Moyesy says: "I thought we played well. It was a good performance - I told the players I wanted a solid start and a win and we got it. Leon Osman's header was terrific. He was very clever in getting it in the only place he could score. When it was 2-0 I thought it would have been a case of us getting a third rather than Wigan pulling one back, but you have to give them credit for battling on."

Former Everton player Killa says: "Can Mikel become one of the best players in the Premier League? I think so. He has the means to do that. He flits and flirts and goes all over the place, and he is very hard to pick up. He has all the attributes and is not restricted to one position. He can play anywhere across the midfield and his creativity and ability with a dead ball situation are second to none. It has been a bit disappointing from his point of view not to have made the Spanish team because he is certainly good enough. It is a European Championship year, so he will be trying his best to get in the Spanish side. When he first came to Everton, he was used to being in the middle. But actually being out there on the wings has improved him. He has a bit more time there and he will create chances for whoever is playing up front for Everton. On the way up here, I thought we’d have a chance but Mikel is the kind of player who can unlock doors."

* An Airplane circling Goodison with a banner trailing behind saying: "Keep Everton In Our City."

* I think this just shows (photos above) how injury prone Kackland really is! He has his own physio's bag. He has also got a tool box, god only knows what is in that! Michael Parry Owens.

* Davie Weir. He just couldn't stay away. Once a blue always a blue. Nicky.

* I think we will get off to a flyer against the pie-eaters, 3-0 with AJ, Mikey & Victor on the score sheet. Thank God the new season is here and hopefully Manny will be back with us soon! C'MON EVERTON. Cheers. PC.

* Predictions for today is a four one win, Johnson getting two, Arteta and Anichebe. Cheers. Oz Blue

* I think the score for the Wigan game will be 3-0. 2 for AJ with Arteta getting the other!!! £10 on it at 12/1. C.O.Y.B...!!! Stevie P - KIRKBY

Tim Cahill is defiantly out. Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines may make their debuts, but Bainesy is a doubt and Jags may start on the bench. Lee Carsley will be making his 150th appearance in an Everton shirt if he starts. Upfront Moyesy will go for AJ and Vic. He has no choice.

Jag says: “There is nothing quite like a Premiership game. The Bremen game was good experience for me and in a way it is good that Saturday will not be my first time at Goodison. It will be different against Wigan because there will be a capacity crowd and the buzz will be there.”

“Wigan have spent a lot of money in the close season and have changed manager. I think they will be a different outfit to what I faced last year. Hopefully we have got enough in the bag to come away with all three points. They have got quite a few key players such as Jason Koumas and Emile Heskey but on the whole they have got a lot of good players. They will fancy their chances but hopefully we have got to much for them.”

Phil Neville says: “I thought our start last year - the away win at Tottenham and the home win against Liverpool - set the tone for the rest of the season and it starts again tomorrow,” he said. “I can’t believe how quickly it has come around but I can’t wait to get going.“The great thing about going into a new season is that you do not have a clue how it is going to go.

“That is the beauty of the game. You can train all pre-season, feel great yet you still go into the first game with a knot in your stomach wondering how you are going to do.We have spoken about beating the targets that we set last season. If you talk about a bad season follows a good one, you believe that is what will happen.We have just spoken about the positives and our objectives are beat what we did last year.”

Tim Howard says: "We started really well last year and it kicked us on. Hopefully we will do the same this season. Any team that does not start well put themselves in a terrible hole. There is competition at the back but there was last year - it is healthy and its good and we are all looking forward to it." (10/08/07)

Lavo's XI To Start: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Valente, Osman, Carsley, Neville, Arteta, Anichebe, Johnson

Everton from: Tim Howard, Iain Turner, Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville, Tony Hibbert, Joleon Lescott, Joseph Yobo, Alan Stubbs, Mikel Arteta, Anderson de Silva, Lee Carsley, Leon Osman, Nuno Valente, Andrew Johnson, James McFadden, Victor Anichebe.

Match Report Last Season v Wigan

IF ANY EVERTON FAN WANTS TO WRITE A REPORT OF ANY OF THIS SEASON'S GAMES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO. JUST E-MAIL IT TO info@bluekipper.com AND WE WILL PUT IT ON THE SITE.

New manager Chris Hutchings may have old Everton boy Kevin Kilbane starting at left back in place of Leighton Baines. A crop of new signings Antoine Sibierski, Titus Bramble, Mario Melchiot, Andreas Granqvist, Carlo Nash, Jason Koumas and Michael Brown could all start except Brown who is suspended.