Out of Brazil Game

Joey is very disappointed at missing the big game against Brazil. The Nigerian captain has a slight injury he picked up in the 3-0 win over Cameroon last week. Joey will be OK to report back to training on 9th July 2003. He has been given a few extra days rest. The bulk of the players return 0n 3rd July 2003. (11/06/03)

Joey Scores

Captain Joey led from the front, as he scored for his country in a 3-0 win over Cameroon to win LG Cup tournament. (03/06/03)

Captain Joey

Joey captained his country yesterday. The Super Eagles came from behind in Abuja to win 3-1 over Ghana’s Black Stars in the LG Electronics Cup. What next, captain of Everton? (01/06/03)

Happy Boss, Happy Player, Happy Fans

Moyesy believes that the signing of Joey is a sign that we are getting a young team together.

Moyesy says: "Joseph has now completed the move and with him signed and Tony Hibbert, Wayne Rooney and Richard Wright, we are beginning to get the start of a young side which is not just for now, it is for the future. Joseph had signed an agreement with Everton which meant he would definitely be here, the problem has arisen from money which Joseph felt he was owed from Marseille when the transfer deal did become permanent. It really had very little to do with Everton but obviously he is our player and we want a happy player, we don't want a disillusioned player and we sort of intervened to try to get it moving and get it sorted,” (24/05/03)

Signed, Sealed & Delivered

Joey has got his £350,000 from Marseille. Everton have paid the extra £3.5m, so everything is rosy. We think this will be seen as one of the best bits of business in the history of Everton. So there!
Mike Dunford says: "Joseph Yobo has now reached an agreement with Marseille and we expect the deal to be sealed in 24 hours. He is now our player." (23/05/03)

Some Progress

Joey was still on Merseyside this week, seemingly without a care in the world, as he gave out the winners medals to the boys from SFX School, who had just won the Echo Cup at Goodison. Meanwhile Michael Dunford was in Marseille.

Dumford says: "We haven't got a dispute with Joseph or Marseille. We had an agreement with Marseille to exercise the option to sign Joseph, which we took up at the beginning of the year and we've agreed terms with Joseph for another four-year contract. The issue is a historical one, which we tried to mediate in, and that is that Joseph and Marseille are in discussions over a severance payment. Those discussions are still ongoing and hopefully they'll be resolved very quickly, but it is purely a domestic matter between Joseph and Marseille. We were there purely to oil the wheels of a meeting and we came away thinking that some progress has been made." (16/05/03)

Talks With Marseille

Joey has decided to stay at Everton. He is happy now after all the contract upset earlier on in the season. The only problem is the £4m Marseille want for him. Everton are to have talks with the French team this week to tie up his services. Blue Bill is hoping to tie up a pay nothing now & pay nothing ever deal. There is a rumour that he will offer an Everton player such as Saint Nic to lower the price to £3.9m. (14/05/03)

He's A Centre-Half

Moyesy insists Joey is a better centre back than a right back.Joey put in brilliant performance at right back against WBA and is a class performer wherever he plays.

Moyesy said:"We have found Joseph to be a better centre-half and that is where his long-term future will be.He is unfortunate that David Weir and Alan Stubbs have been doing well and keeping him out of the side. He is fast and a very good footballer so I have no qualms about playing him in a number of different positions"(14/04/03)

He Has Signed

There does seem to be some shite being thrown about when it comes to Joey's contract. Reports that he hasn't signed is a load of nonsense according to the boss.

Moyesy said: "He has signed a contract, the money is in place to pay Marseille and he is an Everton player. I don't know what more we can say." (05/04/03)

Chance To Shine

A lot of fans have been saying Joey should get a chance in midfield, as we have struggled in that department over the last few weeks. He has played in that position for Nigeria, & showed how good he is when he played there in a charity match a couple of weeks ago. (see below). Now he may get the chance at right back, with the news that both Tony Hibbert, & Sandro Pistone are injured. (19/03/03)

International Call

One of the problems for Everton, is Joey's availability for his National team, Nigeria. It's not that he hops on the train down to London for a game, & is back in plenty of time for the weekend game. He travels half way around the world plays his game, misses his connection, & could miss two games. There shouldn't be much problem this time, as Nigeria play their African Nations Cup qualifier against Malawi on Sunday, 30th March 2003, This being a designated International weekend, Everton have no game that weekend. Joey wants to play!

Joey says: "I hope to play but we have to wait and see what happens. It depends on the discussion between the Nigeria Football Association and my club. But I love my country and want to do my best for the national team." (10/03/03)

Joey Excels in Midfield

Joey played in midfield from the start, & had a great game. He has played regularly for Nigeria in midfield. Maybe this is the hint, Joey needs to get back in the Everton team. (06/03/02)

Joey to play for African XI

Joey was a notable absentee, when the first team squad jetted off to Spain this week. Before anyone puts 2+2 together and get 6. He had permission from Moyesy to stay behind, & play for Africa Select XI v Rest of the World XI. A Charity Football Match for "Kanu Children in Need, Africa" on Wed. 4th March 2003, at The Reebok Stadium. Tickets are £10. (03/03/03)

It's 2 out of 3

Joey may consider himself to be unlucky but Moyesy has decided if you don't play well you're not in.

Moyesy said: "We have got good competition in defence in David Weir, Stubbsey and Joseph. The three of them are going to have to compete hard. You can't just go with two, because that would not be enough. You have to have one who can come in. At different times they have each been out of the team. We did not defend well at Tottenham so I made a change last Saturday. Prior to that they have all had good spells and not so good spells. They just have to knuckle down and get on with it. If they play well, they will be selected." (22/01/03)

Learning Curve

People have suggested that the loss of form Joey has experienced over the last couple of games are down to contract problems. David Moyes disagrees.

Moyesy said:"Maybe a month ago he was a bit confused about what exactly was going on and it got him down a bit. But the contract has nothing to do with it and he has even been in to see me and reassured me that that is the case.”

"Basically he is just a young centre-half who is learning rapidly. I always said that as a young defender he would be liable to make mistakes, especially at this level, and that he would have to learn from them. Obviously players cannot make mistakes continuously and we work with him every day to help him improve. I would say he is a better player already, his positional sense and understanding of the game have already improved.(15/01/03)

Calm Down

David Moyes has tried to calm everyone down. He has had a chat with Joey and he thinks everything will be OK.

Moyesy said: "I have spoken to Joe and he knows exactly what the situation is. "If there have been any mistakes made it has not been by Everton and I expect us all to put this behind us. Joseph has played really well for us and we hope he can continue that form tomorrow."

Contracts - What are They Worth Anyway?

We are in the panto season, & Everton & Joey are playing it for fun.

Dunford "Yobo has signed a contract"
Joey "Oh no I haven't"

We think that the two parties should talk to each other, rather than through the media. Contracts these days mean nothing. If a player wants to go he'll go. Contract or no contract. Hopefully this is just a storm in a tea cup (What does that mean?) & everything will be Happy for Christmas. (13/12/02)

Vote For Joey

Joey has won the PFA Fans Player of the Month for November. Fans vote on The PFA website. The vote goes on all season, so go to the link here & vote, so Joey can win the PFA Fans Player of the Season Award.

http://www.givemefootball.com/html/PFAAWARDS-2003.STM

Joey says: "It was a difficult start to the season for me after being out injured - but since I've come into the side the team has had a very good run. I've done my best, but it's the team who have been great. The manager and the players have been working hard, and that's made it easier for me. I know I've done very well, but it's a team effort. I think the best is yet to come from me - I'm still not at my best,' he said. 'I believe I can still do more and I'm trying to get better with every game I play. I want to improve with each performance and I think that I am getting better with every game."(04/12/02)

£4.5m for 5 Years - Bargain of the Century

Everton have announced that Joey is ready to put pen to paper in a £4.5m deal, which would keep him at Goodison for five years.(this year plus another 4). It won't be signed until the transfer window re-opens in January. The board has wheeled & dealed again, & will now pay an extra £3.5m on top of the £1m they have already paid for the one year loan deal. (03/12/02)

Joey could miss The Derby

Following his sending off at Newcastle, Everton must beat Chelsea on Wednesday night in the Worthington Cup, to enable Joey to play in the Derby game. If not the FA rules state that a player sent off must wait 14 days before they start there suspension. He will join Unsey, as he goes over the limited due to his booking at Newcastle. (02/12/02)

Thanx Santa

Santa has come early this year and granted our wish with the best stocking filler there is. Joey will sign for the Toffeemen.

Moyesy said: "The two clubs have agreed a deal Marseille over Joseph Yobo. We have been working hard to try to finalise the deal and the board at Everton have been fantastic in putting the finances in place. There are still one or two matters to be sorted out with Joseph and his advisors, but we hope to conclude the matter in the next couple of days." (28/11/02)

Who's Got Joey's Shirt?

He is making a big impession with Toffeemen and Toffeewomen everywhere. He is also pleasing the boss with another top performance against Blackburn. He has started something with the shirt throwing stuff and we love it. Was anyone near it when he chucked it into the fans? Who's got Joey's shirts? e-mail info@bluekipper

Moyesy said:“He's where he wants to be but he'll have to pay for another shirt now. He's enjoying himself more and more now and beginning to stamp his personality on the squad and joining in the banter more and more."

"Joseph has coped with everything very well and he will get even better.” (18/11/02)

It's Official Joey Loves Us

We love you too Joey! If the club had passed the hat round after the Charlton game then they would have got a helluva contribution towards the £5m they need to stump up for loan signing Joey Yobo, he impresses us more with every game and was Star Man on Saturday.
Today, Joey said the words we have wanted to hear since we first saw him in the Premiership against Fulham, 'I am happy to stay'!
'When I was injured at the start of the season the fans were really behind me, and that helped me settle down very quickly and I was really thankful for that,' he continued.
'They were behind me when I was not playing. No-one had even seen me play and they were behind me, which is wonderful.Each time I play now the fans seem happy to see me.I love them because they love me, they are just wonderful.” What a good judge you are Joey, welcome to the Moyes Revolution! (11/11/02)

Sign him soon

With another commanding performance against The Hammers, Joey has been getting some rave reviews & rightly so. The down side is that he is being noticed by some top teams, & some of the fans are a bit worried that he maybe snapped up by someone else, as he is still only on loan to Everton until the end of the season. Moysey though is not.

Moysey says: "It is not something we are overly concerned about just now but we have something agreed for the end of the season when that comes around. We do have first option. His performances have been very good and he's going to get better. You can't be the best centre-half around at 21 but you might be at 25 or 26 and even at 30 you can improve because by then you can understand and read the game more." (29/10/02)

Praise for the Fans

After his debut against Fulham, Joey has been shouting the odds about the fans. Joey says: " The reception I got from the Everton fans was wonderful, & I feel that they are really behind me. They are great supporters, & they have given me all the support I that needed. This makes me happy to play for them. Even when I played for the reserves, the fans were great to me, & it made me feel bad, because I wanted to show them what I could in the first team." (20/10/02)

.Joey Looks the Biz

With one Blue Kipper Star Man already under his belt after only two games we look to have areal star on our hands.

David Moyes is delighted with Joey. He said: "Yobo is what I expected. He's only 21 but he's excellent. We can make him better and in a few years he will be a top quality defender". (06/10/02)

Joey in African Nations Squad

One of the down sides of signing an African player is that Joey will be missing for vital games, when he plays for his Country. Joey has been named in the Nigerian squad for next month's 2004 African Nations Cup qualifier against Angola on 8 September. This means he may miss the Premiership night game at Southampton, which will be played on Wednesday 11th Sep. Everton will need to make sure he returns back on Merseyside as soon as possible. Other African players have returned home late in the past. (16/08/02)

Full Game - At Last!

Moyesy is hoping Joey can add some pace to the Everton defence, sooner rather than later. It now looks like he is nearing full fitness after playing the full 90 minutes in a behind-closed-doors run-out against a Burnley XI on Tuesday.
Moyesy says: "Joseph came through the game OK, but still lacks match fitness & doesn't look entirely comfortable with area he sustained the injury." So it looks like a no go for Joe on Saturday, but yer never know. (15/08/02)

Joey Has A Chance

Moyesy has put the pressure on Joey & the medical staff to get him fit for tomorrow's game at Goodison. If he doesn't play it looks like he won't be selected for the Spurs game.

Moysey says: “He has done a bit more training in the last few days and I would hope that he would have a chance for Saturday. We are running out of time for him because I want my players integrated and I won’t put them in if they haven’t done the work.” (09/08/02)

Don't Worry Be Happy

Joey is looking forward to life as a Toffeeman. He thinks he has made the right move and hopes to be fit for the start of the season. He said: “I have picked up an injury but I am getting settled, getting used to the players and that is important. I have not had much rest, but for the moment I am O.K., happy the transfer has gone through and my aim now is to get fit as soon as possible so I can prepare for the first game.”

“I think with the players coming in and the players that were already here we are going to have a better team next season." We agree with you Joey. (04/08/02)

Fracture? - Oh no it isn't

Great News. Joey may be fit for the Spurs game. A second scan revealed no hairline fracture.
Moyesy says: "The results have come through and Joseph is fine. There is no break fortunately and now we get him on with training and hopefully get him into action as quickly as we can. We don’t know if he will be ready for the start of the season just yet. Hopefully he will be but what he needs more importantly is games because he needs to start blending in with the players. We need to see him training and playing with us and our aim is to get that underway as soon as we can." (01/08/02)

Yobo in Hairline Fracture Scare

Joey, who has played just 27 minutes at Queens Park, may not make the start of the season, when the 'bruised foot' may become a hairline fracture to the leg. If this is the case, Joey will need to have his leg in plaster to immobilise it so the fracture can heal. This is a notorious injury to diagnose, even with x-rays & scans. Joey will see a specialist tomorrow to determine how long he will be out of action. (31/07/02)

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