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Manny

Manny is a class act, he made light work of the arse midfield at times and for me is a must sign. Vaughan and AJ caused havoc throughout, we deserved the points. Now we need to thump Villa and notlob, an east six points. Cheers. PC. (21/03/07)

Great Win

What a win, and i have to say that was the second best game i have ever been to behind the derby of course. I was the lad in the grey jumper that was standing on the advertising boards in the last minute when we scored in the lower gwladys! one of the best moments in my life. Even the steward said to me enjoy yourself kid, which shows what a club we are. Also the best thing is that we deserved the win having played extremely well in the second half. Oh and arsene wenger that tactical genius tat criticise's moyes at every opportunity! errr went 4-5-1 with 10 to go so brilliant tactics there wenger but where's the criticism! oh because he manages BIG CLUB! so coyb lets push for 5th place now. Phil Gray. (21/03/07)

Everton Garter Does The Trick

My wife wore an Everton garter on our wedding day as her "something blue." I made her wear it every match day the following season and, guess what? We finished fourth. The magic has since worn off though (not in our marriage but in the garter). It was bought from the Everton Club Shop, I believe. Mark. (21/03/07)

Fernandes

Not wishing to jump the gun on a player on loan, but Fernandes has shown more in 3/4 games than others have done in 30/40 games. Lets all have a whip round in the boozers and put a down payment on him. Once he's fully fit and up to the pace for 90 minutes, he'll be a class player. So we need to get in there now, cos if we drag our heels he`ll end up at Bolton or somewhere shitty. Fish. (21/03/07)

Arsenal Game

Brill game. We matched the arse every part of the pitch, AJ on form, Manny needs to be signed permanently, the team played really well. Quality result, haven't felt that good since the derby at Goodison, the only way is up with performances like that. Well done moyes and the boyz. Nice 1 kipper. Joe smith. (21/03/07)

Pride and Passion

After the Blackburn FA cup-tie I wrote on Bluekipper about the lack of Passion exhibited by our team in what was little more than total capitulation to an under strength minor premiership side. Well, credit where credit's due, Sundays performance against Arsenal was what Evertonians expect of any player in the illustrious blue shirt. AJ covered the pitch chasing everything, a literal human dynamo, a number eight playing like that in white boots, who does that remind you of? In midfield Manuel Fernandes provided the entertainment, strength and guile that complimented the silky skills of Arteta and Carsley's tackling and work rate was as good as any in the premiership, not an observation I'd thought I'd be making of him. Up front James Vaughan ran himself into the ground in a performance worthy of a permanent berth as a first choice Everton striker and at the back Tim Howard and the back four secured yet another clean sheet. The team displayed a balance of the hunger of youth and the foresight of experience.

After the Tottenham game the media attempted to portray the Goodison faithful as ungrateful towards David Moyes after the vast majority aired
their views at what I felt was a disgraceful tactical display of which he was the architect. Goodison Park isn't, and never has been, populated by sheep that will watch whatever is served to them; DM and Big Keith were quick to defend our heritage when the waiter spat his dummy out at his own deficiencies a few weeks ago well unfortunately for them it's a double edged sword and it's that heritage that affords us the privilege to criticise a manager who employs tactics like that at home. It comes from the fact that we, for more years than any other club, have witnessed our great sides, great players and great managers play to the best of their ability. Well against Tottenham that wasn't our best and that's why we reacted. It's a feeling that's been welling for some time at the deployment of negative tactics and hanging on for one nil victories. The side and tactics employed against Arsenal were more or less available that night, in fact as Cahill was in the team some may argue a better side was available that night, the fans knew it and reacted at the end of both matches, Spurs and Arsenal, with the pride and passion you'd expect of Evertonians. I know that David Moyes has a difficult job but it's also difficult being an Evertonian, unlike one or two other clubs nobody in his or her right mind wakes up and thinks, "I know I'll become an Evertonian!" Most of us were born into this thing, we had no option and it's difficult to accept that we're no longer in the top flight of the top flight; we measure ourselves against our historic achievements and unfortunately against the success of our geographical neighbours. We want to be back where we feel we belong.

So we've had our little display of petulance, DM has kind of accepted responsibility and has put out three more or less attacking sides, so lets
get on with securing that European place, just imagine if Cahill wasn't injured and DM had discovered his backbone before Spurs we may have even caught the Shite!!! Talking of the shite, am I the only one to notice the deafening silence from their supporters and the media regarding the selling of their club down the river? I know that they've got the local press and council in their greedy little pockets but there's not a peep from the national media either. When the deal with DIC was agreed and was about to be ratified I was sicker than a sick thing. Here was a company headed up by a guy whose wealth makes Abramovich look like a pauper about to take over the Club that I have detested since I was in the womb. At the eleventh hour the shareholders revolted, as they weren't getting enough money, Moores was fine with the original deal, he was getting a good return plus repayment of the personal family loans made to the club. The shareholders got their way so in place of DIC in sweep the dynamic duo with promises and explanations of their financing and the spin-doctors work their magic as the press tell everyone what a fantastic deal this is for their club. Well all is not as it appears for the RS, the dynamic duo appear, thankfully, to be a right pair of slippery bastards. They told everyone at their press conference that it was their own money that they were putting in to buy the club, it's not; they borrowed it from RBS and the club will be servicing that debt to the tune of over £21 million per annum. Next comes their stadium, it's on temporary hold as (here's the spin) "the club explore ways of increasing the current capacity to that of Old Trafford and give the fans what they deserve" what a load of bollocks. Anyone with a rudimentary grasp of arithmetic can work out that to service the current debt and the £200M that they're going to borrow for the stadium, no they didn't have the money for that either, adds up to a figure circa £36 million per annum. Their new stadium, maybe we'll get chapter and verse from MBE's about footprints etc, in it's present configuration wont deliver a sufficient revenue stream to service this level of borrowing and finance team development in order to guarantee CL football, so the RS can expect to be paying much greater ticket prices and increased levels of corporate hospitality areas, just what their fans, RTK etc, are moaning about, if it goes ahead at all. Now the waiter's no fool, he can see the writing on the wall, without mega money he's nothing so now he's seeking an urgent meeting hinting that he may piss off to Real. He's not bothered if the dynamic duo have to borrow even more money for team development, remember he made Moores raid the family fortune for Kuyt, as long as he gets money the long-term implications of unserviceable debt aren't his concern. My mate Barrie, the ultimate conspiracy theorist is convinced by my explanation of what's going on over the park and two words spring to mind, "Leeds" and "United". If the CL places are cut to three and they don't qualify in one year the debt pressure on them will be enormous. Now don't get me wrong I dislike the bastards as much as the next blue but I wouldn't want them to end up on the verge of the old division three like
Leeds after being sold down the river by people consumed by avarice. I'm lying; let the bastards drown in a sea of debt, I look forward to sending them debt busters leaflets in a couple of seasons time!! I know I'm a little harsh sometimes towards them but they're not really this thick are they?

The moral of the above tale is "better the devil you know". Some people don't like Bill Kenwright, well I think he does a reasonable job for the
following reasons, 1) He's a blue through and through. 2) He's put every penny he has, and more, into the club. 3) He's the only Premiership chairman I know that doesn't draw a salary from his club. 4) He employs a CEO who's as tight as a ducks arse, a prerequisite of any successful business. 5) He employs a team manager that doesn't publicly complain about financial constrictions, takes the flak when not doing well and has guided the club away from annual relegation fights.

We may not be moving as fast as we'd like but the evidence is that without massive outside help we're moving in the right direction; lets hope DM can now make a concerted effort, keep with the attacking formations and overcome Everton's recent atrocious post Easter record in the run up to the final game of the season and secure European qualification. Colin Fitz. (21/03/07)

When skies are blue, grey,.... whatever!!!

A great team performance against Arsenal put us back into 6th and confirmed our status as real European challengers. Leaving the ground yesterday in a enormously better mood than at the previous home fixture - perhaps the reaction to the late substitutions against Spurs has sunk in. Moyesie could have done a similar thing yesterday when the excellent, but shattered, Vaughan was replaced after 80 mins, but no, he stuck on Vic, who promptly won a free kick in a dangerous position just outside their box. That gave us the momentum to keep the Arse on the back foot and ultimately we proffited from Moyes' attacking move.

I must I admit I was frustrated after the Spurs match, where I though that we had handed the points to them by being too negative, but hats off to Moyes. He kept the pedal to the metal and look where it got us. Manny, Vaughany, Stubbsy and Cars were terrific. CYOB!! Gaz, Top Balcony Blue. (21/03/07)

Keith Farrelly Evertonian

We are trying to trace an old friend who was an engineer on the Cunarder R.M.S. CARONIA in the 1960's. He was a True Blue Evertonian named KEITH FARRELLY, myself and other Ol' mates in Australia,U.S. and N.Z. have been looking for him for some time now. Is it possible you can help us. He would be in his late 60's now and came from Huyton originally. Maybe someone who is in contact with you might have information on him.
Hope you can help us. Thanks, George Peterson. (21/03/07). Contact info@bluekipper.com

New Contract For Mikel

Moyesy will test Mikky's resolve in the Summer when the club will offer our Spanish magician an improved contract, in the hope he will sign it and stop the constant rumours of the midfielders departure back to Spain. Mikky has indicated that he would dearly love to play back in his native
country, but for the foreseeable future he see's his future at Everton. Well Mikky I hope the rumored £30k a week the club have on the table will also help your decision, and in my eyes your worth every penny. In fact I will chip a few quid in myself, and up it to £30,005 a week, every week, honest, I am setting up my direct debit now. Love the article fella's. Will be happy to add a few quid myself. Make it £30,010. I know a few others who would be also happy to chip in!!!!!! Dave Smathers (Serious Bluekipper and Mikel Arteta fan) (21/03/07)

Arteta

To steal the title of a 1982 song by Yazoo (that got to number 3 in what my dad would probably refer to as the "hit parade") "don't go"!!!!!
The song was rubbish but the same can't be said about our beloved number 6!! There's talk of him going to Atletico Madrid. Why Would you want to do that Mikel? Atletico's stadium (the Calderon) makes Goodison look like Buckingham Palace. To get to it you essentially have to clamber through a building site and cross a motorway as they attempt to re-route the city's main roads around the stadium. It's a club that showed such good business sense that it let a teenager by the name of Raul (the name no doubt rings a bell) leave the club and join their city rivals for FREE!!! Their so called "ultra" fans have the pleasant habit of battering people with bats. Their owner is considered, in some circles, to be as mad as a box of frogs. They let Fernando Torres get away with the worst footballing mullet this side of Chris Waddle. Mr. Torres also has a monopoly on ALL set pieces too (even though he's missed 5 penalties already this season) and to make matters worse they have red on their shirts. Don't do it Mikel. Just Don't do it. There really is no need. Just stay here and everything will be fine. I'm sure Mr. Aragones will pick you for Spain if you stay with the mighty blues. I just really hope that the new contract they offer him is good enough. If it's not we'll all have a whip round and set up a direct debit or something like that. DONT LET HIM LEAVE!!!!!! See you at Goodison. Spencer Bishop. (21/03/07)

Well In AJ

I love the way Andrew Johnson has come out and rubbished reports in the paper. What better way to back up his commitment to the Blues, by saying, "If I could sign here for the rest of my career I would do it tomorrow. I am loving being an Everton player and I regard it as a great honour to put that blue shirt on every week." SIGN HIM!! Richie - London. (21/03/07)

The Everton Garter

For Mary. Years ago I purchased a suzzy belt with garter from Everton when the shop was still located in Goodison Rd. I think they were a one off Valentine gift done by the club. The garter is white with a small blue bow and the Everton crest goes the full circle around. I will ask my good lady if she will lend it to Mary for her special day if she cannot purchase one. They are not difficult to make by the looks of it and I'm sure someone in the area who is good on the sewing machine can sort one out. It may even be to her own design. Dave. (21/03/07)

Everton First

As Evertonians we should define ourselves in relation to Everton and not continually to Liverpool FC. At the Spurs game the 1-0 Barcelona scoreline was flashed up. Here I am trying to watch Everton and people around me are talking about L'Pool. I personally have no interest in this club and therefore, have no interest in finding out how they are getting on. Just stick it up at half time with the rest of the fixtures. The sooner Evertonians stop continually looking at L'Pool the more secure we will be in ourselves as Evertonians.

While I'm at it, I think Moyesy deserves more support. It is a long road to put the Blues back to the fore and I can see improvements. We may not have great financial backing but we are gradually becoming better on the pitch with better footballers trying to play better football. Admittedly we have some sub standard players but so does every team. We have to look at them as players filling gaps until quality can replace them. The next time people say play all the kids, think about it if you were the manager with the responsibility of taking Everton forward. This isn't being negative but protective. Protective of the kids and the club ( and probably self preservation). Moyesy tactical knowledge is at times questionable but that is why he values getting into Europe so highly. We will all learn in Europe and him probably most of all. At least he is committed to the club. Thanks for the Rant. And remember there is no such thing as a bitter blue. TW. (21/03/07)

The Moyes Effect

The fact Everton seem to be coming back to a place I left thirty yrs ago makes me so happy. The Moyes effect really pisses off the red side of
Merseyside, We have suffered for long enough. The fact Moyes is the new man to put things right really upsets liverpool fans. He reminds me of another Manager a certain scot who came from preston and put Liverpool on the way to the team they are today. COYB. John Lea. (21/03/07)