiership and the right to compete in next season's Champions League qualifying rounds thanks to a perfect result from Highbury, where Arsenal continued their impressive winning streak with a very welcome victory over the nasty Red horde from Anfield! Oh Joy of Joy! Now the perfect outcome, should Liverpool somehow manage to go on and win the Champions League Cup, would be for them to be denied entry to next season's competition oh, wouldn't that be sweet revenge for the injustice of Heysel!!!

Everton 2 - 0 Newcastle United
7 May - Tim Cahill passed a late fitness test and was his usual feisty self as Everton fought tooth and nail to make an impression on a very deterrmined Newcastle side. The fiercely contested first half saw incredibly only one booking and many nervous moments for the Blues who finally struck gold when Arteta's excellent free-kick was nodded home by David Weir. Tim Cahill made it two in great style just after Ameobi had been sent off for lashing out at our wonderful little Aussie! And Everton finished comfortably in the end to make their biggest possible claim for fourth place.   Reports by Lyndon Lloyd and Paul Traill

The Age of Reason
5 May - After weeks of dithering uncertainty, the FA have finally stepped forward to confirm that the top four teams in the Premiership will be invited to compete for next season's Champions' League. What greater incentive do Everton need to pull out all the stops on Saturday and do our utmost to make that fourth place secure in the knowledge that whatever Liverpool do in the Champions' League Final no no longer matters: they still need to push us out of fourth place in the league.

NO GOAL!
4 May - So you're watching that game the other night, and you see this goal-line clearance after just four minutes in.... No goal, surely?  It didn't even look like it had crossed the line.  But a goal was duly awarded to the jammy reds by the referee and they went on to a win that could be crucial to Everton in their struggle for Champions' League qualification.

Lacking Resolution
3 May - Today was supposed to be the day that we finally saw the dreaded doomsday scenario of the Champions' League qualification controversy laid to rest! All we needed was a Chelsea victory, or a score-draw, and Liverpool would be out.  But Liverpool went a goal in front after just 4 minutes while Chelsea just couldn't convert. Oh dear...!! Over to you, AC Milan!

Giant Steps Are What Well Take
3 May - Stealing mercilessly from The Police, Colm Kavanagh says it's never too early to preview this weekend's upcoming game one being heavily overloaded with massive significance for Everton's ultimate European aspirations next season.  Perhaps our future path will also be given a massive boost with the right result from Anfield tonight when Chelsea meet Liverpool to resolve this season's Champion's League semi-final.

Women's FA Cup Final
2 May - Everton Ladies contested the Women's FA Cup Final today against favourites Charlton at Upton Park.  Just before the hour mark, Everton Ladies fell behind to a goal from Einola Aluko, and this proved to be the only goal of the game, thus giving victory to the finalists from the previous two years.  [Fans in the USA can see the match in full at 5pm EDT/2pm PDT on Fox Soccer Channel.] 

 
 

Snippets & Rumours

Generosity or frivolity?
31 May - In the middle of this article about Liverpool allowing Sunderland to make a final payment on Stephen Wright only when they had returned to the top flight is Mick McCarthy's assertion that Bill Kenwright wrote off 250,000 the Wearsiders owed Everton for John Oster.

First pre-season date confirmed
31 May - Everton will play a pre-season friendly at Motherwell on 16th July, kick off at 3pm. It's the first of three expected dates north of Border before the team jets out to the Far East.

Uefa site salutes David Moyes
31 May - The Uefa.com website carries this potted history of Everton's season in salute to the achievements of David Moyes, Manager of the Year.

New deal for KIlbane
31 May - Kevin Kilbane is expected to complete contract negotiations this week that will result in an extended new deal for him at Everton.

Everton pre-season in Austria
29 May - According to the local Austrian press, Everton will be in Austria between 5 July and 10 July for pre-season training, with a match on 10 July in South Styria with opponents to be announced.

Our day will come
28 May - We've done our best to ignore all the nauseating fawning over Liverpool and the events in Istanbul this past week, but this piece by TW reader "Big Baz" encapsulates (in spirit, if not in tone) what many of us really felt as the devil's children did their best to take the shine off our own achievements this season.

Everton finish as runners-up
27 May - It was so near yet so far for the ToffeeWeb Super League representing Everton in the Telegraph Fantasy Football league of unofficial Premiership websites this season. Our league finished second, pipped to the title by Palace Echo whose average top score was just 15 points higher.

Wyness talks finances
26 May - In an interview with Bluekipper's controversial scribe, Mickey Blue Eyes, Keith Wyness provides some answers on the Fortress Sports Fund (still no formal offer), the transfer budget (20m - 30m for fees and wages) and the potential revenue from our forthcoming European adventure. Just don't take "there is no debt" at face value...

Why David Moyes is a legend
26 May - Alex Buckley is still reveling in Everton's achievements this season and gives full credit to manager David Moyes. Paul Bassett and Laurence Corneille are similarly euphoric about the season just passed.

Player of the Season
26 May - In your opinion, who was Everton's best player this season? Vote now!

Site Update
25 May - Well, after a tumultuous couple of days, normal service at ToffeeWeb has resumed. To cut a long story very short, we've upgraded to new hosts who can, we hope, cope with our traffic levels. Once again, we apologise for the disruption and thank you for your patience.

Mourinho won't block Parker move
25 May - Jose Mourhinho says that he has spoken with Scott Parker and says that if the midfielder feels it is best for him to leave Chelsea, he won't stand in his way. Talks are apparently on-going with Everton regarding a 6m switch to Goodison Park.

Gregg has no intention of selling yet
25 May - Paul Gregg insists that he has no intention of selling his Everton shares and is committed to the future success of Everton FC. Reports in the Echo last week suggested he had held talks with Stephen Vaughan about the possibility of selling his holding to the Chester City chairman.

Davies medical underway
24 May - Everton have confirmed via the Official Site that Simon Davies has arrived on Merseyside for his his medical, so the announcement of the completion of his signing shouldn't be too far away now... assuming he's passed fit.

Everton confirm Parker talks
24 May - Goodison CEO Keith Wyness has confirmed that Everton are in preliminary negotiations with Chelsea midfielder Scott Parker. There is competition from a clutch of Premiership clubs, although none can offer Champions League football next season.

Moyes could have left last summer
22 May - David Moyes was invited to join another (unnamed) Premiership club last summer, but decided to stay with Everton.  He also talks more about Rooney and what might have been..

Big Dunc cut down to size
22 May - The new contract Everton have offered Duncan Ferguson is not being received well. The Big Yin feels somewhat aggreived that his valiant efforts for the Blues this season would see his basic salary cut to a measly 6k/wk.

Chang hope to extend Blues ties
21 May - Chang Beer are hopeful of signing on as Everton shirt sponsors for another year.  They will have to pay for the increased exposure, though the Blues' foray into the Champions' League means the deal will rise from 900k to 2M.

Goodison pitch gets a new start
21 May - Everton will use the summer to completely overhaul the playing surface at Goodison Park and future-proof it for the next two to three decades (does that mean we're staying put then?).  A 500k construction job will upgrade the undersoil heating, sprinklers and turf for the first time since 1972.

Gregg denies Vaughan buyout
20 May - In what he labels an exclusive in today's Echo, David Prentice suggests that Paul Gregg is speaking to infamous Chester City chairman, Stephen Vaughan, about a possible sale of his shareholding in Everton FC.  Mr Gregg has since issued a brief statement refuting the report.

Arteta close to new deal
20 May - Mikel Arteta has been in negotiations with Everton about making his loan move from Real Sociedad permanent and The Guardian report that he is on the verge of agreeing the 2.8m deal.

Moyes admits to pressure & stress
20 May - The second half of the season was not easy for David Moyes, who put on a brave face at the time as he saw his charges fend off the also-rans for fourth place.

Ruddy it's official
19 May - Following the deal struck back in February, the transfer of goalkeeper John Ruddy from Cambridge United to Everton on a four-year deal has been confirmed.

New deals offered to Hibbo & Cars
19 May - Everton are in negotiations with Tony Hibbert and Lee Carsley over extensions to their current contracts, which expire next year.

Gerrard signs for Walsall
19 May - Youth Academy product Anthony Gerrard was snapped up by loan-club Walsall on a two-year deal following his release by Everton.

Big Dunc: the epitomy of Everton
19 May - The Duncan Ferguson who did so much as a super-sub this season epitomises the Everton spirit, says David Moyes.

Moyes talks about Rooney
19 May - It's not clear what prompted this but David Moyes has spoken out in support of Wayne Rooney, who is, after all, still just a teenager.

20M Shrewd or Stingy?
18 May - Richard Jones pulls out his calculator and puts some fat on the bones of Keith Wyness's money numbers that David Moyes will have as his war chest for player salaries and transfer fees.

In the Money
17 May - Everton have earned a minimum of 12,295,000 on the back of this season's success, with 8,075,000 acquired for fourth place and 4,220,000 raised through appearances on Sky TV.

Reserve players released
17 May - Youth products Daniel Fox and Anthony Gerrard, along with unused imports Eddy Bosnar and Guillaume Plessis, have been released by Everton. New contracts have been offered to all seven players whose deals expire this summer: Osman, Weir, Pistone, Watson, Ferguson, Stubbs and Naysmith.

Medial ligament strain for Carsley
16 May - Lee Carsley was stretchered off in serious pain on 86 mins after twisting his knee at the Reedbock, but it appears cruciate ligament damage has been avoided.

The Moyes Miracle
16 May - Despite fizzling out at the end, Everton's campaign this season wins the plaudits of pundits who had the team relagated last August... although some dissenting views remain!

Tommy, Tommy, Tommy
16 May - Sorry, we missed this one on Saturday, where Thomas Gravesen speaks to The Guardian of his time at Everton.

Where are they now?
15 May - Unfortunately, on mutliple charges for possession and intent to sell drugs. Former Everton midfielder Mark Ward was arrested after a raid on his house in Prescott on Thursday uncovered cocaine and crack cocaine with a street value of 2.5m

Moyes: proudly defiant
14 May - David Moyes is unfazed by Wednesday's result, rightly insisting that "It doesn't overshadow the fact we've had a great season.  One really bad game won't change my views and how we feel."

Uefa Qualification Surprise...
14 May - A bit late, but still quite amusing, and guaranteed to raise a smile!

No worries
14 May - Passing quickly over a recent 7-0 reverse, Nick Armitage takes heart from a positive review of the season that is now winding down.

Haway the lads
14 May - Those daft mid-table Toonies have been sold by their own propaganda, and believe Bramble is better than Yobo!

Arteta keen to stay
13 May - Mikel Arteta, who is unlikely to be involved at The Reebok on Sunday because of a recurring ankle injury, has reiterated his desire to stay at Goodison Park. Everton have first option on the 22 year-old at a reported 2.8m.

Moyes's Van der Meyde move?
13 May - The Echo report that David Moyes has flown to Italy to initiate talks with Inter Milan regarding the possible transfer of Dutch winger Andy van der Meyde for 4m and Turkish international Emre. That's in addition to monitoring the status of midfielders Stephan Appiah (Juventus), Scott Parker (Chelsea) and Simon Davies (Spurs).

It Wasn't That Bad, Was it?
13 May - Our regular match reporter, Paul Traill, brings a more balanced response to Wednesday's embarrassing result at Highbury.

A nasty bite from reality
12 May - Columnist Lyndon Lloyd picks through the aftermath of the Blues' worst defeat for half a century and finds a couple of silver linings and admiration for the transformation of Arsenal under Arsene Wenger.

Moyes's Men Massacred
12 May - Yet another contemplative rationalization from one of our Far East readers of Everton's biggest defeat for 56 years...

Goodison trio called up by Smith
12 May - James McFadden, Gary Naysmith and David Weir have all received call-ups from Walter Smith to the Scotland squad for the World Cup qualifying matches with Moldova and Belarus next month.

No disgrace
12 May - Tony Cottee did not think Everton actually played all that badly at Highbury Arsenal were simply awesome.

Humiliation
11 May - Andrew Fairfoull's world has suddenly and abruptly fallen apart as Everton humiliate him buy losing a "must-win" game by a cricket score. Yes, it was bad, but get a grip, Andrew! Reader responses

Moyes embarrassed
11 May - It really goes without saying that David Moyes was left to feel nothing but embarrassment at tonight's Highbury drubbing.

Carsley keen on team spirit
11 May - Lee Carsley speaks of the team spirit at Goodison and how important it will be to ensure that new players coming in this summer have the right personalities.

Player of the Month: April
11 May - The final monthly vote before we open the Player of the Season ballot so cast yours now.

Fiscal Responsibility
11 May - Don't expect David Moyes's deliberative approach when considering new players for Everton to change much this summer that is the gist of his comments in this Daily Post article, where he acknowledges how close the Club came to Administration last summer.

McFadden still seeking his chance
11 May - Jamie McFadden seems to like talking about the possibilities rather than making them happen, but tonight at Highbury maybe he will get another chance.

Wenger praises Moyes miracle
11 May - Arsenal boss Arsne Wenger has some nice things to say about what Everton and David Moyes have achieved this season: Manager of the Year?

Dear Mr Wyness
10 May - George Carroll questions Everton CEO Keith Wyness, who has provided a fatuous rationale that supposedly underlies yet another round of season-ticket price increases for the Everton faithful.

Havin' a laugh
10 May - We've received lot's of contributions like this one from David Booth, celebrating the achievement and pouring scorn on the mockers who said with such arrogant confidence it would never happen.

What a difference the CL makes!
10 May - Andy van der Meyde, the Dutch winger Everton tried, unsuccessfully, to sign last summer is, according to this agent, suddenly interested in talking to the Blues now that they have qualified for the Champions League.

Blues bound for Asia this summer
10 May - Everton have confirmed that the club will take part in the four-team Asia Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, this summer. Manchester City are the other English representative. A return to the USA was rumoured to be the other pre-season option.

Moyes the Master
10 May - Bill Kenwright is gushingly fullsome in praise of the man who has achieved the miracle at Goodison Park: David Moyes.  But contract woes (see left) tell the lie to Blue Bill's rosy outlook for the team.

New Expectations
10 May - David Moyes talks about his remarkable achievement of making Everton great again, and looks to the heightened expectations this now creates.

Reds should defend the trophy
9 May - While there's been nary a peep from Rafael "Beneathus" by way of congratulations for Everton's stunning achievements this season, David Moyes believes that Liverpool should be permitted entry to the Champions League next season if they win the tournament this year. The signs are increasing that UEFA will indeed give them a backdoor pass should they beat AC Milan in the final on May 25th.

Arteta will have choices
9 May - Should they decide to make his loan move permanent, it won't be a formality for Everton to sign Mikel Arteta this summer. Real Sociedad could decide to keep him and Espanyol and Rangers (his former club) are two of four other clubs believed to be interested.

European Seedings Explained
9 May - This website provides you with more stats, coefficients and rankings than you would ever want to shake a stick at. It goes into exacting detail about the mathematical madness that underlies the qualifying round structure and in particular the seedings for the Champions' League.

Who's Laughing Now?
9 May - As we celebrate Everton's entry into the European Champions' League, John Clucas is reminded of the way we were denied this honour 20 years ago.

Mockers fall silent
9 May - A nice match report by Duncan White in today's Telegraph sums up a great weekend for Evertonians everywhere.

Moyes is dead chuffed
8 May - "There is no denying that Everton are the best team in the city this season." oh yes, Davie... rub it in!

The Sun still fixated on Rooney
7 May - Steve Watson talked to the The Sun (why?) about not missing Rooney their total fixation continues...

Bolton settle for Uefa Cup place
7 May - Bolton bowed outof the race for fourth place after a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth, leaving Liverpool the only threat, which hinges on a mathematical risk that they could still bridge the six-point gap that has now opened up beneath us.

Whipping up the frenzy
6 May - David Moyes wants the crowd to be a vital factor in Saturday's crucial game against Newcastle, but that will depend on just how his charges come out of the gate at 3pm and what sort of challenge they lay down for the fans to pick up on at the start of the game.

Talking the talk
6 May - Jamie McFadden's season has been something of a disappointment but that doesn't stop him and Scott McLeod fantasizing wildly in Echo about imminent glories that he is about to be a part of...

Martyn looking for a big effort
6 May - Nigel Martyn knows what's needed of him and the rest of the Eveton team on Saturday against Newcastle.

Robert slams long-ball tactics
6 May - Newcastle forward Lauren Robert spices things up nicely for the upcoming crucial encounter with Everton by slamming the typically British long-ball tactics he expects Everton to invoke if they take the lead on Saturday.

Flip-flopping around
6 May - The Independent has some fun with this page which has now been removed from theFA.com website, but clearly shows our beloved football authorities have done a full about-turn from last year's policy with regard to the fourth-place qualification for the Champions' League.

Gotta pick a pocket or two!
5 May - Everton have just announced new season ticket prices for next season, 2005/06, and are fully expecting to sell over 28,000 allocated season ticket places! Time to delve behind the sofa oncemore for a few shillings!

Table does not lie
5 May - BBC football pundit Alan Hansen comes out with some encouraging support for Everton's claim to fourth place.

Global accolade for Osmo
5 May - At the very bottom of this Knowledge piece in The Guardian is a question posed by Aki Niemi from Finland: "Is Osmo Tapio Everton Rihl the only composer in classical music who has dedicated his work to a football team and their players?"  Osmo is a well-known Evertonian who has been on the Internet for several years.

Youngsters win Senior Cup
4 May - Everton's Youth Academy/Reserves team lifted the Liverpool Senior Cup after winning the final of this year's competition 1-0 at Marine, the decider an own-goal from Michael Ellison off a Laurence Wilson free kick.

Fourth plus One?
4 May - The FA meet tomorrow to decide on backing fourth place for Champions' League qualification, and have submitted a request that Liverpool qualify as well, if they win the competition this season.

Doubting your allegiance?
4 May - This contemplative analysis by fan Sam Fearon will probably only resonate for those who are unfortunate enough to have kopite friends at this difficult time.

Reserves Final
3 May - In the last game of the season, Everton Reserves entertained Bolton Wanderers in Southport, but failed to score as it ended 0-0. Will this be the last time players like Guillame Plessis and Eddy Bosnar appear before another summer sellout?

Cahill doubtful for Saturday
3 May - The back injury that took him out of the game against Fulham could sideline Tim Cahill for the next crucial must-win Everton fixture against Newcastle.

From Stubbsy's Perspective
3 May - It's hard to summarize the diverse content of this wide-ranging interview with Alan Stubbs in today's Independent... so we won't even try!

Weir staying strong
2 May - David Weir rebuffs suggestions that Everton are satisfied with qualifying for the Uefa Cup: "We are not going to start shouting what we are going to do. All that matters is performances, Saturday's was not good enough and we will look at next weekend's game and be judged after that."

And then there were five...
1 May - The Uefa/FA/4th Place Champions' League saga took another turn today when Uefa President Lennart Johansson said five English teams could compete in next season's Champions' League.  To set this in context, he also said "We are there to serve football, not just dictate." so he obviously can't be trusted!

Oh dear... the Art of Punditry
1 May - Some character at SoccerNet who goes by the name of The Insider thinks he has Everton's prospects in the Champions' League already sussed...
 
OK

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