Everton FC were one of the bigwigs of English football and helped to create the Premiership in the early 90’s. Now, it would seem, that they have become one of the minnows of the league and maybe set for relegation. Inner turmoil in the offices, as underlings try to force out management, has related to poor decisions around the pitch. Season 2003-04 saw the campaign end with 4 straight defeats, including a 5-1 beating at the hands of Man City. The club secured 17th place and survived another year but will this be the season we see the mighty Toffees relegated to the first division?
Very little occurred with Everton’s finances, so little occurred in the transfer market. Marcus Bent came over from Ipswich Town for 450K and Tim Cahill was free from Milwall. Everton lost Tomas Radzinski, as the club said they were trying to free money to address bigger problems. Now there are rumors that Gravesen may leave to Hamburg as he has outwardly critcized the club for their lack of ambition. Radzinski was very important as Rooney fights injury, and Gravesen was or is the spark in the middle that could keep this team alive. Problems breed problems.
Wayne Rooney is out due to a broken metatarsel, I don’t know what that is but it sounds so E.R.. Kevin Campbell will now pull the entire offensive load. At 34 it may be more than he can handle. He says he’s ready and has had a fabulous preseason, feeling better than ever. Francis “Glass Ankles” Jeffers is now gone. The Arsenal property, on loan to Everton, had been in constant hardship with the manager. He begins to criticize the club for their lack of ambition, deja vu, and they don’t want him anymore. The Gunners, in turn, sell him to Charlton for 2.5 million and lose a hefty sum. Now he is running his mouth to Wayne Rooney, telling him to escape before the ship sinks. Now a whole article could be written about the positives and negatives of Wayne Rooneys sale, both for him and the club, but that has to be left for the bigsoccer boards as we don’t have the time.
One plus is the work of aging GK, Nigel Martyn. He took a starters role from the oft-injured, Richard Wright and made forty appearances. One for every year he’s been alive. He’s still doing well but will need back-up from the likes of Pistone, Yobo and Naysmith to thwart the rushing Gunners.
Moyes is an inventive and progressive footballing mind. He brought in a fast paced and goal scoring mind set. It needs a full time superstar, like Rooney to complete the scheme. Pressure needs to be relieved from the midfield as they are forced to track all the way back and then collectively start a counter. With a group of older players and injuries galore, this plan will never work. In 2002-03, the players responded but as the marathon season goes on the bodies can no longer handle the amount of running Moyes expects. A team revolt may occur as things keep getting worse at the club.
Check out Evertonfc.com for a look at Evertons new strip and yet another Chinese shirt sponsor. Oh yeah, the girl’s not bad either.
7 Responses to “Everton FC Preview”
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August 13th, 2004 at 2:12 pm
You’re right, she’s not bad.
Everton are a one-horse team, and that horse is injured. And may not be able to stay in the stable too long anyway.
I think we take this one easily.
— Geoff
August 13th, 2004 at 3:09 pm
I remember Everton used to be a mighty force under Howard Kandall. With the likes Neville Southall, Kevin Ratcliffe, Pat Van Den Hauwe, Gary Stevens, Steven, Peter Reid, Paul Bracewell, Kevin Sheedy, Graeme Sharp, Tony Cottee, and the once Gary Lineker.. and oh yes, Andy Gray (of Sky Sports)!!
They were the only team could match the mightly Liverpool at the 80s, until… the emerge of Arsenal, who else?!
It’s hard to believe how far have they fall…
August 13th, 2004 at 4:10 pm
KYGunner, Everton’s sponsor Chang Beer is not Chinese, it is from Thailand. If the Thai PM had successfully bought over Liverpool, this name would have taken up the shirt space now occupied by Carlsberg.
And perhaps Owen would have stay? Well, that’s another story…..
August 13th, 2004 at 4:30 pm
I see them selling Rooney to ManUtd… after another of their strike force goes down in the next week or 2!
and…. they spend the money to try and shore up a team with alot of wholes.
They need the money and additional players more than they need Wayne Rooney.
He will be GONE if they get relegated anyway.
August 13th, 2004 at 4:40 pm
Thank you, I stand corrected. I had Tsing Tao on the mind, it’s 5 o clock somewhere!
August 13th, 2004 at 6:27 pm
Unfortunately, I see Rooney heading to Man Utd as well. On paper we should win this easily but I hate being over confident. I want a win obviously but I also want to see a true Henry/Reyes partnership develop. I want to see Vieira’s replacement do well along side Silva. I hope van Persie and Penannt get some minutes and show us a thing or two. And last, I’d love a clean sheet.
August 13th, 2004 at 6:38 pm
There is another game on the weekend worths mentioning - Chelsea V Man Utd. There is a report (or rumor) that Chelsea’s new full back Ferraria claiming “we will beat Man U… they are rubbish without Van Nistelrooy…” Chelsea fans must be praying hard words would not reach Fergie’s ears.
Personally, i don’t give a damn who’s going to win, best sceniro is they draw (so each team drop two points). But even without 9 of their starters, i have too much respect (painful to say it, but what they have achieved over the years deserves some respect) for Fergie’s troop to predict they would wave the white flag without giving a fight. 1-1 to me.