The rumours including Everton striker Andrew Johnson have been fast and furious this week. Just today, the striker was being linked with a move to Sunderland, and based on current reports, the rumours linking the Merseyside man with other Premiership clubs in the future seems to be a foregone conclusion. [Read the rest of this entry »]

The alarm bells started ringing at the Stadium of Light as soon as Kenwyne Jones was ruled out for nine months, and it appears Roy Keane has several irons in the fire as far as striking options are concerned. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Everybody’s favourite tabloid The Sun reckons that Everton will start off their summer transfer shenanigans by getting rid of one of their strikers. [Read the rest of this entry »]

The jewel in Russia’s crown made his Euro 2008 debut against Sweden after missing the first two games due to suspension. Arshavin turned in an awesome performance, which has managers across the world drooling over him; and with everyone salivating over the Russian skillster, this BBC journo feels he is too good to be at Goodison… [Read the rest of this entry »]

Good to see that justice was done at the High Court yesterday, after news emerged that David Moyes won a cool £500,000 over allegations made by Wayne Rooney in his autobiography. The Manchester United striker played under the Scot at Everton and alleged that his manager had leaked details of a private conversation between the pair to a newspaper, something that Moyes categorically denied from day one. The Daily Record report:

Moyes’s solicitor Edwar Parladorio said: “Mr Moyes was not the source, direct or indirect, of anything in the article. There was no breach of confidence or betrayal of trust by MrMoyes.

“Happily, Mr Rooney, Mr Davies and HarperCollins Publishing appear here today, by their solicitor, to acknowledge they were mistaken, publicly withdraw the allegation and apologise.

“The defendants have also agreed to pay Mr Moyes a substantial sum in damages and his legal costs.”

Sarah Toolan, for the defendants, said they accepted the allegation “was untrue and sincerely apologise” for the “distress and embarrassment”.

Like Aston Villa, the Everton boss has proved himself as one of football’s nice guys by awarding the money to charity. Clearing his name was clearly the objective here and it’s a shame that the chavvy oik that goes by the name of Wayne Rooney gave his consent to lies being published. It’s also laughable that a player so young published an autobiography in the first place.

According to the Daily Mail, Everton are set to make a bid for Man City midfielder Michael “The New Stevie G” Johnson, with David Moyes ready to wave a sizeable chunk of his transfer kitty – £8m – in front of Man City officials.

Everton are hot on the heels of Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson – with boss David Moyes lining up a £8million swoop.

The 20-year-old playmaker, dubbed by City fans as the new Steven Gerrard, tops Toffees boss David Moyes’ wanted list and the clubs have opened talks. (Daily Mail)

It is fluorescently obvious that Moyes’ priority at Everton is to add to his midfield, and Johnson – a young and talented midfielder – would be a perfect signing. It is just a shame that Everton released him when he was an Academy player!

The actors union Equity has lashed out at Everton chairman and theatre luvvy Bill Kenwright, claiming that he is the “the worst payer in the West End”. Does this back up the rumours swilling around Goodison that Blue Bill is full of hot air when it comes to splashing the cash?

Equity President Harry Landis grumbled:

“Now I’m not backward in mentioning names – some people don’t like to, but I’m going to. Bill Kenwright is the worst payer in the West End, paying minimum for everything. It is his representative on their [Society of London Theatre’s] negotiating team that I think is holding us up [in the negotiations for a new West End minimum].”

Will tightwad Billy eventually force Moyes from Goodison or does he take a different approach where football matters are concerned?

The Daily Mail reports that Everton boss Davie Moyes thinks that his rock, Tim Howard, is one of the key elements in his team’s top-4 chasing season. Moyes said:

‘To me, he was the best keeper in the country in that first season for Manchester United.

‘There were some outstanding keepers in the Premier League then, just as there are now, but he was something else. He settled into English football straight away and was outstanding.

‘It didn’t go quite so well after that and he had to put his career back on track when he came here.

‘But I always felt he could. I’m not so sure confidence was an issue at the time, though it clearly can’t have helped being out of the team.

‘Really, I just think he needed a bit of love and attention. He needed to feel he had a part to play and was wanted and he got that here.

‘In return, we’ve got a keeper who has proved a more than capable replacement for Nigel Martyn’.

Although Howard was an absolute steal at £3million, Moyes still rates freebie signing Nigel Martyn as his best ever signing – will Tim Howard go on as long as his predecessor? And were Man Utd wrong to let him go?

Unsurprisingly David Moyes will bring Yakubu back from exile for this week’s UEFA Cup tie against Norwegian outfit SK Brann. The Moyesiah said:

“Yak’s back in and it’s done with now — that episode has ended.

“Let’s hope he feels he has a point to prove because he let us down by not coming back on time.

“We have moved on but he will be important because he is one of those with good European experience which will be vital.”

So it looks like Yakubu will be playing, but what of the injury ravaged midfield, with Arteta, Gravesen, Pienaar, and possibly Manuel Fernandes crocked? Moyes confessed that his team will be severely depleted:

“To be honest it’s a bit of a struggle even getting a team out.

“We would hope that the boys who have been through it all before in Europe are a real help to us, because we’ll need it with the injuries.”

A look at the squad members that flew over to Norway shows us that a certain Mr Van Der Meyde, International man of mystery, and once upon a time a blahhrdy good winger, any chance of a double recall of Yakubu and Van Der Meyde?

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David Moyes is fast becoming a master craftsman, taking rough lower division diamonds and coaxing sparkling performances out of them. First there was Tim Cahill, who we bought from Millwall and nearly went to Crystal Palace, but has since been widely accepted as one of the best goalscoring midfielders in the Premier League. Next there was Joleon Lescott, nabbed from Wolves and coming with glowing recommendations, it was the worry over his knees that presumably scared off the top teams, but yet again Moyes was proven right. And now we have Phil Jagielka, a man who had Premier League experience, but with the sinking ship that was Sheffield Utd – when he initially signed for Everton for £4.5million there were some doubters, and after a shaky start the doubts grew – but Jagielka has now settled and looks to be joining fellow Toffees Yobo and Lescott as being a quality defender. In Saturday’s game at Goodison, Jagielka not only scored the winner but put in a wonderful defensive performance too. Jags said:

“I would love to have come here and been a fans’ favourite within a month, but it was always likely to take a little longer. I knew I was coming here to be part of a team, rather than the shining light.

“It was still tough, though. From being a big fish in a small pond and playing every week I was suddenly in a position where, even if I did play, I couldn’t be sure of which position. I had friends and family round me who talked me through it and told me to be patient and I think I have cleared that hurdle now.”

“It was great to get the winning goal but, as a defender, I take most satisfaction from that challenge at the end.”

The Moyesiah himself said:

“He had a few doubts about himself in the early days,~” said Moyes, “and there were times when he seemed to wonder whether he had taken a step too far. It was a step up for him and it’s not always easy settling in straight away and proving you are up to it.

“But I never had any doubts. I knew what he was about and took the chance to tell him so whenever I thought he needed lifting. I would say things to him in training and make sure he worked hard at raising his whole tempo and gradually we are seeing him take it on board and grow in confidence.

“He was outstanding in this game, not just for his goal, but that saving tackle when we were in danger of dropping two points. He can be a great player for us in a number of roles and I think the supporters now realise he can be relied on every week.”

So will Jagielka be another great signing for Moyes?

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Moyes and Ferguson are two bookends, at utterly separate stages of their career, but they are the two shining lights of Scottish management. Whereas Sir Alex has managed five clubs; East Stirlingshire, St Mirren Aberdeen, Scotland, and Manchester United – Moyes has managed just two Preston North End and Everton – and at both clubs he has been on the precipice of success – nearly taking Preston North End up to the Premier League, and nearly ushering Everton into the Champions League but falling to Villarreal in the Champions League qualifying stage. On the other hand we have Sir Alex Ferguson, a treble winner with Manchester United who also can boast 9 league championships, and the unique facts that he is the only manager to win three successive league titles with the same club (98-99,99-00,00-01), as well as being the only manager to win the FA Cup five times. This man literally has trophies coming out of every orifice.

There is one thing that the two men share, they are both fierce Scots. In his first(!) managerial role at East Stirlingshire, Bobby McCulley said that he’d: “never been afraid of anyone before but Ferguson was a frightening bastard from the start.”, and Moyes also has this pant-wetting intensity.

Moyes was acclaimed as the greatest ‘pound-for-pound’ manager in the top flight by Times writer Martin Samuel, but is a comparison with Ferguson fair? Is it possible to compare someone who pulled United’s socks up in the early 90′s with someone who is attempting to do the same with Everton fifteen years later – with the super-rich Big Four Oligarchy sitting in his way?

Surely a comparison with the earlier Alex Ferguson (sans ‘Sir’), the tough manager of Aberdeen, trying to break another oligarchy, that of the Old Firm and their choke hold on Scottish Football is a better one. Even there though, Moyes falters, the one thing missing from his time at Everton is a trophy. He has done magnificently, and been recognised by the LMA as manager of the year in 02-03, and again in 04-05, when his “People’s Club” finished a heady fourth. For Evertonian’s “The Moyesiah” has been distilled brilliance, Toffee fans have for so long been snow-blind by constant relegation scrapes, and Moyes has washed away all those worries – but Everton are still work in progress, still grasping for a trophy. When Alex Ferguson won the European Cup Winners’ Cup with Aberdeen he said that he now felt that “he’d done something worthwhile with his life” – how long before David feels the same?

Picking through the wreckage of the late late transfer window dealings….

Kevin Keegan played the role of ‘Transfer Scrooge’ this deadline day…
…He vetoed a Swindon bid for England U-19 international Andy Carroll. (The Sun)
…pulled out of a move for centre-back Alvaro from Levante. (The Sun)
…And he also plans to have ‘crisis talks’ with Charles N’Zogbia, who appears to want to run far, far away in the summer. (Daily Star)

Everton boss David Moyes had a busy deadline day, flogging both veteran defender Alan Stubbs to Derby and Brazilian nonentity Anderson to Barnsley, whilst also finding time to pick up a 6’5″ defender on his way home. Shame the defender’s name is Anthony Gardner. (Various)

Benjani Mwaruwari’s move from Portsmouth to Man City still hasn’t been confirmed by the FA, which claims it didn’t receive the paperwork in time. (Various)
…All of which has left ‘Arry Redknapp in a sticky situation as he was counting on the Benjani dosh to finance his raid for Jermain Defoe. (BBC)
…And the actual amount that ‘Arry paid is also open to debate:
£12m (Daily Star)
£9m (Daily Mail)
£7m (Various)

Spurs boss Juande Ramos signed Hertha Berlin’s Brazilian left-back Gilberto from Hertha Berlin before the midnight deadline. (Express)

And Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez managed to convince his shady American paymasters to cough up a whopping £18.6m to pay the shady figures at MSI for Javier Mascherano’s shady midfield services.(Various)

And Rangers had a last minute sniff around Italian striker Andrea Caracciolo from Sampdoria but it was a case of too little too late. (Daily Record)

Bolton’s ginger supremo Gary Megson didn’t manage to bag Reading striker Leroy Lita despite frantically waving £7m around like a deranged city trader. (The Sun)

After getting his hopes up over a £2m move for goalkeeper Brad Guzan from Chivas USA, Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill had to cry himself to sleep on deadline night. (The Sun)

The Daily Mail reports that Everton captain Phil Neville, whilst conceding that the battle for fourth place will be as tight as a ducks butt, claims that all the pressure is on Liverpool – that they have everything to prove while Everton remain underdogs. Neville said:

“There is still so much for us to play for. In the Premier League and then in a fortnight when we play our next UEFA Cup tie. The competition for a place in Europe is as fierce as it has ever been.

“There are so many good teams in and around the top eight, and the manager has gone on record saying this is the most competitive season since the formation of the Premier League.

“But we are still very much in the mix and fully intend to stay there. We know the scale of the challenge and know it will not be easy to stay where we are.”

And Everton boss David Moyes remained calmly optimistic, moving his focus to his rivals on the other side of Stanley Park:

“There is certainly less pressure on us than on Liverpool now, because we are not expected to make the Champions League. When people talk of the top four they do not mention Everton but I would back my team against any of our rivals.

“For us to finish fourth would be outstanding, but I do not see any point talking about it until there is a month to go and we are still in a strong position.”

“I did not know Liverpool had lost until after the game, maybe people will think I should be overjoyed. Of course it helps us when they lose, but I do not want to get too carried away with the current situation. Come the end of the season we will see how things are.”

So the pressure seems to be on Liverpool, will they crack?

Despite Everton manager David Moyes’ declarations that he didn’t expect to have a busy transfer deadline day, the Toffees actually had quite a lot of transfer activity, moving two players out and bringing one in on loan.
Veteran defender Alan Stubbs was shipped off to Derby County, Brazilian midfielder Anderson made a permanent switch to Barnsley, whilst Tottenham defender Anthony Gardner was brought in to Goodison on loan.
Derby boss Paul Jewell seemed over the moon with the acquisition of Stubbs, saying:

“It’s a terrific capture for us.

“Stubbsy is a first-class pro, someone who has been there, seen it and done it.

“I’m delighted to have him on board and he will add experience and steel to the backline.

“He will train with us on Friday and is very much in contention for a place in the team on Saturday.”

So has the last minute wheeling and dealing by Moyes left Everton in a stronger position?

Everton’s ginger supremo David Moyes remains confident that Joleon Lescott will sign a new Everton deal despite being linked in the ‘mee-ja’ with a move to Arsenal or Manchester United. (Various)

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has managed to nab Aston Villa defender Gary Cahill , beating Boltonto his signature. (Daily Mirror)

…And Bolton could drown their sorrows at missing out on Gary Cahill by stepping up their interest in Real Betis’ Croatian defender Marko Babic; upping their original £2.2m offer. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill is desperate to bag Spurs’ recalcitrant full back Pascal Chimbonda before the transfer window slams shut. (Various)

…And Villa boss Martin O’Neill is also after a grab bag of last minute signings including Leicester full back Richard Stearman and Crystal Palace striker Sean Scannell. (Daily Mirror)

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is ready swoop for Charlton midfielder Andy Reid, in a player (Greg Halford) plus cash (£2.5m) deal. (Various)

Middlesbrough Chairman Steve Gibson has slammed Stewart Downing’s agent for his Machiavellian scheming. Gibson – contrary to what agent Elliott thinks – claims that he has offered the winger a sparkling new contract. (Daily Mail)

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