Great Attitude

Currently out of the 1st team side, Dickie has earned some high praise from Reserve coach Andy Holden after a great performance against a star studded manure reserve side.

Andy says: “I thought Richard Wright carried us along at times and throughout the game he was different class. His attitude to his profession is fantastic, he trains himself extremely hard and he's a good lad to have around your training ground. He really helped the youngsters this evening and pulled off some magnificent saves." (07/04/05)

Just a Kid

One of Everton's goalkeeping greats, is dishing out the advice to one of today's crop of keepers. Big Nev, is telling Dickie to keep his head down and work hard, and it should all come right for him. It is no secret that Dickie has been suffering from a dip in form, and he has Nige ahead of him, which can't help his case. Neville however, believes Dickie is still a kid in the goalkeeping fraternity, and his best years are ahead of him. Lets hope so.

Big Nev says: He’s still only a kid in terms of goalkeeping really. I felt that I reached my peak as a ‘keeper between the ages of 32 and 35. I knew what I had to do as a ‘keeper, I was as fit as I could be and seemed to be in good form. He just has to keep going. There’s no other way. He has to dig in and keep going, try and get himself 100% for pre-season and get himself as sharp as he can be. If he can do that, anything can happen.

He seems to work hard, he seems to have a good attitude, but he's going through a difficult time at the moment. He may come out of this situation a lot better - let’s hope he does. He’s been unlucky in terms of injuries, but I’m sure he’ll bounce back. He’s a good goalkeeper." (09/03/05)

Smash and Grab

Dickie Wright is disappointed at the manner of Everton's defeat at the weekend. Dickie who was blameless for Matt Holland's stunning winner, is just happy of the fact that none off the chasing pack made any ground up on the Blues at the weekend.

Dickie says: "It was a very disappointing result. We just didn’t come out of the stalls today, we didn’t play very well. We couldn’t get the ball down and play our football and unfortunately we got killed by a sucker punch – a long distance goal which we’re disappointed with and we’re disappointed that we didn’t get a result.

I had a couple of shots hit straight at me and the goal was the only other one. It looped, it swerved and went all over the place, it was difficult to deal with. It was very tricky towards the end, we just kept pumping the ball up and trying to play off bits from Dunc, which was very difficult.

The fact that the teams below us didn’t manage to win is a bonus but obviously Charlton didn’t lose so they’re coming up. But it’s not about anybody else, we’re in a position now that we’ve got to maintain so we’ve go to go out and perform to stay in that position." (24/01/05)

Little Things

After getting a bollicking from Moyesy, following the Boro game, Dickie has admitted he's not happy with his performances since he's been back in goal.

Dickie says: “There are little things that have been cropping up in my performances which have irritated me. Perhaps if I had been playing regularly prior to this run, they wouldn’t have happened. Little things have been cropping up, which haven’t usually been an issue, mostly on decision-making.

I have to say that I was very unhappy to concede the goal in the manner in which I did at Middlesbrough. Because of that we were disappointed to come away with a point, even though if you’d offered that to us before the game we’d have probably taken it. I’m looking for reasons why these things have been happening and I’ve been working hard with Chris Woods in training. Hopefully on Saturday against Charlton, I will put in a good performance.”

It’s nice to be back involved. Obviously the result against Spurs wasn’t good, but since then, things have been going well. The back four have been brilliant. They are defending very well and they are making my job easier by the way they’re playing. I know that I’m playing behind a defence and a team who have been doing exceptionally well since the start of the season. But all the team, the midfielders, the strikers are playing their part in the success we’re enjoying and hopefully, it will continue until May.

However, their success brings a pressure, because we’re now going for Champions League football, we want to finish as high up the league as we possibly can. Therefore, I have to cope with that pressure and go out onto the pitch and perform to the best of my ability.” (19/01/05)

Bad Decision Making

Dickie has had a torrid time since he's been between the sticks. The confidence of the Everton back 4 was there for all to see, when Skipper Stubbs cleared a ball when it would have been easier to leave it to the keeper. Lets hope Dickie gets it right.

When asked whether he had questioned Wright's decision making for the Boro goal, Moyesy says: "More than question it. He know's how I feel. He's been told. That wasn't good enough." (17/01/05)

Team Work

Big Nige has put behind his disappointment of being out of the game for about 4 weeks, and has backed Dickie Wright. Even with the injury he has, Nige has volunteered to put Wrighty's Chrimbo decs in his loft.

Big Nige says: “It’s an opportunity for him now. We are blessed in this department because we’ve got someone of Richard’s quality to come in and that’s good for the team. It will give young Iain Turner a boost too because it will get him onto the bench and one step closer for him. That’s what they’ve both been working very hard for. If something did happen to me, as it has, then we’re ready and we’re safe in that department. I’ll be there and can talk to them if they need it. I’m sure Richard doesn’t need that, he’s played at the highest level for quite a long time now, but I’m there if they need me. They’ve got goalkeeping coach Chris Woods to talk too as well, I’ll just have to give them encouragement and support and I hope they do well.” (31/12/04)

Don't Give Up

Dickie Wright is adamant that he will not give up the fight to re claim the first team jersey from Nige Martyn. Dickie who at 27 still has plenty of time on his side, has been riddled with injuries since joining the Blues. After losing his place to Nige last season, Dickie has had to watch from the side lines as the veteran ex England keeper Nige has excelled in the sticks.

Dickie says: "I'm not going to give up. I'm not going to walk away. I'm just going to work hard and hopefully gain my first-team place back. Initially when I didn't get in the team it did get me down, and I told the manager that and he's been great. I don't accept not playing - I want to be playing. I'm not learning to deal with it, I'm just dealing with it. I don't want to ever learn how to deal with that.

Chris Woods has been great - I'll keep working hard in training, hopefully keep playing well in the reserve games and take it from there and wait for my opportunity. But it is frustrating. But hopefully the manager will see what I'm trying to do, and hopefully that will show him how much I want to be the first team. I just have to keep myself ticking over. I'm not going to play every game, it's just to make sure that I keep concentrating so that I'm ready to go, which is the case at the moment.

You always feel a part of it because I've got to make sure I help Nigel - I know he would be exactly the same with me." (26/11/04)

Sickener?

Wrighty's back injury, incurred in the kick in before the Chelsea game, could prevent him from pulling on the shirt against his old team mates at Highbury tomorrow night. Dickie who must have been getting too close to the redshite's Kirkland and is gutted at the thought of not appearing as yet another injury blights his comeback chance. He has an outside chance but Iain Turner will play should Dickie fail his fitness test.

Basil Rathbone says: 'Our main concern is Richard Wright who injured his back in the warm up before the Chelsea game, he did some light training today and we will look at him tomorrow morning. His cest infection has cleared up!' (08/11/04)

Made Of The Wright Stuff

Wrighty's man of the match performance in last night Carling Cup win, has lifted his confidence no end. Dickie who was making his first, first team outing in over a year, thanked the fans for their tremendous reception. Dickie who has been injury free now for a few months, was seen laughing as he walked under a ladder, after crossing the path of a black cat, whilst smashing several mirrors, on his way to the team bus. Welcome back Dickie.

Dickie says: "It was nice to be back and the fans gave me a great reception before the game but I didn't expect any less because they have been fantastic. Anyone who hasn't played for a while needs a little bit of confidence but I have been working with Chris Woods as hard as I can.

It’s been really frustrating, but if I was playing in the team, I would support Nigel the way he’s supported me. I would like to reverse what is happening, but Nigel knows that if I keep working hard, I may get an opportunity." (23/09/04)

Timely Reminder

Dickie Wright gave Moyesy a timely reminder, that he is still here and keeping the ball out of the onion bag for the rezzies. Dickie who has had an injury plagued time with the Blues, is keen to get back in the first team frame, and is happy with his game at the moment. Dickie also passed another milestone, as after six months no major catastrophes have took place, so as a consequence he has been took off accident watch, by Moyesy, and Mrs Dickie.

Dickie says: "I am very pleased with the clean sheet. If you look at the teams before the game we were the younger and inexperienced side and I think the players did very well to get a result. I thought the lads did well, I just tried to help them out during the 90 minutes. My game is based on communication, so I am used to talking anyway. I’m not too sure if it stands out a little bit more because there’s not that many people here, but that’s the way I’ve been brought up. You have to keep concentrating, keep talking to the back four all the time and performing well. You have to make sure you give 110% at this level, because if you don’t when you make the progression up to the first-team, you’ll get found out. " (18/08/04)

Number 1 Target

Wrighty is fighting to be number one keeper at Everton. He knows he's in for a fight as Big Nige had a great season last time out.

Dickie says: “I want to be number one at Everton but more importantly I want to be playing. There’s only one place and fingers crossed I hope I can be in. It won’t be easy though because Nigel played very well last season but we’ll just have to wait and see.

If I can perform well in the pre-season games here in America then perhaps that can give the manager something to think about. I’ve got no niggling injuries which is important. Not having a proper pre-season last year possibly contributed to the little injuries I picked up but I’m fully fit now.

There is always rivalry between myself and Nigel but it’s always friendly. If one of us is selected above the other then the support is always there. There is never any bitterness between us. I’ve learned so much from Nigel since he’s been at the club. We both want to play and we’ve both made it clear that we want to start in the team but we still work for each other. I had a bad season last year so I’ve worked hard through the summer and got myself physically fit and I'm ready to go." (28/07/04)

Dickie Fighting Fit

At least in one position this season, Everton will be well covered with a bit of International class. Dickie Wright is firing on all cylinders again, and raring to go for the new season. With Nige performing so well last season, the England reserve will be pushing hard to reclaim his first team berth. Chris Woods for one, would not swap either of them, and Moyesy has insisted that all sharp objects are to be kept away from Bellefield, in an attempt to stop Dickie injuring himself again.

Goalie Coach Chris Woods says: "Wrighty has got plenty of experience and he knows that if he can get into the first team again he will be close to proving himself for the international set-up as well. He is certainly capable of achieving his goals and it is a great benefit to us that we have the pair of them. I know what level they work at and the hours they put in. I doubt there is another Premiership club that has equal quality in the goalkeeping department. I wouldn't swop our lads for anybody else in the Premiership." (13/07/04)

Richard's News From Last Season