Roberto Martinez has credited his Everton players for the manner in which they responded to the disappointment of defeat at Tottenham and Chelsea by winning five games on the spin to close the gap to Arsenal in fourth. “I have huge confidence in this squad,” the Catalan said as his team prepares to fight for the remaining 21 Premier League points on offer.
A look at how Roberto Martinez has guided Everton into Champions League contention this season.
Everton U21s came back from a goal down to beat Southampton 3-1 at Southport this evening thanks to Chris Long's equaliser and two Luke Garbutt penalties.
Everton's 19-year-old defensive star-in-the-making, John Stones, is starting to make waves in the national consciousness.
But Stones is clearly no ordinary player. During the second half in particular he played with a swagger about his game, bringing the ball out of defence to start attacks, taking on and beating opponents in the right areas and halting a number of potentially dangerous moves from the relegation-threatened hosts.
Ross Barkley was withdrawn at half time of today's 3-1 win over Fulham because of a calf injury, Roberto Martinez has revealed.
Steven Naismith came off the bench to provide the impetus for a vital victory over Fulham as Roberto Martinez's side won in the League for the fifth time in succession. The Blues had struggled to dictate the contest in a flat first half but Naismith, a half-time substitute, forced the first goal when David Stockdale turned his volley off a corner into his own net. Ashkan Dejagah briefly threatened to ruin Everton's day with a superb 20-yard strike but Kevin Mirallas collected Aiden McGeady's pass and fired home before Naismith wrapped things up by prodding in a late third.
Roberto Martinez has been making the case for the benefits, to Everton and the player alike, of Gerard Deulofeu staying at Goodison for another season.
After recording their fourth Premier League win on the bounce with that superb 3-0 victory at Newcastle on Tuesday evening, Everton have vaulted themselves back into the Champions League picture but will need a win at Fulham this Sunday to keep their momentum going. Pienaar is still out injured but Jagielka is fully fit and could return.
Roberto Martinez says that the combination of youth and his policy of rotating his forward players in recent weeks to keep them fresh has his Everton side ready to finish the season strongly. Though he has a points target in mind, the Catalan acknowledges that his team will need to win the majority, if not all, of their remaining eight fixtures if they are to squeeze into the top four but he is excited about the possibility.
Roberto Martinez has outlined his plans for improving both his squad and the facilities at the club's training complex in Halewood as he looks to get the next phase of his evolution at Everton underway. The Catalan has confirmed that he will have money to spend on transfers this summer after he kept his powder dry in January and has also revealed that he has earmarked a significant portion of the new television rights revenue for infrastructure upgrades and additions at Finch Farm.
This Easter, Everton will distribute 1878 Easter eggs across our local community and we want Evertonians to tell us who they should be given out to.
Everton U21 striker Apostolos Vellios heads the list of players making loan moves today, joining Blackpool for the remainder of the season. Matthew Pennington, John Lundstram and Hallam Hope have joined Tranmere Rovers, Leyton Orient and Bury respectively.
Matthew Judge at EPL Index analyses the contribution to the Blues' handsome performance at Newcastle from stand-in captain, Leon Osman who pulled the strings throughout and then cracked home the third goal in a 3-0 win.
Osman, who has now captained Everton to 11 wins and just two defeats in the 13 times he’s worn the armband for the club, was particularly excellent when considering the need to come central for balance and creativity – with Barry needing to hold another responsibility of dropping deep on the night – and also the defensive shielding of Baines, added to roaming to free up his team-mates and uplift his own inventiveness.
Matthew Kennedy has gone out on loan again, this time to MK Dons. He is slated to remain with the League One side until the end of the season.
Everton have announced that plans are underway to erect a permanent Hillsborough memorial outside Goodison Park to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the tragedy next month.
Should Roy Hodgson elect to take Ross Barkley to the World Cup Finals in Brazil this summer, he would have the full backing of Roberto Martinez who feels that the 20-year-old is ready to play for his country at the top level.
Now inside the final quarter of the season, Everton's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League will come under thorough examination with two potentially tricky but eminently win-able away fixtures, starting with a trip to Newcastle United this evening. Pienaar is out again with a knee injury but Jagielka is expected to return after recovering from a hamstring strain. KO is 7.45pm.
Everton came through with a big performance just when they needed it, recording their fourth straight Premier League win with a handsome dismantling of Newcastle. A scintillating 70-yard run by Ross Barkley lit up the contest, the 20 year-old driving through the home defence and smashing home on 22 minutes. The Blues doubled their advantage early in the second half, Deulofeu teeing up Lukaku to convert from close range. And Leon Osman killed the Barcodes off three minutes from time, hammering into the roof of the net from Lukaku's reverse pass.
Everton Under-21s suffered a cruel defeat at the second hurdle in the Liverpool Senior Cup this season, going out 7-6 on penalties at Bootle after neither side could score in regulation time.
Roberto Martinez has cited the advantage of Fortress Goodison as being key to his team's chances down the final stretch as he prepares for the four crucial remaining home games.
Roberto Martinez has moved to reassure Everton fans that the club's "healthy" financial position will be reflected in the summer transfer moves but he insists that much will depend on whether his team achieves European qualification this season.
Everton registered their eighth successive home win in all competitions and prolonged their historical dominance over Swansea City but it was an uncomfortably narrow victory in the final reckoning. Wilfried Bony had cancelled out Leighton Baines' 20th-minute penalty to send the sides in level at half time but when Romelu Lukaku emphatically slid home to make it 2-1 and Ross Barkley extended the lead to 3-1, the game appeared comfortably won. Swansea were the better team on the balance of play, though, and carved out some gilt-edged chances but paid for their profligacy before Ashley Williams headed home a consolation goal in injury time.
Everton's U21 side were hammered 5-0 at the Hawthorns this afternoon.
To coincide with World Down's Syndrome Day, former Everton midfielder Kevin Kilbane describes the support he received from the ex-Goodison boss and fellow players like Lee Carsley after his daughter was born with the condition in 2004.
Everton are back at Goodison Park this weekend to face the second of the two teams from South Wales as Swansea City come to town for the second time this season. Jagielka is rated as 50-50 but Pienaar is ruled out for two to three weeks with a knee injury. KO is 3pm.
Roberto Martinez has welcomed the new shirt sponsorship deal with Chang but insists that it won't significantly affect the gulf between Everton and the current top five or his approach to bridging that gap.
Evertonians have until tomorrow (Friday 21 March) to spread the cost of their 2014/15 Season Ticket across 10 monthly payments.
Ex-Goodison Talisman, Tim Cahill, talks to Evertonian Roger Bennett and Michael Davies on the Men In Blazers podcast, discussing his footballing ethos, the slow building process he was part of at Everton, and his views on the MLS where he now plays for New York Red Bulls.
The segment with Tim starts just past the halfway mark and he talks not only about some of his best moments with the Blues but also offers his thoughts on the current team which he believes is two or three players away from being able to qualify for the Champions League and, possibly, the title.
Everton have confirmed a three-year extension to the shirt sponsorship deal with Chang that, at around £16m over three seasons, is the most lucrative in the club's history. The deal, which represents a £4m rise on the previous deal struck in 2010, was signed at a ceremony attended by Robert Elstone, Arouna Kone and Graeme Sharp in Bangkok and takes effect at the start of next season.
In an interview with Match of the Day Magazine, Ross Barkley has described how much he is progressing under Roberto Martinez's positive and "more tactical" approach.
Leighton Baines says that it was great to remove the uncertainty over his future by signing a contract extension at Everton and that he is now focused on helping Roberto Martinez achieve his ambition of taking the club "to the next level". With the team's playing style in transition, the defender sees investment in the squad this summer as being vital to the manager's chances of truly competing with the Premier League's big-spenders for the top-four places.
Lacina Traore's hopes of figuring for Everton again this season have been boosted by the news that he is ahead of expectations on his road to recovery from a hamstring tear.
Former Everton Academy player Adam Forshaw has been named League 1 Player of the Year. The 22-year-old now plays for Brentford and has been instrumental in their push for promotion to the Championship this season.
Everton U21s registered a 2-0 home win over Stoke City this evening thanks to two goals by Conor McAleny.
Everton legend and current Under-18s coach, Kevin Sheedy, stirred up controversy yesterday after tweeting criticism of David Moyes's regard for the club's youth team during his time as manager at Goodison Park.
Everton snatched a win in dramatic fashion thanks to Seamus Coleman's stoppage-time goal, just when the heroics of Cardiff's David Marshall looked like they had earned the Bluebirds a point. Gerard Deulofeu squeezed a deflected shot home just before the hour mark to break the deadlock after Marshall had pulled off three superb saves in the first half but Cardiff levelled from an abysmally-defended free kick 10 minutes later. The Blues pressed in the closing stages, though, and were rewarded when Coleman's mis-hit effort arced into the net in the last minute of added time.
Everton's Premier League match against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park has been rearranged for Wednesday 16th April with a 7:45pm kick-off.
Everton have announced that they have appointed Richard Kenyon as the successor to former Director of Communications, Alan Myers, in a more expansive role that includes oversight over Everton's marketing department.
Everton's home game with Arsenal on 6th April, already scheduled to kick off at 1.30pm, will now be televised live on Sky Sports.
With the road to Wembley leading to a dead end for the second season running, Everton's focus returns fully to the Premier League this weekend for the visit of Cardiff City, the first of two successive home games against the clubs from South Wales. Jagielka and Pienaar are doubts but Howard should return and there are potential starts for Barkley and Deulofeu. KO is 3pm.
Bryan Oviedo's remarkably quick recovery from a double-leg break in January has him on course to play for Costa Rica in the World Cup Finals this summer. That is the assessment of a specialist in London this week who feels that the fullback could be ready to play in Brazil just five months after suffering the horrific injury at Stevenage.
Roberto Martinez dismissed suggestions today that qualifying for the Europa League would be a hindrance to Everton next season. The Spaniard refuses to rule out a top-four finish but says that even with the extra demands of the Europa League, playing in Continental competition would be a big step forward for the development of his team.
Five Everton heroes of yesteryear will come together to help choose the winners of the Club’s 'We Go The Game' Season Ticket competition.
Roberto Martinez says that Everton are not a soft touch but must get wise to cynical opposition tactics following criticism they were too nice during the FA Cup quarter final with Arsenal.
Roberto Martinez spoke to evertontv yesterday and discussed the mood at Finch Farm in the wake of the FA Cup disappointment at Arsenal last weekend and the condition of Phil Jagielka and Steven Pienaar. The captain has missed two matches with a hamstring strain and the South African had to be withdrawn from the game at the Emirates with a knock of his own.
Did you ever wonder exactly what went on when Walter Smith sold our, at the time, best player — for buttons? Well, towards the end of this article, Hutch reveals his side of things...
Wilf Dixon, the Everton coach in the Harry Catterick era, has died aged 94. Dixon was appointed Everton first-team coach in 1967 and was at the club during the halcyon days of Kendall, Harvey and Ball.
Everton Under-18s were at The Emirates Stadium this evening to face their Arsenal counterparts in the quarter finals of the FA Youth Cup but they couldn't avenge the senior side and were beaten 3-1.
Roberto Martinez and Everton feature heavily in this look at the prevalence of statistical analysis and metrics in the modern game.
It is the psychology of a player that Martínez believes is the most crucial aspect of whether a player flourishes or wanes. And it is here that statistics or metrics are most restricted and unreliable.
Roberto Martinez insists that, with 33 points still at stake in the Premier League, Everton's season is still very much alive despite the club's disappointing exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Arsenal on Saturday.
John Lundstram is the latest player to be recalled from loan, with Everton electing to end early the young midfielder's spell with Yeovil Town.
Leighton Baines says that he was happy to lead Everton out as captain at the Emirates yesterday but also expresses his disappointment at the result which saw the Blues go out of the FA Cup at the quarter final stage.
In Sunday's Observer, Tim Lewis provides a fascinating comparison between José Mourinho and Roberto Martínez.
Roberto Martinez admitted after today's FA Cup defeat at Arsenal that the 4-1 defeat was hard to take given how hard his team had tried to win the tie and what he viewed as a soft penalty award for the Gunners' second goal.
Everton's FA Cup dream was extinguished in clinical fashion by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium as Arsene Wenger's side broke a tight game open in the final half-hour. Romelu Lukaku had brought the Blues back into the tie after Mezut Ozil had scored with an early goal, but a clumsy trip by Gareth Barry gave Mikel Arteta the chance to restore the Gunners' lead from the spot with a re-taken penalty. With Everton chasing the game, Oliver Giroud scored twice for the home side in two minutes to kill the game off and deny Roberto Martinez a return trip to Wembley.
Sylvain Distin remembers Portsmouth's day of glory in their FA Cup Final win over Cardiff City but says, in hindsight, that the risks the south coast club took were not worth that trophy win.
Roberto Martinez says that there is plenty of scope for Gerard Deulofeu to return for a second loan spell at Everton next season and suggests that the winger was mis-quoted following a recent interview with Catalan Radio.
Shane Duffy says, "I don't want to leave [Everton] but I may have to for the sake of my career. I still believe I can make it at Everton but it's a matter of whether I can do that, if I can keep myself fit and in good form and establish myself."
The most important match of Everton's season so far rolls around tomorrow as they make the trip south to London for an FA Cup Quarter-Final clash with Arsenal. Jagielka is highly unlikely to play but there are no additional injury concerns for Martinez as he weighs up his starting XI with Wembley a win away. KO is 12:45pm.
Record numbers of junior Evertonians are now visiting Goodison Park to watch the Blues in action.
Roberto Martinez has been singing the praises of John Stones as he considers the young defender for Saturday's FA Cup tie at Arsenal in Phil Jagielka's expected absence through injury.
Roberto Martinez admits that should Everton achieve their goal of European qualification this season, the club would need to strengthen the squad in terms of numbers and experience to cope with the demands of playing in Continental competition.
Tim Howard, Kevin Mirallas, Romelu Lukaku, James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman, Aiden McGeady and John Stones were all in action for their countries this evening.
Roberto Martinez says that he is looking to finish higher than sixth place, believing that his Everton team can put together a run between now and the end of the season that will result in a final placing befitting the level of their performances this season.
Steven Naismith has been describing the refreshing influence of Roberto Martinez and his unique management style, in combination with the presence of fan idol Duncan Ferguson who is now a key part of Everton's coaching team under Martinez.
The Denver-based sport magazine chats with Everton's Tim Howard about trotting the globe and the increasing US interest in the English game.
Roy Hodgson says that Leighton Baines won't feature for England in the friendly against Denmark tomorrow evening.
Roberto Martinez says that Phil Jagielka is unlikely to feature in Saturday's FA Cup clash with Arsenal but he will assess the defender's fitness before the game before making a final decision.
Evertonians have been telling the Club all about life as a Blue, as part of a unique new competition, the five lucky winners of which will have their tale brought to life for an exclusive video.
Everton have announced that Lacina Traore will complete his loan spell with the club this season after further tests on his injured hamstring revealed that he won't need surgery to repair the muscle tear. He isn't expected back for six to eight weeks, however, which would put his return around mid-April.
Everton's Premier League trip to Newcastle United has been re-arranged for Tuesday 25 March. The game, which will kick off at 7:45pm, will no longer be broadcast live on television.
Gerard Deulofeu thinks he will be ready to play for Barcelona next season, and expects to return to his parent club next season.
"I am working hard with the aim of returning to Barca next season," he told Catalunya Radio yesterday. "I want to earn a place in Barca's attacking line.
"I accepted the challenge (at Everton) last summer and I am happy with my decision. Now I am more mature as a person and as a player.
Kevin Mirallas says that Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final tie against Arsenal is crucial as Everton look to end a 19-year wait without major silverware. The Belgian admits that his teammates have been impressing on him the prestige of the trophy and the Blues are determined to make amends for last year's disappointment against Wigan at the same stage of the competition.
Everton's rather young Under-21s had quite a game at the Reebock this evening, finally coming out 3-2 winners over Bolton thanks to goals from Luke Garbutt (an early penalty) Matty Kennedy (from close range) and a 25-yard stunner curled into the top corner by Conor McAleny.
James McCarthy has been named Irish Young Player of the Year at the Three International Football Awards this evening.
Defender Skodran Mustafi, released by David Moyes on a free transfer, has been called up to the German national side this week.
Goals from Tom Davies and Arlen Birch saw Everton Under-18s come from behind to leapfrog Manchester City and move into top spot in the Premier League U18 North Group on Saturday.
The Everton striker is hand-picked by Sir Sean Connery and Jackie Stewart to help educate people on dyslexia from which he suffers.
Romelu Lukaku stepped off the substitutes' bench to score the decisive goal against West Ham for the second time this season, earning Everton a hard-fought but deserved victory at Goodison Park. Steven Pienaar had gone closest to breaking the deadlock when he side-footed off the post and West Ham's determined defensive stand was frustrating the Blues until Lukaku struck from Leighton Baines's square pass with 10 minutes left.
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* Everton deducted 8 pts; †Forest deducted 4 pts for PSR breachView full table
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