harry redknapp are you mental?!!!

 

OMG latest deadline day news is that Louis Saha really is wanted by Spurs and set to switch anytime soon with Pienaar coming the other way. this is the deal of the century if it comes off and still can't believe Harry would do this. he must be off his rocker cos he must know as well as us toffees that Saha is basically finished and has been rubbish all season

this has got to be the worst transfer decision of all time if Harry does it - that court case is really taking its toll i think?!!!

Jan transfer madness!

oh yes its everyones favourite time of year again - silly season in the transfer market! to be honest i actually like it cos i think deadline day is very exciting as you sit glued to the tv/web to see who might be coming  / going.

main one in for us seems to be Jelavic from Rangers still - looking like a done deal from what i hear and will be a good buy for us that one. if you consider we have already got Gibson and Donovan in its looking like a good transfer window for us this year. there is also talk of a young greek defender, Kostas Manolas, joining for half a mil from AEK Athens. Don't know much about him but he is young and meant to be good so you can;t argue for that price. all of a sudden the squad won;t be looking so threadbare!

on the going front the major major surprise i've heard about is the possibility of Louis Saha to Spurs?!!! its not shocking because i don't think we should sell more that I can't believe we can find anyone to pay money for him ha ha! whatever they are offering bite their hand off cos he is finished and we need to get rid fast. heard that maybe Pienaar will come back the other way which would be mint

so keep your fingers crossed and lets see what happens :-)

Jelavic maybe?

word on the transfer grapevine is that Moyesy has put in a official bid for Jelavic from Rangers. Not sure how much for but sounds good to me cos we really need a striker who knows where the net is. This boy has scored for fun lately so seems to fit the bill and would be a welcome addition i think for us. Only thing i would say is that there have been lots of players who looked good in Scottish football , only to be not that good in the PL (one James McFadden anyone?!) Hopefully this won't be the case if we get him and he will be a goal machine to fire us up the table

hey good looking what you got cooking

Everton 2 - Fulham 1 (FA Cup)

we won , we won, we won :-) oh yeah and did i mention - we won :-)

after a depressing few weeks what a tonic this victory is. and we actually scored more than once and looked to carry an attacking threat for once this season. Moyes rang a few changes from the start with Big Denis coming in and Maggie Gueye on the left of the 5 man midfield. With Donovan on the right and a middle 3 of Felli, Tiger Tim and Gibbo that looked pretty good to me.

Although , being Everton, we did it the hard way but going behind first. Handball by Johnny H in the box to give a pen away which that ex red twat Murphy put away. However, far from going under as has been the case this season, the boys got their heads up and fought back into it. We had a good period of possession which ultimately resulted in Landon crossing in for Big Denis to nod in. Great to be back in it and really pleased for Den as its his first one for us.

After that the game ebbed and flowed but we did well specially in midfield where Gibbo was always involved , snapping away at their players. Landon looked good as usual as did Maggie in flashes - things certainly looked a lot more dangerous from us going forward than lately. And all this paid off cos Big Felli got on the end of a cross in the area and managed to put it away to put us 2 - 1 up :-) Well done big man - well in :-)

So on we march and is it me or does this have a ring of 1995 to it? doing badly in the league with a team not particulary well thought of or high in flair or creativity but on a great cup run to make us feel better. Could be our year.....just saying..... :-)

players or manager?

right,  first off let me apologise for another slightly depressing post but i'm afraid theres not much positivity to go round as an Everton fan at the min. Everyone who has been to see the team play this year or caught them on tv knows we have more or less been pretty bad most of the season. Turgid & lifeless displays, players seemingly disinterested & not up for the fight, dull & predictable tactics - its not good for some reason this year. and it doesn't look like picking up any time soon - maybe even the spectre of a relegation battle looms if we're not careful?!

so where does the buck for all this stop? players or manager? its an issue that splits the majority of fans I've spoken to. Personally, I think as usual in life its a mix between the two. Moyes has made mistakes this season and been shown up as short in some areas. His bizarre and late use of substitutions when the match is long over, the reliance on out of form 'favourite' players at the expense of hungry young ones, the tactical staleness & inflexibility - it all doesn;t help us to win games and play with the freedom we expect.

But..........do we really think Ol Davey sends out the boys with instructions to make mistakes, give goals away and generally play rubbish? Of course not and this is where the players must shoulder some of the blame. Once they go over that white line its up to them to turn it on and motivate themselves to fight and play to the standard that is expected of them. Attitudes don't look good out there to me at the min and that is a personal thing down to each player

Bily off?

the hot news on the street and the media at the min is that Bily is off to Spartak Moscow any day. Reckon this is a good deal really - as much as i like him as a player i can't ever see him settling with us and being a success. i think its best for all that he goes elsewhere to kickstart his career - good luck to the lad though i say :-)

and hopefully it will make us some dough and allow us to sign a striker !!!!

Everton 1 - Blackburn 1

not even a much needed and celebrated Tim Cahill goal could lift the spirits after this one - yet another insipid performance against a team we should have easily been good enough to beat playing at Goodison. it seems the morale, confidence and overall performance level of the team is not there still as it hasn't been at some point for most of this season. the reasons why are different for every person you speak too - some blame Moysey for his defeatist demeanour and dour negative tactics. others blame the players for simply not being good enough or putting the required effort in for the shirt. others still just think we're doing ok and just not getting the rub of the green and putting our chances away to win games.

one thing is for certain - we need to rediscover the winning formula and fast cos we do not want to be looking over our shoulders come the end of the season. on the plus side i had a very good bottle of rioja tonight which was very convivial

Cahill to QPR?

Word reaches me via a mate who has a source inside Goodison is that QPR are gonna be putting a bid in for Tiger Tim within the next 24 hours. So that raises the question: to sell or not to sell?

As with everything you could argue it either way depending on your point of view. If we take the 'To sell' argument first. I think most Evertonians would agree Tim has been off form this season really bar a couple of games and not up to his best. Is he getting too old to be effective in his role or have injuries / fatigue caught up with him? Also should we take some good money for him while its on offer to avoid risking losing out on a good deal like turning down a good few million for Saha and the Yak last year/

On the flip side you could argue that, despite his poor form, he is still an important player for us due to his skill, determination and will to win. i believe his enthusiasm and effort rubs off on those round him on the pitch. Also remember the old saying - form is temporary , class is permanent. He's such a legend for us too that it would be disrespectful to dump him just like that cos it suits us all of sudden.

my opinion on it - i say Tim is a true legend and we should keep him till he retires and then get him a role within the club to keep him with us after that

Aston Villa 1 - Everton 1

Big Vic to the rescue once more!! I've not always been the biggest fan of the guy but he seems to have come back from his last injury with a new hunger & attitude for the game. is always nice to see him start up front as he is a striker by trade and we need goals at the mo'. what a finish it was too - great ball through from Landon and great skill & confidence from Vic to get onto it and stroke it home.

the boys who went had generally positive things to say about the performance & team for this game. Moyes actually played ppl in their correct positions specially in midfield which helped us out no end. there seemed to be a new attacking intent to our play which was good to see. as a result we passed it round well and looked good. seems like we still needed an extra cutting edge in the final third but hopefully that will come - hopefully if we get a new striker in soon.

special mentions for the new Gibson and Landon. both fitted right into our midfield and looked good. Gibson got stuck in well and always showed for the ball and passed it round well. Landon was his usual self - quick, direct and put some great balls in. From one Saha should have scored - he looked like he was pulled back but for the boys didn;t show enough desire to really get there & bury it. would Big Dunc have let it stop him?! i think not!

Gibson?????

just heard that we have completed the signing of Darron Gibson from Utd - first of all let me say welcome to the lad. i think he is a good player and will be a fine player for us specially with all the injuries we have at the min. heres hoping to a long and successful career for the boy

however , surely a striker was first priority?!!!! of course one might be on its way so nots let jump the gun as moyes might have it all in hand :-)

Tottenham 2 - Everton 0

can't even be arsed to write about this cos i hate losing and being so depressing and rubbish. wake up boys and remember what an honour it is to play for the blues and put some commitment & effort into things. you all look half asleep ffs!!!

the weekly tactics meeting between moyes and round got a bit out of hand

Everton 2 - Tamworth 0

have to admit i was fearing the worst here after our recent poor run. the saving grace was being at Goodison - i think had it been away we could have really been in trouble.

so all in all was pleased with this one as we played alright and scored a couple. nice first one to settle the nerves early on - great corner from Landon and Johnny boy rose above everyone to nod in. great start to the game and nice to score first for once. after that we really got into them - Big Vic had a shot well saved and Faddy put one wide too as we looked like we would add another soon.

but it was not to be - they grew in confidence a bit and one of their boys went on a run which ended in him shootly narrowly wide. we finally managed to add one towards the end to ease all our worries - looked a bit of a dodgy decision but we'll take them anyway. you knew Bainesy would score and he did - does this man ever miss from the spot?!

so on we march to the next round - could this be the year we finally win a trophy and emulate the Dogs of War woof woof?!

Everton 1 - Bolton 2

what a dire game and dire performance from the boys - i love them to bits but this is really one to forget. bit worrying that we seem to be in a bit of a rut right now - thought that Landon would lift us now hes here but we seem so short on confidence that thats not even helped. and don't even talk about stirkers and goals!

what do you mean i'm up front next game boss?!

West Brom 0 - Everton 1

oh the chance to put one over on Woy Hodgson - not to be sniffed at and for once we didn't mess it up. i always used to like Woy but ever since he managed that shower over the park i would welcome any chance to do a number on him.

not a classic school of science performance by any means but the more the season progresses i think its gonna be one where we need to win anyway we can. i guess when you have to sell your best and most creative players to raise money thats what happens. but on a more positive note we won so thats another three points on the bag. and good to see Big Vic back and playing specially with our lack of strikers at present. he got a really good winner here showing real desire and poachers instinct to get to the loose ball and bury it.

just what la doctor ordered thanks boys :-)

Sunderland 1 - Everton 1

aaahhhhh and as usual things are never simple in everton land. why couldn't god have waited a few weeks to appoint o'neill as manager of sunderland so we could have played them when they down & out?! instead we travel to the SOL facing a side suddenly high on confidence and keen to impress the new gaffer. which would explain why what had looked an entirely winnable game was actually a lot more difficult.

as usual for this season we decided to be nice and let the opposition have the first goal - poor defending again to let Coulbeck net for them. things looked to be petering out for a loss when for once we benefited from all the dodgy refereeing decisions goin round. it never looked a pen but we've had a fair few go against us so nice to get one in our favour. as usual Bainesy put it away to rescue a point. go on leighton :-)

Everton 1 - Swansea 0

another game , another goal for our little midget gem Leon Osman! well done Ossie - you have often come in for undeserved stick from the fans but always come up trumps when it matters. it was a great header from the little man from an equally fine corner from Drenthe. it was funny cos his corners had been pretty bad till then so all the lads were hoping he wasn;t gonna take it at the time. bloody glad he did though ha ha! isn't it weird as well how so many smaller guys get the headers in when theres taller defenders round to clear it?!

great win although it has to be said a not exactly inspiring display again - please Moyes can we have some attacking flair and creativity soon to keep us awake?!!!

Everton 1 - Norwich 1

what a turn up for the books this was - i know they play good football under Lambert but i fully expected us to win this one. maybe the teams coming up have closed the gap and are better than before but we seem to have trouble with them all this season.

the major thing about this game for me was the way we conceded - how the hell did we let Holt turn and slide the shot in when there was apparently no danger at all. v v poor and symptamatic of our poor season so far. for the rest of the game we huffed and puffed to no real affect which is not good enough at home to anyone really.

and then the scouse maradona Leon Osman popped up with a goal to spare our blushes. although the real work was done by royston to go on a run and fire a shot in. it was heading wide and then little Leon shimmied in and snuck it home past Ruddy.

all in all a point wasn't really good enough specially at home and the performance & desire wasn't really there either #worrying