United dumped out of FA Cup
April 21, 2009
The quintuple is officially off. Manchester United were knocked out of the FA Cup yesterday by an Everton side who have reached their first final since 1995.
Ironically, it was United who Everton beat 14 years ago where a Paul Rideout goal ensured that the FA Cup made its way to the blue side of Liverpool.
Although yesterday’s match was by no means a classic, Everton fans will simply not care less – they are in the final and that is all that matters.
However, I for one was slightly concerned with Ferguson’s team selection which perhaps did not respect the competition. The United Manager opted to play an array of second string players and therefore can not argue with being dumped out.
Ultimately they were to fail during a penalty shoot out with Berbatov’s miss one of the most pathetic spot kicks which you will ever hope to see.
Any one of the vast crowd within the stadium could have made a better attempt at the spot kick which Tim Howard saved with ease.
United deserved to go out, if nothing more for the relaxed attitude which they seemed to have from start to finish.
Everton will meet Chelsea in the final after they overcame London rivals Arsenal in Saturday’s other semi final.
Liverpool go top as they beat Everton 2-0
September 27, 2008
Everton’s poor run has continued as they lost the Merseyside Derby to bitter rivals Liverpool 2-0 this afternoon at Goodison Park. Liverpool striker Fernando Torres struck his second and third goals of the season in the second half to take Liverpool 2 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premiership.
Fernando Torres put Liverpool ahead on 59 minutes when he converted a Robbie Keane pass, and then scored the second just two minutes later when reacted first to a goalmouth scramble.
Things went from bad to worse for the home side when Everton were reduced to ten men after 80 minutes when Tim Cahill was sent off for a foul on Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso.
This win for the red half of Merseyside represents Liverpool’s best ever start to a Premier League season. It was all too easy for the league leaders too, as keeper Pepe Reina was a virtual spectator the whole game, and didn’t have a single save to make.
While Liverpool now sit proudly on top of the pile (for 2 hours at least) Everton now face a difficult second leg in the UEFA cup away to Standard Liege, as the first leg at Goodison finished 2-2.
£17 Million for David Moyes
September 20, 2008
It finally looks as though Everton are going to reward manager David Moyes for the work he’s done for them. Moyes has made Everton the fifth best team in England consistently for the past few years, and even breached the top four in 2005 (which no other team has done in recent history) when they pipped bitter rivals Liverpool to the Champion League spot.
Despite all of his success, his job was on the line just a few months after that when Everton had a poor start and languished near the bottom of the table after a few months.
Amazing fans were calling for his head. Sense came through and Moyes stayed, and Everton have benefited from that as they’ve been Europe consistently since then. Now it seems that he’ll be rewarded with a £17 million deal over five years. Moyes has just 12 months left on his contract and would be free to walk out on Everton if they don’t sign him down to a new contract, but he hasn’t put pen to paper yet. He is expected to sign before 27th September, which is the game against Liverpool.
Moyes stated:
The club have got the contract and hopefully we will get something done shortly.
Stoke stay in bottom three as they lose to Everton
September 14, 2008
Typically, it all kicked off at the Britannia Stadium as home side Stoke lost an incident filled game to Everton, leaving them in the bottom three of the Premiership.
Though Stoke showed some steel in their play, and the long throw weapon from Rory Delap means they’ll cause a number of teams problems this season. They battled hard today, but Everton consigned them to a 3-2 narrow defeat.
Yakubu struck first for the visitors, before Phil Jagielka scored an own goal to level for the home side, courtesy of a Rory Delap long throw; something that Stoke will rely on heavily this season.
After Everton had a penalty appeal turned down, furious manager David Moyes was sent to the stands, where he bravely watched the rest of game amidst the fanatical home fans, something that many away managers would be reluctant to do!
Everton opened the scoring just before half time, in an uneventful first half (despite Moyes’ sending off). In the second half Stoke fought back, and had a goal disallowed before Jagielka scored an own goal to level the scores at 1-1.
The game was won by Cahill, who scored from an Arteta corner. Everton move into the top half of the table, whereas Stoke remain in the bottom three.
Man UTD sell Saha to Everton?
August 29, 2008
Despite their obvious problems up front this season, Manchester United look like letting another striker go, in the shape of Louis Saha, to Everton. According to reports, the French striker will join Everton this weekend, ahead of the close of the transfer window on Sunday, subject to his passing a medical at Goodison Park.
David Moyes, Everton manager, stated about the signing:
He can do a bit of everything, he can run, head it, and he can link play up.
Everton are signing Louis Saha on a 2 year deal with the option of a 3rd year at the end of it. This would keep the Frenchman at Everton until he is 33.
Saha has suffered through injuries of late, and Everton will hope they can bring the best form out of their new signing. Moyes continued:
There is no doubt he is a fantastically talented player, the question now is can we get him fit and we are hoping we can do that.
He was involved in 17 or 18 games for Manchester United last year and if he can be involved in a few more than that for us than he will certainly play a part.
If you do get him on the pitch there is no doubt he is a very good player and adds qualities that we will need.
The sale of Saha could be taken as a sign that Manchester United are on the bring of signing Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham.
Joseph Yobo’s brother kidnapped in Nigeria
July 6, 2008
The elder brother of Everton and Nigeria footballer Joseph Yobo has been kidnapped by gunmen, according to police.
Norum Yobo was kidnapped while at a hotel in Port Harcourt. Joseph Yobo meanwhile is currently on holiday in Lagos. Everton have stated they will do all they can to help both Joseph and Norum Yobo.
Kidnappings are quite common in the region, and are often led by ransom demands. However there has been no demand as of yet.
Rita Inoma-Abbey, a police spokeswoman, stated:
We have not heard anything yet from Mr Norum or the kidnappers but we will make a statement available as soon as we can establish contact with them.
Slaphead Carsley signs for Birmingham
May 19, 2008
Small slaphead Lee Carsley has moved from Everton to relegated Birmingham City. The move has been on the cards for some time, but Carsley had only missed a handful of games this season for the blues. He was offered a new contract at Everton but he fancied the move as it nearer to home in the midlands.
Offers from yo-yo teams had come in, Derby and WBA were both interested but Carsley fancied the move to Birmingham due to the winning attitude of manager Alex McLeish, sorry but he just got the team relegated.
Anyhow, the Evertonians will remember the little slaphead for this goal against Liverpool.
Birmingham 1 – 1 Everton
April 12, 2008
Two sides with still plenty to play for, Birmingham looking to avoid the drop and Everton pushing for fourth spot in the league. A first half with little to talk about bar Joleon Lescott shooting into the side netting after the Birmingham defenders muddled on the ball. For the home side substitute Cameron Jerome hitting the post with looping header.
The game sparked into life in the second half Liam Ridgewell missed a sitter, a corner found the defender in the six yard box but he fired over, it seamed easier to score than miss. Tim Howard pulled off a double save from Jaidi and then McFadden as the home side pushed on.
After hitting the post in the first half Joleon Lescott grabbed his 9th goal of the season flicking the ball into the net for the opener.
But it was a Birmingham substitute to be the hero, Mauro Zarate scoring his fourth in as many games curling in a free kick into the top corner. Overall a good game and a fair result considering both sides had numerous chances.
Liverpool win the derby and the Toon start to hit form
March 30, 2008
Liverpool managed to pull away from Everton in the league with a win in the Merseyside derby beating Everton. After a first win in three months Newcastle thrashed Spurs at White Hart Lane and Chelsea grabbed a 1-0 win over Boro.
Liverpool 1 – 0 Everton
After losing Cahill for the season Everton had to make a few chances to the side where as Liverpool had to replace Mascherano with Lucas.
The only goal of the game came in the 7th minute. A corner wasn’t cleared properly by Everton and Alonso nicked the ball from Yakubu, Kuyt passed wide to Torres who slide the ball past Howard. Minutes later Lee Carsley could have been sent off for a high tackle on Torres on the edge of the area. Howard Webb who was always going to have a tough time only showed a yellow.
Liverpool went on to have good chances in the half with Bable, Kuyt and Gerrard having good changed, the Liverpool captain hitting the post.
In the second half Everton could have put themselves on level terms, Osman with a near post header put they looked tired and missed Tim Cahill in the attacking third. Gerrard nearly double the lead late on with a drive from the corner of the box, Howard tipped over. Liverpool now hold the double over their neighbors and five points clear in 4th.
Chelsea 1 – 0 Middlesborough
Like the Liverpool game the home side took the lead early on, a deep freekick from the touchline found Carvalho who looped a header from all of 14 yards. The home side only looked like grabbing an second late on with Wright-Phillips slotting wide once and thumping over after nice play from Kalou.
It was the away side that had the best chance, a ball over top started a 50-50 with Cudicini and Alves. The Brazilian took the ball round the Italian keeper and then shot from about 30 yards to the open goal. With Chelsea defender getting back on the line the were relieved to see the ball hit the post. That wasn’t Boro’s only chance with them hitting the bar twice at a corner, Alves and Wheater with the headers.
Tottenham 1 – 1 Newcastle United
The away side had a great opportunity to take the lead when Habib Beye smashed a shot against the bar. Spurs took the lead though Darren Bent his eighth goal of the season. Just before the break Nicky Butt grabbed the away sides first goal of the match sweeping in a shot into the far corner from 20 yards.
The game really kicked off in the second half, a foul on Martins resulted in a free kick on the edge of the area which Geremi fired in with a little help from Viduka who moved from the wall. The third from Owen came from a Martins run from the touch line and a flick from Viduka.
Before the fourth went in for the home side a Berbatov header was saved well on the line. The final goal came from Martin who took the ball round the last Tottenham man and slotted past Robinson. A great result for King Kev and his Newcastle team are starting show a little confidence.
Everton midfielder set to miss rest of season
March 28, 2008
Aussie midfielder Tim Cahill has been dealt a bitter blow by being told he will play no further part in Everton’s season.
The news comes just 48 hours before one of the most eagerly anticipated Merseyside derbies in years, and is said to be a recurrence of a previous foot problem gained against Sheffield United.
Cahill is thought to have aggravated the problem against West Ham last Saturday – lasting just ten minutes of the one all draw.
Everton are currently embroiled in a fight with their arch rivals for the final Champions League place and the news is sure to be far from ideal for the Goodison Park outfit.
Winning is Everything wishes Tim Cahill a speedy recovery and looks forward to seeing him back in action very soon.
