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ToffeeWeb Season Diary

Season 2006-07

Navigate to previous months and seasons using the calendar (right).

 

 September 2006


News Headlines & Features

Draw snatched from the jaws of victory
30 Sep - Everton snatched a draw from the jaws of victory when, following the disruption of two late substitutes, they caved into City's onslaught in the final few minutes and conceded an equaliser with the last kick of the game. David Moyes switched to a 4-4-2 formation with James Beattie returning and after a difficult first half, the Blues went ahead on a superb finish by ? who else? ? Andy Johnson. But they struggled to take full advantage and kill the game off in the second half, and after what many feel was a grave error of judgement by Moyes in throwing on David Weir two and a half minutes into stoppage time, City scored the equalizer they had threatened for the final 10 minutes. Everton were left utterly crestfallen, unable to close out another winnable game. [Report]

Everton vs Manchester City
29 Sep - Everton go in search of second place ? first if Villa spring a surprise at Chelsea ? when Manchester City come to Goodison this weekend. Stuart Pearce's side have lost every away game they have played so far this season and are, you would think, there for the taking. David Moyes is forced into changes in both fullback slots and may call on either Davies or Van der Meyde in midfield. [TV NB: US viewers, broadcast time is confirmed for 2:15pm ET] [Betting]. Also, Steve Flanagan's stats have now been added.

Naysmith sidelined yet again
27 Sep - Defender Gary Naysmith has damaged a medial ligament in his left knee and faces a minimum six weeks on the sidelines. The Scottish international, who picked up his injury last Sunday during the game against Newcastle, expressed his disappointment, saying "It couldn't have happened at a worse time really," he said. "I was getting a good run of games in the team and I was enjoying it."

Moyes dampens great expectations
26 Sep - After an impressive start to the season, one of only two Premiership sides to remain unbeaten after the first six games, manager David Moyes seems content and has targeted European football as his goal for the year.

Ref makes the headlines in thrilling draw
24 Sep - Everton and Newcastle played out a thrilling draw at St James Park with the fact that both sides finished with ten men after Bramble and Hibbert had been sent off for 2nd bookable offences within a minute of each other testament to the commitment exhibited by both sides. Newcastle scored after 13 minutes in highly controversial circumstances: a free kick by Emre from the left found Ameobi clearly a yard offside and he fired past the stranded Howard. Tim Cahill leveled matters, though, when Arteta picked him out at the back post to head home five minutes before half time. Either side could have won it in the closing stages, with the Blues hopefully kicking themselves for not capitalising on some good situations late on.

Arteta Settles at Goodison
23 Sep - In today's Guardian, Dominic Fifield has a nice little chat with Mikel Arteta ahead of tomorrow's big match against Newcastle. Arteta, labelled as a 'nomad' for having failed to settle at four previous clubs, emphasises some of the off-field team-building factors that have helped to make him a very happy member of the Everton camp.

Newcastle United vs Everton
23 Sep - Everton take on unpredictable Newcastle this weekend in Sky's live Super Sunday game from St James Park. Joseph Yobo is the Blues' biggest doubt but could play whether he recovers from a back strain or not, while Moyes will likely restore the rest of the line-up from the Wigan draw following the midweek Carling Cup win over Peterborough. KO is 4pm BST [Betting, incl. 1st Goalscorer special] [TV]

Centre backs on the mend
21 Sep - Joseph Yobo faces a race to be fit for this weekend's trip to St James Park after a back injury he sustained a couple of weeks ago flared up against Wigan. The Nigerian has been taking it easy this week, sticking to jogging in the last couple of days. Alan Stubbs, who injured his knee in a training-ground collision with Mikel Arteta, is expected to resume training next week, while David Weir, who cricked his back before the Peterborough game, should be fit for the Newcastle game.

Late Cahill strike sneaks Everton through
19 Sep - A Tim Cahill goal inside the last five minutes was enough to avoid extra time and book Everton's place in the third round. Amid a host of changes, James Beattie started and put Everton into the lead on 23 minutes with a terrific header but the Posh leveled early in the second half when the linesman correctly adjudged Trevor Benjamin's header to have crossed the line. The Blues struggled to regain the advantage but after Mikel Arteta and Cahill were introduced they eventually did so when Tyler spilled Victor Anichebe's shot and the Australian turned in the rebound.

Beattie the odd man out?
18 Sep - Dave Prentice, writing in the Liverpool Echo, considers the problems that face striker James Beattie. With Moyes clearly preferring a 4-5-1 formation and Andy Johnson scoring for fun, the former Southampton man may find himself the odd man out, watching from the bench. David Moyes admits that "the side we are playing just now is such that we have what I would consider all our good football players in the team. I want us to be an attractive, good-passing football team if we can and that's what I'm trying to do."

Cahill backs the Boss
17 Sep - In a new twist in the 'he said, she said' battle between Moyes and Rooney regarding the Kid's untimely departure from Everton, Tim Cahill has dived in to defend his manager, with plenty of praise in this Sunday Mirror piece for what Moyes has done to instil strong close team bonding. Yet Cahill joined the club as Rooney was leaving, and immediately went off to play for Australia in the Olympics, so you have to wonder just how much of the off-the-field disharmony he experienced (pre the 2004 US team-building tour) that saw Moyes's Rooney un-inspired team finishing an abysmal 17th in the Premiership?

Everton undo their own good work
15 Sep - Everton received something of a reality check at Goodison Park as they were pegged back to a 2-2 draw by Wigan after doing all the hard work. After a slow start and a goalless first half in which they had the better of the chances through Johnson, Carsley and Arteta, the Blues took the lead four minutes after the restart when Johnson rammed home from six yards. But when Yobo failed to clear, Scharner met Kilbane's cross with a powerful header into the top corner. Substitute Beattie restored the advantage from the spot two minutes later but it was all square two minutes after that when another defensive lapse allowed Scharner to turn the ball past Howard. Match Report

Boyle goes out on loan
14 Sep - Partick Boyle, who put in a number of very impressive performances during the pre-season period, has been dispatched on a month's loan to Norwich City. The young defender was brought down to the Academy from Scotland by David Moyes back in 2003, and now needs match practise at a higher level, especially with the Reserves now reduced to a paltry 18 games over the season.

Aussies going to the Wigan game?
12 Sep - Are you an Australian going to the Wigan game this weekend? The Sky Sports Premier League Preview Show is doing a feature on Tim Cahill and his Aussie roots and want to interview a fan about their knowledge of the role that the City of Liverpool played in the immigration of 9 million people to Australia. If you meet the criteria, drop the Webmaster a line via the feedback page.

AJ for England!
11 Sep - England manager Steve McClaren was at Goodison Park on Saturday to witness Andy Johnson's entry into Goodison Folklore after his two goals in his debut derby left Merseyside rivals Liverpool stunned. Chairman Bill Kenwright, sitting alongside the England manager, said that ""there were moments when we were just looking at each other today with what he was doing, especially with the first goal. It was a dead ball and he turned it into a goal." Kenwright, who described the derby as an 'out of body experience' further added "It was Match of the Day, the Sunday papers, then Jimmy Hill's Sunday Supplement, then Match of the Day 2. Today I'll try and calm down." And who can blame him!

Johnson brace has Everton soaring
9 Sep - You had to go back 40 years for the last time Everton scored three times in a league Merseyside derby but today they soared to the top of the Premiership with a fantastic 3-0 victory over Liverpool. Tim Cahill scored for the third successive derby with a goal out of nowhere after 24 minutes before Andy Johnson capitalised on a howler by Jamie Carragher to slot home no. 2. The Reds huffed but without effect and Johnson sealed a wonderful victory with a late third thanks to Reina's blunder. Great match report in The Observer. Also, read Lyndon Lloyd's account.

Moyes's men are 'up for it'
8 Sep - Equalling our best ever start to a Premiership season Everton go into tomorrow's 204th Merseyside derby confident of securing a positive result.? Leon Osman, an integral part of our midfield, claims that the manager has not necessarily made many changes from last year ? "he's just been reminding us that we are footballers first and foremost, and the players throughout the whole side shouldn't be afraid to [pass the ball around]."? He further adds, "We're right up for the derby, and we are looking to keep up that level of passing and performance."

McFadden pulls a hamstring
7 Sep - James McFadden had his path toward the Scottish goalscoring record rudely interrupted by injury just 22 mins into the Euro 2008 qualifier against Lithuania on Wednesday night ? where David Weir earned his 50th cap, captaining the Scots to a 2-1 victory. McFadden sustained a pulled hamstring that will keep him out of this weekend's derby, and a few games beyond that.

50 up for Weir
6 Sep - Defender David Weir is set to reach the 50 cap landmark tonight as captain of the Scottish side to face Lithuania in a Euro 2008 qualifier. He says, "I must admit I never thought I'd get to 50 caps, but if I play I will be delighted. To be captain at any time is a massive honour and I have been lucky enough to captain Everton a few times too." This article from the Herald provides a nice tribute.

Left winger Naysmith for the derby?
5 Sep - David Moyes has singled out defender Gary Naysmith for praise, and highlighted the importance his versatility can offer to the team. "He looks like he has got his fitness levels back now as it is difficult for players when they have a long spell out like he did", says Moyes. Naysmith was excellent at White Hart Lane, marking the sprightly Aaron Lennon out of the game. Moyes added, "The other thing with Gary is his versatility and we may need to play him one further up now that we have sold Kevin. He has played as a left midfielder before and there may be times in the future when he needs to do so again." Will we see Naysmith out wide left this coming Saturday?

Cahill adds spice to the derby build up
4 Sep - Tim Cahill clearly disregards our recent record in the derby fixtures - 1 win from 13 - claiming that our neighbours will be 'wary' of coming to Goodison Park with Everton in such fine form. "We have started the season tremendously well. I think Liverpool will be a bit wary at meeting us this week, and we're looking forward to it." He adds, "It's not just the game at the weekend, it's the bragging rights afterwards. You can't play for this club if it's not in your blood. You change because people tell you so many stories about the history and what it means to be an Evertonian."

Ball named Patron of Everton Trust
1 Sep - 40 years after he first signed for the club, Alan Ball has been appointed as Patron of the Everton Collection Charitable Trust, the charity established to acquire the David France Collection of memorabilia. Lord Grantchester, a Trustee of the Trust along with Keith Wyness and Tony Tighe, expressed his pleasure at Ball agreeing to lend his name to the campaign and outlined a 18-month plan to complete the acquisition of a collection believed to be unrivalled by any other single club in the world.

See you in court!
1 Sep - Manager David Moyes is to sue former player Wayne Rooney, in relation to comments made by Rooney in his recently released autobiography, "Wayne Rooney - My Story So Far". Moyes's lawyer, Mel Goldberg, claims that "he's taken action against the newspaper, the Daily Mail, where the article appeared. The other action will be in relation to the book, so that is being dealt with separately and proceedings will be issued against the publishers plus Wayne Rooney, which haven't been issued at this time." Another day out in court now looms for the ever-popular Mr. Stretford and his client. Perhaps we might see some truth surrounding the Rooney exit emerge at long last...

 

Snippets & Rumours

Man City match report
30 Sep - By Lyndon Lloyd

Joey Barton may be in trouble
30 Sep - Joey Barton may be up before the beak for baring his arse publicly in a display of petulance at the end of the Everton/Man City game today.

Sick as a Parrot
30 Sep - The Editor questions the logic of last-minute substitutions.

Blue Blood versus foreign control
29 Sep - As Arsene Wenger laments the foreign invasion of Premiership boardrooms, Phil McNulty, Evertonian and former Echo writer now working at the Beeb, ponders whether Everton fans would take a billionnaire foreigner over Bill Kenwright's Blue blood.

Ossie is looking for more
29 Sep - Leon Osman talks of the need to come out from the start with a determination to win.

Moyes expects concentration
29 Sep - Acknowledging that Everton "missed opportunities" in the last two league games, David Moyes wants concentration to be maintained as the season enters the winter months...

McFadden receives Scottish call up
29 Sep - James McFadden who has missed the last four Everton games has been named in manager Walter Smith's squad for the forthcoming internationals against France and Ukraine.

The Ugly Step-Sister
29 Sep - Ed Bottomley enters "The Big House" to sample what he calls the ugly step-sister of "the Beautiful Game".

AJ... the new Lineker?
29 Sep - Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce thinks Andy Johnson could be a new Gary Lineker...

Newcastle v Everton
29 Sep - Ed Bottomley finally submits his report

Lescott ? a different class
28 Sep - Nick Armitage is seriously impressed...

Davies ''not been himself''
28 Sep - Wales Manager John Toshack states that "Simon [Davies] has been troubled with injuries over the past 12-18 months with one thing and another and has not really been himself for some considerable time."

Duncan Ferguson: Legend?
28 Sep - 7 out of 10 respondents in our poll say that the Big Man's is deserving of being regarded as a bona fide Goodison legend.

Gerrard to The Blades
27 Sep - Paul Gerrard, one of a long stream of "future England Number One"s to have played for Everton, has joined Sheffield United on a short-term deal.

Carsley disappointed
26 Sep - Lee Carskey is disappointed to have been left out of the Irish squad for the next Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Team spirit and respect
26 Sep - Tim Cahill talks about the team-building qualities that are helping the Everton players produce the goods so far this season.

Lescott knows the competition
25 Sep - Joleon Lescott downplays his excellent start to life in the Premiership and acknowledges the competition for his place in the Everton back four.

Flicker Fusion?
25 Sep - Could there be a scientific explanation for the linesman's lapse at St James Park yesterday?

Toffees & Toon ? a comparison
25 Sep - Neil Humphrey compares teams, players and progress...

Newcastle Utd 1 - 1 Everton - Match Report
24 Sep - Lyndon Lloyd's account of the Blues' impressive draw at St James Park.

Shit happens
24 Sep - David Moyes is surprisingly philosophical about the poor officiating — maybe it was flicker fusion! — that allowed Newcastle to score the opening goal from an offside position, saying "So they got an offside goal, but it happens. I make loads of mistakes and today the assistant made one."

AJ ? The potted career
24 Sep - Even The Scotsman gets in on the act with this profile of Andy Johnson's career.

Moyes talks to The Telegraph
24 Sep - In the third simulataneous positve broadsheet story of the day, David Moyes talks to Patrick Barclay about AJ and other aspects of his gradual team-building progress. The Telegraph also carries this detailed feature on AJ's game and playing style.

Carsley on AJ
24 Sep - Another top-class feature on an Everton player in a broadsheet ? this one in conveys Lee Carsley's thoughts on Andy Johnson.

Everton will play... Luton
23 Sep - Everton have been drawn at home to Luton Town in the 3rd Round of the Carling League Cup, to be played next month.

Everton Legends Night
23 Sep - News of an upcoming night of the stars in Widnes

Player of the Month: August
22 Sep - Rather belatedly, we can announce the TW readers' Player of the Month for August. No surprises for guessing, now!

Naysmith in fine condition
22 Sep - Gary Naysmith is at the peak of fitness after having finally overcome the lasting effects of last sesaon's serious ankle injury.

Shades of Grey
22 Sep - Damian Killikelly bemoans the black-and-white assessments of David Moyes

EFC seek compensation from SFA
22 Sep - Everton are to seek ?100k in compensation for the injury to Jimmy McFadden's hamstring, sustained while playing for Scotland, that will keep him sidelined for another month.

James Vaughan: England prospect
21 Sep - It's strange to imagine James Vaughan being talked about as a future England international given the fact that he has yet to make a senior start, but InTheNews.co.uk believe he has the potential to lead the line for the national team within the next few years. [Mac Safari users: highlight the bottom half of the article with your cursor to make it display.]

Sky to screen Carling Cup draw
21 Sep - The Carling Cup 3rd Round draw will be shown live on Sky Sports at 12p.m. BST on Saturday.

Optimistic? You bet!
20 Sep - Steve Guy provides an upbeat early season assessment

Changes in store
19 Sep - With Yobo, Osman and Carsley doubtful for tonight's Carling Cup game at Peterborough, changes in Everton's undefeated line-up are expected but the only kids named are Victor Anichebe and Mark Hughes.

Z-Cars-ley
19 Sep - Peter Laing recaps the Everton career of unsung midfield hero, Lee Carsley.

Davies keen on return
18 Sep - Welsh international Simon Davies is keen to make an impact upon his return to Peterborough tomorrow night. He says, "I have very fond memories, it is a nice club and I owe them a lot. They gave me my chance in football."

We blew it!
18 Sep - Match Report on the Everton v Wigan game from Paul Traill.

Moyes recognition after derby massacre
17 Sep - The t-shirt sellers upon Goodison Road refer to the recent derby victory as a massacre. Now David Moyes has earned a little recognition from his peers in the LMA, his side's 3-0 victory over Liverpool deemed Performance of the Week. Nice one, Davey!

Defensive lapses cost Everton dear
16 Sep - Everton received something of a reality check to the wild optimism that followed the impressive wins over Tottenham and Liverpool as Wigan twice came from behind through Paul Scharner to earn an undeserved share of the spoils at Goodison Park... Match report by Lyndon Lloyd.

Carsley has a rib injury
16 Sep - Lee Carsley apparently suffered a rib injury last week in the derby, and only played today after a pain-killing injection. These are no doubt factors in the decision to bring him off early... just before Wigan broke through Everton's resolute defenses.

Moyes laments two dropped points
16 Sep - David Moyes laments the circumstances in which Everton lost two points to the Latics in a game he thinks they should have won.

Kilbane talks about Everton & Wigan
15 Sep - This is a good video interview with Kevin Kilbane at the BBC website (look under PREMIERSHIP PREVIEWS), following his transfer two weeks ago. Kilbane is expected to make his debut for Wigan at Goodison on Saturday.

McFadden sidelined for one month
14 Sep - A hamstring injury picked up on international duty for Scotland three days before the recent Merseyside derby - which Everton won 3-0 by the way - will now keep James McFadden sidelined for one month. He now faces a four week schedule as he works his way back to full fitness.

Vaughan called up again
13 Sep - James Vaughan, who injured his knee playing for England a year ago, has been called up again to the England Under-19 squad for a tournament in Austria next month.

Where will we finish in May?
13 Sep - Although meant for the betting freaks amongst us, this Statto.com site contains an interesting final table projection that currently shows Everton finishing 5th.

Now we are 6 points ahead!
13 Sep - Steve Flanagan's Season Comparison table just gets better and better, now showing a 6-point hike over last season's corresponding games.

The Return of Agent Johnson
12 Sep - Investment in Johnson to prove fruitful, says Colm Kavanagh

Ruddy out on a month's loan
12 Sep - Reserve 'keeper, John Ruddy, has joined Stockport County on a month-long loan.

Bakayoko deal was kosher
12 Sep - Apparently Everton's name was one tarnished in a French court case suggesting some rule-breaking regarding the transfer of Ibrahim Bakayoko back in 1999. Mr Ross was quick with his defence.

Carsley in great form
12 Sep - Manager David Moyes is full of praise for Lee Carsley who, at 32, has come back from serious injury to play a key role in recent games ? especially the fantastic derby result!

Good comments from TC
12 Sep - Tony Cottee makes a lot of sense in this llitle piece from the Liverpool Echo.

''On the phone 24 hours a day''
11 Sep - The great derby victory wouldn't be complete without a mind-numbing soundbyte from Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright... and he duly obliges.

A view from the armchair
11 Sep - Kevin Gillen tells us about his weekend...

Match Report from Paul Traill
11 Sep - Read Paul's report on the great derby win

Anichebe receives Nigeria overture
10 Sep - Victor Anichebe has been called up by Nigeria U-20s for the final qualifier for the African Youth Championships. The 18 year-old, who has stated he would prefer to represent his home country instead of England was included in the England U-19 squad recently but didn't play.

The Derby: Player Ratings
10 Sep - Dutch and Luq together... in perfect harmony!!!

Johnson makes up for lost time
9 Sep - This excellent feature on Andy Johnson appeared in The Telegraph on Saturday as part of the build-up to the Goodison derby.

Johnson brace has Everton soaring
9 Sep - Match Report of Everton's stunning win over Liverpool by Lyndon Lloyd

Stubbs & McFadden miss out
8 Sep - James McFadden will miss the derby because of a hamstring strain picked up on international duty with Scotland in midweek, whilst a knee injury sustained by Alan Stubbs in training has ruled him out.

Derby thoughts from Moyesy
7 Sep - David Moyes responds to questions about the weekend's derby game against Liverpool at the League Managers Association website.

Doing well by comparison
7 Sep - Already, Everton are three points up on last season, when results are compared against the same opponents. Steve Flanagan is on the ball...

Setanta Sports via Broadband
6 Sep - The derby (and more) LIVE via Broadband from ITVN (US & Can)

Derby tickets on general sale
5 Sep - Tickets for the 204th Merseyside derby will go on general sale from 9.30am on Wednesday morning. The tickets will be on sale from the Park End Box Office, with each supporter permitted to purchase up to four tickets each.

Card happy Poll gets the Derby!
5 Sep - Oh joy of joys for Evertonians everywhere: our friend, Mr. G. Poll (Tring) will officiate at this Saturday's Merseyside derby. Poll, the man responsible for playing a three cards and you're off rule at the recent World Cup only flashed two red cards and six yellows in last season's corresponding derby!

Not enough time to develop
5 Sep - Ryan Valentine, who is just one of the many many Everton Academy rejects from recent years, talks about not getting enough time to develop into a Premiership player for Everton, who were thinking of axing the Reserves when he left five years ago.

Bjarni on target
5 Sep - Bjarni Vidarsson scored two goals last night to give his Iceland Under-19 team a 3-one victory in Glasgow over their Scottish counterparts.

Grab a Grand at Goodison
4 Sep - The new-and-improved Grab a Grand game continues this weekend giving you the chance of winning ?1,000, a signed shirt, match tickets, a signed ball or cinema tickets. And all tickets can be exchanged for two-for-one deals at local McDonald's or Cineworld outlets. Buy them from the sellers on the councourses and/or in the lounges on matchday.

Moyes tries to inspire BT
4 Sep - David Moyes is trying to use positive encouragement to get more of James Beattie: "We know he has got a tremendous work rate." Uh?

Chewing Toffee
4 Sep - ESPN Classic (channel 442 on your Sky package) take a nostalgic look at Everton from the '70s and '80s with their Chewing Toffee feature, running from September 4-10 at 10pm nightly. The series begins with our famous 3-2 victory over Leeds at Goodison Park in 1974. Enjoy!

Faddy tipped for scoring record
4 Sep - Now that the silly season for transfers is over, a new form of fantasy is to set up Jamie McFadden as a future record-breaker goalscorer ? for Scotland. He's got 10... he only needs another 20.

End of an Era, Pt III
3 Sep - Does Duncan Ferguson qualify for "legend" status in Everton history?

AJ and Neville figure for England
2 Sep - Phil Neville started and Andy Johnson played 18 mins for England as they ran out 5-0 winners over Andorra this evening.

McFadden on target in Scotland rout
2 Sep - James McFadden has scored one and earned a penalty for another as Scotland lead the Faroe Islands 6-0 at Celtic Park.

End of an Era, Pt II
2 Sep - Duncan Ferguson returns for a chequered second spell at Goodison

The End of an Era
1 Sep - Part one of a three-part look back at the career of Duncan Ferguson

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