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
What
do you think? e-mail
Blue Kipper