Lunchtime KO for Sunderland tie

Everton's FA Cup quarter final against Sunderland will be played on Saturday, 17 March 17 at Goodison Park, with a lunchtime kick-off at 12:45pm. The game will be screened live on ITV1. Tickets will go on sale from Saturday, 25 February.

David Weir returns to Everton

David Weir has returned to Everton as a coach five years after leaving the club for Rangers. Weir, who made 269 appearances during eight years at Goodison Park, will work with the youth and reserve teams. The defender, who turns 42 in May, will also be eligible to play for Everton's reserve side. "He'll help out Alan Stubbs with the reserves and will play in the occasional reserve game," said manager David Moyes. Weir left Everton in January 2007 to link up with Walter Smith at Rangers, where he won the Scottish Premier League title three times and the Scottish Cup twice. But he left Ibrox last month having seen his first-team opportunities limited this season. Weir had been hoping to continue playing first-team football and had been training with Sheffield United since departing Ibrox. "David did great for us when he was a player here and we are looking forward to being able to work with him again as he starts out in his coaching career," Moyes told the club website. "It will be good to have him around the place. He is a great professional and someone all the players at the club can look up to." Weir said it had not been a difficult decision to leave Rangers. "I'm not sad about it, I'm happy that I got the opportunity to play for such a great club," he said. "I have so many memories to look back on and I am very proud of that. I wouldn't change it for the world.

Everton 2 - 0 Blackpool

Everton booked comfortable passage to the FA Cup quarter finals thanks to a blistering start that had them two goals up on Blackpool inside seven minutes, an advantage they could easily have extended further before the Seasiders were gifted a highly dubious 90th-minute penalty that veteran striker Kevin Phillips ballooned over to seal their fate. With Landon Donovan denied his second swansong by a bout of flu, Royston Drenthe started on the right flank and the Dutchman took full advantage of the American's absence by curling home a beauty after just 49 seconds. Denis Stracqualursi, meanwhile, was guaranteed another start by Nikica Jelavic's groin problem and he grabbed his third goal of the season from close range off Drenthe's corner to kill the Championship side's challenge before it had a chance to grow legs. With Steven Pienaar cup-tied, Magaye Gueye made a rare start wide on the left and he was instrumental in both goals as Everton flew out of the proverbial traps in this Fifth Round encounter at Goodison Park. The French forward collected Leighton Baines' pass down the left before crossing low to Marouane Fellaini. The Belgian, playing in Tim Cahill's advanced role behind Stracqualursi, controlled the ball with his back to goal before laying it off to Drenthe and he despatched it past Michael Gilks with aplomb from the right side of the box with a sweet left-footer. And the Blues doubled their lead on their next meaningful attack when Drenthe won a corner on the Everton right and whipped the ball in to the near post. Gueye's glancing flick-on dropped into the six yard box where Stracqualursi prodded it home at the second attempt. Blackpool were stunned but recovered their composure enough to try a few forays down their left channel, getting in behind the home defence on a couple of occasions but finding John Heitinga and Sylvain Distin in uncompromising mood. They really only had a couple of opportunities before half time. First, when Phillips fired a direct free kick into the wall after quarter of an hour and then in stoppage time when Tim Howard palmed Silverstre's low drive behind for a corner. In between, the Blues carved out three chances to extend their lead. In the 39th minute, Drenthe skipped to the byline and served up the first of three greate chances for Fellaini but the Belgian was denied by Cathcart on the line and Darron Gibson's low drive was also blocked from the rebound. Four minutes before the break, Gueye picked out Stracqualursi with an excellent cross but the Argentine powered his header a foot over before Fellaini glanced Tony HIbbert's centre from the other side wide of the upright. Unsurprisingly, with a comfortable lead, Everton took their foot off the pedal a little in the second half but were still unlucky not to add to their tally. Stracqualursi served up what looked odds-on to be number three for Fellaini but he and Gibson got in each other's way and the former's weak shot bounced wide off a defender. And just before the hour mark, the mercurial but dangerous Drenthe unleashed a stinging effort that Gilks did well to push over one-handed. Unfortunately, Heitinga sent a free header off the resulting corner over the bar with his second goal of the competition served on a platter. The Dutch defender's foul at the other end after 65 minutes almost gave Blackpool an entry back into the tie, however, when his foul set up another direct free kick opportunity for Phillips. Thankfully, though, he smashed his shot off the top of the crossbar. As the game ticked into the last 20 minutes and the tie still firmly in Everton's grasp and Seamus Coleman already having replaced Gueye, it seemed like a good opportunity to give some playing time to the likes of Apostolos Vellios and Ross Barkley. Both players had to wait until the closing stages to make their entries, however, and Stracqualursi almost repaid his manager with a second goal off Baines's free kick. Hooking the ball goalwards with an out-stretched leg at the far post he almost surprised Gilks but the 'keeper parried his effort at point-blank range. Fellaini would be denied again in the 80th minute when, at the end of a lovely move, he found himself unmarked at the back post off Stracqualursi's well-placed header but, having beaten the 'keeper, his shot was booted off the goalline by a fortunate defender. And the Belgian wasted his final chance to earn a reward for his efforts when he planted a header off Drenthe's peach of a cross over when he really should got sufficiently over the ball to get it on target and despatch it past the 'keeper. Blackpool's attempts at heroics came in the dying minutes, first when Howard denied Lua Lua with a superb finger-tip save that diverted the forward's impressive drive onto the outside of the post, and then when Bednar was inexplicably awarded a penalty for what referee Michael Oliver determined was a foul by Heitinga. Any chance that the Tangerines had of staging a dramatic injury-time finish evaporated, however, when Phillips sent his spot kick over the crossbar without even forcing Howard to make a save. So a fairly routine home victory that brings Everton to within a win of returning to Wembley, the scene of one of their most exciting moments of 2009 and also their biggest disappointment. That year a thrilling semi-final win on penalties over Manchester United put them into the Final where they wilted in the May heat and couldn't hold onto their early lead. David Moyes will be hoping for another favourable draw in the last eight as he plots a return to the national stadium and an opportunity to make right on that crushing disappointment of three years ago. Player Ratings: Howard 8, Hibbert 7, Heitinga 7, Distin 7, Baines 7, Neville 6, Gibson 7, Drenthe 8*, Gueye 7 (Coleman 7), Fellaini 8, Stracqualursi 8

We've got an axe to grind, says Neville

Defeat in the 2009 FA Cup final still eats away at the Everton captain, Phil Neville, and he is determined to put it right. David Moyes's men lost 2-1 to Chelsea at Wembley almost three years ago but the disappointment of that reverse still rankles with Neville. Hopes of earning another shot at the trophy they last lifted in 1995 have been raised in recent weeks, with Everton odds-on favourites to come through their fifth-round meeting with Blackpool at Goodison Park tomorrow. It is the memory of being a losing finalist that most spurs on Neville towards securing a Wembley return. "Wembley is not a place for losers, it is a place for winners," the 35-year-old, who won the FA Cup three times with Manchester United but played in only two finals, both at the old Twin Towers, said yesterday. "There is no worse a feeling than losing a game at Wembley so that still rankles with me — that is motivation. It is my favourite competition out of them all and if you get to the fifth round you are nearly at that stage of getting to Wembley for the semi-finals. The carrot is there for us, we just have to take the chance." Surprisingly for two clubs with such long histories Everton and Blackpool have never met in the FA Cup, and their two matches in the Premier League before the Seasiders' relegation last season were their first encounters since a two-legged League Cup tie in 1981. Blackpool have not beaten Everton since 1966, in the old First Division, but Neville will take nothing for granted. "I watched them against Sheffield Wednesday in the replay [in the last round] and they looked every bit as good as they did in the Premier League," the former England international said. "And it looks like they have got over the hangover of their relegation — it wouldn't surprise me if they bounced straight back up. We are the team expected to win but they will come and attack us." Neville believes the FA Cup has given his team a kick-start this year as, since their third-round tie in early January, Everton's form has taken a turn for the better. "When we got drawn against Tamworth we weren't playing well at the time and, to be honest, it scared the living daylights out of me," he recalled. "I thought 'banana skin', FA Cup third round... we had been beaten by Shrewsbury and Oldham in the past. I thought, 'Please not this time, not to a non-league team'. We got through that but didn't play particularly well and Tamworth gave us a really good game. In the next round I was pleased we got a home draw against a Premier League side so at least it wasn't David versus Goliath. "Fulham took the lead but that game [which Everton won 2-1] was the turning point in our season because it gave us the confidence and belief because we had not been playing well at home. We started to show a few signs of getting back to form that night."

Green is young England hero

Everton youngster George Green was the debut hero for England Under-16s as he struck in the last minute in a 1-0 win over Spain. Green made his first appearance for the Young Lions by coming on at half time in Madrid and sealed victory with a curled effort from outside the area in the dying stages. After the game, England Under-16s Head Coach Kenny Swain applauded both Green's match-winner and his debut performance. "It was a great finish from George, so I'm pleased for him," he said. "It was his first call-up and he came on in the second half. We've had four new players involved and they've all done really well."

Everton look to push on as injury list diminishes

Everton midfielder Seamus Coleman's return from injury has given manager David Moyes another timely boost. The Toffees are on a high after back-to-back home wins over Premier League leaders Manchester City and Chelsea. And Coleman's goalscoring return for the reserves more than a month after being sidelined with a thigh problem provides more good news as the club look to maintain progress in both the league and FA Cup. Teenager Ross Barkley, who made such an impact in the first two months of the season but has not featured since 26 November because of a knee problem, also stepped up his bid for full fitness with a run-out and goal in the 6-3 win over Newcastle at the club's Finch Farm training complex. The 18-year-old has made a couple of appearances for the academy side in the last fortnight and was named on the bench for the first-team games against City and Chelsea but remained unused. It leaves only Phil Jagielka (knee), Leon Osman (knee) and Jack Rodwell (hamstring) of the senior players to return from injury. Rodwell, who has made only three appearances since last November, was in training last week until he suffered a setback. However, Jagielka's return was scheduled for late February/early March and the defender is looking forward to edging closer to first-team involvement. "It has probably been the longest January ever but I have got over that and am out of the brace and starting to do more in training as well," said the centre-back, who has not played since damaging medial knee ligaments in the defeat to Bolton on 4 January. "I have had Ossie [Leon Osman] for company which has been good and we'll hopefully be stepping it up in the next couple of weeks. I am getting there. We are itching to get back – although we'll probably be sat on the bench or in the stand the way the team are playing at the moment." In the time Jagielka and Osman, who has also been out since 4 January after having a piece of floating bone removed from his knee, have been sidelined, the whole atmosphere at the club appears to have been transformed. The arrivals of former Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson and ex-Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic on permanent deals and the loan signings of Landon Donovan and Steven Pienaar have given everyone a lift and that has been reflected in performances. Even striker Denis Stracqualursi, a loan signing in the summer from Argentinian side Tigre, has started to look like he has found his feet in recent weeks. Jagielka acknowledges the change that has taken place in a short period of time. "The whole team looks different and they look brilliant every game," he told the club's own TV channel. "We have added quality in January – Nikica has not played much yet – but Denis is like a new signing, the raging bull up front chasing everything down and he has got himself a couple of goals. "The back four are doing fantastically – they have changed around in the last month or so – and hopefully we can have a much better second half of the season to the first. It proves what a good team we've got."

Donovan heading back to MLS

Landon Donovan would like to turn his brief taste of the Premier League with Everton into something more permanent... once he has led his LA Galaxy to more MLS success. "It would be hard to go to any other club now so if anything were to happen I would imagine it would be here at Everton," Donovan told Reuters in an interview. "I know for sure this year I'm going back to LA but we'll see. My commitment is for two more years to the Galaxy and we'll see what happens after this year ... but I would obviously welcome the opportunity to come back." The grey skies threatening to burst with rain at any moment are a reminder that while the standard of soccer in the Premier League might be a step up from the MLS, the weather in northwest England compared to Los Angeles would be anything but. But that is a minor drawback compared to the benefits of playing in Europe with new US coach Juergen Klinsmann urging his players to seek experience in the big leagues to boost the national team's prospects at major tournaments. "It's obviously not possible for everyone but that's his (Klinsmann's) desire," Donovan said. "This year's a qualifying year and next year's a qualifying year and then we've hopefully got the World Cup in 2014 so if that's something I feel I need to do leading up to the World Cup then it's something I'd consider for sure." Donovan, who spent some of his early days in Germany at Bayer Leverkusen, said that while the clock was against him as he turns 30 next month, he still had time for a move. "There is no question that as you get older your desirability to European clubs diminishes," he said. "But I still think I can perform at a high level and I think that if guys are doing it at 36, 37, then I hope I can still be doing it at 32, 33." The US have improved steadily at big tournaments, topping their group at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and Donovan said making it past the group stage was now a realistic goal in all competitions. Donovan would dearly love the chance to help his country bid for Olympic success at London 2012 and hopes to be picked as one of three over-age players allowed to participate if his team qualify. "I had the chance in 2000 to go to Sydney and it was one of the best experiences of my life so if I have the opportunity, especially given it's in London, I think it would be a lot of fun and I would love to go," he said. "I do think more players should do this if possible," said Everton's on-loan midfielder. "I think it benefits our players a lot and they can learn a lot from these experiences. "Although the level of the MLS has got better and better there is no arguing what the level is here in the Premier League and having the chance to see guys up close every day is important. "For me the opportunity to learn from a captain who has been a captain for a long time in Phil Neville will help me when I go back to captain the Galaxy. Things like that are priceless and we should take advantage of them." Donovan, who returns to Los Angeles later this month, said the Galaxy's priorities this season would be to do well in the CONCACAF Champions League and retain the MLS Cup. He said he would return to the US champions fully fit and feeling confident due to his Everton experience although there was one thing he would have to do when he got back. "I'll just have to remember to take my foot off the gas a little bit when I get home," he said. "The pace of the game here ... is so frantic. The game will probably slow down a little for me."

Dogged Everton power past Chelsea

David Moyes insists he has not taken Everton as far as he can and hopes to still be the club's manager when new investment is finally found. He has been mooted as a contender to take charge at Tottenham Hotspur, if Harry Redknapp leaves White Hart Lane at the end of the season to become England coach. However, rather than jump ship to North London, Moyes wants the Toffees to emulate the progress Tottenham have made in recent years, providing chairman Bill Kenwright can secure fresh investment. "I take pride in the fact that it's only in the last 10 years that Everton have really come back to life," Moyes told The People. "The history of Everton has been great but I think in the decade I've been here I have established us as a top 10 Premier League club. "I don't want to leave this club then see someone else come in and get the chance to do all the things I've dreamed I could do here with the right investment." "It's been an incredible 10 years and I wouldn't swap them for all the difficulties we have had. Over most of those years we have been consistently competing against Tottenham but the last couple of years that has changed because of the investment they've made at Spurs. "So it's my belief and hope that I will still be in the building when our time comes to make the same change Spurs have done. "My chairman Bill Kenwright will need investment to make that happen and he is out there looking for it. But that prospect keeps me going here. Because I want the chance to be able to take Everton where Tottenham have gone. "I don't want to leave this club then see someone else come in and get the chance to do all the things I've dreamed I could do here with the right investment." He added: "I will know when I have taken the club as far as I can and I would hate to think I would overstay my welcome here at Everton. I hope I'd never be hanging around like a bad smell. "I don't think it's quite that yet. The supporters can see what we are trying to do, even though we are in a bit of a transitional period."

Fresh faces provide a welcome boost

Leighton Baines believes Everton's business during the January transfer window has given everyone at the club a lift. The Merseysiders are now unbeaten in four league games and Baines believes the fresh faces have provided a welcome boost. "I think [January's transfer dealings] lifted everyone associated with the club, it certainly did from what we see within the club, it gave everyone a boost," explained Baines. "It was massive, in particular, what that 24 hours did for us with the two new lads coming in (on deadline day) and the win over Manchester City. "We needed it and it does lift people. It is hard to articulate exactly why that is at times but to get the new bodies in really helped. "It was a productive period for the club and we certainly feel as though we are on the up again."

Everton FC fan group Trust Everton launches plan to buy club’s £15m Finch Farm training ground Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2012/02/08/everton-fc-fan-group-trust-everton-launches-plan-to-buy-club-s-15m-finch-farm-training-ground-100252-30287313/?#ixzz1lt1Tg7c5

A GROUP of Everton FC fans want to become landlords of the club’s Finch Farm training ground by using supporter donations to buy the £15m complex. The idea, which has the backing of shadow health secretary and Goodison Park season-ticket holder Andy Burnham, has been received with interest by club officials who have already met with the Trust Everton group. Everton FC currently rent their 55-acre training base after selling it to ROM Capital for around £2million in 2007, but last October ROM announced they wanted to sell. Now one of the men behind Trust Everton, web entrepreneur Tony I’Anson, is trying to gauge interest in the proposal with an online survey. Tony, 42, said: “Everton has a long history of firsts in football. This could be the next – supporters of a Premier League club owning one of its main property assets. “To get the wheels in motion we need to show the current owners of Finch Farm that there is a genuine will amongst the fan base to make this happen, and that’s why we’ve set up the survey. “The training ground is currently owned by a third party finance company who’ve put it on the market. “The logic is that someone has to own it, and at the moment the club is paying rent, and that money will continue to disappear. “Ideally Trust Everton would buy Finch Farm using subscription-based memberships and other sources of finance. Any surplus could then be used to finance other fixed commercial assets, for example to support the financing of a stadium redevelopment. “We see it as a positive move where the fans feel like they are really part of something. We’d be working with the current owners of the club. “But the aim is to still exist in 150 years when we are all gone, and the next generation are working with whoever owns Everton, whether it’s a local businessman or a Sheikh.” Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2012/02/08/everton-fc-fan-group-trust-everton-launches-plan-to-buy-club-s-15m-finch-farm-training-ground-100252-30287313/?#ixzz1lt1u0k58

Rodwell returns to full training

Jack Rodwell has returned to full training with Everton as he looks to put his latest injury nightmare behind him. The midfielder has not played since aggravating a hamstring injury just 19 minutes after appearing in the defeat by Bolton on 4th January.


Rodwell's fitness problems have interrupted what had been an encouraging campaign, but he has managed just 103 minutes of action since making his full England debut against Sweden in November.