Carry On Davey

Everton and Scotland veteran Davey Weir has no intention of hanging up his International boots, as long as ex Blues Boss Walter Smith is in charge of the National squad. Davey who is yet to accept Everton's new one year deal, is attracting interest from a host of clubs, including Leeds, and David Unsworths, Sheffield United.

Davey says: "As long as (Scotland coach) Walter Smith wants me, I will be there. Hopefully I can go on for a while yet. It was a nice end to the season, to go out there and get a couple of results out there and I am very happy." (17/05/06)

The Fans Deserve To End On A Good Note

The Everton skipper was full of praise for his team mates and the fans after the 1-0 win at Boro, especially Jimmy Mac.

Davie Weir says: "James has scored a few good ones this season and he is a good player who has done well for us. It was nice to see him get his reward. I thought in the second half particularly he really came out and created a few chances and looked really lively and took the pressure off us."

"There’s no doubt we should score more but as a team we are progressing and to finish the season strongly would be nice. I always thought we had a chance. In fairness to them all the players who played today have played in the first team, it is not like they have sent in a bunch of kids."

"The base of their team is strong and had some experience so we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. The fans came up in their numbers and supported us well and it will be the same at Goodison next week and they deserve for us to end on a good note. You have got to enjoy it and play week to week, you can’t look any further than that." (02/05/06)

Top Ten Goal, Blah, Blah, Blah

Davey Weir goal is a top ten finish for the Blues this season. Oh how the likes of Dixie, Ted and the boys will be turning in their graves. Davey rightly points out that the Blues historically were always one of the top six clubs in the country, fuck it, nuff said.

Davey says: "I think it's really important - it's a goal for us to strive for. We want to get in the top half of the league and I think if we get six points we will achieve that. As soon as you achieve one thing, you want to get the next one. You get greedy and you want more and more.

But we've still given ourselves a chance of getting in the top ten, which has got to be our aim now. We have had a few good seasons followed by bad seasons. So I think it is important that we get ourselves consolidated as a top ten team. Without a doubt we should be in the top ten, historically Everton have been one of the top five or six clubs in the country and everyone here is striving to get us back there." (24/04/06)

We Must Give A Performance

The Skipper remembers the derby earlier on this season when we were very poor, but believes this is a better Everton side going into Saturday's derby.

Davie says: "We are on a decent run. We have scored a few goals in the last couple of games and things are quite buoyant right now. There are things we still need to work on, we are by no means the finished article, but there are a lot of positives. Regardless of the circumstances, derby matches are different. They take care of themselves, but there is a lot of confidence in the team.

The way the last derby went it was a real low point in the season, but we have had a few low points and we have rebounded well from them. We are getting the benefit of them now. Sometimes to enjoy the good times, you have to have the bad times as well. Liverpool were comfortable and there have not been many derbies when it has been like that and there have been a couple of goals in it. It wasn't an enjoyable experience and it wasn't a nice atmosphere and that is what you have got to expect because the game means so much to so many people. It is important in this game that we go out and give a performance." (23/03/06)

On Our Toes

With Everton's squad getting bigger by the minute, Davey Weir believes it is the reason why we are doing so well of late, as players don't and can't drop their level of performance. With Stubbsey and himself keeping Joey Yobo out of the frame, and Harry Hill and Nace not even getting a look in on the bench on Saturday, Davey reckons it all bodes well for the club.

Lets hope Moyesy can keep 'em all happy though, maybe the UEFA Cup will do the trick !!

Davey says: "There's now tremendous competition. Lee Carsley and Gary Naysmith weren't even on the bench against Fulham and they are top players, so it just shows you the competition. It also shows the quality we have got when everybody is fit. That does spur you on. Myself and Stubbsy are playing knowing that Joe is sitting there waiting for his chance. He hasn't done a lot wrong but as soon as we don't perform, we'll be out of the team and everybody else knows that. There are people ready to jump in, so you have got to be on top of your game." (13/03/06)

Stop and Start

Davey Weir believes it is hard for the players to adapt to such a disjointed season due to this Summer's World Cup. With periods of no games, followed by compacted fixture lists late on the season, Davey believes it does squads like ours no favours at all.

Look on the bright side Davey at least your holiday will be starting earlier this year, Florida here you come, Germany here I go !!!!!

Davey says: "The fixtures have been disjointed for whatever reason. I think the World Cup has had a part to play in it and it has been difficult. We had a lot of games early in the season and now it has slowed up and then it quickens up at April time so it has been a bit disjointed. But everybody plays the same amount of games and everybody has got the same obstacles to get over and at the end of the season everybody will be judged on how many points they have got." (09/03/06)

Contract talks 'on-hold'.

No decision on extensions to Davie's and Stubbsey's contracts will be made until the end of the season.
We are in danger of doing something sensible.

Moysey says: "Alan and David will definitely be footballers next season. We have 11 games to go, they have proved they are very good and they just have to keep playing. But talk of contracts is for after the season. I won't make a decision until then. Their experience has been invaluable. We just need to be careful with the amount of games they are playing." (05/03/06)

Lets Focus On The Hammers

Davie Wants Everton to learn from their mistakes at Newcastle and put it right at West Ham this weekend.

Davie Weir says: "It won't be a blow to confidence but we have got to take on board what's happened. We were beaten and we have got to address that. We've got to improve. We can't just sweep it under the carpet and pretend that it never happened. We'll pick out the things that we weren't happy with, address them and move on to the West Ham game.

We won't set ourselves certain targets or take our eye off the ball. We must not forget that the most important thing now is the West Ham game. We'll take on board what we did wrong in this game and the hopefully put that right in the next one." (28/02/06)

Wigan Game

The Everton skipper has put the record straight on a few things from the Wigan game. Namely the elbow from Jason Roberts, who was sent off. We should have gone on to win in the second half and Stubbsey is back to his best.

Davie says: "I just got caught on the jaw. That's all I know. I have not seen it on TV so I can't comment on whether it was accidental or not. But it doesn't matter to me whether it was accidental; he has caught me and that's the end of the story as far as I'm concerned.

It was disappointing to concede a goal that close to half-time. If we had held the lead at the break then I feel we would have gone on to take all three points. But Wigan is a difficult place to play. A lot of teams have come unstuck there. Maybe we deserved to come away with a little bit more, but we can't be too disappointed because we've kept our unbeaten run going, and we will try to keep it going for as long as we can.

I've had a few central-defensive partners this season. That's the way it has been, but it was nice to have Stubbsey back. He looked like he had never been away. He was the best player on the pitch, there was no doubt about that." (02/02/06)

Setting Standards

Everton Skipper Davey Weir is telling his team mates, that they are setting the right standards when they take maximum points of the likes of Arsenal at the weekend. The Arse who are FA Cup Holders, and one of the favourites to lift this season's Champions League, were taken to task by an impressive Everton side last Saturday. With Chelsea's Millionaires visiting Goodison this weekend, Davey will be asking the same of his players for the Cup clash.

Davey says: "That is the kind of performance we need every week. If we can play like that every week then we will be challenging at the right end of the table. Any win is a good win but when you play against a team like Arsenal you know it is a special day. We were up and at 'em, we put them under the cosh and Beats got a great goal to show his strength and power. We were ahead then early in the game and wanted to hold what we had but we still created a few more chances and overall we played really well.

It is a massive result. Time will tell how big a result it is but all you can is beat the team you are playing and we beat a very good team last weekend so we should be proud of it." (24/01/06)

Bring 'em On

Davie says: "Both ourselves and Millwall know we will be playing the best team in the country if we get through so it is a big incentive for both of us. It is a good draw. If we can manage to get through it is a massive game for us and we know all eyes will be on us so it is a great incentive. Every team looks for a home draw first when the names come out of the hat. We know if we can win the replay at home to Millwall we will have another home tie awaiting us.

There have been a lot of shocks over the weekend and a lot of games have gone not as people would have expected them so you can't take anything for granted. There have been a lot of upsets and a lot of games to still be decided. That is the nature of the FA Cup and it is the same every year. There will always be upsets and teams left red-faced. We have got to make sure we are not one of those teams." (09/01/06)

Dog Fight

Everton skipper, Davie Weir is rallying the troops. He will stress that Everton are now fighting for their Premiership lives.

Davie says: "Morale in the squad is okay, considering, but obviously every defeat knocks your confidence and it's not a pleasant experience at any time when you have a few on the bounce. But this is when you find out about people and the team. We've just got to face up to the facts. We're at the bottom of the league, we're in a relegation battle and we need to start winning games.

Whether it's by playing well or whether it's by just battling results out, we've got to do it, there's no getting away from that. The sooner we can do that and get some more points on the board the better, whoever it's against. I think the players know and appreciate that they are at a fantastic club with fantastic backing and that we should be doing better. I don't think we need anybody to remind us of that. To be honest it's just another defeat as far as I'm concerned, that's the bottom line. Maybe there were some positives to take out of it but in a derby game you just want to win really.

The first 10-15 minutes there was nothing in it and then, all of a sudden they're 2-0 up with goals that we should have done something about. So it's disappointing - you can't keep giving teams of that quality a two-goal start. I'm not sure how they had so much space, they probably started the game better than us and they got the opportunities, they're a good team. We didn't really match them.

You've got to go through your bad spells without conceding goals and at the minute we're not doing that - we're conceding in our bad spells and that's something we've got to look at. I think the referee does what he thinks is right, I don't think he's there to upset and do anything controversial. He plays it as he sees it and so I don't think there's really any point in blaming him.

We were in this situation earlier in the season when we seemed to be consistently getting beaten. There didn't seem to be any way of turning it around but we turned it around and got on a good roll. Now we seem to have got back in that bad habit of losing games, and the sooner we turn it around and get on a run of victories then obviously the better." (30/12/05)

AGM

Moyesy backed his captain at the AGM last night. Nothing unusual in that, but to say he was one of the best 4 players this season is over the top.

Moyesy says: "David Weir had an outstanding season last year in the main playing alongside Alan Stubbs. One of the main reasons we played 4-1-4-1 was the lack of pace at the back but you cannot push up the park if you have got people running behind you. We tried to start the season with the same formation but because of the lack of goals we have tried to go back to playing two up front. As it stands David Weir and Joseph Yobo, Mikel Arteta and Nigel Martyn have probably been the best players at Everton this season. David Weir’s performances last season and for the majority of this season have been very good." (25/11/05)

Let's Hang On To What We Got

The Everton skipper is positive his team can move up the league.

Davie says: "We have had a few good results apart from the Carling Cup. That's the way we want to try and be. We want to get on a little run and get a bit of momentum by picking up points every game. There is plenty to be positive about but we have always been positive, if we are honest. Obviously there have been a few negative things written about us but we as a group realise we are not that far away. We just needed to get in front in games and take it from there and we have done that. We have got the rewards for that. The last few games we have been getting in front reasonably early and that has given us something to hang on to." (10/11/05)

Playing On For Scotland

After quitting Scotland when Berti Vogts was manager, commentators have been quick to say Davie will retire now that Scotland are out of the World Cup, following the 1-0 defeat against Belarus. Not so!

Davie says: “I would never say that. I will just look to the next game and hopefully try and get picked for that. We need to rebound from that result against Belarus. It's not sunk in yet. We are disappointed about the performance as well as the score. The fans came out in their numbers looking for a win and it wasn't until the second half that we gave them what they wanted to see. The early goal set us back, it shook us and it took time to recover. We had a go after the interval but it never happened for us. But we can't get down about it. We can still go out on a high against Slovenia on Wednesday.” (10/10/05)

Feel Good Factor

Everton captain Davie Weir, who has been possibly Everton's worst player this season, (One season too much Davie!) has revealed that he is not getting the 'feel good factor' at Everton at the moment. You're not Davie. You want to come and sit in the stand and watch it.

Davie says: "There seems to be a new air of optimism around Scottish football just now. In fact, I can't remember a time when I've been more positive about the fortunes of our national side. Although I'm not getting that same feel-good factor at Everton at the moment that, in many ways, has intensified my enjoyment at being back playing for Scotland. It used to be the case that I'd be flying high with my club and that Scotland trips could be a real test of character - now it's the other way around." (04/10/05)

Apology For Piss Poor Performance

Everton skipper Davey Weir is apologising for his team's piss poor performance in last night's humiliation in Bucharest. Davey who could not speak as he left the pitch, has now had time to reflect on one of the lowest moments in Everton's European history.

With the defeat last night, it is now only one win for the boys in nine outings, which includes eight defeats since they qualified for Europe against Newcastle, last May. It does not make for good reading. Arsenal next, Nuff said.

Davey says: "I don’t know what went on. I am still in a state of shock. We played well in the first half, should have been ahead and came out in the second half expecting to push on. But it is obviously not what happened and to be beaten 5-1 is very, very disappointing and I can only apologise to everybody.

The game was going so well, they then scored against the run of play and after the re-start we just seemed to be getting caught on the break and they were opening us up time and time again. Every chance they had seemed to go in the back of the net and it was a nightmare performance for us in the second half. The tie isn’t over but we have a lot of work to do and it will be very difficult for us but we have to be positive. It is gone now. We have to look at what went wrong, look at the mistakes and address them but the result has gone and we cannot let it affect what happens in the future." (16/09/05)

Take It On The Chin

Everton skipper Davey Weir is refusing to accept that players were knackered after their International exertions in the week. The Blues who were to put it bluntly piss poor, only have a few days rest until, they next play. Bucharest is the destination on Thursday as Everton go after UEFA Cup qualification, and Davey is admitting that the players owe the fans big time. Hear, hear.

Davey says: "The international games we have played possibly was why we started slowly, but we do not want to start making excuses. I am sure they had players away as well. We started slowly and it wasn't until the second half that we picked it up, got the ball forward a bit and started to get in and around their goal.

They played well and you have got to give them credit. They will think they deserved to win the game and we have got to take it on the chin and look to see what we can do to do better in the next game. We have had good performances up until now. This is our first bad performance of the season I think, so it is a test for us and how we react. The only way we can respond is do well in Bucharest and put it right.

Bucharest is a massive game for us. Every game is big for us now, they are coming thick and fast, and you cannot let the disappointments lie. We have got to pick ourselves up, get on with it and focus on the big game coming up. We need to put in a big performance to repay the fans. I will try and lift them, but the way the lads are they don't need lifting. They know themselves it is a setback but they are a good bunch of lads and they know we can't change what has happened now, we just have to put everything into the next game to put it right." (12/09/05)

Walter Hails Davey

Ex Everton Boss Walter Smith is hailing Everton Captain Davey Weir as the ultimate professional. Smith who is now the Scotland Manager talked Davey out of his self imposed International exile to star in the current World Cup Campaign. Davey was again immense, as his Scottish side held Italy to a draw at Hampden on Saturday.

All Blues are forever thankful to Smith for bringing Davey to the club in February 1999 for a bargain £250k.

Walter says: "It must have taken him a lot of thinking to give up playing for Scotland. I know him and he wouldn't have made that decision without a relevant reason. I have never asked him about that but he has been terrific since he has come back. And everybody that has worked with him at managerial level will tell you you will not find a better professional." (05/09/05)

Top Dog For August

Davey Weir has won Everton's OPTA Player of the Month for August. With two Premiership defeats to our name, Davey and the rest of the defence were under the cosh, and this reflected in the rankings with Tony Hibbert, and Joey Yobo also featuring. Davey cleared 41 headers in the month, and as a result his monthly prize is a life time's supply of Anadin. Davey is also entered into the Season long event, were the Player of the Year, will win the Greatest Hits Collection of top 60's Merseyside group Scaffold. (02/09/05)

Bring 'em On

Captain Davey Weir, is not complaining about the amount of games Everton potentially may have to play this year. With the UEFA Cup, Premiership and Domestic Cup Competitions, Davey for one has no complaints. Davey might not have any complaints, but tell Moyesy my bleedin' missus has.

Davey says: "It was difficult (during the week) but that's what we want. We want to be playing in Europe, we want to have lots of games and be coming back to play in the Premiership. You won't get any complaints from us about that.

That's what we are here for, that's what we get paid for. To be honest, that's what we want to do more of. We wanted to go into the break with good memories, not on the back of a defeat and it's frustrating that we have got to wait a couple of weeks. We will look forward to the next game, though, and the chance to get things back on track. The manager has been working on getting players in but there is a lot of quality here. We have just got to use the break to make sure we come back focused.

There is a fine line between success and failure at this level and I think we have been harshly done by in the last couple of games. Chances need to start dropping for us and we need to start getting the breaks to get ahead in the games. If we manage to get ahead in games, then I think it will really change around for us. The breaks seem to be going against us. But we know that you have got to score when you are on top at this level. When you are the better team, you have got to make your pressure pay off. That means scoring goals but we haven't been able to do that at present. And so when we have been conceding goals, we have been right up against it." (30/08/05)

Captain Fantastic

Davey Weir has been handed the honour of Captaining Everton for 2005/06 season. With the departure of Alan Stubbs, Moyesy has stumped for the dependable defender to marshall his troops on the pitch for him. Davey as you would expect is honoured by the accolade, and hopefully he will be the first skipper since Dave Watson to get his hands on some much needed silverware.

Davey says: "It's a fantastic honour to be named as the official club captain. To play for a club like Everton is an honour so to be named club captain is a fantastic honour and it's something that I hold highly. There are a few people who have been captain recently. Obviously Alan Stubbs has left now but he was a good captain. Everton have had a great tradition of having club captains and hopefully I can add to that. It would be ideal to lift some silverware as captain this season. That would be very nice. We had success last year, relatively, so if this year we could take it on even further that would be great." (27/07/05)

Helping Hand

Davey Weir took time out from Everton’s training camp, to visit Phuket, and see first hand the devastation the Boxing Day Tsunami caused. Davey was astounded by the local’s hospitality, and keenness to put their lives back on track. It puts it all into perspective really doesn’t it?

Davey says: "It brought home just how much the people had suffered and how devastating it must have been for them. Meeting people who have lived through it and survived it really brought home just how disturbing it was for them. We have only previously seen things on the television so to actually be here where it happened brings it home.

They’ve obviously been through a very traumatic experience but they are trying to bounce back. They are all very hospitable and they want people to start coming back to visit them to help get their industry going again. It’s important to help show that the area is safe now. They have got a Tsunami early-warning system in place now in the unlikely event of it happening again. The fact that we were there will hopefully promote it." (23/07/05)

Davey Last Season / Full Squad 2005/06