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."

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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?