David Moyes: "This has been a great season for Everton and I am not going to criticise the players but as a manager I am embarrassed by what happened tonight." (12/05/05)

* The players being told by Moyesy to go over to the supporters at the end of the game. They did and threw their shirts into the crowd. The fans threw some insults back.

Even with fourth place secured, Moyesy will no doubt be reminding the players in the team talk of the drubbing the Arse dished out to us on the opening day of the season. How it seems so long ago now, but somehow I don't think Moyesy will forget that easily. It looks like Tiny Tim's season has finally caught up with him, and the back problem sustained a few weeks ago will prevent him from starting tonight.This should not pose too much of a problem as Leon or Joey could slot in their with Stubbsey returning to the heart of the defence. Tony Hibbo will have a late fitness test, and if he does not make it, expect Steve Watto to slot in to the defence somewhere, maybe at the expense of Sandro', as also Nace is a definite non starter. With the pressure off, and Tiny a non starter, Moyesy may experiment with a 4-4-2, and start Biffa alongside the Big Man or Benty, to give the January signing a bit of much needed confidence.

Moyesy says: "We want to finish it off in a professional manner but realistically we can’t finish below fourth or above fourth so from that point of view we can relax and try to play some good football. We have two hard games to finish the season with and we want to go out on a high, but the hard work has been done and to finish fourth is a tremendous achievement. We can relax and enjoy it more, but we have professional pride and we want to do as well as we can in both games.

We are in a good position and if we could finish with a few more points it would be great, but if not then we won't be complaining about the efforts from the lads this season. We were under a lot of pressure to try to remain in fourth place, but it was good pressure compared to what we had to put up with last season. We had pride and wanted desperately to try to say there. But we can relax, we only have a week or so left now. We have been under pressure a lot and we are not under pressure any more. We will go out now and do our very best but I know the players have given everything they can, and if there is a little bit left for the last two games that will be great." (11/05/05)

Everton (from): Martyn, Hibbert, Weir, Stubbs, Yobo, Pistone, Watson, Carsley, Osman, Cahill, Arteta, Kilbane, Bent, Ferguson, Beattie, Wright, Plessis, McFadden.

Lavo's Everton XI To Start: Martyn, Hibbert, Stubbs, Weir, Watson, Osman, Arteta, Carsley, Kilbane, Beattie, Bent.

Lavo's Bet: Biffa to Bag The First (8/1)

Last Seaon's Game

Everton only have to welcome the return of Thierry Henry to the Arsenal starting line up, and he will be given a run out ahead of next weeks Cup Final against Man ure. Also on the come back trail will be Sol Campbell, as Arsene Wenger gives some players much needed match practice. Gilberto is out, but I always thought he was crap on the piano anyway, and Leo Sayer was much better.

Arse says: "For me what Everton have done is a miracle. After the first game of the season, I thought they would go down and I felt sorry for them. But then they got on a run that has been incredible. I think David Moyes deserves a lot of credit with his staff, and the players as well. Every point they have earned has been through hard work. When they sold Rooney, you thought they would struggle not to go down when they sold their best player and then, in January, they sold Thomas Gravesen as well.

It just shows how strange and good football can be. Moyes was the bet to be one of the first managers sacked in the league. Then, at the end of the season, he is maybe the guy who deserves more reward than anyone else. It shows that you can be rewarded if you keep faith in your manager." (11/05/05)