22. Tobias Linderoth

Toby

Consistent

Toby has been involved in Everton's five match unbeaten run and with his tremedous 2nd half display for Sweden against England, the boss and Toby believe the more games he gets the better he will become.

Moysey says: “Tobias has got himself in the side at the moment. He’s doing a steady job for us. We’ve been looking to get a regular side together and we’re beginning to get to that. It’s taken us a long time but the only way that you get a consistent side is by players performing consistently and securing results. Our last five games have been consistent, we’ve not lost and there’s something to build on from there and Tobi’s been involved in all of those games.”

Toby says: “I feel as if my partnership with Thomas Gravesen is getting better and better in every game I get. Hopefully we can get a few games more and we can develop our game a bit more. At this stage of the season consistency is important, we need all the points that we can get. If we’re as consistent as we have been over the last couple of games then I think we’ll get a few points out of Newcastle as well. (02/04/04)

How Hard Are You

Moyesy is asking Toby Linderoth to become harder, and develop a mean streak to his game. The gaffer wants him to stamp his authority more, and he believes this will help him to become a better all round player. Pat Van Den Hauwe has been drafted in by the club, to escort Toby around some of his old haunts, to harden the Swede up a bit.

Moyesy says: "Tobias has a lot going for him. He is a quietly spoken Swede who gets on with his work, although there are things about his game I want him to improve. The one thing we cannot improve is his stature. Everybody now is looking for big powerful players but we would like him to improve his play, his passing. What he is very good at is finding holes, doing the dirty work and breaking things up. Sometimes that can go unnoticed. But if you want to be a central midfield player in England you are going to have to be tough and make your own mark. If you are small like that you are going to have to be really competitive, and able to challenge. You don't need to be a great passer, just very good and simple and keep it moving. He's been a wee bit upset because he's not played in all the games but we've been looking to improve in that area as much as we can. Toby's had two or three games now and done well for us. He had a big influence for us against Portsmouth and he needed to. We've not been strong in that area. We have got the numbers but are lacking in quality. He is somebody who is improving and because he is young the European Championships will be a big test for him and maybe he'll find out where he is as well. He is an international who has proved himself, he doesn't need to prove anything to me. But every player at any club is always having to fight to get into the side." (16/03/04)

Never In The Area

Tobias Linderoth is adamant that his mis-timed tackle on Southampton's David Prutton, that gave the Saints a life line in Saturdays exciting draw, was outside the penalty area. Toby who questioned the referee's sight and parentage after the poor decision, is convinced as we all were, that points were taken away from us after the poor decision by referee Dowd.

Toby says: "It definitely wasn’t a penalty. I made the tackle outside the box and even when I stood up after I made the tackle, I was still outside the box. It was never a penalty. I don’t know whether the referee was swayed by the crowd, but something happened. The linesman should have picked it up as well, but he didn’t. I told the referee I was outside the box and even showed him the scorch mark where the tackle was made, but he didn’t listen and just pointed at the spot. In those situations, you can’t really do much about it. The manager didn’t say anything about it to me after the game, because I know he felt the same way about it."(24/02/04)

Glad Toby Back

Tobias Linderoth is delighted to be back in the first team set up, after replacing the ineffectual Li Tie at half time in the draw against the Gunners. Linderoth who has not really sparkled since arriving at Goodison a few years ago, is hopefully set for an extended run in the first eleven with injuries to Stevey Watson, Tommy Grav and Alex Nyarko. Do the biz Toby, as you will never get a better chance to show us what your made of.

Toby says : "As long as I am playing I am happy. I have confidence in my own ability and I just wanted to get a chance. I think I took that chance when I came on against Arsenal and hopefully I will play in a couple of games now. I like to work hard and that is what you have to do in that position." (14/01/04)

Defeat in Cairo

Toby played for Sweden in their 1-0 defeat against Egypt at the Cairo Stadium. (19/11/03)

First For Blues

Toby Linderoth scored his first goal for The Blues in last night's victory over Charlton in the Carling Cup.Toby headed in from three yards out after a Wayne Rooney volley came crashing back off the bar.I for one was not too delighted as I had a tenner on Rooney at 5/1 for first goalscorer.

Alan Irvine says: "I didn't know it was his first goal for the club. I thought it was just his first since we came here, but it was very timely." (30/10/03)


Left Out

Sweden lost 1-0 against Latvia, but still qualified as group winners, as Toby watched fro the bench. (12/10/03)

Super Sub

Toby came on as sub for Sweden in their 5-0 win against San Marino. He won a penalty for their 4th goal. (07/09/03)

Call Up

I think we would all agree on two things about Toby, one we have never seen enough of him consistently to make a valid judgement on him as a player & two, that there might have been individual Star Men for each of our three games so far this season but if you add them all up, Toby wouldn't be far off being the Star.
Tobias has had a great start to the season and this has been recognised by the Swedish FA, so subject to Gerrard not breaking Toby's leg on Saturday he should be in the national team to face San Marino in the friendly on Sept 6th. Well done Toby (as long as you've lost that cardy) we are starting to love you! (27/08/03)

Sent Off

Toby was sent off last night for 2 bookable offences, whilst playing for Sweden in their 2-1 defeat against Greece. Sould be fresh for Saturday he was sent off just before half time. (21/08/03)

Confidence Is The Key

Toby is having a better pre-season than most, especially his Swedish International team mate, Saint Nic. He has played in the last 3 games, & although he hasn't set the wrld alight, he seems to be in pole position for one of the midfield spots.

Toby says: "Results give you confidence and we haven't had a result for a few games. We need to build up that confidence. We need to create a lot more chances. There's a lot of things that we do a lot better, but there were signs in the second half that things are improving. A win against Bologna is important as it will give us the confidence we need to take us into the new season. (06/08/03)

Toby On A Mission

Toby is determined to make a go of it this season. After only making 6 appearences last season he wants to show everyone what he can do in the midfield holding role and he expects to be around for a long time.

Toby said: "I have played the last couple of years in the anchor role in central mid-field and I think I have played my best games there.Last season was a difficult one for me, but I feel fine now. The hamstring is perfect and it is good to get a full pre-season under my belt for the first time at Everton. I don't feel that last season was a completely wasted one for me.I had a tough beginning of the season and then I started to play a little bit. Then I got injured and there's not much you can do about that."

"It feels a bit like the manager doesn't really know how well I can play because he hasn't been able to watch that much of me. He went with the other players he knew better. I feel very comfortable and very settled at Everton now. When you are injured you feel you are not as involved as the other players. But it maybe gave me time to get to know everyone at the club better - and I want to stay here for a long time."(17/07/03)

Toby Last Season

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