Team Spirit The Key

Big Nige has played in 31 games this season to keep Richard Wright out of the team and has enjoyed it because of the great team spirit in the camp. He's hoping that this spirit will help Everton win against the Geordies on Saturday.

"I have certainly enjoyed this season and my form has been good. I have just tried to keep consistent really and perform well to stay in the team. I think we have exceeded everyone else's expectations this season, internally you are always hopeful that you are going to achieve something and that is what we set out to do and that is what we have done. There is a great team spirit and a group of players who want to work hard for each other and make it so we are a hard team to beat and that is where we are at the moment.

It's tight, obviously we've got three games and the others have only got two so we need a big result against Newcastle. I think there will be a big push from the lads for that game, if we can win that it makes the job a lot easier. We can't wait for the next game coming off the back of a bad result. We want to go out there and put that right, and I think the lads are desperate to get out there. It's obviously there for the taking, but I suppose the time to reflect on it is when you get it so we've just got to make sure we get it." (03/05/05)

Mistake By Nige

The Manager of The People's Club has accepted that Big Nige could have done better for the second goal in the derby game, but won't slag him off as he has had a great season.

Moyesy says: “Nigel Martyn has been consistent for us though I think that there is a case for him holding his hand-up and he has done that. We are disappointed with it but he has saved us many times. But more importantly he is the sort of guy to take full responsibility and we will now move on and hopefully it won’t happen again.” (22/03/05)

Nige, The Best in February

Nige Martyn has picked up his second Player of The Month, when he pipped Marcus Bent to February's award. Martyn who has come back into the side after injury, has seen Everton's fortunes change. We collected seven points in the month, and only conceded four League goals in the process. Nige who brings a calming reassurance to the back four, wins a years supply of Wearthers Originals Sweets. He is also entered into the yearly prize pot, for a £200 B+Q Voucher. (03/03/05)

Big Nev, Reckons Your Not Bad

One of the Everton all time greats, speaks in glowing terms of one of our present day heroes. Big Nev who is never backward in coming forward is pointing out how much of an asset Nige Martyn is for Everton. Nige who has just returned from injury, has played in the last two matches, in which Everton remain unbeaten. Big Nev, believes that this is no coincidence, and it is some vote of confidence from the man who wore the green jersey, and won League Titles, FA Cups, and Euro honours in his time with the Blues.

Big Nev says: "If the club want to make the Champions League then they cannot afford to make mistakes or concede sloppy goals. In that respect, Nigel Martyn is going to be very influential. He is a steady Eddie and the players seem comfortable and confident with him behind them. The defence is more assured. The players appreciate him and he doesn't make mistakes. He has the right experience to help the whole team as he knows exactly what it takes to get into Europe and to win things.

The test of any goalkeeper for me is when you sit in the crowd. It is a position which gets people most agitated, but I have been to Goodison a number of times in the last year and I have never heard a murmur of discontent over Nigel. That is something you can't say about the other keepers the club have had in recent years. Even if it isn't meant in a nasty way, you do tend to hear little comments. Not with Nigel.

The goalkeepers who make lots of eye-catching saves are either in a bad side or they are bad positionally. The best keepers are the ones who are unfussy. Just look at Petr Cech.The best keepers guide players into the right positions and spot the danger before it happens. Nigel is a great reader of the game because of his experience. He is a great set of eyes for the defence and they look much more composed when he is behind them. Nigel does that for Everton and that is also why Chelsea are where they are. Arsenal and Manchester United have not had a settled keeper and that is why they are where they are.

Nigel is consistently an eight out of 10 performer and you can't underline how important that is for any side. It is so important to have him back in the team. He really could make the difference between making the Champions League and just missing out." (11/02/05)

Nice To See Ya, To See Ya, Nice

Five weeks, felt like five years, as Nige returned to the sticks after his Christmas injury. It was no coincidence either that Everton kept their first clean sheet in the Prem since the middle of December. Dickie whose form has been patchy of late, dropped back down onto the bench, and it looks like Nige is here to stay as we battle on for the remaining Champions League spot.

Nige says: "I didn't have the greatest game in the world, but I just tried to be solid and not make a mistake. The pitch made life difficult, but it was the same for both sides: you've got to concentrate hard and make sure you don't make any mistakes and hope you get something at the other end. It was a good result for us. It was a hard fought game in difficult conditions and we battled away and just about edged it." (03/02/05)

Back In Training

Back in training with the first team squad and then back to the first team. That's what Nigel wants.

Big Nige says: “I will be training today but I will be back in full training on Monday and that will be just short of five weeks after getting the injury.To be honest I feel I can play right now but the physio has been holding me back a little because he wants to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
I have been quite lucky throughout my career with injuries, so spending time out has been frustrating. But the easy bit when you are injured is getting fit. The hard part will be fighting to get my place back. I have been quite lucky throughout my career with injuries so spending time out has been frustrating. I have been eager to get back and actually feel strong enough to play right now. But the physio has been holding me back because he wants to make sure it doesn't happen again." (27/01/05)

Your Beautiful, And Your Mine

A day after signing a one year extension to his current deal, Nige is receiving the adulation he rightly deserves off the boss. Moyesy is thanking his lucky stars, that he bailed in with a bid for the veteran keeper in 2003. Moyesy also gave the impression that when Nige is fit, he will be straight back in the first team, as Everton push on for Europe.

Moyesy says: "I don’t know if I knew exactly what I was getting when I brought Nigel Martyn to Everton but he’s proved to be far better than we expected. He’s been outstanding since he joined the club and if anybody deserved an extra year’s contract it’s Nigel Martyn. No matter what happens with him he’s experienced and he will help us. We’re delighted to have him for another year.

Hopefully he’s not too far away from fitness now too. Nigel’s presence has been really important to us over the last season and I’m sure that will continue to be the way." (27/01/05)

New Deal

David Moyes was handed a superb boost today, with the news that veteran keeper Nigel Martyn will sign a one year extension to his current contract which was due to expire in the Summer. Nige who is now 38, is currently out injured with a calf complaint. He has been in fantastic form since joining the Blues in September of 2003.

The calf injury which is currently keeping Nige out is healing well, and he is hopeful to return to action in the next few weeks.

Nige says: "When I came it was the season when Everton had just missed out on qualifying for Europe. When I first came that was my hope and obviously last season didn’t transpire like that. But we’ve bounced back well this season and from our current position we’ve got a great chance of getting European football.

I’ve worked hard and tried to earn myself a new contract and now I’ve been fortunate enough to get one. I’m glad to be here. I’ve enjoyed it from the first minute to the present day. There’s a tremendous camaraderie between the goalkeepers here. Whoever plays, the support is there from the other three – including coach Chris Woods. There is good banter, a bit of mickey taking and joking, but on the serious side everyone wants everyone else to do well." (25/01/05)

Month Off

Nige Martyn who could be sidelined for up to a month, is vowing he will be on the comeback trail sooner rather than later. Nige who pulled up on the stroke of half time of the Charlton defeat is sure to have a battle on his hands wrestling the jersey back off Dickie Wright.

Nige says: "There’s a tear there so it’s just a case of waiting for the radiologist to tell us exactly the extent of the tear and from that we’ll know how long. I think we’re looking at probably at least a month - sooner if I can. I’ll be doing all I can to make it sooner; it’s a time thing really. We need as many bodies as we can get really. It’s important that we have as many fit players as we can. We’re a small squad and we can’t afford injuries really, it’s just very disappointing at this time."

Basil says: "The scan confirmed what we saw clinically really - he’s got a fairly significant calf strain. We anticipate that he will be out for at least a month, it’s the kind of injury that can’t be hurried." (30/12/04)

What's Another Year

Bad news for Dickie Wright, in the form of Nige wanting at least another year on his contract. The 38yr old, whose current deal runs out next Summer, is wanting to stay on at the Blues for one more season.

Nige who has been playing out of his skin this season, is asking the question can he stay. Moyesy has yet to decide who he will offer new deals to, but the way we are playing he may have to offer everyone one.

Nige says: "I'm playing for another season. I'm out of contract at the end of the season, and there are an awful lot of us in that same situation. The way we are playing, I don't think those players and myself could do any more. Obviously, the message is that we all want another contract. Possibly that is having an influence on the team and the way we are playing, but that suggests players weren't trying beforehand and that's not the case. It's a difficult position to be in. You can't really say you demand a new contract in that position, you just have to keep playing and hope you are offered another deal. I want to go on. I think I am playing well. I don't think I am doing anything much different to how I've gone throughout my career." (15/12/04)

My Best Yet

He has played in top International games for his Country, European matches for Leeds, a Cup Final for Palace, but our Nige rates Saturdays 1-0 win over the shite as one of the most pleasing results of his career. Nige thanks the back four who play in front of him for defending admirably. The big Cornish man however, needs a big thanks off us, for two world class saves in the match. They can go on about the other contenders, but everybody who visits Goodison week in week out, knows that Nige is the best in the country bar none.

Nige says: "It was a good all-round team performance. It was very pleasing to keep a clean sheet and that's all credit to the team. It's one of the most pleasing results of my career. It's the first derby we've won at Goodison in seven years, so it is great to be involved in the team, which has broken the duck.

All of the back four worked really hard and did their jobs exceedingly well. Hardly any crosses came in and we just had to make sure that we didn't give away too many free-kicks and corners, because Liverpool are dangerous from set-plays. It was a typical derby, there wasn't much space and not much room for good football. I think if you were going to analyse it, you wouldn't say that it was a classic." (14/12/04)

Size Doesn't Matter

Nige Martyn is convinced that the team spirit, and work ethic in the Everton squad is driving them on. Nige is not ruling out a serious challenge for honours, even though conceding that the size of our squad could be a problem. As my missus keeps telling me, size doesn't matter, well it cheers me up, anyway.

Nige says: "The two sides directly above us are full of quality players. They’ve got bigger squads and over the course of the season, on paper, it should be too much for us to overtake, but we’re going to have a go. We want to win every game we play. The team spirit is tremendous and always has been since I’ve been here. All of the outfield players worked very, very hard for the win on Saturday against Fulham and they got their just rewards." (23/11/04)

Congratulations Nige

Many congratulations to Nige, after making his 800th competitive appearance as a professional footballer. Nige who kept another clean sheet in the win over Fulham is delighted to mark the milestone whilst wearing the shirt of Everton.

Nige says: "I'm not feeling too bad, despite 800 games! I’ve enjoyed it, it’s been good fun. If you don’t enjoy it, there’s no point in doing it. I’ve been lucky to steer clear of injuries throughout my career and it’s great to make my 800th appearance at a club like Everton.

I had a reasonably quiet afternoon. Apart from just before half-time! It was more of an important save, rather than it being any good. I just had to react. Radz hit it straight at me, so I would have been really disappointed had I let it in, especially today."

Moyesy says: "It was Nigel’s 800th game and I think that is a tremendous achievement for any professional footballer in the modern game. I think the save from Tomasz Radzinski was the only save he had to make during the match, but he came up trumps when he had to." (22/11/04)

One More Year

Nigel Martyn who makes his 626th League appearance at Chelsea today is hoping for another year on his contract. Nige who joined Everton about five years too late, after the scandalous antics of the fraudster Peter Johnson, is now loving his time with the Blues.

Martyn who has played for Bristol Rovers, Crystal Palace, Leeds and now the Blues, has also twenty odd England caps in his locker. Great news for the Blues if Nige wants to stay, but not the best news Dickie Wright will receive this morning.

Nige says: "I’d like to carry on here - I feel as if I could. However, that decision is not in my hands, but playing well and consistently until the end of the season is - and that is what I am trying to do. I will see where that gets me. I think the club has probably got more important decisions as regards players they might want to bring in and other players with longer left on their contracts who they may wish to keep here further. But when it comes down to me, hopefully, if I stay fit and carry on doing well, I’ll get another year. I’m happy to wait for the summer and see what it brings, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

It has been great here. Coming here has given me a new lease of life and I’ve enjoyed every minute since. Everton has been wonderful for me." (06/11/04)

New Balls Please !!!!

Like most fella's Nige Martyn is no different, he loves talking about his balls. Not a day goes past when he is not caressing them, or touching them, to keep his touch in. This weekend, his balls are changing colour, as the Winter season kicks in. His normal white ones, are changing to an odd yellow colour, and they are lighter to the touch. No we are not talking about his bollocks silly, but the new Nike Total 90 football, which will be seen at all Premiership grounds this weekend. To think we would stoop so low, to write a stupid double entendre about Nige's knackers.

Nige says: "I think it’s a bit of a gimmick to be honest. I can’t see how a yellow ball can or will look any better than a white ball - unless it’s snowing! But if it's bright sunshine, it may be interesting to see how a yellow ball looks. It should be a bit of fun, but I’m not convinced."

We’ve been using them in training and they’re just like the others. We’ve done a lot of shooting work with them and they move around quite a bit! It’s probably just a ploy to create more goals in the Premiership!" (04/11/04)

Cheers Pal

Two old team mates come face to face tomorrow when Spurs Paul Robinson squares up against his old mentor Nige Martyn. Robinson puts a lot of his own form down to being Nige's understudy in his early days at Leeds, and he only has glowing words for his old mate. Lets hope his form takes a dip tomorrow, as Nige and the boys go in search of second place.

Paul Robinson says: "Nigel Martyn is a great goalkeeper and a great man. I ended up taking his place at Leeds, but we stayed the best of friends, as we have been for a number of years. I can't fault him. He's possibly one of the nicest men that you could meet. He helped me a lot. We had a goalkeeping coach at Leeds, but being there with him, I couldn't help learning from him. He's a quality professional." (01/10/04)

Top Dog

Everton keeper Nigel Martyn is the overall OPTA Player of the Month for September. Nige who has kept three clean sheets, and not conceded a goal now, for over four years, won the top award narrowly beating Chelsea's Petr Cech. Nige in the stats list made fourteen saves overall in September, beating his rivals hands down.

As is customary with the awards the Big Cornishman has won a years supply of pasties from Sayers, and has been entered into the year end draw, for a top of the range Lada convertible. (29/09/04)

Keep It Clean

Apart from the mauling at the hands of Champions elect Arsenal, Nige Martyn has not had to pick the ball out of the onion bag on many occasions this season. He put's this down to hard work by his team mates, and the new found confidence in the squad.

Nige says: "We're a bit higher than we thought we might be at this stage, but all credit to the team, we've been putting in a few good performances recently. Keeping clean sheets is a team effort and something we've worked hard to achieve since the opening day of the season, when we let in four. So, we've worked hard on putting that right. I think togetherness and confidence has a lot to do with the results we've been getting recently. We've pushed on in the last few weeks, boosted by the results we've had." (20/09/04)

No.1

Accorrding to the tablet sounding Actim Index, Nigel Martyn is the best English goalkeeper in the Premiership. What a surprise. We don't need anyone telling us that Nige is and always has been a better keeper than the serial clown Jesse James. Anyway Nige has a rating of 0.58 while Jessie has a rating of 0.41.

Everton Goalie coach Chris Woods says: "Nigel's a quality keeper although he's certainly being kept on his toes with Richard Wright pushing him all the way for a first taem spot."(08/09/04)

Here, Here

Everton most senior player Nige Martyn has hit out at the critics who are lining up to have a go at our beloved club. Nige insists that their is definitely no rift within the hallowed walls of Goodison, and he insists everyone is pulling in the same direction.

Nige says: "I think at the moment we are going to be a popular club to have a go at. On the back of Wayne’s success they like to write nice things but they like to have a dig as well. Wayne speaks to one newspaper and the other newspapers want to have a dig but we’ve been in the game long enough to know what goes on and we are used to it.

There isn’t a problem here. We are a group of guys who want to pull in the same direction. We all want the same things, we know it is going to be a tough season but one we can do very well in.
I just think it is down to people who want to invent things so they can have a go at the club as a whole. Anyone on the inside knows it is not true and if somebody in a newspaper office wants to make something up then it is up to them." (12/07/04)

Last Season's Nigel Martyn