City frozen out by indefatigable Everton

Forced to make changes, with Pienaar and Heitinga injured, David Moyes picked Coleman and Osman (his 200th Everton game) on the flanks and the big surprise — Victor Anichebe starting as the lone striker up-front. Saha thankfully did not start but was one of four strikers on the bench, with Yakubu, Beckford and Vaughan. For City, no sign of Lescott, Adebyor, or Santa Cruz... Jô on the bench.
If the first few minutes were anything to go by, this game would see Everton chasing shadows with City having almost all the possession. But when they did get possession, an attack down the right, then the left and great cross from Baines was headed on by Anichebe and picked up by Coleman on the byline, who chipped back a training pitch ball for Cahill to nod sweetly just inside the post with less than 4 mins gone.
On 10 mins, Silva was set up all in the clear on the Everton right by Yaya Toure and looked to belt it home but he missed the target completely. City started to press and won their first corner that Howard held comfortably. Cahill needed breif treatment for a head knock, Zabaleta coming off worse and going down the tunnel for a full head bandage job to cover four stiches.
Everton got their second goal in the 19th minute, and a thing of beauty it was. After a lngthy passing movement that started in the Everton penalty area, Anichebe got his first real involvement, interchanging down the left with Baines, then crossing intelligently low to Cahill's feet, while Baines ran in to pick up the gently played return ball that the left back then curled sweetly around Hart and inside the far post with his wrong foot. Lovely!!! Just the sweetest of movement, interpassing, set-up and finish — a really classic goal of the highest quality.
Kompany was yellow-carded for a poor block on Rodwell as he successfully prevented some good forward movement down the right. Everton were hoping to sit on the lead and settled into a good pattern of relatively calm control at the back but City had other ideaas, forcing mistakes that led to two wrongly called corners and a couple of serious half-chances.
Osman got himself on a laboured breakaway and looked to create a scoring chance on his own but was so weak in the end, it was pathetic, his half-shot clipping off the covering defender's ankle and lamely into Hart's hands. But it was becoming a rarity as Everton's possession led far too often to aimless hoofball clearances
A mad sequence of blocked shots and goalmouth panic on the half-hour was the direct result of such defensive caution, as shot after City shot was blocked away. Anichebe got away down the left and Milner had to foul him.
Fellaini, incredibly yellow-carded for a midfield challenge on Tevez that won the ball but his foot movement looked like too much like a stamp. Cahill then was dispossesd and fouled as he tackled back. A Kolarov free-kick was going to hit the post but Howard fingertipped it wide and from the corner Anichebe was the furthest forward — in the Everton D! — his clearance to no-one providing for another attack from City and more blocked shots and misses. Everton very much under the cosh... but so far holding out.
When Everton did break out and give themselves some respite, the annoyance and frustration among the City players was palpable as they struggled to deny Everton the run of the ball up to half-time. Coleman looked to break again but his pass to Rodwell was poor. Jagielka had to be alert when Yaya Toure looked to capitalise.
Mancini bought on Adam Johnson in place of James Milner for the restart. Fellaini again won a challenge with Balotelli, who went down like a wimp. Kolarov picked up and wellied an early clearnace that needed a very good save from Howard as City ramped up their attack. When Everton did go forward, too often it ended abruptly with mindless balls, one lofted by Cahill from the wing to the centre-circle.
Sitting back, standing off, defending deep... another Kolarov shot fizzing just wide. Osman was the next to bash Zabaletta as the tempo of the game was successfully being strangled by the cold calm Everton defence, epitomized by a great piece of defensive work by Distin. Anichebe chased a lost ball and crashed into Hart for an unavoidable yellow card. Everton's failing in possession, though remainded all too evident, with Rodwell trying to sell a dummy that was far too easily picked off.... and another spell of intense pressure / defending practice ensued.
Osman got called for a silly high foot on Ballatelli; from the kick, Kolarov drove pooly into the Everton wall and just as Anichebe was about to be subbed by Saha, he divided in again on Balottili — second yellow card, and red. Ridiculous. Everton down to 10 men for the last 30 mins. Okay... 4-4-1-0... backs to the wall!
City continued to press but much the same pattern as against 11 men with lots of blocks and long-distance prods. Distin was solid as a rock. City screams for handball against Jagielka when the ball clipped off his hip... And more rabid screams again when Silva smashed he ball into Neville's arm from 5 yards. Barry then came closest, skimming the top of the bar.
With 20 mins left, Balotelli looked to have got behind the Everton defence but slipped and missed. Then, all the blocking went wrong when Yaya Toure fired across goal and the ball clipped off Jagielka's shin and into the net for an own goal. A few more attacks and shots as Moyes lectured Bilyaletdinov before switching him in for Osman.
Johnson fired just over after Moyes bought Saha on for Coleman... a strange one, that. City looked to have equalized when a long ball by Toure released Balotelli who beat Howard but not the post and then fought with Howard who stopped a certain goal in the follow-up shot from Tevez going in.
Everton's third substitution was a surprise, Jagielka going off for Hibbert, presumably due to injury, with 10 desperate minutes of more bus-parking. Balotelli finally went off, and Everton played some rare football in City's half, as Jô came on. But it didn't last long as City came back, Hibbert blocking and Kolarov trying a scoring shot from an impossible angle.
A better move from City looked to have beaten the Everton defence but Hibbert got his hip in the way of a clip from Tevez that was goalbound. Que more rabid poenalty screams from the poor Mancs. A feirce long-range shot from Yaya Toure was incredibly touched around the post by Howard's fingertips. Another corner, Howard needing to produce a solid stop from Silva.
Jô looked dangerous but he was offside as the clock finally ticked to 90 mins, with Rodwell and Neville taking it down into the corner and Barry losing his rag over a throw-in call. Three throw-ins later and Neville finally gave it away with the board showing 4 mins of added time.
Another City attack, a clssic Tevez move inside, a blistering shot... and an absolutely fabulous save by Howard to keep the lead into the 93rd minute. Excellent work by Disiin, bringing he ball out of defence, cut down by Yaya Toure, yellow card. More fun and games in the last minute, Bily off on a run, Toure took him out: second yellow and red.
Final whistle, fabulous result. Well played, Blues.

Blues in Torres Swoop

Torres at Goodison, don't worry die hard Blues, there may a Torres playing at Goodison in January but it won't be the Lady boy (allegedly) from Analfied.

Moyesy has sent his scouts over to the sun in Spain to have Malaga's Xavi Torres checked out, and the reports coming back to us is that Moyesy is very interested indeed.
Torres is 24yrs old and is currently on loan at newly promoted Levante. The Boss sent his boys out to watch Xavi star in the recent 2-0 win against Atlectico Madrid.
He is a midfielder and started his career with Villareall before playing two matches for Barca.
It will cost though with transfer talk in the region of £5m. Oh well back to the drawing board, or a loan deal.

Everton told to find £38m for Almeria striker Pablo Piatti

However, the Spanish club's president Alfonso Garcia has indicated he won't sell in January amid a fight to save their La Liga status.


Double swoop: Moyes is also keen on goalkeeper Alves
Almeria sit one place above the relegation zone on goal difference, thanks to Piatti's double in a 3-1 win at Sevilla on Saturday.
The Argentina Under 20 international was plucked from Estudiantes for an undisclosed club record fee - thought to be above £6m - in June 2008.
Almeria's standing means they would find it hard to resist bids for their top scorer, but, with Palermo also keen, they are determined to hold on till at least the summer.
Atletico Madrid and Espanyol have also tracked the 5ft 4in forward, who can play centrally or on the wing and is affectionately known as 'El Duende' - The Imp.

Big Vic is for staying

Obviously, of course I want to stay at Everton. I have been here since I was a boy and I have grown up at the club. The whole situation over the weekend about my contract was a bit crazy to be honest. I don't know where it leaked from that I supposedly turned down an offer of £30,000 a week. That is not the case at all. I have not been offered anything like the figures that have been bandied about in the press... I want the fans to know I would never disrespect the club in any way or disrespect the fans... I understand that some of them will believe what they read in the papers, but I want to reassure them I would never disrespect the club or them in any way... I just want to leave all the negotiations with my advisers who deal with that side of things." — Victor Anichebe.

Vaughan returns from Crystal Palace

James Vaughan has returned to Everton after a three-month loan spell in the Championship with Crystal Palace, where he scored five goals, including a hat-trick in 14 appearances. Vaughan limped out of his last game and his spell at Selhurst Park also included a red card, but the overall impression he made was positive: manager George Burley said, "James Vaughan is going to be badly missed. We were trying to bring in a striker before the deadline last month but we weren't able to do that."

nil nil

Everton return to Goodison Park hopefully brimming with confidencec amd a burning intent to build on a promising second-half performance at Chelsea last Saturday. Mikel Arteta serves the second of his three-match suspension while there are fitness doubts over Pienaar, Heitinga and the Saha. This should mean Moyes will be forced to allow the Fellaini-Rodwell partnership to continue, with Yakubu or Beckford (but surely not both!) starting up front?

But no... Saha was declared fit, and astoundingly given a starting place. Pienaar was also declared fit so it's the same team that played so poorly in the first half at Chelsea. Cahill looked to have a great chance in the first minute but could not put his foot though it for a position well outside the 6-yard area. Cahill then won a free-kick that was well deliverd by Baines toward Fellaini and the Blues eventually got their first corner that was also delivered well and ended with Coleman firing over from distamce.

A great cross from Pienaar after good work from Baines was just fractionally ahead of Saha's strecthing header. Neville's first involvemnt was a poor challenge that gave away a dangerous free-kick and a booking in the 6th minute! N'Zogbia could not beat the Everton wall. Wigan won another corner that ended with Rodellega getting his head on a cross but putting it wide. Baines agian swung in a brilliant free-kick that was perfect onto Fellaini's head but he got it completly wrong and missed a clear chance to open the scoring.

Baines was controlling the Everton play, and Saha should have done better on a deep cross to the far post. Wigan looked to press and N'Zogbia got in a very dangerous ball from the byeline right across the Everton 6-yard box that was not converted. Everton were struggling by 20 mins to impose any kind of shape on the game, Cahill's niggles were not escaping the attention of referee Michael Oliver.

Cleverly was casuin Everton problems down the right and Pienaar's ankle-tap saw him earn the second yellow card from an overly fussy referee. Some shocking touches from the blues players, fellaini, Coleman, and Saha brought anxious jeers from the Everon crowd who were getting noticabley frustrated with what they were watching. When Everton did get some worthwhile possession, they overplayed it. A chance di come though, a header from Rodwell that was very unfortunatley intercepted on it's way into the net.

Some better pressure from Everton still lacked the final ball as intricate plays seemed destined to fail through close attantion from their Wigan counterparts. Pienaar and Baines though suffered a rare lack of understanding at crucial moments. Poor examples of Everton caught in possession with no idea what to do with the ball when in good advanced positions were particularly frustrating. Fellaine got a great ball across the face of goal but just a few feet too far ahead of the lunging Cahill. Thomas and Pienaar clashed breifly after going for the same ball

More stuterring Everton pressure around the Wigan area just before half-time should have lead to at least one shot on goal but didn't, summing up the frustration of another very unappealing half of football at Goodison Park..

Saha was allowed to continue after the break, Everton winning an early corner that came to nothing. Then a brilliant run from Coleman, but the ball in to Cahill was poor and Cahill was offside. Pienaar then had a good poke on a nice pass from Saha but it was saved by Al Hadzi. Everton then won more corners then Jagileka was in on a Baines ball but the keeper saved it. Pienaar and Cahill then repeated the move with the same result. Then more intricate play saw Saha flick the ball back into Cahill's path but the Aussie could n't get a clean shot and drove it wide.

10 minutes of sustained Everon pressure came to nothing and it was Wigan's turn to threaten. Then saha got his half-chnace with a great throughball that was perhaps too direct from Pienaar and whne he finally did shoot, it was straight at the keeper. Then a cross fronm Shah that Cahill headed brilliantly onto the post... Coleman scampering through but screweing up his shot/cross, quickly followed by a chance for Pienaar that he drove over.. chance after chance after chance... but still no score. The hour mark and Moyes, right on que in his incredible predicatbility, subbed Saha for Beckford..

Coleman again, and a great run but the cross was too high and away from everyone as Wigan were rocking on their heels. But the substitution of anything spoilt Everon's greatly improved rhythym and teh game looked to sink back into its scrappy first-half pattern. The troublesome Thomas was removed by Martinez in favour of McArthur, to save a second yellow.

Beckford then typified the Everton problem, winning a Jaigielka hoof in a good forward position but having only six Wigan players and no Everton players anywhere near him.

Pienaar walked off, with Victor Anichebe coming on to a chorus of boos, having refused a lucrative new Everrton contract, according to the Daily Mail. Another wonderful set-up, Baines clipping it in to Fellaini whose header was easily saved. A good forward movement and Beckford got behind teh Wigamn defence but was adjudged to have made his run a fraction too soon and his nice finish was called back for oofside.

Jagielka was called upon to prevent an almost certain goal from Diame as spaces opened up in teh Everrton defence. Rodiellga got a shot off that Howard saved comfortably as the minutes relentlessly ticked away and the game remained maddeningly scoreless. Anichebe woon a free-kick out wide that Baines swung in and agains Fellaini had a heading opportunity. Beckford then had another effort on target but it lacked any meaningful pace.

EAfter something of a lull , Everton got forward aagioan and Rodwell drove a shot from outside the area a foot wide of the post. Another forward play was spoilt by Anichebe's poor tocuh that should have played in Beckford but went straight out of play. Play was broken up for a while with some silly Wigan injury, and after it, Beckford finally beat the offside trap but could not control the ball. 5 mins left and dangerous corners from Wigan were very worrying, Cahill hacking t he ball uselessly upfield when more cultured play was called for.

By the end, Beckford was finally getting into the game, but his limited footballing qualiities were his main enemy, increasing the debate that he should be gibven more than 30 mins of game time to learn how to play more experinced Premier League defenders. Coleman got fouled wide right earning Figueroa a yellow card. But nothing came of the kick and Wigan made their most dangerous attack of the game, fouling Coleman in the build-up as Howard saved a certain goal on the 90.

Five minutes of added time, but Everton's powder-puff attacking prowess was prettty much spent, Beckford repeatedly offside, while Wigan sniffed the chance to grab a winner but N'Zogbia got himslef booked for dissent. That was finally it. Same old, same old... Seven painful games without a win since Moyes was proclaimed Manger of the Month...

Depending on your perspective, this was a valiant effort, foiled by a stalwart defensive performance from Wigam... or it was the usual pile of predictable frusrtrating rubbish from a throughly impotent Everton side that couldn't scoore in a brothel. I'm going with the latter, and anotherr painful example of the manager's increasing inability to get things right on the day with what he said himself are the best set of players he has had in his long long stint at Goodsion Park..

Record Deal For The Blues

Everton Football Club will today confirm the biggest shirt sponsorship deal in its history.
The Blues are set to finalise a new three-year extension to their current deal with Chang and will put pen to paper in Bangkok on Thursday afternoon (8am UK time).The agreement will take Chang’s sponsorship of the Blues through to 2014 and could be worth in excess of £12m to the Club.
To help mark the deal, star midfielder Marouane Fellaini has flown to Thailand as part of a senior delegation from Goodison, and will spend the day meeting Chang officials and members of the Club’s burgeoning army of Thai supporters.
The Chang logo has been emblazoned upon Everton Blue since 2004 and the partnership is now the longest-running shirt sponsorship deal in the Premier League.
Everton Chief Executive Robert Elstone, also in Bangkok, said: “We are delighted to be signing a new three-year extension with Chang. We consider Chang to be very much a part of the extended Everton family.
“We are proud of what we have achieved in our time together and to have contributed to the development of young Thai footballers and the coaching infrastructure. Thai Bev has harnessed the years of accumulated expertise in our Academy and used it to deliver their own agenda on the ground in Thailand.”
He added: “Chang have always been very supportive of Everton since we first signed with them in 2004 and have been extremely proactive in driving the partnership forward, helping Everton grow internationally, whilst we have assisted in supporting Chang in key markets around the world.
“We understand that in the modern sports sponsorship market it is vital to generate as much value as possible and together we believe that the Everton/Chang relationship will continue to provide a significant payback on the investment.
“We are extremely excited about the new contract and look forward to working with our Thai colleagues to further develop the relationship.”
Charlie Jitcharoongphorn, Deputy Managing Director of Thai Beverage Marketing Co Ltd, said: “Chang has been a major sponsor of Everton for seven consecutive seasons. Over the course of these seven years, our partnership has been nothing short of truly fulfilling and rewarding.
“The Chang logo on the shirts of Everton players has successfully launched the brand into international fame and the partnership enables us to contribute to the development of Thai footballers in many ways.
“So, we have decided to extend our sponsorship contract with them for the fourth time, which will run well into 2014.”
As part of the trip the Everton delegation will visit the Thai Bev Academy and meet with a group of Thai Everton supporters to celebrate the Blues’ ever-growing fan base in Thailand.

Arteta grabs a point to deny Sunderland

Nothing ventured in this massive crunch game, a fixture Everton have won in four out of the last five, Moyes going tried and trusted, 4-5-1, despite its abject failure to provide the goals so far this season. Louis Saha up-front all on his lonesome, the vastly improved Yakubu overlooked for the third match on a row. Everything else pretty much as expected: the dreadful Arteta and the questionable Heitinga picked to start, with Rodwell and Bily on the bench.
No Gyan for Sunderland after their stunning 3-0 win at Champions Chelsea, but Darren Bent is back alongside Welbeck in a two-pronged attack. The visitors kicked off but an early Sunderland corner came to nothing. The game seemed to be going nowhere down the right when Jagielka switched play crossfield and suddenly Pienaar sets Baines free on the left, a fantastic cross, Cahill nails it... GOAL!
A series of Sunderland free-kicks were cleared with good defensive headers, the third driven low, Howard saving low to his left. It din't take long, though for Everton to descend into safety-first football, with passes back instead of forward runs players chosing to play the ball defensively or just hoof it forward aimlessly. Of course, they rare time they didn't, Arteta ruined a promising move with a dreadful pass that set up a Sunderland attack.
Richardson and Coleman tussled boisterously down the right, which got the crowd wound up even more when the ref failed to give the home side a free-kick. But most of the game was being played in the Everton half, the ball up in the air for puerile sessions of head-tennis. 23 mins and Zendon skipped past Pienaar and galloped in, sliding a great ball past Baines and Welbeck couldn't miss at the near post... and he didn't. 1-1.
Baines took Everton's first corner and it looked that Cahill had scored again but it was cleared by three players on the line. The clearance came back and a high ball was won off the keeper by Cahill, played back to Distin but his shot was horribly high

A Neville clip forward was brilliantly anticipated by Cahill and clipped over the advancing Gordon but Turner stopped it on the line, colliding heavily with the post in the process. Arteta than had a shot after a sequence of headers set him up but it was hopelessly high and wide.
The hour-mark came with each side looking to stretch the game after a period of Everton dominance, Sunderland winning a corner that was headed away well by Distin. A period of sustained pressure for Everton followed but in looking for the perfect set-up, it never happened. Jack Rodwell entered the five-minute pre-sub pre-brief instructional session from Moyes on the sidelines before he came on to replace Coleman of all people?!?
A nice move — almost a breakaway — followed but Arteta, well positioned to shoot, chose a clever sideways clip to Pienaar who was pushed too wide and the glorious chance had gone. Malbranque came on for Zendon as Sunderland broke after Arteta went to sleep, Bent' s shot out for the corner, from which a cross eventually came in off Richardson, who had picked the ball up wide when offside after taking the corner, that Welbeck headed well beyond Howard and into the far top corner.
Everton had paid the price twice-fold for not putting them to the sword after that nice early goal... so, so predictable. Now wait 5 mins and go 4-3-3...???
Rodwell and Bardsley squared off, Jack earning himself a silly yellow card. Everton pushed and probed, but looked as ever to overplay it, with Saha, Pienaar and Rodwell doing the "After you, Claude" walk it into the net routine. Sure enough, 82 mins and Moyes plays his masterstroke, Yakubu for Saha and Beckford for Heitinga. And incredibly, this time it worked! (Although neither of the new subs were involved.)
Arteta looked to have missed his opportunity to shoot, but fired in a weak shot that the keeper had well covered miraculous clipped off Bardsley's foot and into the opposite side of the net!
Both sides could have gone for the win after that, and Malbranque released Bent who fired into the side netting. But as 4 mins went up on the fourth official's board, Everton's ponderous multi-pronged attack only succeeded in getting in each other's way in the Sunderland area. At the other end, Welbeck came so close to securing the win for Sunderland and his hat-trick.
10 seconds left and an incredible piece of Route One/hoofball [delete as appropriate] lands perfectly for Beckford with just the keeper to beat... and he leathers it just over!!! Moyes collapses in despair on the sidelines. He was not alone. Once again, extremely frustrating stuff.

Sunderland v Everton

Everton travel to the Stadium of Light for the televised Monday night game, knowing that a win would take them back up into the top half of the table. But they face a Sunderland side that could be quite buoyant after they stole a rather impressive 3-0 win off the Champions at Stamford Bridge last weekend by daring to play attacking football with more than one striker up-front. Fellaini is still suspended and Osman is still injured. Kick-Off: 8pm GMT

Yakubu says he's fit to score

Yakubu believes he can recapture the form which saw him become an Everton record breaker. The Nigerian international has found the back of the net just once this season, but is confident his return to peak form is not far off... “I always believe I can score and I believe I can score goals like I did here before,” said Yakubu. “Even when I don't score I feel I am not under pressure because I honestly believe I will score no matter what. As a striker you need goals, they give you that confidence. When you start scoring you start to look fresher in games. For me to score means a lot and I think there is more to come."

Rodwell's injury was 'worst ever'

Everton and England star Jack Rodwell has spoken of his ordeal in recovering from the ankle ligament tear which he said was his worst injury ever. The 19-year-old made his return to first-team football after being sidelined with the knock for two months. Now looking to continue his recovery by appearing for England U-21's against Germany, Rodwell paid tribute to Everton's medical staff who helped him through the painful lay-off.




He said: "The medical team at Everton has done really well getting me back. It’s taken its time but it’s getting stronger and stronger.

"It’s the worst injury that I’ve had, I was on crutches, I was in the boot, and you don’t see the light.



"It can be very boring when you’re injured, I couldn’t do anything but lay there with my foot up icing it every hour, so I watched a lot of DVDs.



"I’ve been out injured for eight or nine weeks, but it’s good that I’m back now as it was meant to be Christmas time, so I’m a few weeks ahead of schedule.



"I’m buzzing to be back playing again."



Rodwell's injury came at a time when he was in good form for Everton. Having just dazzled in a Carling Cup tie against Huddersfield, the youngster was hotly tipped for his England senior call-up.



Frustrated by the bad timing of the injury, Rodwell was philosophical about making that step up to Fabio Capello's squad.



He said: "I was gutted I got this injury as I was doing well for Everton and knew there was a couple of friendlies coming up.



"But there’s nothing I can do about it now, all I am concentrating on is being here with the Under-21s and doing well in the next game.



"I'm happy to play any age for England and I'm confident that I'll make the step up to the Seniors, but I have to work hard for club and country."

Everton FC granted planning permission to build £9m retail and administration development at Goodison Park

Everton FC granted planning permission to build £9m retail and administration development at Goodison Park

Goodison Park retail and administration plans 460
Everton Football Club have been granted planning permission to build a £9million state-of-the-art retail and administration development on the existing Goodison Park footprint.
The new facility will be built on the site of the Club Everton lounge at the Park End of the stadium and will house a 900 square metre retail store, museum, cafe, a fan-focused hospitality lounge and office space.
The four-floor, self-funded development will also free up space within the corporate areas of Goodison, meaning capacity for corporate hospitality inside the stadium itself can be expanded.
Chief Executive, Robert Elstone, said: “The new building is an exciting phase in the development of Goodison Park.
“It will help us grow our business by giving fans a new, purpose-built Club shop more than twice the size of Everton One, a new hospitality lounge targeted towards Evertonians wanting to socialise before and after games at Goodison and, at last, a proper home for the Everton Collection and other exciting attractions for our fans.
“It will also get the entire Everton team under one roof, something that is long overdue and an opportunity to further improve how we work as a team for the benefit of the fans.”
Work will start before the end of the year and is expected to be completed in Autumn 2011. The project will be paid for entirely through the assistance of existing Club retail partner Kitbag and Stadium catering partner Sodexo.

Mr Elstone added: "This new scheme is totally self-funded by partners so there is no net cost to the Club. In fact, it is cash-positive from the start.”
Commenting on the decision, Tim Groom, Managing Director of Formroom, the architects behind the design of the new development, said: “It has been fantastic to work on a project that allowed us not only to be so creative, but also to work with a client who is so passionate about high quality design and achieving an end result that everyone associated with Everton Football Club can be proud of.
“The new development will be a gateway to the stadium and stands against a backdrop of one of England’s most historic grounds, therefore it was crucial that whatever we designed was complementary to the existing area, while also reflecting the Club’s ambition.”

Limp fightback not good enough

Heitnga and Coleman were back in the starting line-up, with Loius Saha leading the attack, for the visit of the Londoners.

Pienaar was in strongly in the first minute, reflecting the ongoing debate about Arsenal's duplicity over fears of hard tackling. Cahill won an early corner that was delivered far better by Arteta, but Saha and Cahill both went for it and got in eachother's way. Coleman won a good free-kick off Clichy that Arteta drove poorly straight at the wall.
Distin did superbly to block Nasri's shot after he was given too much time and from the corner, a wonderful run by Coleman half the length of the field teed up Cahill with a cross for the perfect header but the Aussie fluffed it too high and wide. A silly knees-up challenge by Cahill on Wilshere did not draw yellow from Howard Webb, which was likely to go Heitinga, the way he was acting, Arshavin getting in a shot that curled aaway from goal. An even game for the first 15 mins... but Arsneal looking to take more effective control, Arshavin driving in and firuing over.
An incisve move from Arsenal required another last-ditch block, this time from Jagielka. Heitinga finally got his fully deserved yellow card on 26 mins. Saha got a half-chance that he spooned wide of the angle. Some great work from Pienaar in defence and midfield but the rest of the Blues were losing the midfield advantage with poor passing and lack of ideas when in possession, Distin resorting to the good old hoof over the top.
Asenal weren't really that much better, as the standard of football from both sides was getting a bit scrappy. But Arsenal suddlenly brightened, Nasri firing on Howard, who parried, and Arshavin fed the rebound to the poorly marked Sanga who had time to step forward and leather an unstoppable shot from a very tight angle just inside Howard's post and into the roof of the net. So much for getting the first goal... Everton got a chance to reply early, Baines winning a free kick that he swung in well but it was defended away and the all-to-familiar failings to create from open play set in once again.
Before the break, Pienaar went down far too easily for Howard Webb on the edge of the Arsenal area, but the Goodison crowd bayed incessantly for a free-kick. Webb did call another foul on Pieenaar that led to a corner that Arteta delivered better to the far post where Saha came close but Fabianski swatted the danger away. Not a great half of football from Everton, rueing that miss by Cahill that would have set them on their way.
A change at half-time — anything to relieve the tedium of the moribund fare on show, Pienaar the only one playing out of his skin. Heitinga was wisely removed, letting Jack Rodwell finally get some football, his ankle finally deemd strong enough for action. But the half had hardly got going when a simple one-two bambooxzled the Everton defence and Fabregas smashed one across Howard into teh far corner. A mountain to climb.
An opportunity came in the shape of a dangerous free-kick given away by Squillaci's challemge on Saha but Fabianski read Baines's curly and gathered it easily — at least it beat the Arsenal wall!
Things got feisty when Fabregas went in late as Distin cleared the ball, although he actually put his foot in undeer Distin's then claimed a stamp and got a well-deserved yellow card for his tomfoolery. Finally a nice move from Everton, Pienaar laying it back perfectly for Rodwell who scooped it horribbly over the bar. At the other end, Nasri ran free but could not beat Howard, then Chamak missed a gapping open goal that would have made it three.
A great run by Pienaar and Baines looked to have set up Saha but his shot was blocked away by Song, off his shoulder but it looked like his arm; only a corner given. Moyes waited until the 70th minute to make his final play for a point, Beckford and Yakubu on for Neville and the dreadfull Arteta. Brave move from the boss-man! 4-3-3??? Nice idea... But they just couldn't get the ball off Arsenal.
When Pienaar did finally get it. he played into space for Beckford to run onto... only Beckford was, er, in another League altogether. Finally, they got the ball to Coleman who ran at Arsenal and won a corner that Baines played short, with three strikers. Very odd. Needless to say, it failed miserably.
It was desparatly poor stuff from Everton really. An overtly attacking formation they had probbaly never prepared for... and it just invited Arsenal to play possession football. Some Route One stuff did get ball up to Beckford, whose turn and shot was impressive but his shot was not good enough this time to beat Fabianski.
Yakubu did well to set up Pienaar, who really should have scored but his shot was straight at Fabianski. A free-kick opportunity from the left by Pienaar was poorly overhit. Finally, with just 5 mins left, Everton looked to attack more effectively, winning a couple of corners, Baines adopting the Arteta method of hitting it in too low. Saha got a shot on goal but Fabianski was across to save it well. From the corner, Cahill finally bundled one in off a good header back from Saha at the far post.
Four minutes of added time, Everton probbing a litlle more like they should have been doing all game, but all they got from it was a yellow card for Coleman, and the ultimate end to the unbeaten run. At least it was only 2 this time, and not 6.

Everton v Arsenal

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Goodison Park Date: Sunday, 14 November Kick-off: 1400 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on Sky Sports 1 and highlights on Match of the Day 2; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

TEAM NEWS

Everton are without Marouane Fellaini for three matches after he was sent off against Bolton on Wednesday.

John Heitinga could return from the knee problem that kept him out in midweek, while the fit-again Jack Rodwell is in contention to start.

Arsenal are hopeful Kieran Gibbs could be involved at Goodison Park following his recent knee injury.

Laurent Koscielny serves the last match of his ban so Johan Djourou will again deputise.

---

Everton

Suspended: Fellaini (three matches)

Doubtful: Heitinga (knee)

Injured: Anichebe (knee/fitness), Barkley (leg), Osman (ankle)

Arsenal

Suspended: Koscielny (one match)

Doubtful: Gibbs (knee)

Injured: Almunia (elbow), Diaby (ankle), Frimpong (knee), Ramsey (broken leg), Vermaelen (Achilles)

MATCH PREVIEW

Arsene Wenger complained that his Arsenal side never "found second gear" during their hugely disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Newcastle last Sunday. But he could have had no complaints on Wednesday against Wolves as his side hit top gear from the off, with Marouane Chamakh scoring the fastest-ever goal by an Arsenal player in the Premier League after just 37 seconds.

I thought we would get punished for not taking chances [against Bolton]. It's probably been the long playing record everyone has heard from me since the start of the season  Everton boss David Moyes

The eventual 2-0 scoreline was possibly a little flattering as Arsenal found Wolves a tough nut to crack, but the three points were much needed as they bid to keep pace with Chelsea at the top of the league.

Everton have proved to be profitable opponents in recent times for the north London club and Wenger's side enjoyed a 6-1 victory at Goodison Park on the opening day of last season. Their total of 22 Premier League wins against David Moyes' side is more than the Gunners have managed against any other club.

But the Toffees have found their groove in recent weeks and are steadily climbing the table thanks to an unbeaten seven match run that has moved them towards the European places.

In fact, they have only lost three of their last 23 matches in the league and look rock solid at the back.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games against Everton and won last season's encounter at Goodison Park 6-1.

• Arsenal have scored four or more goals in a game against Everton in eight of their 36 Premier League encounters.

• This is the 194th meeting between these sides. Arsenal have won 94 matches, Everton 58 and there have been 41 draws.

606: DEBATE Have your say on this match

Everton

• Everton have lost only three of their last 23 Premier League matches.

• Only Chelsea (five) and Manchester City (10) have let in fewer goals in the league than the 11 Everton have so far conceded.

• In their match with Bolton on Wednesday, Jermaine Beckford became the first Everton substitute to score this season and Marouane Fellaini the first player to be sent off.

Arsenal

• Marouane Chamakh scored the fastest top-flight goal of the season after 37 seconds against Wolves; it was also Arsenal's fastest ever in the Premier League, beating Thierry Henry's goal after 58 seconds against Reading on 22 October 2006.

• They have scored in the last three minutes in three of their last four league matches.

• The Gunners are unbeaten on their last seven trips to Merseyside to play either Everton or Liverpool. Their last defeat in the city of Liverpool came back in March 2007 when they lost 4-1 to the Reds.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Everton

Cahill: 5 goals (5 league)

Arsenal

Chamakh 8 goals (5 league); Nasri & Walcott: 7 goals (4 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Howard Webb

Assistant referees: Andy Madley & David Richardson

Fourth official: Anthony Taylor

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Everton (D1-1 v Bolton, h): Howard, Neville (Yakubu 81), Distin, Jagielka, Baines, Bilyaletdinov (Coleman 66), Fellaini, Cahill, Arteta, Pienaar, Saha (Beckford 81). Subs not used: Mucha, Hibbert, Rodwell, Baxter.

Arsenal (W2-0 v Wolves, a): Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Djourou, Clichy, Song, Wilshere (Denilson 67), Rosicky, Fabregas, Arshavin (Nasri 90), Chamakh (Bendtner 90). Subs not used: Szczesny, Eboue, Walcott, van Persie.

Beckford stunner rescues Everton

David Moyes rang the changes, perhaps in anticipation of another even bigger Goodison game coming up on Sunday. Coleman, Heitinga and Yakubu rested, allowing Marouane Fellaini, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Louis Saha to start.




Bolton started the more brightly. Distin did well to intercept Ellmander in full flight on Howard's goal.



Bolton were pushing Everton back repeatedly from set pieces but after 20 mins it was Everton's turn to apply the pressure. Pienaar finally got a break, Saha's shoot straight at Jaskelinen but Tim Cahill in quickly could do nothing with the rebound.



Saha with a nice galancing header off a corner, say it cleared off the line after the half-hour.



Everton looked to attack with more purpose, Arteta firing in a good deep cross that won a corner. Good pressure from Everton led to another corner, with Cahill and Cahill getting a serious lecture for stupidly pushing each other. The corner dropped to Fellaini at the back post but his ferocios volley flew high over the bar.



Steinsson then took out Pienaar and won the first yellow card. Pienaar came back on after treatment and ran at Bolton, feeding a great ball into Arteta but his touch was too heavy and the chance was gone. Baines won a free-kick with a good run inside, but Arteta's free-kick drive was hopeless, the ball curling well away from goal.



A speell of good possession but the attack was nmodeled again around walking the ball through the Bolton defence and that was not going to work.



Another yellow card for Bolton on the break, Zac Knight cutting down Saha, the free-kick from Arteta totally wasted as his chip bounced through harmlessly to Jaskelinien.



So Everton under the cosh for 20 minutes, survived the aerial onslaught. Then the Blues dominated the rest of the half but could not deliver.



Everton looked to continue the attacking play into the second half,. Bily coming very close on an acute run-in fro the left, his shot deflecting over off Baines. Neville gave away a corner that looked dangerous.



The hour mark and subs in order for both sides,A great chance for Saha but he smashes it into a defender, lots of pressure but the Blues unable to really get close enough. Coleman coming on for Bilyaletdinov but another hopeless corner from Arteta. But Coleman joined the fun, keeping the balls coming into the Bolton area.



Coleman did a trademark cut-in but again the effort was blocked. On his next attempt, Coleman wins a corner but yet again, it was utterly attrocious from Arteta, straight to the feet of the first defender. But Boilton cannot clear and Saha wins yet aonther corner, this time from Baines. More height, but insufficient speed...



Fellaini caught Holden, lashing at the ball in the centre circle, and from the restart, Bolton won a rare corner, from which Taylor headed into the Everton bar! Yakubu readied himslelf as Coleman dsahed forward yet again,winning another corner, but it was lobbed in, far too high and deep.



But Jagielka gets caught horribly in possession in the middle, and Bolton are off to the races, Taylor crossing well for Klasnic at the far post as Distin and Howard both fatally miss the ball, allowing him to bundle it inside the post. Game Over, surely with 10 mins left..



Yakubu and Beckford came on in place of Saha and Neville, as David Moyes throws caution to the wind. Fellainai than got tanglked with Robinson kicking out at him while on the ground, Dowd immediatly pulled out his red card for an idiotic response from the Big Fella. Could it possibly get any worse?



No, into the fiinal minute of added time, an unbelievable goal from Jermaine Beckford. Baines did superbly to pull the ball back into play off Lee and scoop it in to Beckford, who turned on the left side of the area and clipped the most beautiful unstoppable shot into the top far corner of Jaskelienen's goal, with the keepr utterly beaten. A fantastice debut league goal and an incredible finish to the game.

Everton FC boss Moyes wins Manager of the Month award

DAVID MOYES was yesterday recognised for guiding Everton away from the foot of the Premier League by picking up yet another Manager of the Month award.




Moyes was presented with the gong for the third time this calendar year after his team remained unbeaten in the Premier League throughout October.



It is the eighth time the Scot has been named Barclays Manager of the Month since taking over at Goodison in March 2002, with only Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger having won more.



Having gone into October in last place with three points from six games, Everton recorded their first Premier League win of the season with a 2-0 victory at Birmingham City.

They followed that with a memorable triumph by the same scoreline in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Goodison, with Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta finding the target.
A Leighton Baines free-kick ensured a battling 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur the following week before Everton ended the month with Yakubu’s goal earning a 1-0 home win over Stoke City.
Their march up the table was checked on Saturday with a 2-2 draw at Blackpool, and they will look to return to winning ways when they entertain Bolton Wanderers tomorrow.
And Trotters manager Owen Coyle believes it is no surprise Scottish compatriot Moyes continues to glean individual honours.
“David Moyes is an unbelievable manager, who has established Everton a top-eight club year in, year out,” said Coyle. “To say that he has done a fantastic job doesn’t do him justice.
“I know Moyesy from when I was a player at Bolton Wanderers.
“John McGinlay, who I obviously played with, was pally with David when he was at Preston because they had played together at Shrewsbury.
“We used to meet up regularly and you could see how much David loved the game. Even at that time he was looking at the game from a coaching perspective, so it doesn’t surprise me that he has gone on to become an outstanding manager.
“David in many ways is very similar to Sir Alex (Ferguson) in the qualities he has.
“Everton have had real success with David because he is fantastic at what he does and he gets the best out of that group of players.”
Coyle admits Bolton can expect a difficult evening against a rejuvenated Everton tomorrow, particularly in front of their passionate home support.
“The atmosphere at Goodison Park is incredible and the home fans are screaming and cheering every time the ball goes into the opposition’s box,” he added.
“They really get behind their team and that’s something that we will have to account for, as well as the quality that Everton have.
“Everton had a slow start last season but picked themselves up and in the second half of the campaign they were the outstanding team in the league, and they have been playing well again in recent weeks.
“So we know we are in for a tough game but it’s one we are looking forward to.”

Van der Vaart and Moyes scoop gongs

Rafael van der Vaart has been named as Barclays Premier League player of the month for October, with David Moyes taking the manager award.

Tottenham's Van der Vaart, a deadline-day signing from Real Madrid, scored three goals during the month as well as laying on another for Roman Pavlyuchenko against Fulham.
Everton took 10 points from their four league games this month to earn Moyes his award, beating Birmingham, Liverpool and Stoke and drawing with Spurs - whose equaliser came from Van der Vaart.
It is the eighth time Moyes has won the award - and the third in 2010 - while he has also been named as the LMA manager of the year on three occasions since joining the Toffees in 2002.

Mustafi opener not enough.

Shkodran Mustafi scored after just 5 mins with a nice header off a Jose Baxter free-kick, but after that it was pretty much one-way traffic for the home side, who went on to win this FA Reserves Premier League fixture rather too easily follwing Everton's 5-0 route of Blackpool Reserves last week. No regular senior players were involved for Everton, with two big home games in the Premier League this week, although David Moyes's "secret weapon", Magaye Gueye, continues his aclimatization to the English game within the safe confines of the Reserves

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport-news/everton-fc/2010/11/07/premier-league-blackpool-2-everton-2-55578-27616040/

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport-news/everton-fc/2010/11/07/premier-league-blackpool-2-everton-2-55578-27616040/

Fellaini could be back soon

Everton FC's Marouane Fellaini could return from injury two weeks earlier than expected, manager David Moyes has revealed.

Belgium midfielder Fellaini was ruled out for six weeks after suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty last month.

But the the 22-year-old’s recovery is ahead of schedule and Moyes believes he could even return for the Barclays Premier League game with Arsenal on Sunday week.

"The situation has improved," Moyes said.

"He’s training well and will have an outside chance of being fit for next Sunday."

Moyes has praised Fellaini for doing everything possible to limit his time on the sidelines, saying: "The lad is probably the hardest working player when he’s injured, and probably the most dedicated to getting back.

"The medical staff will say he’s a pleasure to work with, he wants to put his time in and get back quickly.

"He was in Belgium doing a solid week’s work and he really puts himself out."

super phil

Blues Cap e Tan Phil Neville today became an unwitting worldwide super star on the website Twitter.

Now if I am being honest I don't know how it works, but I know Stephen Fry goes on it a lot, as I saw it in a documentary once.

The tale goes; that as Gareth Bale was tearing Inter Milan defender Maicon to shreds last night, Evertonians around the world were saying that Phil Neville was better than Maicon, due to the fact that Phil had the said young lad Bale in his arse pocket when the Blues drew with Spurs last week.

The posts then poured in, then the piss taking started, likening Phil to Superman, Wonder Woman you name it. Even our very own Landon Donovan joined in saying was Phil Neville trending?!? What has this world come to?!?!?!?'

Phil went to the top ten of tweets (their phrase not mine so stop it) around the world today.

As they say all publicity is good publicity, but just get us three points at Blackpool on Saturday as that will be a tweet enough, as Woy Hodgson may say.

Jermaine Beckford scores for Everton FC reserves as Victor Anichebe and Jack Rodwell

Everton FC striker Jermaine Beckford scored in the reserves’ 5-0 victory over Blackpool and there was more good news as fellow forward Victor Anichebe and midfielder Jack Rodwell both made their comebacks from injury.

Rodwell, who has not played since sustaining an ankle injury in the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on August 29, played 54 minutes at the club’s Finch Farm training ground before being substituted.

Watching manager David Moyes now has to decide whether the 19-year-old is ready to face the Seasiders again for the first team on Saturday.

Anichebe, who has not played since the final day of last season after being sidelined by a knee injury, replaced Beckford for the last 20 minutes and set up the second of Jose Baxter’s two goals.

Baxter initially opened the scoring, with Magaye Gueye and Beckford making it 3-0.

Baxter’s second was followed by a late strike by substitute Hope Akpan.

Pienaar agent quells Inter talk

Steven Pienaar's agent has dismissed rumours linking the Everton midfielder with a move to Serie A champions Inter Milan.

The South Africa international's current contract at Goodison Park is due to expire at the end of the season.

Pienaar has subsequently been linked with an exit from the Toffees, with interest in his services allegedly high.

Inter are the most recent side said to be keen on Pienaar, but the 28-year-old's representative, Ivan Modia, has quelled the claims.

Modia told calciomercatoweb.it: "Nothing is true. Steven's contract is expiring and the press continue to report rumours about his future.

"But I've never met anyone of Inter. I know of the interest of several teams only through the newspapers, because really we have not received any concrete offer.

"Would he like to play in Italy? At this time, Steven doesn't want to hear about his future, he's recovering from his injury and thinking only about playing football.

"We are still in November, we are calm and waiting to see how it goes this season."

.

Nothing confirmed regarding Abdullayev

Azerbaijan hotshot Araz Abdullayev has spoken of his pride at joining Everton and a spokesman for his current club says that, "officials from the English club will visit Baku soon and the contract will be signed here in our capital.” An Everton spokesman says, however, that while the Blues have first option on the 18 year-old, they have yet to take up that option. Abdullayev would require a work permit if he is to join in January, a hurdle that has, of course, been problematic for the Blues in the past.

Three parties looking to buy Everton

Bill Kenwright says he is in talks with three potential buyers for Everton, who are bottom of the Premier League and in desperate need of a striker. Kenwright, who has been looking for investment in the club "24/7" for some time, said: "I have to give David Moyes money. There are three sets of people I am talking to at the moment but how many times have we spoken over the years? If I gave you the list of people who have been in to see me...last year there were two guys who I promise you was convinced, the lawyers were convinced, Keith Harris was convinced. We thought we had them and they were terrific but at the end of the day when it comes to the money nobody turns up - after months of legals and due diligence."

BOTTOM of the Premier League!

With injuries beginning to bite again, forcing Moyes's hand, and him talking openly of using Seamus Coleman in midfield, there's hope for a better deployment of the players availbale as Everton search for their first league win to turnaround what has become an abysmal start so far. Osman was out with bruised ribs but Cahill is declared fit and will no doubt play in that suoporting role to Yakubu, lone striker of course.

Arteta took an early corner short but Baines's lofted coss was very poor, though he then did better with a more conevtional as Everton ran everything down the left. Fulham's first shot was long range from Simon Davies. After some good early possession that chacracterteristically went

An excellent ball from Baines in to Cahill say the Everton player tumble but the free-kick was odly awarded against Cahill. Pienaar then got hold of one on off a throw-in, but straight at Schwarzer. Everton were prodcuing good approach play, Coleman going on a nice run, but the final ball as ever just not coming for the Blues.

Pienaar won a free-kick wide left that Arteta curved in but the Fulham defence were all over it. Coleman won one on the other side and Baines this time put in a decent cross. Coleman on the other side was really getting the feel for playing right midfield, and running well at the Fulham defence. Lots more sustained passing but no end result, a fliked cross ending up with the goalkeeper at the midpoint of the half.

Baines then saw some space and went for a driving run that won one corner, then another but nothing came of them. Pienaar cut in and tried a shot that was horrendous. After more dreadfully inefective possession play, Arteta saw some space and pulled off an excellent shot form distance that Schwarzer just touched around the post. Best attempt of the half.

It continued into the second half... a frustrating lack of penetration from the Blues as ever, while Fulham gained confidence from their ability to resttrain the powder-puff efforts of the almost non-existent Everton attack. Cahill tried and failed with a bicycle kick, before giving way to Osman on the hour mark. A free-kick was driven in hard by Arteta but careened off Murphy's head.

A better move saw a great cross from Coleman on the byeline that Yakubu fluffs at the near post and Osman has no belief or committment to finish at the back post. Best chance of the game gone begging. As the clock ticked on, both teams finally started to play with a little more belief and committment but the game as a spectacle was poor.

Yak did well to turn his man, advance and shoot but it just lacked the power and determination to beat Schwarzer , who palmed it away.

Bilyaletdinov came on for the last 3 mins, but odd to bring off Coleman, who is the one player that could perhaps feed Bily. Yakubu came close off a bouncing ball from Osman, but lashed it just wide. Fellaini set up Yakubu brilliantly for the last kick of teh game but his shot was quintessential powder puff suff as he passed it back to the keeper, and Howard Webb blew to end another ineffective display from the Blues.

An away draw at a bogey ground will go down as an acceptable result but really this was simply a continuation of Everton's attrocious start, with no decent attacking play or penetration on goal to speak of. The first clean sheet of the season, though... and the way Moyes thinks, that will be hailed as fantastic progress and a great improvement. Only problem is... we're now BOTTOM of the Premier League!

Toothless Humiliating Cup Exit

David Moyes rang a few chnages after the dismal performance against Newcastle, but the most expected starter, Jermaine Beckford, was left on the bench despite the obvious possibilities for him to gain some much-needed confidence against lower league opposition. But it was one of those changes, the defender much lauded for his forward attacking style, Seasmus Coleman who banged the ball into the back of the Brentford net inside just 6 mins who set the Blues on their way. The chance came from a shot by Bilyaletdinov that was blocked.

Better attcking moves followed, a good ball coing in for Yakubu, the goalkeeper doing well to smother the ball. Brentord went down teh otehr end where Adams had a pop form distance, going a few yards wide. Fellaini's crosses were poor but Gueye and Bily were doing better, getting some good balls in where Osman was playing better in his favoured central role.

Brentford had a good shout for something when Bilyletdinov brought down soneone on the edge of the area, as they pushed Everton back a little although Fellaini came close, then Yakubu forced two good saves from Lee, under some pressure, then Fellaini hit the post.

Brentford equalized just before the break, Alexander outjumping Jagielka and sending a looping header beyond Mucha off an excellent cross that Coleman failed to defend adequately.

Brentford remainded strong into the second half, eventually winning a penalty when Coleman hauled down Weston and was booked.. Mucha made an absolutely fantastic save to stop MacDonald forom giving Brentford a crucial lead. Woodman then hit the post before Bily had a good header saved.

As time ticked away, Distin had an excellent header cleared off the line. Fellaini went into the ref's book. Arteta and Pienaar came on to replace Gueye and Bily but to little real effect as the game drifted towrad Extra Time. Coleman went on another rampage, forcing Lee into a double save in added time.

Beckford finally came on in place of the Yak with 20 mins of extra time. Still only 4-5-1, however, against League One oposition, and Everton could do nothing meanigful as the game drifted painfully toward penalties.

Penalties:

•Everton (Baines: powerful shot, scored) 1 – 1 (Weston: sends Mucha wrong way) Brentford;
•Everton (Neville: just inside the post) 2 – 2 (Forster: in off the post) Brentford;
•Everton (Arteta: scores easily) 3 – 3 (Spillane: Mucha almost saves) Brentford;
•Everton (Beckford: Saved by Lee!!) 3 – 4 (MacDonald: Mucha goes the wrong way) Brentford;
•Everton (Jagielka: Hits the post!) 3 – 4 Brentford win on Penalties;
Astounding!

Everton: Value for Money

A new study has hailed Everton as the real champions of the Premier League in the 2009/10 season!

That is the finding of a university study which has put together a Financial Fair Play league.

The research, carried out by Dr Sue Bridgwewater from the University of Warwick, balances teams' performance over the 2009/10 season against their financial circumstances.

It was based on a formula which takes into account wages and transfer expenditure in relation to points gathered, with the Blues coming out top of the league.

David Moyes' men come out ahead of Blackburn, Arsenal and Tottenham in the standings. In contrast, Manchester City, Liverpool and West Ham would have been in the relegation zone.

The research was suggested by The Times, with their chief football correspondent Patrick Barclay writing: "The findings are very much in line with the view of managers of how Barlcays Premier League clubs are run.

"If football were anything to do with fairness, Goodison Park would have been a blue sea of celebration at the end of last season and David Moyes a champion manager."

Dr Bridgewater has written several books on football business and runs a course for current and aspiring managers at the University of Warwick.

The 2009/10 Financial Fair Play League looked like this:

1
Everton

2
Blackburn Rovers

3
Arsenal

4
Tottenham Hotspur

5
Fulham

6
Manchester United

7
Bolton Wanderers

8
Birmingham City

9
Chelsea

10
Burnley

11
Aston Villa

12
Stoke City

13
Wolves

14
Wigan Athletic

15
Sunderland

16
Hull City

17
Portsmouth

18
Liverpool

19
West Ham United

20
Manchester City

Aston Villa 1 - 0 Everton

A couple of somewhat promising changes that could be construed as modestly adventurous by David Moyes: Osman and Saha benched in favour of Rodwell and Beckford... Rodwell playing in right-side forward attacking role, with Arteta dropping strangely deep, almost alongside Fellaini in front of the back four.

Everton started very brightly, dominating possession, and it looked that they might score when Baines burst in from the left but he could not pull the ball back effectively and nothing came of the corner. Fellaini was majestic in the middle, the ball coming his way almost magnetically.

Richard Dunne fouled Beckford somewhat cynically, earning an early card, and Arteta's free-kick was a bit better than usual, at least on target, but did not fool Freidel at all.

But it was a silly slip by the Big Fella on the first Villa attack that saw the ball end up in the back of the Everton net all too easily, when Ashley Young slipped a pass nonchalantly past Jagielka and into space owned by the advanceing Luke Yonug, who curled a scoring shot past Howard with simply far too much ease. So... an up hill climb yet again.

Beckford and Baines combined well for Pienaar to put in a superb curler that pinged off the angle, a top-class attempt, Freidel well beaten. Beckford was getting involved but his touch, passing and accuracy were all way below the standard required.

Forward moves from Everton were looking better but breaking down far too often at the edge of the Villa penalty area. [Described in classic terms by David Hallwood on our Live Forum as "watching eunuch porn — all foreplay and no penetration!] They won a handful of corners as they cranked up the pressure, but the final ball, as ever, was just not good enough. Fellaini was getting closer and closer to a card, penalised mainly for his own physical presence.

Villa weathered the Everton storm, such as it was, and mounted their own not unimpressive attacks, one good cross needing a strong defensive header from Distin.

Rodwell, who had started wide right, popped up on the left and tried a chipped cross that just drifted wide. At the other end, the youngster Albrighton was doing a pretty good Coleman impression, causing havoc, winning corners, and getting screams for a penalty just before the break when Pienaar was thought to have clipped him as he tried to shoot...

No changes at half-time, of course, despite the scoreline. First real action was Albrighton delivering an excellent cross that Carew headed wide!!! Eveton attacked but it broke down again 0and Ashley Young was on a one-man break against Distin, thankfully shooting wide. While Everton attacked at walking pace again but produced nothing of merit as Pienaar grimaced toward the bench, clutching his knee.

Almost an hour gone... nothing happening... What to do? Inject a burst of life in the form of Coleman, perhaps? Er... no: King Louis: tried and trusted, on for the consistently poor Beckford. Pienaar produced a horrible pass under no pressure that led to a Carew attack and shot. At the other end, something for the scrapbooks, a superb cross from Hibbert on the run, under pressure... but no-ne there. A great corner from Cahill was defended away as Everton applied some pressure. A shooting chance for Fellaini and/or Saha that they contrived to miss, getting in eachother's way.

The impetus swung again as Carew looked to have set up Young but his shot did not connect well and Howard just about pawed it away to safety. Then a good shot from Saha forced a great save from Freidel, then a nice cross found Fellaini but his looping header lacked power. Albrighton went in the book for fouling Baines, and a fantastic delivery from the free kick glanced in dangerously by Rodwell, flew just inches past the post.

The game had a really competitive bite for a spell, with some pulsating stuff end to end, both sides looking like they could score... that was until Everton resorted to hoofing it, courtesy of Distin. But playing it on the ground was no better, Jagielka mystifytingly passing the ball straight to Ashley Young... Lordy lordy! Warnock, with a clear tackle from behind on Rodwell, should have gotten a yellow card but didn't, Rodwell eventually hobbling off.

Cahill looked to dive and won a free-kick in a great position. Coleman came on for Rodwell as Atreta blasted the free-kick at the wall and Saha went for the careeneing ball but got called wrongly for a foul on the defender. Coleman and Hibbert contrived to win a corner that did not beat the first defender but Coleman and Fellaini then tried to walk the ball in through a massed defence. That failed and the Villains were off again Jagielka almost slipping up, conceding a corner.

Young looked to score again, but forced an absolutely brilliant save by Howard, Albrighton fluffing the rebound badly when it looked like he must score. A simply scintillating run by Coleman to the byeline deserved more but no-one really showed for the brilliant cut-back. More good attacking football from Everton, Saha powering in from the right. A fantastic corner headed on by Jagielka, right across the goalmouth! A trendous spell of pressure by the Blues once again delivered nothing.

10 mins left and Hibbert was replaced by Heitinga, final role of the dice but his first contribution was poor although Petrov then fouled Baines to set up another golden free-kick chance but Arteta again hit the wall. Jagielka then headed over from a much better Arteta corner, should have done far better, a glorious chance really. More attacking verve down the left, grate work betweeen Fellaini and Pienaar to get Saha in but his shot blocked for another corner... and another, and another, and another!

The onlslaught Everton mounted in the last 20-30 mins was really very impressive, but the ball just would not get close enough to the Villa net. Injuries to Villa players contrived to ease the pressure and break their momentum approaching the 90-minute mark, as Baines resorted to Route One for Saha but he didn't control it, and 5 mins were added as another perfect-looking ball fell for Saha but he let it bounce rather than taking ownership.

A fantastic move down the left and Saha lashed in the winner... only for it to hit Dunne's knee!! Unbelievable stuff. Saha made another chance but his ground shot was hit just a fraction too slow and Freidel got a desperate fingertip to it. The whistle blew and The Blues had stolen an incredible defeat from the jaws of victory. What was that about Everton lacking goal threat?