He
Wanted To Go
Moyesy
and Blue Bill put up a united front over the Wayne Rooney saga, at last
night's EGM. They both insisted that it was Rooney's decision to want
away from Goodison, and the pair of them tried everything in their power
to keep the boyhood Blue.
Moyesy
says: "The player wanted to go and that is the truth. As
long as I am the manager here at Everton Football Club I will always tell
you truth. And I can tell you that we did everything possible to persuade
Wayne to stay.
Blue Bill says: "I did the very best deal in heartbreaking
circumstances but I did the best deal I could for Everton. We absolutely
did not instruct Paul Stretford to sell Wayne Rooney three or four months
ago. For the last nine months, the manager and myself have been working
tirelessly to keep Wayne Rooney at Everton.
It
is true that we discovered he wanted to leave three Sundays ago. David
and I had been meeting Paul Stretford and Wayne Rooney for nine months.
We were convinced that until two-and-a-half weeks ago that Wayne would
sign the new contract that had been on the desk since July 6. Then a few
Sundays a ago David got a call from Paul Stretford saying he wanted to
to meet him the next day. We thought it was in connection with the problems
he was having in the Sunday newspapers but it was that he wanted to leave
the club." (10/09/04)
My
Reasons
Wayne
Rooney has asked the fans who once idolised him to understand his reasons
for leaving. He says that there were three clubs who were interested in
him. Newcastle, and Man Ure we know off, and bluekipper.com are led to
believe that the other club were Accrington Stanley in the Conference.
Honest !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wayne
Rooney says: " I hope the fans at Everton will one day understand
my reasons for leaving. They were brilliant to me while I was there and
it was tough making my mind up to leave. Obviously there were going to
be a few fans who wouldn’t accept it no matter what - but their reaction
hasn’t spoiled my move.
It was a tough decision, but I spoke with my agent Paul Stretford and
told him what the situation was, where I wanted to go and let him get
on with it. To play for Everton was a dream for me as an Everton fan -
but to think I have now joined one of the biggest clubs in the world and
I am playing for my country every time. It’s amazing. I know it is difficult
for the Everton fans because I have left, but there were only three teams
I would have considered leaving Everton for. I thought the time was right
to come to Manchester United. Once I knew they were interested there was
never any doubt that I wanted to come here." (06/09/04)
The
Price Must Be Right
After
handing in his transfer request yesterday, Rooney today is getting to
now the feeling of the fans on the subject, and its not good. National
TV, Radio, and Local Radio have been inundated with views on the little
gold digger. References to Jeffers, and others who have gone before him,
thinking the grass is greener elsewhere have been expressed. Anyway if
the boy wants to go to Man Ure and sit on the bench for half a season,
well good luck.
Moyesy
is insisting that the price must be right, and our spies out there, are
telling us that Man Ure will have to go as high as £30m, to secure
the services of the once Evertonian.
Moyesy
says: "Wayne has confirmed by putting in a transfer request
that he’d like to leave the club. I’m disappointed. He’s a player who
we value really highly, I think we showed that by the effort we put into
offering him a contract. We’re disappointed but at this moment in time
he’s an Everton player and he’ll remain that until we receive anything
like what we think his valuation is. We’ve got a fee in mind but I won’t
be saying what it is. I don’t expect things to be completed as quickly
as possible because until we get our valuation then there’ll be no movement.
But obviously when you get a player who’s unhappy and doesn’t want to
be around it makes it more difficult for you but he thinks it would be
better for him to move on.
I’ve known this was coming for a few weeks so it’s nothing new to me.
How long have we had an offer on the table for a contract to be signed
for what was probably the best offer we’ve made a player? That hadn’t
been signed so the writing was on the wall.
But up until maybe a week ago I actually thought that Wayne would be signing
a contract. I’d been in talks once or twice a week for the last few weeks
and I thought we’d moved on all the time. It was my idea to give Wayne
Rooney the biggest contract in the club’s history. I told Bill Kenwright
to try and make him stay and the club backed up what I asked them to do.
Maybe if Jonathan Woodgate hadn’t gone to Real Madrid then Newcastle wouldn’t
have had an offer which in turn has made Manchester United make an offer.
That for me has been the trigger to make this happen because in my mind
Wayne wasn’t moving anywhere." (28/08/04)
The
Duke To Train Soon
The
Quacks in charge of The Dukes recuperation, has given him the OK to start
running again. The Duke who is now out of plaster will start some light
jogging on Monday, but is still weeks away from a first team run out.
The light jogging will come in handy after some of the reports in the
Sunday tabloids, means he can leg it from Colleen, his other 'alf.
Basil
says: "Wayne went for his 8-week x-ray on Friday plus as
a precaution and to check everything was OK we also sent him for a CT
scan. The consultant was very happy with the results and the fracture
continues to show some very good signs of healing. Wayne has now been
allowed to start jogging and we will have a further review in a fortnight’s
time." (23/08/04)
The
Duke Will Stay
Everton
veteran defender and all round good egg, David 'Doddy' Weir, is confident
Wayne Rooney will remain at Goodison, to give a timely boost to Moyesy's
depleted squad. With the transfer deadline looming, and The Duke still
not fit, I believe Stevie Wonder could see that one coming.
Doddy
says: "Wayne still has a couple of years left and we must
just help the lad to enjoy his time here while he is here. He makes things
happen, he is a special player and during Euro 2004 there was none better,
and having him in our team is a massive bonus." (19/08/04)
Tribunal
David
Moyes is determined to get Wayne to stay even if he doesn't sign the deal
offered to him.
Moyesy
says: "As things stand now, there hasn't been any official
approach from anyone. I would tell Wayne that, even if he doesn't sign
the deal, we will be asking him to honour the final two years of his contract.
Then the final fee would be decided by a tribunal and I am sure they would
look favourably on us. Don't forget we are talking about the best player
in the world here."
"I
am sure something will be concluded shortly with Wayne. We have had some
very good conversations and I think he will sign. It would be great to
get it all tied up because it is a saga that needs concluding quickly
for the good of the club. But even then I don't expect all the speculation
to go away. The bottom line, though, is that the final decision over whether
Everton sell Wayne Rooney or not lies with me." (17/08/04)
Chomping
David
Moyes will not be rushing Wayne back into action even though he is chomping
at the bit to get started. It could be another 2 weeks before he is back
training. What about Man U away on Wednesday 25th August. Yer never know.
Moyesy
says: "It will be two weeks before Wayne can start light
training so we'll have to wait and see how he does after that and what
the specialist thinks is the best course of action to take. It is a fracture
that is healing well but could also refracture if we are not careful so
we have to give it every opportunity to heal properly.
"I've
no idea how long it will be before Wayne plays after he returns to light
training and I certainly won't put pressure on Wayne, the football club
or anyone for him to return ahead of schedule. In a way I'd like to take
a risk and have him back playing again as quickly as possible but we cannot
afford to do that."
He
is chomping at the bit to play again, he can't wait to start training
and playing again, but we can't afford to risk aggravating the injury
either."(09/08/04)
Get-out
Clause
Wayne
is close to signing the five year deal, but he want's a get-out clause
that if somebody comes in with a bid of over £25m he can talk to
them. Everton will reluctantly agree to this clause but may want the value
nearer £30m. The deal could be sorted early next week.(06/08/04)
Sorted
Out
It was
great to see Wayne at last nights game against Sheff Wed, but we and David
Moyes want him at every game thsi season.
David
Moyes says: "We need to get Wayne's contract sorted out
and I think what's happened with the board has interfered with that a
little bit and lost the focus and direction which is to hopefully to get
some new players to prepare for The Premiership. And it is one of the
other things to see if we can get Wayne Rooney to stay at Everton."(04/08/04)
No
Box
Wayne
has not renewed his executive box at Goodison Park for this season. Read
into that what you wish.(02/08/04)
Cast
Off
The
Duke has had his plaster cast taken from his foot. Wayne will now be monitored
on a regular basis to see that the break is healing in the correct manner
and there are no complications.
Physio
Basil Rathbone says: "The England consultants and the local
consultants all agree that it's a case of immobilising it and hopefully
ensuring that it heals well. He had his second lot of X-rays on Wednesday
and so far so good.
"The
plaster cast has come off now, he's in a light walking boot. He's got
a bit of a break now and we will reassess the situation in two weeks'
time." (08/07/04)
Ambition
David
Moyes thinks Wayne's contract offer shows the ambition of the club.
Meanwhile
Proactive have received the offer and are having a read of it at this
moment.
Moyesy
says: "I think this offer is a reflection of the club's
ambition. We have always stated we want to keep Wayne Rooney and an offer
of this size for an 18-year-old is exceptional. Whatever happens, Wayne
has two years left on his current contract and we hope to extend that
to five years."
Proactive
says:"We have received a fax from Everton Football Club
giving the outline of a proposed long-term deal for Wayne Rooney. "We
will be giving this proper consideration and will be in contact with Trevor
Birch to make arrangements for a meeting in the not-too-distant future."(07/07/04)
Biggest
Contract Ever
Everton
have offered Wayne the biggest ever deal in the club's history. It is
a five year deal and Everton are hoping Wayne will sign it as soon as
possible. The ball as they say is in Wayne's court.
Birchey
says:
"We
believe this is the right offer for Wayne, one which fully reflects his
growing stature within football. The
five-year deal which has been offered to Wayne is the biggest ever made
in this club's history and will hopefully not only satisfy Wayne's demands
but will also serve to underscore the club's ambition.
"We
have, in the offer of this new contract, made every conceivable effort
to ensure Wayne remains a key figure at Everton Football Club for the
foreseeable future," (06/07/04)
Absolutely
Gutted
The
Duke who was back at Bellefield yesterday, has admitted that England's
early departure from Euro 2004, was up to now the lowest point of his
career. Rooney who was picked in the team of the tournament, was without
doubt one of England's plus points in their run to the Quarter Finals.
The
Duke says: "It was mind-blowing. I was just in a daze afterwards
as it was almost unreal, absolutely gutting. All the hard work, all the
hopes, had ended. It was like living a bad dream. I wanted someone to
wake me up. I was absolutely shattered, I just wanted to be quiet to try
and come to terms with it as it is the lowest I’ve ever felt.
I was in real pain and tried to run it off but I couldn’t. I knew straight
away it was something pretty bad. I tried to run it off anyway but I couldn’t.
I knew I had to come off. There wasn’t instant pain. I didn’t feel anything
when I ran with my boot off, it was only when I put it back on and put
a bit of weight on it. That really started to hurt and I knew I had to
come off. I went in the dressing room and put some ice on it for five
or 10 minutes, then they took me to hospital and I got it X-rayed. They
tell me it is the metatarsal. I just know it is a bone on the outside
of my foot and it’s broken! But it’s okay and should be fine in about
six to eight weeks." (06/07/04)
Out
Of Our Price Range
With
all the press talk about Wayne's proposed transfer being a done deal,
one snag seems to have come to light, that Man Ure might not be able to
afford him. United's Chief Exec David Gill, has said the £45 million
being touted around for the wonder kid, is even beyond their reach.
So if Wayne stays, and hopefully he does,, get on the Blues for the Premiership,
a snip at around 100/1. Well after watching Greece win Euro 2004, at pre
tournie odds of around the same price, as they say 'its a funny old game'.
Ok I am off for my medication now.
Anyway Man Ure Chief Exec David Gill says: "We can’t afford
to spend £45 million or £50 million on one player. One reason
why we run a successful operation is because we work within financial
parameters. At
the end of last season we identified the need to sign a striker, that
was Alan Smith from Leeds." (05/07/04)
Legends
Tell Wayne To Stay On
Three
of Everton's finest have joined the growing chorus of ex Blues, and urged
Wayne Rooney to stay on for a few more seasons to help him grow as a footballer.
Big Nev, Waggy and Sheeds have gone public on this very emotive debate,
for most Blues. Waggy would have liked to have spoken more on the issue,
but he had to dash off to join up with his associates at the Annual North
West Cheese Convention, were on the agenda today was the decreasing sales
of a good bit of Wensleydale.
Bluekipper's
mate, and Cheese Connoisseur Dave Watson says: People seem to
forget Wayne is still just a teenager. He
still learning his trade and there is still much more to come from him.
He is a Blue through and through and I am sure he would want to stay.
Like any footballer, he wants to win trophies. But I am sure he would
want to do that at Everton. And if you look at the way he has been performing
for England in the last few weeks, staying with the Blues isn't holding
him back too much!" (01/07/04)
Big
Nev says: "I feel sorry for him because this talk has come
along at a time when he has still not had a chance to make his mark for
Everton over a period of years. If it was me I would stay at least another
year or two to prove something to the fans and give the club a chance
of achieving success. But if you are a player like him, with his talent,
you want to see investment in the team because without it they will be
struggling next season. The club finished fourth from bottom last season
and they have lost a few members of the squad since then. What he needs
now is time to sit down to consider his options. If he does that there
is every chance he will copy Steven Gerrard, follow his heart and say
he will stay for a while. From a footballing perspective, playing every
game for Everton is better than sitting on the bench at Manchester United.
No doubt the clubs that are interested in him will try to unsettle him
and the club. I know most people are resigned to the fact he will leave
at some stage. But now doesn't seem the right time." (01/07/04)
Eighties
Legend Sheeds says: "He
has done well with England but he has been playing with players who are
on the same wavelength. Everton
have got themselves in a situation over a period of time where the club
hasn't progressed as the supporters would like. The club has stood still
and when a player like Wayne Rooney comes along the club are not in a
position to bring in the players to play alongside him, to bring the best
out of him and help challenge for the top honours. In the short term,
the money from a sale could help the club, but in the long term you only
win trophies with players like Wayne Rooney. He is in a similar situation
to Steven Gerrard. He made a decision to stay at Liverpool when there
was more money on offer elsewhere. Had
they lost him they would have had no obvious replacement and the club
would have taken a step backwards." (01/07/04)
Statement
Please
I
can't cope anymore, the papers are full of it everyday. Wayne's going
here, he's going there. I can't even go for a pastie at Sayers without
someone shouting to me. "It looks like he's goin then." I've
stopped going to the shops now.
The
latest rumours is that Wayne (or his fuckin' agent) has rejected an improved
offer to the one he was offered before Euro 2004. But again this is paper
talk. The only people who have made genuine quotes are Moyesy, Blue Bill
and Birchey. All have basically said the same thing, that they all want
Wayne to stay at Everton. But with all due respect to the three of them,
it is not them who will decide. The only person that can put this to bed
is Wayne himself. So a statement from Wayne's camp of his intentions would
be great, so everyone can get on with their lives and I can go and get
some pasties and bavarian slices. I'm wasting away to a warehouse.(30/06/04)
Links
Urges The Duke To Stay
Ex
Everton player and now BBC pundit Gary Lineker, is urging Wayne Rooney
to stay on at the Blues, to learn his trade more. Links should know, as
after himself having a fantastic World Cup Tournament in 1986, as an Everton
player he left these shores. Spanish giants Barcelona, came calling, and
Everton accepted a then record fee of six million big ones. Everton went
on to win the title the season after, and Lineker himself, looks on that
with regret.
Lineker
says: "Everton came to me and told me they had accepted
an offer from Barcelona. If it had been a poxy club I would not have accepted
it. But if the club comes to you and say they've accepted an offer, you
have to go. In
an ideal world I'd have played a few more seasons there and won the league
title with them - I never did win a league championship medal in my career.
Ultimately
it's whether Everton decide to sell Rooney or not. It wouldn't do him
any harm to stay and continue to learn his trade there but my gut feeling
is he won't be an Everton player at the start of the season. It's a shame
for Everton but at the same time if they could get the £40million
or more it will take to sign him, they'd get themselves out of their financial
problems and bring a few players in." (29/06/04)
Rooney
To Miss Start of Season
After
breaking a bone in his foot during the Euro 2004 game against Portugal,
Everton are not taking any chances with The Duke. Some parts of the media
were saying he will be out for a month, but after seeing a consultant,
it looks more like 2 months.
Mick
'Basil' Rathbone says: "The
injury is a cracked fifth metatarsal and should be treated conservatively
with rest and immobilisation. They are anticipating the estimated recovery
time will be around eight weeks and he should be able to start his rehabilitation
to include cycling and swimming within three to four weeks.'' (27/06/04)
Wayne's
Going Nowhere, Says Gazza
Ex
Everton star Paul Gascoigne, gave every Evertonian out there a glimmer
of hope in our battle to fight of the overtures of Chelsea, Man Ure and
alike, in keeping our wonder kid Wayne Rooney. Gazza who has struck up
a friendship with The Duke, recalls a conversation he had with Wayne only
a few months ago. He said the eighteen year old has happy playing for
club he loves, and his life could not be better after buying himself and
girlfriend Colleen a new house in Formby. Money he believes is not at
the fore front of Rooney's mind, so if that is the case, lets hope Moyesy
starts playing him in his favoured position of striker, instead of constantly
shifting him all over the pitch to accommodate others.
Ex
England and Everton Star Gazza says: "I sat down with Wayne
and had a chat about things and he said he loves Everton, loves his family
and loves being on Merseyside. He also has a steady girlfriend and they
have a magnificent house in Formby which they've not long moved into.
I really don't think he's got an idea in his head about moving. And I
think he'd be right to stay and learn his trade a little bit more. There's
no need for him to leave Everton. He's still young and these other clubs
that have been mentioned are always going to be available to him in the
future. I think he should go by his instincts and I think his instincts
are to stay." (25/06/04)
The
Lad's Still a Blue
According
to Everton boss Davey Moyes, Wayne Rooney will be starting the new season,
as an Everton player. With the world going Rooney crazy, Moyesy is adamant,
that The Duke is integral to his rebuilding plan's for The Blues. Let's
hope so Davey.
Moyesy
says: "I can categorically state we are not interested in
selling Wayne Rooney. I don't know how many times I have to say it. We
have had no contact from any other club about him. I am building a team
and Wayne Rooney is part of it. That hasn't changed during Euro 2004.
For the Evertonians out there, you can read all the things you like but
as far as I am concerned I will do everything in my power to keep Wayne
Rooney at Everton. He will be at Everton on the opening day of the season
unless someone tells me differently." (24/06/04)
Only
One
David
Moyes believes there is only one club that could afford Wayne and they
have no chance of getting him, whether he has a good Euro 2004 or not.
Moyesy
says: "If he does well, the surrounding hype will be inevitable.
It's my belief only one club in the world can afford Rooney. That does
not mean we want to sell him to that club. We have no intention of selling
him.
"I'm
concerned people will ask too much of him and expect him to be the one
who can change things when he is the baby of the squad. I can see he is
excited by the tournament. He will look forward to it because he is the
kind of boy who continually needs to be pushed." (07/06/04)
Laughable
Blue
Bill has come out publicly this morning to describe as laughable a Sunday
tabloid report insisting that a £40m transfer offer for The Duke
from Man Ure has been accepted. Blue Bill, along with Moyesy have issued
a statement denying any deal with United, or any other side for that matter
has been accepted. As for as the two of them are concerned, Rooney will
be starting the new season in an Everton shirt. Lets hope so, or I feel
there will be trouble at mill.
Blue
Bill says: “It is always difficult to respond to rubbish. David
Moyes and myself have discussed a combined response and it is The article
is laughable. No deal has ever been discussed, set up or agreed with Manchester
United or, indeed, any other football club on the planet."
(23/05/04)
Wayne
Rooney Last Season
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