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Everton Squad

Sadly it was a result I had expected. It is one thing beating average clubs in Holland, Ukraine and Norway, but quite another to beat good teams from the likes of Italy. Unfortunately I can't see them achieving the result they need next week. Any team willing to defend and counter attack against Everton usually results in defeats for us. As Moyes has highlighted himself, we lack those couple of players who would make us from nearly men to genuine challengers. The problem as every Evertonian knows is in midfield, and has been since he came to the club. Whilst he seems to buy well when it comes to defence and up front, his transfer success with midfielders has been mixed at best. Cahill and Arteta, certainly, but Neville, Davies, Kilbane, Van Der Meyde and Pienaar, definitely not!

We are desperate for a genuine top class central midfielder and a winger with pace and the ability to beat a fullback! Kenwright has certainly supported Moyes when it has come to transfers, it has been left to Moyes to decide where he spends it. Was Baines a necessity? Was Fernandes and Gravesen, albeit on loan? If nothing else this close season, this is where Moyes has to buy for. As Ferguson and Wenger have shown, you don't have to spend a fortune to buy a quality winger. Ronaldo and Walcott cost 12 million between them. He has also bought two great centre forwards in Yakubu and Johnson, this partnership has to be given the opportunity to work. No offence to Cahill, but he has to have the personnel in midfield, ie four players, to allow this to work.

Moyes is the best manager we have had since Howard mark 1. He has given us our pride back and yet another great season. He can and will finish the job! Here is hoping for a great result at the SOL. COYB! Oz Blue. (09/03/08)

Everton Shirts

Just been reading the stories on the Everton Collection - absolutely top stuff. Especially as I see a bus driving round Preston where I work advertising some sort of redshite museum... why Preston?

Anyway wondered whether you would be able to help with my own little Everton collection - it's basically just me trying to buy as many shirts as I can. I've got one of the Umbro "Danka" shirts, but without the logo, but with "FA Cup Final" stitched above the badge. I'm told it was sold by the old Everton shop in Liverpool.. do you know whether this is genuine? I would have thought, as the shirt is from the season after, it would say "FA Cup winners"...

Will just finish by saying what a top site Blue Kipper is. Checking it is part of my daily routine these days! Keep up the good work! Martin. (09/03/08)

Mobile Phone Found On Blue Kipper Coach In Italy

Hello fella's. Good trip again only spoiled by the weather, over the top policing and a poor display by the team. Just emailing to let you know I found a phone on the floor of the coach on arrival at the ground. I asked people on the coach if anyone had lost a phone but nobody had. John from Clitheroe. (09/03/08). If the phone is yours describe it in a mail to info@bluekipper.com

Headless Chickens Or Just Rabbits Caught In The Headlights?

As soon as we came up against our first decent opposition in the UEFA cup, Everton players started to play like frightened school children, again. Kicking the ball aimlessly and playing as if they'd been thrown together for the first time 15 minutes before kick off. What a disappointment to watch the team fall asunder against a team of similar capabilities in the biggest night Everton has experienced in a very long time. I think the Fiorentina players formed a guard of honour for the Everton players as they left the pitch because they were so grateful for the easy game they'd been given? Apart from Howard, they all scored very poorly on the skill and composure points scale with Hibbert and Neville once again showing that you can't afford to have more than 1 mediocre player in the starting eleven. I think that's it for Europe for this season and we'll need to be on our toes to keep a UEFA spot for next season. Kenneth Crowley. (09/03/08)

The Yak

Raymond, hope you are eating your words from your mail 11/10/07 YAKATIYAK SEND HIM BACK. SI. WIGAN. (09/03/08)

Well Done Ladies

Congratulations to the Everton ladies for their victory over Arsenal in the Women’s Premier League Cup. It’s the gooners 1st defeat in domestic competition since 2006 I think, so well done to all concerned. Let’s hope the men can emulate Mo Marley’s side by picking up some silverware this season. Spencer Bishop. (09/03/08)

Westlife are Evertonians

Got the wife and daughter tickets for the Westlife concert at the Echo arena , half way through the show the power gets cut so westloiff shouts "Roight Were in Liverpooowel so woir gonna sing you foiveroight song " the boys from Belfast started up, " When You Walk Threeeww a storrmmm " before being drowned out by BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO by the crowd , Westloiff singer , " Dont yer loike dat one den ? are yiz all Evertoneeans ? " , crowd, " YYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEAAAAAHHHHHH " Westloiff (laughing) , " well we'll sack dat one den " ...... so the shite's anthem got FUCKED OFF .. priceless peoples club power. Joeverton. (05/03/08)

Hello From Florence

Dear Evertonians. I am a Fiorentina fans from Florence, but , since I started watching english football I'am also an everton fans. I grew up watching english football since mid '80s, when Everton had a big squad and got 2 english league titles under H. Kendall's era. I only want to say you "good luck" for the match against us. It is a game I was dreaming for a long time: my local club against my english club. I spent many hours to explane to my friend which is the first and the only one real club in Merseyside, because most of them only knew about FC Red shite. I hope you will enjoy Florence . Fiorentina and Everton nowdays are in a similar situation: both are trying to get in to the "top four" in their national league . Both have a lower budget than the top four clubs , (Inter, Milan, Roma , Juventus - Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea, Redshite) but they are doing a great jobs to fill the gap. So, I would have liked to meet you in the final game at City of Manchester Stadium. But we have to play now, so, I hope we will have 2 great games. David Torrini. Florence. Italy. (05/03/08)

Ladies Win Cup

Massive congratulations to the Everton Ladies team on a magnificent win and bringing us our first trophy of the season. John B, Wirral. (05/03/08)

Dirty Dirk

Just been reading Tony Cascarino’s comments in The Times……..“It is not right that Taylor should be demonised when truly bad two-footed tackles, such as that of Dirk Kuyt on Phil Neville in the Merseyside derby on October 20, are all but forgotten”. Finally someone noticed!!! Jamie Fitzsimmons. (05/03/08)

Something Special Is Happening

SO WE'RE AHEAD OF THE 'DARK SIDE' WITH IT ALL TO PLAY FOR. WHETHER WE FINISH AHEAD OF THEM OR NOT, EVERYBODY KNOWS WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER SHAPE. IT'S GREAT TO FINISH ABOVE THAT LOT, BUT I PERSONALLY DON'T SEE THEM OR ANYBODY ELSE ABOVE US AS A THREAT ANYMORE. WE'RE DOING IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT'S SEEN AS REAL. REAL ENDEAVOUR, REAL EFFORT, REAL DETERMINATION. NOT JUST TO US, BUT NEUTRALS. WE WON'T GO BACKWARDS. WE HAVE GOT THE BEST MANAGER AROUND. YOUNG, INTELLIGENT, HONEST, NON-WHINGEING, EVERTYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO EMBBODY OUR CLUB. THE SKY FOUR WON'T LAST FOREVER, PEOPLE GET BORED VERY EASILY IN THIS LAND, BUT SOMETHING VERY, VERY SPECIAL IS HAPPENING AT EVERTON. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT. PERSONALLY, I HATE THE WAY THE GAME HAS GONE, BUT DAVID MOYES IS MAKING ME FEEL SO GOOD ABOUT MY CLUB RIGHT NOW. COYB. KEV CLARKE. (05/03/08)

Flushing Shittehhh

I was practically in tears, so moved was I by the immense performance against Man City. Absofuckinglutely magnificent, all night long. What more can you say about the three Jays? I wouldn't fuckin trade half the manure team for those three. Jagielka, fuck me! What a signing. Roll on McMoyes!!!!! Murray Halderson. (05/03/08)

Grow Up City

Ref the comment on Blue Kipper about corporate hassle at Man City. I think there were at least 4 boxes that had Toffees in them at our end and all were told to not celebrate as it was offensive to the home fans and could result in us being ejected from the ground. It was dead easy to just sit there with a smug look and watch them get angrier and angrier though. ~Tossers

They should learn to grow up. We would much rather have been with our lot at the other end as they sounded superb all the way through the game. I think they were just frustrated but the locals in the box with us said that it was par for the course at their place anyway!!!! Suppose it happens everywhere. Regards. Passionate Streetender! (27/02/08)

Best Performance In 20 Years

As a long suffering Bluenose. I would like to say that Everton at Man City is the best Everton performance I have seen in at least 20 years. We were committed all over the pitch. we had a great game plan and all of the players showed desire and class. The save at the end by Howard was top class. Everton have some difficult games ahead, including the 'hated' Res Shiiiiiiiite, but we are in a great position in the league and UEFA cup. To the Manager and the players well done!

To the board, lets consolidate our improvement by strengthening again in the summer, whilst we are an attractive proposition to top class players! This will ensure that we can banish the Red Shiiiiite, to the doldrums of mid-table, which would be great payback for all our years of suffering because of their, cheating 'blame culture' years! Mal (Trueblue)......but not holdings! (27/02/08)

Five Stars

As anyone else noticed lately the number of red tattoos on show, "FIVE stars" you see them mostly in the pub when Liverpool are at home, on the arms, necks and legs and even faces of these poor kopites who don't go the match. I have even seen these FIVE red stars welded on to garden gates leading to peoples property. Anyone who has read my story about THE DARK SIDE (6TH August 2006) on Bluekipper before will understand my concern once again about the relevance of the alleged Devil worshipping across the park.

What about the known fact that FIVE is the favourite number of Satan and his followers, sceptical are you?? What have all these words got in common, in no particular order: Satan, Devil, Death, Blame, Blood, Hands, Tykes, Curse, Blues, the list goes on and on, and lets not forget one nearer to home who sold his soul to the same red devil Wayne, Ah well only a theory but it does make you think, doesn't it? FK. KNOTTY ASH. (27/02/08)

St Domingo Football club

Extracts from’ The Evertonian’ – February 2008 - issue 161. Everton to pay tribute to a founding figure.’

‘Everton FC and Liverpool FC hope to combine to restore the grave of the Revd Ben Swift Chambers, the Methodist minister who was a key figure in the clubs’ formation. The neglected grave was discovered in the Yorkshire village of Shepley by Peter Lupson while researching the church roots of famous football clubs for his book, ‘Thank God for Football.’

Bill Kenwright and Rick Parry both responded positively to the suggestion that the two clubs should combine to restore Chambers’ grave and re-dedicate it at a joint service of commemoration.

Reverend Ben Chambers joined the Methodist church in 1869. He was eventually appointed circuit superintendent and minister of St Domingo Chapel in the Everton district of Liverpool on July 1st, 1877.

He was a great lover of cricket and after only a couple of months he had persuaded members of the Young Men’s Bible Class to set up St Domingo Cricket Club.

A year later in 1878 the St Domingo cricketers felt it would be a good idea to take up association football during the winter months to keep fit. This was common attitude at the time. Association football was still in its infancy and was regarded as little more than an opportunity for winter exercise by members of cricket clubs.

The members found the football very enjoyable and began to take it seriously. They called themselves St Domingo Football Club in the winter months.

Soon they were the best team in Stanley Park and began to attract players from other churches. Within a year the team was no longer wholly representative of the St Domingo chapel and it was decided to rename the football section of their cricket club Everton after the district in which they lived.

Everton grew more and more successful and in 1884 opened a new stadium called Anfield. Success followed and in 1891 the club became the champions of the Football League’ First Division, the top flight in England.

A year later, there was a split in the ranks. The club’s landlord and president, John Houlding, had increased the rent on the Anfield stadium to such a level that the majority of the committee rebelled and Houlding promptly expelled them from Anfield, intending to run the club under the Everton name without them.

But the exiled Evertonians appealed to the Football Association, claiming they were rightful heirs to the Everton name. Their appeal was upheld and Houlding was forced to find a different name for the club he wanted to run at Anfield. He chose Liverpool. The Evertonians meanwhile migrated to the Walton district where they built Goodison.’ (Chambers family re restoration please contact Peter Lupson – lupsonp@yahoo.co.uk)

I believe the above story is perfectly timed and highlights the urgency required to re-examine the use of Stanley Park by Liverpool FC. Stanley Park is hallowed ground and should be used by either both clubs or neither. It is the spiritual home of football in our city, our roots. Both clubs should be entitled to keep their souls in tact and therefore both clubs have equal rights to Stanley Park. In fact I cannot think of any other city in the world with 2 or more football teams with a greater history and tradition.

This then poses a number of questions –

Planning permission refused for Everton FC – planning permission granted to Liverpool FC. Numerous rumours abound as to why we did not get permission and Liverpool did but in light of the above article surely this should be investigated and proper answers given as to why one club was chosen over the other.

A public enquiry. Is there history and precedent so that a complaint could be lodged with the Government, House of Lords or European courts of Law as to who has rights to Stanley Park considering the historic significance to both clubs history?

Shared stadium. – Now and the bigger picture – next 100 years. The decision to share over shadows other proposals as this is a unique opportunity to re-enforce the totally unique story that is already attached to both clubs over 100 years +. Our birth re-affirms our place in global football as one of the founder cities of association football, with the most unique story – from our roots to present day. Not just domestically or across Europe but unique in global football. It reads like a fictional thriller and will draw millions of fans from all over the world to the stadium – Mecca of football, Holy Grail? Plus the National Museum of Football in Preston is within an hour. Add in the The Beatles and you have a worldwide attraction for music and football. The 2 most successful teams in English football, the oldest league in the world. Liverpool have a larger fan base in the Far East, for example, who will visit but they will also visit the whole stadium and enjoy our museum and discover the truth and take that information home with them. Take our Singapore blue from the Mailbag who is an Everton fan because he did not want to be a ‘sheep’ and follow his friends who all picked Man U, Arsenal etc because they were on the TV more often. He looked into the history of Everton and new he was ‘born’ - a true blue. Once people know the history they become intrigued and excited.

Marketing a shared stadium. It would be a dream ticket, a dream deal, the ‘real’ deal of the century. How many revenue streams are there to exploit? Birth, history, supporters, Wembley finals in the 80’s, blue and white everywhere, one bedroom blue, the other red, football tourists, tourists in general who see the stadium as part of a Liverpool City tour. Grow with the city – stadium used every week, concerts in the summer, full hotels, bars, transport etc – all of which keeps underlining and growing the name of both clubs and the city. And above football this is all our city. TV documentaries re the restoration of the grave but also the whole history of the clubs and how they are intertwined over 100+ years – add in a shared stadium and you have a brilliant story to sell around the world. When tourists do visit and stay in the city and mix with locals they will then be able to understand the passion and history and pass it on. One of best stadiums in world – Liverpool as the city now the focus of world football where it should be – not Manchester, London or Madrid. Re-affirm our history and also generate money from all of the above – pot of gold.

Stadium design. 2 main ends behind goals. Everton’s end – gates opposite Goodison. Liverpool’s end gates facing Anfield. Away supporters on the side. Both ‘home’ ends will then attract the singers etc. If you do not want to sit behind the goal then pick a place – when either club is away would we vandalise our own ground when a brother or sister might support the other team? We can police it ourselves. Colour of seats can be worked out. Therefore each team gets an L shape – one end and one main stand – equal numbers of seats taking into account away fans. Dixie Dean statue one side – Bill Shankly the other. Both teams’ museums. Trophies and memorabilia. Everton ‘firsts’. Moore’s’ family. Plus the ex players and on and on.

Money. How can Everton FC fund their share? Tell the same story to investors – present the possibilities in terms of global domination as the 2 most famous clubs in the world with the totally unique story – how can that not attract investors? Would Chang invest more money as they see the long term opportunities? Just one example. Better people than me will see hundreds of ways and means to attract investment with a dream package. Infrastructure there or ready to go in – Major economic impact on the clubs themselves, local area and city. North West Development Agency has offered money only if we share – they can see the potential. I am only scratching the surface of what could be achieved.

Identity. How can we loose an identity that is already over 100 years old by going back to our roots and place of birth? Our identity is passed down from generation to generation and will only be reaffirmed as more and more supporters understand our roots. As experts all over the world discuss the loss of football in the local community and its identity amongst local supporters, we would deepen our roots further and grow them stronger along with major growth of the team through marketing. Our identities would become deeper and stronger. Rivalry will still be fierce. Most passionate and knowledgeable fans in world. One of most passionate cities in the world. One of best stadiums in world. Most visited stadiums in world. Most earning stadiums in world. Educate the world – city of Liverpool, 2 teams, 2 cathedrals, The Beatles. 70,000 plus supporters in the ‘old’ days for a derby back again. Keep both teams community based where they belong. Engrained in folklore within 10/20 years around the globe. Links with other clubs i.e. Barcelona. Next step in our unique history?

Kirkby? – After all of the above why is Kirkby even on the table?

Resentment - Pride comes before a fall as they say –Scouse Blue and Reds are the reason other clubs around the world envy us – we are in the same family – live in the same houses. The implications of not sharing are far too deep and disturbing even if we re-develop Goodison – they will have Stanley Park. It is sacrilege. Even if you disagree sharing a stadium you cannot possible support the scandalous decision to allow Liverpool sole permission to build on Stanley Park. To let Liverpool FC go ahead with Stanley Park would be an insult to St Domingo Football Club. They do not have the right. Only the 2 clubs sharing a stadium have the right. Not only would it be scandalous for Liverpool to be allowed to go ahead but by not sharing both clubs will miss out on the one-off golden opportunity that presents itself. An opportunity which is too good to miss; historically, morally and for the future. If we can unite to recognise our roots and birth and restore the Revd Ben Swift Chambers grave then we can unite to complete our circle of history. Recognised domestically, across Europe and globally, as having the most unique football clubs, fans, city and history in the world.

The spiritual home of both clubs. St Domingo (Nike) Stadium? Stanley Park (Nike) Stadium?

To quote Winston Churchill – ‘The farther backward you look, the farther forward you are likely to see.’

Thank you. Paul Lally. Aged 44 - lifelong blue within a ‘majority’ family of reds - Tuebrook