★★★★
Your essential guide to Everton FC’s 2010/11 season
ABLUE
Everton
Moyes’ ‘best ever’ squad ready for battle
HORIZON
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Everton
Monday, August 9, 2010
★★★★
EIGHT YEARS ON...
1
JAN MUCHA
Position Goalkeeper Height 1.89m Weight 87 kg D.O.B. Dec 5 1982 Place of Birth Belá nad Cirochou Nationality Slovakian Total games 0 Total goals ● Established himself at MSK Zilina before earning a move to Polish club Legia Warsaw where he spent five years. Played in this year’s World Cup finals.
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TONY HIBBERT
Position Defender Height 1.73m Weight 70 kg D.O.B. February 20 1981 Place of Birth Liverpool Nationality English Total games 221 Total goals 0 ●The longest-serving player in the current Everton squad, Hibbert now holds the club record for appearances in European competition.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Everton’s Premier League finishes in Moyes’ full seasons 04/05 4th 02/03 7th 05/06 11th
03/04 17th
LEIGHTON BAINES
Position Defender Height 1.70m Weight 70 kg D.O.B. December 11 1984 Place of Birth Kirkby Nationality English Total games 68 Total goals 1 ● Became Everton’s most expensive defender when joining from Wigan for £6m in 2007 and earned 2 England caps this year but missed the World Cup.
06/07 6th
THEN AND NOW: David Moyes this summer and (inset) during his first Everton game against Fulham in 2002 – The hair might not be quite as fiery red as it was but the steely determination remains in the Scot’s eyes as he looks to seal his legacy at the club by finally ending their trophy drought
07/08 6th
08/09 5th 09/10 8th
★★★★
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Monday, August 9, 2010
Your essential guide to Everton FC’s 2010/11 season
Blues time for waiting is over
Everton
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JOSEPH YOBO
Position Defender Height 1.88m Weight 76 kg D.O.B. September 6 1980 Place of Birth Kano Nationality Nigerian Total games 236 Total goals 8 ● Moyes’ first signing – initially on loan from Marseille – after starting his career at Standard Liege. Has set up a charity to help under-privileged children.
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Mantra is that Moyes’ men can achieve
L
IKE Stepford Wives in royal blue shirts Everton players have been churning out the same optimism-laced message all summer. Sounding like they are on the brink of something very special; everyone from Tony Hibbert to Steven Pienaar has repeated the same mantra. The words may differ slightly from each soundbite to the next, but the point is clear: “This is the strongest squad we’ve had under David Moyes. If we can stay fully fit we can achieve something big – top four qualification, a trophy, or both.” Even the players are tired of keeping a lid on expectations – this could be David Moyes’ biggest season yet. It’s a confidence emboldened by a scintillating run of form from January to the end of last season, when the Blues lost just twice in 24 games, and which would have been enough to finish third if sustained across a campaign. And there’s the rub. The challenge facing Moyes’ side is to do that all season. Of course, much of that will rely upon luck with injuries and the manager’s hopes of starting the 2010/11 campaign without losing any of his most highly-coveted stars. For the former, Moyes can only cling to the hope that never again in his career can he endure such a horrendous season for injuries to key players as the previous one. Everton players fell like dominoes, the manager missing almost all of his key personnel for considerable periods. It hardly bears recalling yet finishing eighth in a season when he was deprived of so many players for long spells was actually a real achievement. Phil Jagielka, Mikel Arteta, Phil Neville, Marouane
Greg
summer creeps towards completion is another dilemma. Nevertheless, Moyes has world-beaters to call on in many positions. With the ever dependable Tim Howard in goal, facing fresh competition from another World Fellaini, Yakubu, Steven Pienaar, to name but a few, all had spells on Cup star Jan Mucha, the goalkeeping scenario is a the sidelines. Luck more rotten can have befallen few managers in resounding plus. Of his full-backs the Scot has a the domestic game. blend of experience and potential So Moyes can do little but hope which rivals would crave. for a reversal in fortunes on the From the wise head and casualty front. He can do little tackling solidity of Tony Hibbert more than hope for fortune in the to the England star in the making transfer market too. Moyes must of hope that he Leighton does not Baines. experience a Then repeat of the there is the deeply Everton 1 Tottenham Hotspur 4, August flourishing unsettling 25, 1984 potential Joleon Lescott FANS leaving Goodison Park after the offered by transfer opening game of the 1984-85 season would Seamus scenario with never have dreamed that nine months later Coleman. any of his key the Blues would be crowned First Division In players. champions for the eighth time in their central Both so history. defence he influential on A crowd of 35,630 saw Adrian Heath net can juggle Everton’s play, a penalty for Howard Kendall’s team as Mark a World Arteta eased Falco, John Chiedozie and a Clive Allen Cup concerns by double did the damage for the Londoners. finalist committing his who future to the suggested club over the weekend, yet a cloud he can be an Everton icon last remains over Steven Pienaar’s season in John Heitinga, despite immediate Goodison future. some ill-judged remarks before the Like Arteta, the South African tournament. has been offered highly-lucrative Then there is the dependable new contract, yet, at the time of and experienced Sylvain Distin, writing, is yet to put pen to paper. He does still have one more year Nigeria’s captain Joseph Yobo and one of the best English on his current contract, but if he centre-halves in the country in decided to leave with the same Phil Jagielka. zeal of Lescott when it became In midfield there are obvious apparent there was a suitor with magicians like Pienaar and big money on the table, it would Arteta, but also the experience leave the manager in an and composure of Leon Osman, unedifying position. the leadership of Phil Neville, Plus his options for replacing Magaye Gueye’s nascent promise them would be limited as the
O’KEEFFE
Spur to go on
and the highly anticipated return of Marouane Fellaini. That is without mentioning a 19-year-old, in Jack Rodwell, with the world at his feet and the ink not yet dry on a fresh Everton contract. In attack there are further riches. Tim Cahill’s pre-season form suggest he will offer his usual glut of goals from behind a centre-forward, Louis Saha will contribute deadly accuracy and sheer class when his body allows him, and Yakubu may yet return to the form which saw him score 20 goals in a season two years ago. Of his few acquisitions, Moyes was able to add Jermaine Beckford, a calculated risk but a proven goalscorer who already seems to have settled at Goodison and may yet prove one of the manager’s shrewder buys in a densely packed field. Last season’s damaging injuries meant that European qualification was just out of reach. There will be no Thursday night Europa League treats for Evertonians. Yet that may still prove a blessing in disguise, with the second tier continental competition providing a distraction, even if it is a welcome one. Without that strain on his squad, Moyes and his players can focus on the league – a harder nut than ever to crack with Manchester City spending ceaselessly to break the top four. Equally they can focus on the domestic cup competitions and a chance to finally, after 15 long years, bring some long overdue silverware back to Goodison Park. None of these objectives will be easy, but with this current squad able to stay together and stay fit, the chances of open-top bus parades, of Blue pride flooding the city, of long-awaited glory have never been greater.
JOHN HEITINGA
Position Defender/Midfielder Height 1.82m Weight 72 kg D.O.B. November 15 1983 Place of Birth Alphen aan den Rijn Nationality Dutch Total games 35 Total goals 0 ● Bought from Atletico Madrid last September. In a single week the former Ajax man was sent off in the World Cup final before marrying Bolo Zenden’s sister.
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PHIL JAGIELKA
Position Defender/Midfielder Height 1.80m Weight 87 kg D.O.B. August 17 1982 Place of Birth Sale Nationality English Total games 92 Total goals 3 ● Utility man – including emergency goalkeeper – at first club Sheffield United, Jagielka’s form at centre-back at Everton has earned him 3 England caps.
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JOY OF BECKS
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DINIYAR BILYALETDINOV
Position Midfielder Height 1.85m Weight 79 kg D.O.B. February 27 1985 Place of Birth Moscow Nationality Russian Total games 33 Total goals 7 ●Joined from Lokomotiv Moscow last August and filmed his own internet video diary of his new life in Liverpool for his friends back in Russia.
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LOUIS SAHA
Position Striker Height 1.85m Weight 86 kg D.O.B. August 8 1978 Place of Birth Paris Nationality French Total games 69 Total goals 23 ● Had previous spells in the Premier League with Newcastle, Fulham and Manchester United before arriving at Goodison in an initial pay-as-you-play deal in 2008.
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MIKEL ARTETA
Position Midfielder Height 1.75m Weight 64 kg D.O.B. March 28 1982 Place of Birth San Sebastian Nationality Spanish Total games 173 Total goals 30 ● Multilingual – speaks Spanish, English, Basque, Catalan, French and Italian, the former Barcelona junior has also played for Rangers, PSG and Real Sociedad.
GOALS IN I
T WAS only a training game during Everton’s pre-season tour of Australia, but it was impossible not to notice something special about Everton new-boy Jermaine Beckford. The tattooed striker was doing little of note outside the box, but in one instant he suggested his reputation as an instinctive goal-grabber is far more than mere hype. With a flash of electric pace, the 26-year-old burst past his marker and then scuffed a shot – which nevertheless wound up in the bottom corner. Not a perfectly executed finish by any means, but the type of strike only someone with goals in their blood can muster. Two weeks later, Beckford scored his first Everton goals on home soil, a well-taken brace during a 3-0 friendly win over Preston North End at Deepdale. But for the man who fired Leeds United to promotion last season with 31 goals, including FA Cup strikes against Manchester United and Spurs, seeing the net bulge has been the only constant during a topsy turvy career to date. After a schoolboy move to Chelsea fizzled out, the Ealing-born striker was forced to roll up his sleeves and find employment where he could; in restaurants, sport shops and even slogging it out in a warehouse. Meanwhile, he spent his weekends playing in front of paltry crowds in that local semi-professional league, his only ray of hope a consistent and prolific habit of scoring goals. But it was a move to Middlesex-based club Wealdstone where he began to show the potential to go all the way to the top. Veteran Wealdstone boss Gordon Bartlett helped nurture Beckford in those early days, and will be tuning into Match of the Day with special interest this season to monitor the progress of a young player he remembers fondly. “We got hold of Jermaine as a youth player when his Chelsea move didn’t work out,” says Bartlett. “I was coaching the Middlesex county side as well and I spotted him playing for them. “He was the most natural finisher I have ever seen. “He is confident beyond belief and I would say that’s one of his biggest assets. “He never gets tense in front of goal like a lot of strikers do.
Greg
O’KEEFFE
“Jermaine is the type of player who goes to congratulate the keeper if he saves one of his shots, because he knows he’ll just score past him next time. “I remember he had a penalty saved for us once and he stood there and clapped the keeper. Later in the game he put two past him. “Some of the goals he scored for us were out of this world. I won’t deny there were times when I was tearing my hair out with him. “He was a young lad, only just coming up but there was never any doubt he could go on to a successful future in the game.” During his time in charge Bartlett has seen seven players leave to play League football, four in the last 18 months alone. He even coached Premier League goal king Les Ferdinand at a former club. Wealdstone is clearly a well-run, professional in all but name club, which gives players an excellent grounding. Beckford returned with Leeds last season to play a friendly against his old side, and ex-Portsmouth striker Bartlett enjoyed catching up with him. “He was a credit to himself,” he says. “Typically he stayed behind after having pictures taken with kids and popped into the club and met some old supporters. “Between when he joined us as a kid and then when he left he changed a lot. “He grew up an awful lot and had a newfound maturity. “I did a lot of patient nurturing with him and it paid off. I always believed in his ability. “We sent him out on loan when he was here a few times to help him. “I think that (loan moves in non-league football) made him realise it wasn’t too bad at Wealdstone. “He got himself a full time job and fulfilled that responsibility. It was just a case of handling him well to get the best out of him. “I’ve got everything crossed that he takes this opportunity and gets the best out of it. “It will be satisfying for us all if he does well at Everton. “Management is all about dealing with people – from the players to the bloke who cleans the dressing room and they are all important to you. “Becks was important to us and I hope to see him banging them in for David Moyes’ side on a regular basis.”
CONFIDENT: Jermaine Beckford knows he has goals in him
★★★★
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Monday, August 9, 2010
Your essential guide to Everton FC’s 2010/11 season
THE BLOOD Instinctive finishing suggests Beckford can make step up
Everton
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IAIN TURNER
Position Goalkeeper Height 1.93m Weight 88 kg D.O.B. January 26 1984 Place of Birth Stirling Nationality Scottish Total games 4 Total goals 0 ● A promising youngster with his hometown club, Turner arrived at Goodison in January 2003 but has played just four first team games in seven-and-a-half years.
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JAMES VAUGHAN
Position Striker Height 1.80m Weight 80 kg D.O.B. July 14 1988 Place of Birth Birmingham Nationality English Total games 57 Total goals 9 ●Remains the Premier League’s youngest scorer after netting against Crystal Palace in April 2005, but the all-action striker’s career has been blighted by injury.
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Hit for six Everton 1 Arsenal 6, August 15, 2009 EVERTON began last season in terrible fashion as Arsenal ran riot in front of 39,309 fans at Goodison Park. The Gunners struck through Denilson, Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas, Eduado and Cesc Fabregas (twice) before Louis Saha netted a consolation goal in stoppage time for David Moyes’ shell-shocked team.
SYLVAIN DISTIN
Position Defender Height 1.92m Weight 88 kg D.O.B. December 16 1977 Place of Birth Bagnolet Nationality French Total games 38 Total goals 2 ● Everton became his fourth English club after previously turning out for Newcastle, Manchester City and Portsmouth with whom he won the FA Cup.
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FRINGE FESTIVAL
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JERMAINE BECKFORD
Position Striker Height 1.88m Weight 83 kg D.O.B. December 9 1983 Place of Birth Ealing Nationality English Total games 0 Total goals ● Snapped up on a free transfer after breaking the 30-goal barrier in consecutive seasons for Leeds. Worked as a windscreen fitter while at non-league Wealdstone.
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TIM CAHILL
Position Midfielder Height 1.78m Weight 64 kg D.O.B. December 6 1979 Place of Birth Sydney Nationality Australian Total games 210 Total goals 56 ● Arguably Moyes’ biggest bargain, a £1.5million snip from Millwall in 2004, goal-scoring midfielder Cahill has just penned a new four-year deal at Goodison.
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PHIL NEVILLE
Position Defender/Midfielder Height 1.80m Weight 76 kg D.O.B. January 21 1977 Place of Birth Bury Nationality English Total games 187 Total goals 3 ● Model pro who won 6 Premier League titles, 3 FA Cups and the Champions League with brother Gary at Manchester United before joining Everton in 2005.
I’m here to play matches Mucha believes he can displace keeper Howard
J
JAMES
AN MUCHA insists he hasn’t come to Goodison Park to warm the substitutes’ bench. The Slovakia international goalkeeper made the switch from Legia Warsaw on a free transfer this summer and has set his sights on Tim Howard’s number one spot. failed to make a senior appearance and Mucha faces a stiff test attempting to moved on to MSK Zilina in 2002. dislodge the reliable American, who He helped Zilina clinch two Slovakia has firmly established himself with titles and two Slovak Super Cups before Everton over the past four seasons. earning a move to Legia Warsaw in But the 27-year-old shot-stopper is 2005. determined to stake a claim for a During his time in the Polish capital regular starting spot. the 6ft 3ins keeper enjoyed further “Obviously the standard at Everton league and cup success and became is higher than before but I haven’t come Legia’s established number one after here to sit down and watch,” Mucha Lukasz Fabianksi’s switch to Arsenal said. in 2007. “I expect to compete for the first spot In 2008 Mucha was handed his and my international bow ambitions are and this summer very high. I have his heroics helped heard about the Slovakia reach the Premier League. last 16 of the World Nottingham Forest 3 Everton 3, It is the best Cup in South August 19, 1953 league and I have Africa. EVERTON played their part in a six-goal been watching for His thriller at the City Ground earning a point a long time.” performances which would eventually help them win Howard, who raised his profile promotion back to the First Division after has been ever but Blues boss three years in the second tier of English present in David Moyes had football. Premier League already secured John Parker netted two for the Blues and matches for the his signature back Tommy Eglington was also on target in front Blues for two in January on a of a crowd of 21,669. campaigns, is three-year deal. relishing the Since arriving challenge posed at Finch Farm in by Mucha. July, Mucha has settled in well to life in “I enjoy the competition,” Howard Merseyside. said. “That’s what gets me out of bed “I am good friends with Lukasz and that’s what I thrive on. I love to win Fabianski and I consulted him before I and hate to lose and so winning that made the decision to sign for Everton. competition makes me go. He recommended this club to me,” he “I have won a few battles and lost a added. few. Jan has come in having played in “Everton has a nice family the World Cup and is a really good guy. atmosphere and there are a lot of good “We need that at Everton and the people around. I would say that many manager seems to continue to bring in clubs in Europe would be jealous of players to create that competition.” such a training ground. The conditions Mucha started his career in his here are of a really high standard. homeland with Inter Bratislava but Everything is positive.”
PEARCE
Forest thriller
★★★★
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Monday, August 9, 2010
Your essential guide to Everton FC’s 2010/11 season
Everton
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FRIENDLY RIVALRY: Jan Mucha shares a joke with Tim Howard during training at Finch Farm
PROSPECT: Magaye Gueye
Young pair’s big chance EVERTON boss David Moyes is building for the future with the acquisition of talented young strikers Magaye Gueye and Joao Silva. The 20-year-olds arrived at Goodison this summer full of enthusiasm and desperate to prove they can cut it in the Premier League. Gueye was snapped up from French club Strasbourg for around £1million on a five-year deal, while Silva signed for three years after moving from Portuguese second division side Desportivo Das Aves for £500,000. France Under-21 international Gueye was a product of Strasbourg’s youth system and scored nine goals for the French second division outfit last season. Gueye, who can play up front or on the wing, netted against Brisbane Roar during the Blues’ pre-season tour of Australia and is confident he will be a success in the Premier League. “I feel I have a good technique, a good left foot and I can be effective in front of goal,” he said. “Everyone has been really kind. “I knew it was an extremely big club in the Premier League. I knew it was a very family-orientated club as well and that’s one of the big reasons why I chose Everton.” Portuguese starlet Silva has represented his country at Under-20 level and is highly rated in his homeland. The 6ft 2ins frontman scored 14 goals in 32 appearances for Aves last season and was the league’s second top scorer. Silva, who has been compared to former Portugal star Pauleta, said: “I am happy because to play in the Premier League is a dream for any footballer because it is the best in the world. “Everton are a great club and I believe (England) will be perfect for me. “It’s an enormous move for me but I am ambitious.”
False dawn
Everton 3 Huddersfield Town 2, August 19, 1950 DESPITE winning their opening day game against the Terriers, the season was to end in hearbreak for the Blues as they were to suffer relegation from the First Division the following spring. A crowd of 51,768 were at Goodison Park to witness a brace from Ted Buckle and a Jackie Grant strike to earn Everton the two points.
MAGAYE GUEYE
Position Midfielder/Forward Height 1.79m Weight 73 kg D.O.B. July 6 1990 Place of Birth Nogent-sur-Marne Nationality French Total games 0 Total goals ● Versatile forward player who has impressed in pre-season for Everton following his switch from Strasbourg after they were relegated to France’s third tier.
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STEVEN PIENAAR
Position Midfielder Height 1.70m Weight 71 kg D.O.B. February 17 1982 Place of Birth Johannesburg Nationality South African Total games 86 Total goals 8 ●Rescued by Moyes from a disappointing spell in Germany with Borussia Dortmund, the ex-Ajax man has become one of Everton’s most creative outlets.
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LEON OSMAN
Position Midfielder Height 1.73m Weight 69 kg D.O.B. May 17 1981 Place of Birth Billinge Nationality English Total games 203 Total goals 29 ● A late developer, he was loaned out to Carlisle and Derby early in his career but has now matured into one of Everton’s most stylish performers.
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★★★★
★★★★
Monday, August 9, 2010
By Mike Price
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WORLD IN MOTION
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AYEGBENI YAKUBU
Position Striker Height 1.83m Weight 83 kg D.O.B. November 22 1982 Place of Birth Benin City Nationality Nigerian Total games 87 Total goals 32 ● Prolific marksman with Portsmouth and Middlesbrough, he netted 21 goals in his first Everton season but suffered a serious Achilles injury in 2008.
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Mixed bag in Africa
At least Blues dodged further injury woes
I SEAMUS COLEMAN
Position Defender Height 1.78m Weight 67 kg D.O.B. October 11 1988 Place of Birth Donegal Nationality Irish Total games 7 Total goals 0 ● Attacking right-back who was named man-of-the-match on his home debut against Tottenham before helping Blackpool to Premier League promotion.
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TIM HOWARD
Position Goalkeeper Height 1.91m Weight 88 kg D.O.B. March 6 1979 Place of Birth New Brunswick Nationality American Total games 184 Total goals 0 ● Form for MetroStars earned him a move to Manchester United before joining Everton – initially on loan – in 2006. Starred in this year’s World Cup finals.
FINAL AGONY: John Heitinga trudges off after being dismissed against Spain
T WAS a World Cup which sparkled fitfully and is unlikely to be recalled as a classic. But Evertonians will simply be breathing sighs of relief that their stars who took to the South African stage avoided injury. After a season so full of casualties, injury more than poor form was what the Toffees feared for their World Cup stars more than anything. There can have been few World Cups with so much varied interest for the Blues. With Tim Cahill, Steven Pienaar, Joseph Yobo, Yakubu, John Heitinga, Jan Mucha and Tim Howard all playing starring roles there was plenty to keep them glued to their TVs. Howard had a confidence-boosting summer to remember. His star has never been higher in the World game since he swapped Old Trafford for Goodison Park. The American stopper was flawless, pulling off a string of top-class saves and helping the USA enjoy a robust tournament which made football fans from Atlanta to Hawaii sit up and take notice. Their draw with England alone generated massive media interest in the US, and Howard shook off some minor niggles to finish on a high. Already back into the hustle and bustle of Everton’s pre season he is set to be as strong as ever for the new season. Tim Cahill’s World Cup might not have lasted as long as he would have liked, and featured a controversial red card, yet he remains the David Beckham of Aussie soccer. The headlines he made during Everton’s tour down under left nobody in doubt of his status back home, and David Moyes even suggested Cahill could play in the 2014 tournament in Brazil. The tireless midfielder bagged a
Greg
O’KEEFFE
hat-trick against Norwich in one of the Blues’ pre-season games to remind everyone that he is ready to return to his bread and butter after signing a morale-boosting new deal. John Heitinga can only have grown in stature. Playing in a World Cup final will have filled him with confidence, and added a level of experience many players can only dream about. His red card may have taken the gloss from the night, but the Dutchman looks set to resume where he left off in May, as a hugely important player for David Moyes. Steven Pienaar’s tournament flattered to deceive. The South Africans struggled to cope with great expectations on home soil, and the man they call Schillo carried most of them on his slender shoulders. Yet, his lack of personal glory could still benefit Everton who will be secretly grateful the diamond of their midfield engine was spared an even bigger international exposure and the associated transfer interest. For the Blues’ Nigerian duo, it was an underwhelming campaign. Yakubu led the line with the usual mix of power and experience, but missed key chances. The striker, however, needs playing time still to fully banish the memories of that horrific Achilles injury and will have benefited from the football. Joseph Yobo too will have felt disappointment that the Super Eagles paled in comparison to African pace-setters Ghana, but will have benefited from the experience.
Blues coast it Blackpool 0 Everton 2, August 27, 1938 IN what was to be the final season for seven years with the outbreak of the Second World War the following September, Everton began with a winning visit to their Lancashire rivals. Goals from Tommy Lawton and Alex Stevenson secured the two points which ultimately helped the Blues wrap up their fifth First Division title. Lawton finished the campaign as Everton’s top marksman with 34 goals.
★★★★
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GOOD FELLA
Big man justifies his big price tag DAVID
PRENTICE
M
AROUANE FELLAINI still commands Everton’s record transfer fee. A sum of £15m may be small change to other blue-shirted Premier League clubs, but to Everton it’s a small fortune. But the biggest tribute that can be paid to the big midfielder with the big hair, is that no-one mentions how much he cost any more. It wasn’t always the case. For 18 months Fellaini divided opinion amongst Evertonians more than a ground switch or David Moyes’ substitutions. Asked to play an unfamiliar role as an attacking midfielder, sometimes even a second striker – Moyes explained he still couldn’t trust him to occupy the more disciplined role of midfield anchor – he occasionally used his height and power to aerial effect. But consistently influential displays continued to elude him . . . until last winter. Finally employed in his favourite midfield role, Fellaini’s influence began to grow and grow. And the moment the ugly duckling became a swan arrived at Goodison Park on January 16. “Just listen to the crowd roar!” declared Match of the Day’s incredulous commentator as Marouane Fellaini span his way firmly into Evertonian affections that winter’s day. Craig Bellamy had just been left dizzy by an impudent piece of fertile footwork. And the stunning pirouette at the climax of Everton’s crushing 2-0 victory over Manchester City confirmed that Fellaini was finally looking like the real deal at the heart of Everton’s midfield. He was the holding midfielder the club had craved since the demise of Lee Carsley, but a defensive anchor who possessed a cultured edge. He reads the game eloquently, breaks up attacks with tank-trap tackling – and redistributes the ball simply but effectively. While playing slightly further back he still retains a commanding aerial ability and as strikes against Sunderland, BATE and Bolton proved, still has an eye for goal. Any debate on his merits or otherwise are now surely redundant. Patrick Vieira’s presence in the opposing line-up that February afternoon provided a telling contrast. If City’s latest signing was a faded
Everton
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MAROUANE FELLAINI
Position Midfielder Height 1.94m Weight 85 kg D.O.B. November 22 1987 Place of Birth Etterbeek Nationality Belgian Total games 62 Total goals 12 ● Everton’s record signing at £15m from Standard Liege, he was initially used further upfield before impressing in his favoured anchor man role last season.
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JACK RODWELL
Position Midfielder Height 1.88m Weight 80 kg D.O.B. March 11 1991 Place of Birth Birkdale Nationality English Total games 64 Total goals 5 ● Hugely-promising young talent who’s assurance on the ball and calm head show a maturity well beyond his tender years. Recently penned a new five-year deal. CROWNING GLORY: Evertonians loved Marouane Fellaini’s pirouette around Craig Bellamy at Goodison
Nobody questions £15m Fellaini now figure, Fellaini is the Premier – a catastrophic collision with League’s coming force – showing all Sotirios Kyrgiakos nipping of the attributes and more that the Fellaini’s flowering ….. in the bud. Frenchman used But for to display in his once for Highbury Evertonians heyday. there was a Moyes said silver lining West Bromwich Albion 1 Everton 4, when he bought to serious September 6, 1890 him he thought injury. he could be the While the EVERTON got a great start to what was to next Vieira, and summer saw prove a memorable season with a until the Anfield constant comprehensive win at The Hawthorns. derby match speculation A crowd of 5,600 were on hand to see three weeks linking those Fred Geary net a brace and teammates later he was not other William Campbell and Alexander Brady doing a bad midfield one each in a success which helped the impression, talents Blues win their first top flight title the even down to Steven following spring. the telescopic Pienaar and legs that come Mikel Arteta sliding in from with moves halfway across the field to elsewhere, Fellaini was allowed to dispossess unsuspecting opponents. get on with his rehabilitation Following a bruising Merseyside unchallenged. derby, the Belgian’s season was over There had been talk of potential
Baggies blitzed
interest even before his ankle buckled under. Fellaini’s first season produced nine goals, but 13 yellow cards. His second season produced three goals and just seven yellows. Born in Belgium of Moroccan parents, he spent the first 10 years of his life in Brussels, where he represented Anderlecht as a schoolboy. After another seven years in Mons, he moved on to Liege to pursue a career in professional football, something his father had unsuccessfully tried. “He was a goalkeeper in Morocco playing for Casablanca,” Fellaini said. “But when he moved to Belgium the paperwork didn’t come through so he had to play as an amateur in the lower divisions. “He got a job as a tram and bus driver and in his spare time would take my two brothers and me to the park to play football.”
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VICTOR ANICHEBE
Position Striker Height 1.91m Weight 85 kg D.O.B. April 23 1988 Place of Birth Lagos Nationality Nigerian Total games 92 Total goals 12 ● Moved to Liverpool as an infant and is another product of Everton’s prolific youth scheme. Played for his homeland in the 2008 Olympics and has 4 caps.
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RETURN OF THE YAK
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JOAO SILVA
Position Striker Height 1.88m Weight80kg D.O.B. May 21 1990 Place of Birth Vila das Aves Nationality Portuguese Total games 0 Total goals ●Powerfully-built striker looking to further his football education at Everton after netting 14 goals in the Portuguese Second Division for Aves last term.
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SHKODRAN MUSTAFI
Position Defender Height 1.84m Weight 74kg D.O.B. April 17 1992 Place of Birth Bad Hersfeld Nationality German Total games Total goals ●Caught Everton’s eye winning the 2009 European Under-17 Championships with Germany. A product of Hamburg’s youth scheme.
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Fit-again Yakubu faces crucial year neil
JONES
I
T IS the sort of dilemma that most managers would like to have, but for David Moyes the idea of having half a dozen strikers to choose from is something of a novelty. The additions of Magaye Gueye, Jermaine Beckford and Joao Alves have brightened an otherwise subdued summer’s dealings at Goodison Park, but suddenly Moyes has options in attack. And for one of Everton’s biggest names, that could spell trouble. Yakubu’s Goodison career has stalled somewhat since a serious Achilles tendon injury, sustained at Tottenham in November 2008. After a fruitful debut campaign, the Nigerian has found consistency – and goals – hard to come by. Everton may have enjoyed a fantastic second half to the Premier League campaign, but for Yakubu 2009/10 was a season to forget. Recovering from an Achilles injury is no easy feat – as David Beckham will doubtless soon find out – but ‘The Yak’ laboured after his return to first team action last October. His sharpness clearly lacking, he finished the season with just five league goals in 25 appearances as Louis Saha, with 13 goals in 33, established himself as Everton’s ‘go to’ striker. Moyes FIGHTING BACK: Ayegbeni Yakubu has recovered from a career-threatening injury himself hinted at a mental barrier which Yakubu needed to overcome before he could return to top form. The World Cup did little to repair the former Portsmouth man’s shattered confidence. Moyes will be extra keen to Although he was on target with a late 1980s/early 1990s. At £11.25m, Yakubu was the penalty in Nigeria’s final Group B Lawrenson was eventually forced ensure that this is remedied sooner club’s record signing. match with South Korea, an into retirement by his injury whilst rather than later. He has since been surpassed by A good pre-season would have inexplicable open goal miss in the Barnes, shorn of the pace and Marouane Fellaini in that respect, helped, but Yakubu has been kept same game would ultimately cost acceleration on which his game but 21 goals in his maiden out of the Blues’ summer the Super Eagles a place in the was based, campaign on campaign, and was omitted from competition’s last 16. would never Merseyside Nigeria’s 35-man squad for the Perhaps unsurprisingly, the be the same ensured he newspaper rumour columns were player again. friendly with South Korea later was a firm this month. soon linking the 27-year-old with a Yakubu’s fans’ favourite. Doubts clearly remain about his move away from Merseyside. West fans would Now, having Burnley 1 Everton 3, August 18, 1962 general fitness. Ham were said to have made a argue that lost the best EVERTON’S sixth top flight title-winning With Moyes likely to persist with £7million bid back in June, but his game has part of two campaign began with an excellent victory in his single striker system, utilising Everton refused to countenance never had years to the front of 37,100 fans at Turf Moor. the Blues’ midfield supporting cast, any such offer. the same most Under club legend Harry Catterick’s chances are that Yakubu will be Hardly surprising. Few strikers reliance on unfortunate of management, the Blues earned both points one of seven senior strikers outside the league’s elite boast the speed, with injuries, the at their Lancashire rivals thanks to goals competing for one starting spot. kind of record Yakubu does. Since movement question on from Billy Bingham, Alex Young and Roy Saha is likely to begin the season his arrival in England from Israeli and Everton Vernon. in pole position, but with James side Maccabi Haifa in 2003, his anticipation supporters’ Vaughan, Victor Anichebe and a goalscoring return has been always more lips is; ‘Can nothing short of prolific. important to trio of new signings on board, The Yak ever competition will be fierce at At Portsmouth he netted 43 times recover his best form? the Nigerian. Goodison this season. in 89 games, earning a £7million Yet those who witnessed his The cynics would probably say Whether Yakubu has the move to Middlesbrough, where he anaemic displays at the back-end of no; Liverpool fans will remember stomach, or the fitness, for the continued his form uninterrupted. last season could not have failed to the devastating effect Achilles challenge remains to be seen. It was no surprise when, after 36 notice the lack of sharpness in his injuries had on both Mark But Everton fans will be hoping goals in 101 games on Teeside, all-round play. Lawrenson and John Barnes in the his best days are still to come. Everton took the plunge in 2007.
Increased competition for striker Title march
SHANE DUFFY
Position Defender Height 1.93m Weight 76 kg D.O.B. January 1 1992 Place of Birth Derry Nationality Irish Total games 3 Total goals 0 ● Had to undergo life-saving surgery on liver damage in May following a freak training accident with Ireland keeper Adrian Walsh but has now recovered.
★★★★
SPORT 13
Monday, August 9, 2010
BILY WON’T BE A HERO?
There’s no need to be Russian this talent
Everton
35
KIERAN AGARD
Position Striker Height 1.78m Weight 68 kg D.O.B. October 10 1989 Place of Birth London Nationality English Total games 4 Total goals 0 ● Started with Arsenal’s Academy side but moved to Merseyside in the 2005/06 season. Stepped up to the first team squad last term.
37
Blues can reap Bilyaletdinov benefits with some patience Greg
represents. The jury is out on whether Bilyaletdinov is really a winger. Instead of beating his man, the player signed as a left winger, prefers a fast HE season was seconds from ending but passing game and to cut inside where his right Diniyar Bilyaletdinov was not done foot can be used to quite yet. Shy and quiet around devastating effect like Everton’s training ground, the Russian his wonder-strike against prefers to let his feet do the talking and Manchester United at when they feel like it – they tell a hugely Goodison. It remains to be promising tale. seen if he has the pace to John Heitinga hurled himself into a tackle, operate as a traditional winning possession as the game drifted winger, or if he will push towards a disappointing curtain-closing draw for a more central place, with relegated Portsmouth, and slipped the possibly even contesting ball to Bily. Tim Suddenly, in the time Cahill Jamie Ashdown had to for the role blink, the ball was in the behind a back of his net. centre-forward. “I told the boys at For every Everton 4 Sheffield Wednesday 0, half-time I wanted some quiet August 27, 1927 proper action, players performance, EVERTON legend Dixie Dean’s throwing themselves at when greatest-ever campaign saw him net once as the ball and getting on Bilyaletdinov the Blues romped to a comfortable win the end of things,” said seems over the Owls. Moyes afterwards. frustratingly Dean, who was to famously fire in 60 “Until that goal it low-key, he will league goals during the Blues’ third looked like we’d run out flash into life and title-winning season, was joined on the of ideas – and let’s face show his eye for scoresheet that opening day afternoon by it, Portsmouth should goal. In Australia Dick Forshaw, Anthony Weldon and Alec have had a goal. his performances Troup in front of 39,485 fans at Goodison. “But what a goal to were largely settle it. A fantastic ponderous, but in the strike out of nothing, top second half against Norwich, he showed corner, a goal of the season contender for us if what he is capable of again with a he hadn’t already won that award for his goal deftly-taken strike in a crowded area. against Manchester United.” It is easy to forget that last season was Moyes, not prone to exaggeration, was Bilyaletdinov’s first in the Premier League, a blown away. The quality of the strike massive change of pace and aggression from suggested his £9m signing from Lokomotiv the Russian First Division. Moscow can be a force to be reckoned with in It may well be that Evertonians must Everton’s midfield. At only 25, the Russian continue to be patient, as their Russian who was recommended by Guus Hidink, still enigma gradually unfolds, but the signs has plenty of room to mature. But first Moyes suggest that Bily could well be worth the must solve the puzzle which the midfielder wait.
O’KEEFFE
T
The first of 60
JOSE BAXTER
Position Midfielder/Striker Height 1.79m Weight 74 kg D.O.B. February 7 1992 Place of Birth Bootle Nationality English Total games 7 Total goals 0 ●A former England schoolboy star, he has been with the club since he was just six years old and became the youngest player to start for Everton in 2008.
38
JAMES WALLACE
Position Midfielder Height 1.80m Weight 80 kg D.O.B. December 19 1991 Place of Birth Liverpool Nationality English Total games 1 Total goals 0 ● Fazakerley-born midfielder who made his Everton first team debut in Slovakia against Sigma Olomouc in last season’s Europa League qualifying round.
14 SPORT
Everton
Monday, August 9, 2010
★★★★
CUPS HALF FULL
DAVID MOYES
Position Manager D.O.B. April 25 1963 Place of Birth Bearsden Nationality Scottish ●As a player, Moyes started at Celtic before turning out for Cambridge, Bristol City, Shrewsbury, Dunfermline and Preston where he cut his managerial teeth. Joined Everton in March 2002 and has led the club to six top half finishes and the FA Cup final in 2009.
STEVE ROUND
Position Assistant Manager D.O.B. November 9 1970 Place of Birth Burton upon Trent Nationality English ● Injury forced Round to retire prematurely as a player aged 25 after just nine appearances for Derby. After working with the Rams as a coach he followed Steve McClaren to Middlesbrough and also worked under him with the England team. Left Newcastle to be Moyes’ deputy in 2008.
JIMMY LUMSDEN
Position First Team Coach D.O.B. November 7 1947 Place of Birth Glasgow Nationality Scottish ●Started his playing career at Leeds but played just 4 games before going on to Southend, Greenock Morton, St Mirren, Cork Hibernians and Clydebank. Returned to Elland Road as Eddie Gray’s number two before managing Bristol City. Part of Moyes’ staff at Preston.
Club needs to get a lift A
DAVID
GENERATION of Evertonians has grown from childhood into maturity without the spine-tingling experience of seeing an Everton captain raise a piece of silverware above his head. It is now 15 years since Dave Watson joyously hoisted the FA Cup to the heavens at Wembley looked distinctly achievable. Stadium, then found he enjoyed the experience A catastrophic 92nd minute own-goal, so much he did it again with the Charity Shield however, changed the balance of the tie and a couple of months later. Everton’s wait for a Wembley appearance went But there’s been nothing since. on. This time Blues fans didn’t have to wait Not even a Full members Cup or an Anglo very long. Scottish Trophy to add to the honours list. The very next season perhaps the toughest It’s certainly not the longest trophy drought FA Cup run in the club’s history yielded some Everton Football Club has endured. The near quarter-century which spanned the spectacular results. Liverpool, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and title winners of 1939 and 1963 claims that then Manchester United were all humbled – unwanted distinction – with only a wildly only for Chelsea to do exactly what they’d done celebrated promotion inbetween to offer any the previous year and break Blue hearts. cause for celebration. But there’s no doubt Everton are getting But 15 years is too long for a club of closer. Everton’s stature to endure. Beaten semi-finalists, beaten finalists, the And there’s a mood at Finch Farm which next step is arguably the hardest to take. suggests more and more individuals think it’s But it’s a stride clubs like Portsmouth, time that drought was ended. Tottenham, Blackburn and Middlesbrough During the Blues’ pre-season tour of have all taken in the past six seasons, which is Australia, manager David Moyes sat alongside why the draw for the second round of this Tim Cahill and declared: “We have been a season’s Carling Cup will be awaited with a decent team in the Premier League for quite a little more eagerness than usual at Goodison few years now. Park. “But if you know about the history of David Moyes has, by common consensus, Everton – Everton have won championships assembled the most formidable squad of and European footballers at Everton competitions. since the days of the “The one thing me and mid-1980s when Tim haven’t done is win silverware jostled for anything yet. I think for us space in the Goodison to get that name we are trophy cabinet. Everton 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1, going to have to do But regardless of the August 15, 1992 something about it.” quality of those EVERTON opened up the new era of Back in England, Tony footballers, the Premier League football by sharing the Hibbert added: “We want confidence actually points with Sheffield Wednesday. to win a cup. There’ll be claiming a trophy can A crowd of 27,687 were in attendance at plenty of focus on that. bring to a squad is Goodison Park to see Barry Horne net for ”We’re long overdue tangible. the Blues with Nigel Pearson replying for when it comes to The squad of young the Owls. silverware. As a local lad players put together by Tony Cottee was to be Everton’s top who’s been at the club all Howard Kendall ended a marksman that season with 13 goals. my career it’d be amazing 14-year trophy drought to be playing when we won in the summer of 1984. a cup.” Two league titles and It’s a feeling of a European trophy followed in quick frustration which has been growing year on succession. year. This could be David Moyes’ biggest chance Before the Blues last FA Cup semi-final yet of claiming that elusive first trophy. appearance against Manchester United, just 15 And after that . . . who knows? months ago, captain Phil Neville said: “Getting Everton’s squad – provided the Premier to the semi-final does not mean we’ve done it. We need to get to the final and we need to win a League’s predatory poachers are kept at bay until September 1 – is the strongest in recent trophy.” memory. They fulfilled the first half of that vow, but Influential stars like Marouane Fellaini, Phil despite a 23-second strike by Louis Saha, it was Jagielka, Mikel Arteta and Yakubu are Chelsea who ran around Wembley with the recovered from serious injury, rather than silverware that afternoon. recovering, while the draining effects of a But there’s no doubt Moyes is getting closer. European campaign will be missing this In 2008 Everton reached their first League Cup semi-final for 20 years, and when Yakubu’s season. Fifteen years is too long for Everton Football venomous volley threatened to rip the Stamford Bridge goal net from its moorings, then Jon Obi Club to be trophyless . . . but there’s a growing sense of anticipation that things could be about Mikel did the same with Phil Neville’s knee to to change. leave Chelsea down to 10-men, a Wembley final
PRENTICE
Horne blows
MEMORIES: Dave Watson with the FA Cup in 1995
SPORT 15
Monday, August 9, 2010
★★★★
THE KID IS MUSTARD
Coleman is ready for the big stage Full-back a rock at Blackpool Greg
Everton
20
STEVEN CHRIS WOODS PIENAAR
Position Midfielder Goalkeeping Coach Height D.O.B. November 1.70m 14 1959 Weight Place of71 Birth kg Swineshead D.O.B. Nationality February English 17 1982 Place ● Helped of Birth Nottingham Johannesburg Forest win aNationality League CupSouth final replay African against Liverpool Total games as a teenager before lengthy Total goals spells-at Norwich, Rangers ● Diegoand Cavalieri Sheffield signed Wednesday from kept Palmeiras him ininthe JulyEngland 2008, penning picture.a Won four-year 43 caps contract and awith handful the Reds of honours to act as in understudy Scotland and to Pepe has now been Reinaatin Everton goal. for 12 years.
21
O’KEEFFE
S
EAMUS COLEMAN appears destined to take the Premier League by storm in royal blue. Consider the other avenues down which fate could have taken the quiet young Irishman. This time last season, Coleman’s career hung in the balance after a blister on his foot became infected during their pre-season tour of America. Only quick-acting medical staff prevented him from catastrophe as the infection ate into his flesh. Had it gone undetected, they said, Coleman could never have kicked a ball again. Before that the Donegal youngster was made to choose between his love of Irish sport Gaelic Football, and football. When a career in the semi-professional GA which dominates many Irish households beckoned, it was a tough choice. Luckily for Everton, Coleman was spotted by Sligo Rovers when he lined-up for Donegal side, St. Catherine’s of Killybegs in a friendly match. He made his debut against Waterford United in 2006. But it was when Willie McStay, former teammate of David Moyes, recommended the right-back to the Scot that his career in England materialised. Coleman was signed for £60,000 in January 2009, ahead of interest from Ipswich Town, Birmingham City and Celtic. How that small fee seems a bargain now. The defender flourished during a successful loan spell with Blackpool, helping the Seasiders to Premier League promotion last season, and Holloway would love to have him back. But after a series of livewire performances in Australia, Moyes is letting Coleman go nowhere. The potential he showed when fearlessly tormenting Spurs on his Goodison
ANDY LEONHOLDEN OSMAN
Position Reserve MidfielderTeam Coach D.O.B. Height September 1.73m 14 1962 Place Weight of69 Birth kg Flint Nationality D.O.B. May 17 Welsh 1981 ● Place A powerful of Birthdefender, Billinge he went from Nationality non-league English football at Rhyl and Total finishing gamesbottom of the Football Total goals League - with Chester to winning ● DiegoaCavalieri Welsh cap signed in less from than a year. Palmeiras Also in played July 2008, for Wigan penning anda Oldham. four-year Followed contract with Joe Royle the Reds from Boundary to act as understudy Park to Goodison to Pepe in 1994 Reina and in goal. has remained since.
LEARNING CURVE: Seamus Coleman has benefited from his loan spell in the Championship last season debut last season was no flash-in-the-pan. Coleman is set for a breakthrough season at Goodison Park, with the 21-year-old keen to lean all the time. Those opposition wingers will have to think twice before charging forward, with Everton’s billy-whizz right back ready and waiting to turn defence into attack in an instant. “I didn’t feel as much pressure on my Goodison debut against Spurs, because I was on the bench, someone got injured and then I was on before I knew it,” he told the Echo this summer.
“When you’re playing you don’t you go up to the Premier League feel the pressure. But at Blackpool and it shoots up a level. It’s tough before the play-off final I felt the down there, maybe not as quick on nerves. It the ground, helped me a lot but playing in such challenging. a big occasion “Now I just and it helped want to keep Arsenal 0 Everton 1, August 9, 1969 me as a player. impressing A SOLITARY John Hurst goal earned the “The the manager Blues both points at Highbury in what Championship and working proved to be a superb season for Harry is a strong hard,” he Catterick’s men. league. There’s says. “If I get The campaign was to conclude with a lot of big, the chance Everton claiming their seventh League physical players I’ll shoot Championship title in a side boasting the and the goals again, but if celebrated midfield trio of Colin Harvey, are flying in. you’d seen Howard Kendall and Alan Ball. “I tried my my Striker Joe Royle led the Blues’ scorers best to work on celebration with 23 goals during the season. my defending you can tell I and hopefully it haven’t helped. It was practised it more a physical task. Obviously it’s much. I’ll have a go though; it might a good standard of a league, but then go in or it might hit row Z.”
Hurst winner
AYEGBENI ALAN STUBBS YAKUBU
Position Coach Striker Height D.O.B. October 1.83m 6 1971 Weight Place of83 Birth kg Kirkby Nationality D.O.B. November English22 1982 ● Place Lifelong of Birth Evertonian Benin who City started Nationality with Bolton Nigerian before beating Total games testicular - cancer at Celtic. Fulfilled Total goals his dream when joining the ● Diego Blues Cavalieri in 2001 and signed returned from in January Palmeiras 2006 in July after 2008, half penning a seasonaat Sunderland. four-year contract Finished with histhe playing Reds days to actatasDerby understudy before to another Pepe swift Reinareturn in goal.‘home’ as coach.
16 SPORT
Everton
Monday, August 9, 2010
★★★★
Everton FC 2010/11 fixtures August
14 Blackburn Rovers (a) 15:00 21 Wolverhampton (h) 15:00 25 Carling Cup R2 TBC 29 Aston Villa (a) 16:00 SKY
September
12 Man United (h) 13:30 SKY 18 Newcastle United (h) 15:00 22 Carling Cup R3 TBC 25 Fulham (a) 15:00
October
2 Birmingham (a) 15:00 17 Liverpool (h) 13:30 SKY 23 Tottenham (a) 12:45 SKY 27 Carling Cup R4 TBC 30 Stoke City (h) 15:00
November
6 Blackpool (a) 15:00 10 Bolton (h) 20:00 14 Arsenal (h) 14:00 SKY 22 Sunderland (a) 20:00 SKY 27 West Brom (h) 15:00
December
1 Carling Cup QF TBC 4 Chelsea (a) 15:00 11 Wigan (h) 15:00 18 Manchester City (a) 15:00 26 Birmingham (h) 15:00 28 West Ham (a) 15:00
Everton
January
1 Stoke City (a) 15:00 5 Tottenham (h) 20:00 8 FA Cup R3 TBC 12 Carling Cup SF lst leg TBC 15 Liverpool (a) 15:00 22 West Ham (h) 15:00 26 Carling Cup SF 2nd leg TBC 29 FA Cup R4 TBC
February
1 Arsenal (a) 19:45 5 Blackpool (h) 15:00 12 Bolton (a) 15:00 19 FA Cup R5 TBC 26 Sunderland (h) 15:00 27 Carling Cup final TBC
March
5 Newcastle United (a) 15:00 12 FA Cup QF TBC 19 Fulham (h) 15:00
April
2 Aston Villa (h) 15:00 9 Wolverhampton (a) 15:00 16 Blackburn (h) 15:00 17 FA Cup SF TBC 23 Man United (a) 15:00 30 Wigan Athletic (a) 15:00
May
7 Manchester City (h) 15:00 14 FA Cup final TBC 14 West Brom (a) 15:00 22 Chelsea (h) 16:00
Everton special designed and edited by Christopher Beesley. Blues openers researched by Paul Snowdon