Its Germany This Year Love

Mrs Moyes won't be best pleased, as Moyesy is spending his Summer's break at this years World Cup. The boss has been invited to a few training camps, and he will use the time to catch up on some new training methods. He is also hoping to take a few matches in, and no doubt check up on the talent in Germany. I can recommend Pogs bar in Monchengladbach, had many an evening with work in there, and believe me Moyesy it is rammed with talent, especially Thursday, when its karaoke night.

Moyesy says: "I will be going to the World Cup this summer to see some games. I think it's important to go and see if there are any new trends in the game and to keep up-to-date with gaining a knowledge of as many players throughout the world as I can. I have been invited to a few training camps to watch some of the national teams train and I will probably take up an offer or two and watch some training days as well.

I'm looking forward to the World Cup. It is a special time of the football calendar and I'm hoping to see as many games as I can. As a coach, it is always enjoyable when you haven't got the pressure of taking one of the teams - you can sit back and analyse the match and go through it like most people do to us each Saturday!" (20/05/06)

All To Play For

After no wins in five for the Blues, after such a promising run from Christmas, Moyesy is adamant that the season will not peter out. With home games against Brum and the Baggies to come and a trip to Double Cup Semi Finalist's Boro, Everton can still make significant steps up the table, and Moyesy believes his players won't let him down.

Moyesy says: "The season won't peter out because we have got three games to play. Every game we have got we will try and do our best.

Anybody who saw us against Chelsea will know we gave it everything. I couldn't ask for any more from them. I couldn't fault them. The lads have given me a positive response all season when I have asked for it.

They are good lads, good players and a very honest group of players. They don't feign anything. They get on with it, take things on the chin. I'm pleased with them because of that and I think the supporters will be pleased with them because they don't lie down and they always have a go." (19/04/06)

Party Poopers

With Everton facing two teams with everything to play for in the next few days, Moyesy knows he has his work cut out this Easter period. With Spurs challenging for Champions League placing's, then the small task of stopping Chelski win the Title on Monday, Moyesy knows his lads will have to be on the top of their game to add to our points tally.

Moyesy says: "It is tough on the players but it has always been part of the calendar so you get on with it. These are the right games you want. Sometimes you can be facing teams with nothing to play for and it makes for very little to speak of.

But the two teams we are facing this weekend certainly have something to play for so we have to make sure we are at it otherwise they will come out on top. We have to show what we can do and our players will have to be on top of their game. We will be trying to win the games for Everton and get a points total that satisfies us from our last five games. We want to keep putting pressure on the teams above us and if that means denting the ambitions of the clubs we face this weekend that is what we are looking to do.

Martin Jol has done very well but they have spent heavily to get in that situation. When you do that you have a responsibility to get in near the top and to be fair to Tottenham they have done that. They have been up there most of the season and they have a good team. They have done very well to be fourth." (15/04/06)

Tough Weekend

Before Moyesy will let any of his squad took into their choccy and eggs over Easter, there is the small task of beating Spurs and Chelski over the weekend to attend to. Like Christmas, Easter is a busy time for the players, and Moyesy is still targeting the highest position possible in the League, and who knows, Europe, Inter Toto maybe !!

Moyesy says: "It is a busy time, it is very similar to Christmas time and it is tough on the players. But it is tough for all the players so we get on with it and it is two hard games that we have got. We have never really said too much about Europe because we have always known it has been a tall order. I think other people have done that. We are not a million miles away from it, but we do know that we need to play very well in last five games to try and do that. At the moment we are 11th and we need to try and improve that if we can. We have had some good results against some of the better sides, and I hope we can do it again." (13/04/06)

Europe's The Key

Moyesy see's Europe as the answer to Everton attracting better quality players for next season. With the likes of Boro, Wigan, Villa, Spurs and alike all able to outbid us in the transfer market, Moyesy is keen on the highest position possible so he can attract some of the better players from the Continent to Goodison.

Moyesy says: "There always seems to be a club prepared to offer more for the players we have identified. It happened a few times last summer, when the biggest one was Momo Sissoko. The deal was virtually done, but then he was tempted elsewhere.

That is why it is so important to finish the season strongly and try to aim for that UEFA Cup place, which will make us more attractive to players we might want to sign." (08/04/06)

More Points

With a total of 44 points on the board, Moyesy would have been satisfied with that back last year when at one stage, Everton were bottom of the league. But having got to this total he is keen to get more points.

Moyesy says: "The end of the season has crept up on us quickly. But they are six important games now. We would have been happy with this as a final points total at periods in the season. I am sure a lot of the supporters would have done the same. But once you get here you become greedy for more and I am certainly greedy for more.

The game we have got coming up will provide us with opportunities. We had a chance against Sunderland to take more points and we have to try and grab those points back in these other games. Charlton are looking to get into the top half of the table and could yet be in the FA Cup semi-final. Tottenham are trying to get into the Champions League and as we know Chelsea are going for the championship so each match is hard for different reasons. But we are confident." (06/04/06)

Player Power

With a run of 23 points out of a possible last thirty, Moyesy is putting it all down to player power. He points out that he is doing nothing different on the training ground, but with the likes of Mikky, Leon, Biffa, Stubbsey, Davey, Tiny, Leon, Jimmy Mac, Jesus its the lot of them, and they are all playing out of their skin. Lets keep it up at Analfield lads, we owe the shit 'eds one.

Moyesy says: "I think the resurgence of players into form has turned it around. I don't think it's anything I've done, or anything we had or hadn't done on the training ground. I think, really and genuinely, it's players coming back into form who hadn't been playing well and are now getting close to top form again.

It's like the Everton of last season who, in the main, were consistent for certainly two-thirds of the season before we struggled to get over the line. This season, we have been poor for the first third, not bad in the middle third, and hopefully the last third we can keep it going. I think a few players probably realised at Christmas 'this isn't us and no matter how good we think we are, we have to prove it on the field.' Since then, I think a few of them really started to strike good form.

Since Christmas players like James Beattie, Mikel Arteta and James McFadden have shown the most consistently sustained form of their Everton careers, while Tim Cahill has rediscovered the form he showed in his debut season at Goodison. And I think there has been a steadying with Stubbsy coming back. I also hope we are on the verge of getting Andy van der Meyde and Alessandro Pistone back. Lee Carsley and Gary Naysmith are already back and that makes the squad more competitive." (22/03/06)

Total Shite

Everton's and Newcastle's Chairmen have both been moved this morning to deny newspaper rumours that Moyesy is on his way to Newcastle to replace ex shit 'ed Sounness. It appears that Moyesy is the Skunks favoured choice as the man to lead the team to glory. Fair shout, he is a good manager, but one question remains, why would Moyesy want to go to a team who have not won a carrot in over fifty years domestically, and who truly believe that they are one of England's elite sides. Cash but no class, no history, you know were I'm coming from !!!

Blue Bill says: "I know David Moyes, I know Freddy Shepherd. The story is fabrication and total nonsense - it should be discounted immediately".

Skunks Chairman Freddy says: "Bill Kenwright is one of my closest friends in football, and I have phoned him this morning to say that Newcastle United have not approached David Moyes, will not approach David Moyes, and wish him and Everton Football Club only the best of success". (21/03/06)

Leave, My Arse

Moyesy who has just celebrated four years in charge of our great club, has said he has never felt the urge to leave Everton even when the going got tough. Moyesy rightly points out Everton's Premiership record before he took over, and we all know that it was not pleasant reading.

In his four year tenure he has qualified the Blues however briefly for the Champions League, missed out on the UEFA Cup by one point to Blackburn, when we hit 59 points in the 2002/03 season. The one low point was the end of the 2003/04 season when the Blues finished fourth from bottom, six points ahead of the relegated few.

Moyesy believes the foundations the Board and himself are putting in place will bear fruit for the club in the future in the shape of trophies. Hear, hear.

Moyesy says: "I didn't doubt my ability. Because I knew we were going in the right direction and people who knew football and understood how clubs work were supporting me, and that support included the chairman and the board of directors here.

They have not panicked, they have been very supportive and gone about things the right way. Any club that jumps up and down because they've won a few games and chops and changes their manager all the time is not going to get any success.

There have been a couple of occasions where I thought that some people must have short memories. Everton have not been in the top 10 many times, about two or three times in the last 13-14 years. Suddenly in the three-and-a-half years I've been here, we've been in the Champions League and just missed out on the UEFA Cup with a record points total. With some of the criticism we were getting this season, I thought to myself that Everton must have had some great success if people want this all the time, but the facts are Everton haven't had much success in recent years.

I do not know if we will ever get it back to the level where Everton are winning the league and in the European Cup, but we will try to do that." (15/03/06)

Four Years Today

It's four years to the day that Moyesy took over here at Everton. Looking back over that period he thinks he can still improve and win some silverware.

Moyesy says: "I believe I can win something here. I have enjoyed all my time at Everton. In the difficult periods it is not quite as good but I have enjoyed every minute. I relish the job every day that I come into work.

All managers have to go through tough periods, unless you are one of the top boys who win most weeks, then you will have periods when you don't win for five or six games and then there will be periods where you do win five or six in a row, that is the way it goes.

But you have to get through it and learn from it if you can. Backing from the club is important for all managers, and the media play such a big part in football these days, with the phone-ins providing a platform to criticise.

They are right to do so at times, but you also need people who are educated and ready to answer those questions correctly." (14/03/06)

Stand By Your Man

Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright says he never considered sacking David Moyes last year for a second, when a section of the crowd were calling for his head. Blue Bill still like most of us believes that Moyesy is the man for the job, and that the dark days of the start of the 05/06 season are well and truly behind us. Oh by the way we hit forty points on Saturday, so with nine games to go we can breath easy, shit that was close !!!!!

Blue Bill says: I have always thought he was the right manager for the club. He has this thing about him - this majesty, this focus. Within 30 seconds of meeting him he said win, win, win and I knew he was the right man.

Even in the dark days before Christmas, while I wouldn't tell anyone we weren't worried, there was no panic. He gets the manager of the year and four months later people are saying he has to go, you think, 'are you for real?'

I remember around the end of November we sat down and he said, 'This is the plan'. He gave me a points target by 1 January, a points target by the end of February, a points target by Easter and a late run-in. We are ahead of that points target as we speak and that points target would probably see us finish ninth or 10th.

We were sitting there and a creeping calm goes over your body; 'okay, that's what we are going to do'. I never thought it wouldn't be okay because of what David is like. He did predict a top-10 finish when the soothsayers were saying relegation. I never thought it was optimistic because I know the man. I have the relationship with him. He hadn't just gone, 'I'm going to see Bill, I better make some figures up'. He has looked at the picture and said I can do that." The pressure is enormous and that is why when he gets the manager of the year and four months later people are saying he has to go, you think, 'are you for real?'

There was never going to be a knee-jerk decision. The fans have to look for a scapegoat and all I ever think I can do is talk to them. So I said, 'so you want me to get rid of David Moyes?' But when I say it they think about that. I have an insight into the way he works and, believe me, whatever the players were feeling he was feeling double." (13/03/06)

Midfielders - Come On Score

With Biffa fit and knocking the goals in regularey, Moyesy has challenged his midfield to join him in the scoring stakes starting at the home game against Fulham this Satdee.

Moyesy says: "I think there are goals in the midfield. Ossie can get a goal, Mikel should score more, Simon Davies can definitely score goals and I would be hoping that he can score two or three before the end of the season. And as we know Tim has got a goal in him, so it is disappointing that we have not scored as many as we should have done this season. But maybe we are saving them up for the rest of the season.

We have four or five midfield players who are playing really well right now. We have Tim who can get forward and score goals, we have Mikel and Ossie who are happy to play in three or four different positions. We have Phil who can play more defensively, we have Kevin Kilbane who gives us his size and power on the left, Simon Davies with his football. We have good players and I thought at the beginning of the season that we had good players but it has probably taken us to Christmas time to start showing that.

There are five or six of them on top form most of the time at the moment so if that keeps going right to the end of the season then that will keep us in a healthy position. Our recent run is down to the players coming back in to form." (08/03/06)

Dignity, You Would Not Know How Top Spell It !

After Jose the nark's latest bust up this time with West Brom manager Bryan Robson, Moyesy has throw his four penneth in over the arrogant Portuguese antics at the end of Chelski's victory over the Baggies.

Moyesy says: "Over here, in this country, we shake hands at the end of the game and you always invite the managers to come in.

They don't need to come in, but I think that's something that the British managers in the main accept, that you come in and have a glass of wine or a beer with them after. We're all passionate and we all want to win and we all have to protect our own teams, but I think at the end there's also a wee bit of dignity needed." (07/03/06)

Back home.....one day

Moysey has admitted that he hopes to return to Scotland at some point to have a crack at one of the big Glasgow clubs, although he has no intentions of moving on just yet.

Moyesey says: "I've always said that Scotland is my home and that I'll probably end up going back there to work at some stage. "I'd love to manage one of the Old Firm clubs if or when the time was right, just for the challenge. "Right now though, it would be completely disrespectful to Everton to talk about it, and I'd never dream of leaving England at the moment. But, in time, yes." (04/02/06)

Thanks For Letting Me Keep My Job

Moyesy is chuffed with the board for not sacking him when Everton were bottom of the Premiership earlier in the season.

Moyesy says: "If clubs are going to continually chop and change then things are going to be hard for them. It was a difficult start to the season for us and I believe the board understood that. It was great that they showed faith in me and the players.That is proving to be the right decision. We are in a better position now than we have been in for a while, both from a financial viewpoint and in terms of our final position in the league over the past few seasons. I felt that what we achieved here in the last few years meant we deserved that loyalty but it definitely helped during what were some tough times." (26/02/06)

Have a Break, Have a .......

Moyesy is hoping that the enforced break that the Blues have had due to their FA Cup exit, will have given his wafer thin squad a chance to rest their legs. With the push now on for one of the UEFA Cup spots on offer, the Boss is hoping that the change of scenery that the lads enjoyed in Florida will serve them well. If it does not he has promised the next break will be at Pontins in Southport, boys you have been warned.

Moyesy says: "We trained every day but we gave the players some free time as well. Obviously with being out of the FA Cup, we had no game so we took the chance to take the players away for a week and hopefully a change of scenery will have helped. We know that we are into the final third of the season and we want to try and keep up the form we have shown in the last eight or nine games. We are just desperate to continue in the form we have been." (21/02/06)

Intertoto Explained

A change in the format is the reason Everton have applied togo in the Intertoto Cup at the beginning of next season. The tournie will just be a home and away leg in July and not a possible 6 matches as in previous seasons.

Moyesy says: "We will have been back in pre-season training by the time the Intertoto starts and I see no reason why, if we have the opportunity, we shouldn't go into the competition and use it as part of our pre-season planning. Because of the slightly longer close-season, the Intertoto Cup won't really affect the preparations for the new season." (17/02/06)

Top Dog

Everton Boss Davey Moyes has been rewarded today for Everton's turn of fortune in January. The Blues seen out 2005 looking at relegation, but now thanks to an amazing turnaround in fortunes, Moyesy and his men are looking at another European adventure (oh no, more airport misery). With three wins and a draw in the Prem in January , and only Chelsea getting the better of us in 2006, things are hopefully looking up for the Blues.

Moyesy says: "You will have just read that I have been awarded the Premiership Manager of the Month for January. That reflects great credit on the players, who have turned things around for the club with their performances on the pitch. They have worked so hard to put things right and, of course, I include all my staff in that. They have to suffer me when things aren't going so well so they must take their full share of the credit for the way that January has gone for us." (10/02/06)

Positive Mental Attitude

Moyesy goes into tonight's FA Cup Replay against Chelsea with a positive attitude, and with the hope of disproving millions who think Everton don't stand a chance in hell. If it was the Everton team of four months ago, we could do nothing but agree, but Everton unbeaten in 2006, go down to London on a high.

Moyesy puts that terrible start to the season down to the pressures of qualifying for the Champions League, and no doubt if we scrape in to Europe this season, the boys will be better equipped after the harsh lessons of this season.

Moyesy says: " We haven’t won any of our last four games against Chelsea so we need to try and win. We are going to go down there and try to be positive. We enjoyed the first game, we are disappointed that we couldn’t get through the first game so we have now got a trip down to London. I think a lot of people will be thinking that is a game that Chelsea have got in the bag so we need to try and disprove that.

Our form collectively was poor at the start of the season. The lads who had been here a while maybe felt the pressures of preparing for the Champions League more than most and that pressure didn't help one bit. (08/02/06)

Europe - No Targets

With Everton winning 6 games in an undefeated streak of 9 games, Europe looks a possibility, but Moyesy is not setting targets.

Moyesy says: It is too big a task to think about getting into Europe, but it's amazing how the situation changes considering what I was being asked before Christmas. Winning breeds confidence. We were not winning in the first half of the season and so much changes when confidence improves with good results. It's much easier being a manager in such situations.

Before that you are searching for things, looking for something that works. But now with the players giving their best shot week after week, things happen a lot more easier than before. I have not set any targets, after the season we have had we are just pleased to be away from the wrong end of the table and we are just intent on grinding out results to keep adding the points on. We had a really tough start to the season, first in Europe and then against all the top sides. We have got through that period and we are now doing a lot better.'' (06/02/06)

Happy Days

Moyesy is happy with the way 2006 has started, and he should be after our piss poor end to 2005. He wants to keep the momentum going that the lads have built up over the last few weeks, and he is refusing to blame any poor form on the threadbare squad he has available. Fair shout, he decided not to strengthen it !!

Moyesy says: "We are not wanting to shout from the rooftops about this and that. We just want to keep the meter ticking and picking up points whenever we can. It's been what we've hoped for. After the Christmas period that we had, we've come through and won a few good games but we want to keep that going now.

We have had a few injuries but we are no different from any other club. We don't tend to talk too much about the boys who are injured. That's not because we are not interested in them. We don't want to be seen to be using players' injuries as excuses. Yes, it's been difficult at times but we've always been able to put 11 on the pitch." (02/02/06)

Here We Go Again

It looks like Tuesday 31st January will be a busy old day for Moyesy. With an away game at Wigan to worry about enough for most managers, Moyesy is still confident of bringing a new face or two in, especially in the forward department.

All Blues fans should be used to last minute signings, so fill the kettle up, pack your sarnies, and stay by your computer for all the latest. My money, me thinks will be on David Nugent, or maybe Ronaldinho, who was spotted in Barcelona recently with a blue T Shirt on, so you never know.

Moyesy says: " We are trying and we have looked at many options. We are around people but I wouldn't lie to you and say there is something absolutely imminent. But we are hoping that in the next 24 hours maybe we can pull something off. But if we do, it will definitely be a last minute thing." (30/01/06)

We Believe in Ourselves

Commenting on Everton's chances against Chelsea in the FA Cup game tomorrow, Moyesy reckons we have a great chance as we always do well against the top clubs.

Moyesy says: "I think we have always done well against the better teams. But it probably did give us a lot of self-belief because at the time we were struggling quite badly and the Chelsea game came around when the expectation was we wouldn't get anything and we did do. We need to try and approach the Chelsea game the same way as we did Arsenal and that earlier Chelsea match. Hopefully we will do that but we are not underestimating the task.

It is a shock when Chelsea don't win, which shows you the standards Chelsea have set. I don't think there is much more you can learn about Chelsea. The one thing we picked up from that game was a bit of confidence and the belief that if we play to our best we can get something from the game. We have to believe that on Saturday. I don't think it matters what team they put out and I believe they are trying to win every cup they enter because that is what good teams do. With the money they have spent they will feel they have to try and go and win everything.

But I desperately want us to do well in the cup and I believe this is a good draw because we are trying to challenge ourselves against the best teams and the best managers. I am looking forward to that. I want us to be challenging against the top teams. Jose Mourinho earned the right to manage Chelsea after enjoying success at his other clubs in Portugal. He has earned every opportunity to be at the level he is at but that does not mean I will not be there trying to challenge him and beat him.

The players played very well last week and deserved the performance and result. I think we would rather play them at home than at Stamford Bridge. They drop very few points wherever they play and they lost very few games but if there is any vulnerability it is that they have dropped the odd points away from home." (27/11/06)

Tactics

The manager of the People's Club got his tactics right when he moved Tim Cahill upfront and missed out the midfield as the pitch was like a bog.

Moyesy says: “We ended up with Tim playing virtually as a centre-forward. We certainly didn’t start that way but the pitch wasn’t conducive to the way we wanted to play. We had to get the ball forward from the back and that’s difficult when you’ve only got one striker so I pushed Tim further up the field. We did it, it went fine and I think we controlled the game better the longer it went.” (15/01/06)

I Want To Go To Wembley

Moyesy Wants to go to Wembley. So does every Evertonian. He's got a funny way of picking a team to get us there. Before a ball was kicked at the New Den, thousands of Evertonians were up in arms because he left out Everton's 3 most important players: Beattie, Ferguson and Martyn. Over the last few months, we have seen how their replacements: Bent, McFadden and Wright are just not up to it. So it was yesterday. Bent had one header of note. McFadden had a one on one with the keeper and passed it to him. That was it. Wright just doesn't look confident in goal. The game changed when Biffa and Dunc came on. The lift the fans got was unbelievable. From then on we new we would at least get a draw. Unless Moyesy buys a forward and a goalie, he can't take a chance on resting these players.

Moyesy says: "We wanted to give one or two players a rest today. No disrespect to Millwall we just needed the rest. We had to change things round in the second half because we lacked that little bit of quality up front to win the game. The FA Cup is very important for me personally and for the club because we've not had the best of seasons so far and I'd like to get to Wembley. The Premiership will always be the top priority but I would like to try win the Cup but we know there are a lot of good teams in it. We would have liked to have gone through today and we missed a great chance at the end but at least we will be in the draw for the next round. We will give Millwall every respect in the replay just as we did today." (08/01/06)

Life Is A Rollercoaster

Chuffed with the three points, but Moyesy was still not sure when the next three points will come from.

Moyesy says: "I don't know how many people have asked me about turning the corner this season. I don't know how many corners I have turned or how many bends I have been on. It is a big roller coaster at the moment. We have to play better than we have been doing, but today's performance was a good one."

"The fans have been brilliant and I am a bit embarrassed about the position we are in and what we have been giving them this season. The fans know how we feel about them and we want to give them some better performances."

"I take a lot of satisfaction from that performance. We now have two wins in three days and that is exactly what I wanted from the two games. Credit goes to the players, they have done very well getting the goal late against Sunderland and today getting the goals and playing much better."

"We got the goal early today, and we did make a good start. We played well and were controlling the majority of the play at that time. I was pleased with the start we made."

"I do feel that we could have had more goals, I nearly did a Mexican wave when the third went in, but the fact is that we should have had more. The fourth one should have counted. I can't see why it was ruled out, but nevertheless I am satisfied with the three and pleased that we got the three points." (03/01/06)

Big Job

Moyesy has admitted that he has a big job on his hands to move Everton away from the bottom of the table. He is sure that the players and staff are up to the task.

Moyesy says: "It is a big job to turn it around as everyone knows we are not doing so well at the moment. But I will be there on the touchline in the next game cheering them on and I will stand up to be counted with the players as well. We are down because we are not playing well, and we are not getting the results we want. But there are bits which we have to take positives from, we have to keep believing that the things we are doing are correct, and I am sure they will come right. Sunderland is a big game and Wednesday was a big game. We wanted to win that one - we didn't so we want to win the next one." (30/12/05)

Coping

David Moyes is coping with the pressure of being Everton's manager even with losing 3 on the trot.

Moyesy says: "Personally, I am coping with things fine.It is a big job, was a big job before I arrived and that hasn't changed since I've been here.I am not feeling any extra pressure at the moment, just the same pressure I felt when I came here as I had to prove I could be a Premiership manager having come from Preston.

"It hasn't shaken my confidence at all. I'm used to being involved with winning teams and I will be again. We also had a bad time at the start of the season, so we just have to get on with it and get through it. If we can win the derby, then it would make things look much rosier." (28/12/05)

So Long 2005

During 2005, Moyesy has seen the highs of qualifying for the Champions league and the lows of scrambling around the relegation zone.

Moyesy says: "2005 has been a disappointing year, but it gave Everton the biggest high it has had for a long time. Personally it gave me the thrill of reaching the Champions League. But if you look at the 12 months as a whole I will be glad to see the back of 2005.

Results matter to me a lot, it affects me like anyone else. We know we are not doing well just now but anything close to last season's performance at Villa Park, when we won really well, would satisfy me.We keep talking about the next games being a launch pad, or something to build on, but the way it is going it is likely to be one of those seasons when we are fighting down at the bottom.

We are in it at the bottom and we will be in that situation if we cannot start putting results together. We will be left there fighting around the bottom end of the league. We have to start getting some goals. Then if we do go behind we will have the confidence to fight back. We are not blaming the strikers. We are not making enough chances for them. Certainly we are way down on what we would have wanted from a goals tally this term." (25/12/05)

Bah Humbug

I don't like Christmas. No it's not Scrooge. It's Moyesy. He thinks the fans will be are skint and the players will be knackered when we play 4 games in eight days. He may have a point, but I hope we are not getting excuses before we play the games. I'm starting to get pains in my chest again.

Moyesy says:"The Christmas period is too much for the players and it is too much for the supporters as well. I think we have four games in the period and if you are a supporter then to play for four games at this time of the year is too much but it is part of the culture here. We know that is the way it is but this year it seems to me that they have tried to squeeze one more game in."

My preference would be that we would shut down on January first for two weeks. But only two weeks. It would start up a fortnight directly after that and give the players a chance to have one week’s break, and as well let the punters get their money back and recharge their batteries. I don’t think we will ever change the Christmas format in this country. Boxing day is a big footballing day, people want to be entertained. They want to get out the house and I am all for that, but maybe the week after should be taken into consideration. We are talking about one week because if you look at it it could only be possibly missing one game, in a lot of ways there might be places where matches could be squeezed in but if not we could start the season a week earlier." (20/12/05)

Sunday Football

With Everton suffering a 4-0 defeat against Bolton on Saturday. Their worst at Goodison in 12 years. They are back in the relegation fight.

Moyesy says: "If you go to the parks on a Sunday morning you will not see goals as bad as the ones we conceded. One was a short pass, another a blatant penalty-kick, and finally one came from a slip. They were very poor goals and it is difficult to say I could have done a lot about that. I don't think it was a 4-0 scoreline - we shouldn't have been down at half-time. We played well in that period. We tried to create chances, we tried to create openings. But the end result is frustrating and disappointing. We've had to endure two bad home games after a decent run. They are poor results by our standards." (19/12/05)

Jam Packed Xmas

Moyesy says: "I think the period over Christmas and New Year is ridiculous. They've definitely squashed in one game too many in that period. It's part and parcel of football in this country. We all know it, we all accept it and that's the way it is." (17/12/05)

Mine's A Double

Moyesy believes Everton can bounce back from the defeat against West Ham and do the double over Bolton. He hopes to have a snifter with Big Sam after celebrating 3 points.

Moyesy says: "We just want to get back on a similar run to that we'd been on. On Wednesday night we didn't play the way we should have but nevertheless I'm sure the players will respond. We were very fortunate to get the three points against Bolton. We defended really, really well. But we got points at a difficult time of the season for us in between the Villarreal games and the Man Utd game so this time it will be a little different. Hopefully we will be able to play better in this game. I am looking for better than we did there but I am hoping for the same result as far as points go. We have to try and make home games count.

Both of us have had to work very hard to get to the levels we have had. Sam has had his route through Limerick and he has been at Blackpool and Notts County so he has earned the right to manage a team in the Premiership and he is doing it very well. In many ways I don’t feel I have had quite as long a route as that but at Preston I had an opportunity and hopefully I earned that by doing well there for two or three seasons before getting this job. But in management you are never secure, you always have to work, the next game is always the most important. The Bolton game is next and that is the most important to us. I’m sure we will have a glass of wine after the game, though I will probably drink the wine and Sam will have a pint of cider!" (16/12/05)

Fortress Goodison

The manager of The People's Club wants to make Goodison a fortress again and with 2 home matches coming in quick succession, this is were we come in. COYB.

Moyesy says: "The West Ham game is on us very quickly and we start preparing now and hopefully try and get points from that. Home games are really important for us as we go into the second half of the season. This is a rearranged game, a game in hand so it will be nice if we can take something from it." (12/12/05)

Be Positive

Moyesy believes that his boys have to be positive going into Sunday's match at Old Trafford. The Blues hope to continue their good form of late, as United find themselves out of Europe, and trailing in Chelsea's wake, and it is not even half way through the season. Sunday maybe a good time to play them, and Moyesy is confident of the Blues chances, even without our two star midfielder's.

Moyesy says: "I hope we go with the right attitude to every game, not just to Old Trafford. We have had positive results there before, but it will be a hard game and at this moment in time Man Utd are coming into some good form so we need to be at our best. Both Tim and Mikel are suspended, we can’t do anything about that now, but it gives other players an opportunity.

It’s a great place to go and play your football and we have done relatively well there in the past so we have to go there and try and get a good result. It might be a good time to go there - but it might not be, we will find that out when we cross the white line and see how the teams perform. It is a decent run we have put together and we are delighted with it - long may it continue. But we want to do that another two or three times a season. If we don’t do it two or three times, then we need to make sure this run continues for a long time. Our run at the moment has given us a start to grasp on to leading into December which is a very busy month and we want to get some points on the board by the new year. Then hopefully we will regain some of the home games we have got to come." (09/12/05)

Tis The Season To Be Jolly

Moyesy is hoping that our good run of form can carry on over the festive period. With games against notloB, Villa, the shite and Sunderland, Everton will be hoping to reach mid table. After the New Year the Blues have more home games than away, so hopefully Moyesy's boys can push right up the table.

Moyesy says: We are on a good run and sometimes because of where we have been you don't realise or appreciate such a good run. But we have now won four out of five and we had the Chelsea draw before that as well. We have done okay and it is a good start to December where I have been saying we have an awful lot of games away from home. I knew it was going to be difficult up to the end of December before the games start to balance themselves out. If we can keep climbing the table in that time it would be great because it is only in January when we start to reclaim some home games." (07/12/05)

Stitch Up

Moyesy has gone bonkers over the 3 match ban Tim Cahill has received. He thinks that the way the FA and the ref, Howard Webb has gone about things is flawed.

Moyesy says: "We can prove that the referee saw it. He had several conversations with Tim Cahill and Tim was in no doubt that he had seen it. It has been a complete stitch up. If the referee had said he saw it he knows that the FA cannot then act. We can prove that the referee saw it. He was six yards away and facing it, we should have been able to at least say that.

We now have three key games without one of our most important players. On another day a referee may have shown cards, but he didn't take any action at the time. For him to turn round and say he didn't see it is a big blow to me, the club and Tim Cahill. We are on a good run after a difficult season, and this has not been helped by the referee and two compliance officers at the FA.

It's a terrible decision for us and for Tim, it's a system that is completely flawed and has him guilty without us being allowed to defend ourselves. It is something we can prove that the reason for us getting into this situation is that the referee claimed he didn't see the incident. Because of that the FA's compliance office are able to act on this, and I can prove that the referee did see the incident. It's a terrible decision for us and for Tim, it's a system that is completely flawed.

The situation between Tim and Babayaro may well have merited a card, but the referee said he didn't see it and that allows the FA's commission to come into operation. That's flawed, they can subject you to a trial and find you guilty without you having any defence. I don't think any court of law in any part of the country would allow that. If someone is banned from their work for three weeks you would no doubt have a right of appeal somewhere.

He said he saw that one, so we take his word for it. But on the Cahill situation the referee claimed he didn't see it. But I will stand in front of anyone and prove to them that the referee does see what happened between Babayaro and Cahill and doesn't make a decision. I felt both players deserved a booking for what happened, but maybe he felt that a booking for Babayaro would have meant two yellow cards because he had already been booked, and he would have had to send him off.

In the end he didn't act, sometimes that's OK because things like that do happen in football. But now the compliance officers have contacted the referee and he has turned around and said he didn't see it. That is untrue, he did see it. They say now that you cannot hide without the amount of cameras around, but in this case the referee can hide." (02/11/05)

Best Yet

David Moyes was delighted with his pairing of Biffa and Jimmy Mac for Sundays defeat of Newcastle. Jimmy probably only started due to the last minute illness of Big Dunc, but Moyesy feels it has been his best pairing of the season, and no doubt will keep it for Saturdays visit to Blackburn.

Moyesy says: "They did really well together - the goal would have been important, but it was the all round play. James McFadden's shot led to the goal, James had a chance at the edge of the box that he should have probably done better with as well and Tim had a couple, so we had chances throughout the match.

I have been saying for a long time that we have not seen the best of James McFadden. I see him in training and I selected him today because of what I have seen in training. And I have got to say Leon Osman is very close to playing regularly as well because their training has been excellent and if they keep doing what they are doing they are going to get more regular games than they have up to now." (29/11/05)

AGM

Moyesy gave his report to the meeting then answered a few questions. In summery, he wants to buy a new striker in January, Dickie Wright isn't very good, he may get a new keeper, Per Kroldrop will get a game sooner or later, but Davie Weir has been outstanding and the average age of the squad has been reduced from 30 to 26.

Moyesy says: "The priority will be to bring in another forward player if possible, as Bill and the board know. Last season we had a situation where we played 4-1-4-1 for many of the games. At the start of this season we didn't get the results with that system so we have changed it to try and find the goals. Before the West Brom game we had the 10th best defensive record in the Premiership and even after it we are still 12th. But we have the worst goalscoring record in the Premiership. The goals return has not been good enough and that is the area we need to try and strengthen in January if possible.

There will be many more changes at this club because success does not come in a straight line. We have got a fantastic club with a great board and it is going in the right direction. This is my third annual meeting and I believe we have made great progress throughout the club. Off the field commercially, financially and in the media we are in a much better position than when I first came to the club. Everton are in the national press much more and in the main it is for the right reasons. Expectations have risen since I came to the club and my aim is to give you a side of which you are proud. I cannot say today that is how it feels. But we will come to today later. I have had fantastic support from Bill Kenwright and the board. We made a record signing in January because we felt we needed an extra signing to help us qualify for the Champions League.

But the expectations have also got to be put into perspective. Arsene Wenger said to me earlier in the season that nowadays (in the Premiership) a £5m signing is a small signing. You only need to look at some of the signings clubs like Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Fulham have made in recent years compared to us. Last year we achieved more than those clubs. But you need to look at Leeds United. I would not want to be involved with a board that would do something that would take us into a position Leeds found themselves in.

You need to look at our neighbours Liverpool and Newcastle, the side we are facing this weekend, to see where the level is how far this club has gone in a short period. It has been fantastic and the board have done a terrific job in terms of giving every penny they can to me. We had a squad of 24 players last season that helped us qualify for the Champions League. Every player played a part in getting success last year. But within that squad there were players like Gary Naysmith, Li Tie and Steve Watson who missed a lot of games. Eddy Bosnar and Nick Chadwick only played a very small part so the squad that achieved success was relatively very small.

Then if you look at who left the club in the last year - the likes of Bosnar, Kevin Campbell, Wayne Rooney, Thomas Gravesen and others. We offered Steve Watson and Alan Stubbs one year contracts. Our view is that players in their mid-30s should only be offered one year deals because in the past we have had older players on bigger contracts and we have not been able to get rid of them. Our policy has been to buy players of a good age. When I arrived the average age of our squad was roughly 30 but now we are down to 26. Nearly all of the players we have brought in are internationals.

When I arrived at the end of the 2001/02 season we avoided relegation and went on to finish seventh after being in a European qualifying position all through the season and only missing out on the last day. That was a fantastic season in relation to the years previous. But after that season we didn't think that side would be good enough to keep us in seventh position because the side was ageing. We knew where we had to go and we still needed to make progress. At the end of that season there were changes.

If you look back at the last three seasons they have been as good as anything Everton have had in the Premier League. That brings me to today. There is nobody more surprised than me at the position we are in, but it is off the back of our best ever Premiership season. There could be reasons for our position. We aimed to have everybody ready for the Champions League adventure. We tried to get the players to peak as soon as we could for the Villarreal and Manchester United games. That was the part of the season we tried to be ready for and in both the Villarreal games and against Manchester United we were very close and now, when you look at the Champions League group that Villarreal are top of, you can see what a good side they are. But after that run of games we went into a poor period of performances."

When asked why he had paid £5m for PK and not played him even though the defence wasn't performing, Moyesy answered: “Joseph Yobo will need to go away for the African Nations Cup in January. But if they play as bad as they played last week again on Sunday we will see him sooner than expected. Only today I was telling Per he is looking much more like it. There were things we felt we needed to work on him with but he is looking much better and you will see him at some point. Our defensive record is not brilliant but we are the 12th best in the Premier League after Saturday. That part of the team is not doing too bad. 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.

When asked about the goalkeeping situation Moyesy answered: “Nigel Martyn has been terrific. He is solid and is still a terrific player but it is becoming an issue and one we are looking at hard. Richard Wright has played and not done as well as he should have done, as I have told him. Richard will get another opportunity at some point down the line, be it because of a lack of form from Nigel, injuries or suspensions. Iain Turner is doing very well at the moment and we would have no qualms at all of putting him on the bench for the first team. We have sent him out on loan for experience. John Ruddy is a baby in football terms and we are hoping his development will continue and we will send him out on loan to maintain that development. We know we may need to look for another number one come the end of the season depending on how Nigel Martyn goes and how we think he is performing but he is doing that for us now." (25/11/05)

Individual Battles

Still smarting from yesterday's defeat at West Brom, Moyesy has had a go at the players loosing their individual battles. Only Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville don't get a kick up the arse.

Moyesy says: "Apart from the two full-backs nearly every other player lost his individual battle and if you do that then you can't win the game. You have to compete as much as the opposition. I have been disappointed many times recently unfortunately. They won too many battles and we didn't win enough. I can't accept the performance today and I won't accept it. You wouldn't think a couple of changes would make too much of an impact. It wasn't necessarily the players who have come in today, it was the players who have been playing in recent weeks who let us down as much anybody else.

We have played quite well in the last three games. But we couldn't take anything from this at all. It is always a difficult when you lose and especially when you lose in this manner. We will try and regroup and I hope the Everton we see next week is much tougher and much better than this one. We shouldn't be coming to West Brom and losing, not in the manner we did today. I don't think West Brom will have an easier win in the Premiership this season. We have had two or three decent results but that is not enough. We have to make the sure the players know exactly where they should be and that is further up the table." (20/11/05)

Keep Your Mitts Off

Everton have issued a keep your mitts off warning to Glasgow Rangers, as speculation mounts that Davey Moyes is top of their hit list if they sack current boss Alex McLeish. Moyesy who ironically is an ex Celtic man, would probably find it hard to leave the English Premiership to pit his wits against Scottish Giants like Inverness Callies, Livingston and Falkirk.

Everton CEO, Bully Beef says: "There has been no contact whatsoever from Glasgow Rang-ers nor would we welcome any. David Moyes is under contract for the next four years and after the progress that has been made since his arrival, everyone here hopes he sees that out." (15/11/05)

Defence The Key

Moyesy is putting Everton's upturn in form to the fact that like last season, clean sheets are at last being kept. Everton have conceded one goal in the last three Prem outings, and Moyesy believes the form of Joey, Davey and Nige's has been invaluable.

Davey says: "The performances especially of Joseph, Davie Weir and Nigel have been really good. They have been so consistent. What they have needed is people to get goals for them because when they have made mistakes, they have been punished. In the last couple of games we have kept clean sheets and that is something that we had quite regularly last year. We have had a few 1-0 defeats this year and we need to reverse that.

They know each other well enough and hopefully they will continue to improve. We have needed the experience of Davie and Nigel and Joseph is certainly maturing. Davie has got to help all the younger players develop. As a defender, the older you get, the more experience in the role you get and he has helped Joseph a great deal." (14/11/05)

Home Win, That Will Do Nicely

Moyesy is targeting Boro at home today as his first home Prem win since The Skunks last May. With the draw against Chelski a fortnight ago coming after consecutive home defeats against man ure, Pompey and Wigan, it will be nice to leave the ground with a smile on our faces for a change. Don't let us down lads.

Moyesy says: "Last week was a result we all needed to continue our confidence after the game against Chelsea. Unfortunately we went out of the Carling Cup against Middlesbrough but the win at Birmingham has given us a little bit of a fresher feel. Now we want to build on that by beating Middlesbrough in the next game to get us into the run we have been looking to put together. We need to win some games and we will always look to see where we can improve.

Middlesbrough is now the next game. The next is always the most important one and it is a match we want to turnaround because we were disappointed we went out in the League Cup. We now need to concentrate on getting some league points and getting up the table." (06/11/05)

Getting Better

Moyesy is putting Everton's upturn in fortune down to the return of key players to the first team. Apart from his troublesome left back position, Moyesy has strength in depth in most areas now, and his squads are much larger to pick from.

Moyesy is especially happy to see Andy Van Der Meyde stamp his mark on the first team, and no doubt he will be in the starting line up in this Sunday's classh with Boro.

Moyesy says: "We have played a similar way in three or four games this season and we have not got the results, so it doesn't always go that way. Last season we played in a different way and we won more games so it is all to do with players. Systems are important, but it is the players who really count and we have to find what is best for us at this present time. Getting players back in areas (other than left-back) is a bonus because it is starting to give me some competition. For the opening 10 games of the season we only really had 14 out-field players to pick from. But in the last week or so we have started to get a few extra players to pick from.

We knew when Andy came this was going to be the situation because of the injury and it will take him another couple of months to get the match fitness we would want from an Everton player. Per is slightly different because he has come in and does know what we are about but Per needs to get used to playing in Britain and that can sometimes take a little more time than other players. But he is back fit and he is available." (04/11/05)

Want That One

Moyesy is targeting the League and FA Cup, in a bid to bring silverware back to Goodison for the first time in ten years. Moyesy would love to reward the fans with a trophy tucked safely away in the Boardroom, and it is a sure sign that he is taking tonight's crunch Carling Cup tie against Boro very seriously indeed.

Moyesy says: "It has always been in the calendar so you can’t change it the one thing for us that’s positive is that it is a home game. We finished fourth last year, Middlesbrough finished sixth or seventh last year, so its two teams who, on their day, can be up there competing with the best teams in the division. It’s a cup game and we need to try and get through if we can. Middlesbrough did tremendously well a couple of seasons ago in getting to the final, and have enjoyed a lot of success with the UEFA cup runs they’ve been having. They are a good cup side, so we know how hard it will be.

But we have got to try to do well in every competition we enter, since I’ve been here I’ve never thought any different and hopefully this cup competition might be lucky for us. What you want to do is get as long a run in every cup competition as you can. There are not enough trophies in this country to win. We all know that the league title is very difficult and next we’d all like to qualify for a place in Europe. But I think we would all like to make an impression in the FA cup or the League Cup. If you win one of those competitions then obviously its great for the supporters but its also great for the players and the club too.

The first game is Middlesbrough, that’s the game we have to concentrate on. That’s the one we are interested in right now and we feel positive, we feel confident now, there’s an atmosphere running through the players that hopefully we can take on to the coming games." (26/10/05)

Simply The Best

Blue Bill is backing his Manager 110%. He believes Moyesy is one of the best in the business, and after the crowds reaction during the Chelski draw, so do thousands of Blues fans as well. Bill however is still quick to point out that the Blues are still in a relegation position, and for our great Club, that is not good enough.

Blue Bill says: "I believe we have one of the great, great managers in football. Obviously he and I are close, but I've watched what he's done this week and it's a great week for him. We just went for it for all the 90 minutes. They are an awesome team aren't they, just awesome, but it's a great feeling to have stopped their run. You would hope that the confidence would be picked up and that this could be a turning point. It's all very well to say 'hey listen, we are not in a relegation battle' but we are bottom of the league and everyone knows what that means. You have to acknowledge it and hope there's enough real strength, both physically, mentally and skillfully, and I believe there is." (25/10/05)

Raised The Bar

After the point against Chelsea, Moyesy believes the players have raised the standards and must continue to maintain this level to move up the league.

Moyesy says: "I am really pleased with the performance. We wanted to have a go at them, and that was the right thing to do. At present, Chelsea are the best team in Europe. They have fantastic players and I have to give a lot of credit to our players for making a game of it. We were looking for something that we could build on. The players came into the dressing room after the game and were saying that was the level they can play at and they do not want to fall below it.

It may not have been three points and only one, but it was important to us because it was Chelsea. Hopefully we will have a lot of confidence and self-belief after this performance, because the players have raised the bar. We cannot hide from the fact that we are bottom of the league but this result can give us a lift to start winning games again." (24/10/05)

Pressure! What Pressure?

Although bottom of the Premiership, Moyesy feels he is under no pressure from the board, only from himself.

Moyesy says: “I’ve never had no doubts on my future here because I have great support from the board. I’d never take it for granted, but it was only a few months ago we finished fourth so we have to keep a few things in perspective. I only feel pressure to win games and the pressure is from myself. I have always put pressure on myself, even since my first game in charge at Preston. Every game you want to win, whether it is a reserve game or a first team game. It is a challenge and I have to show I can work through it. It was a challenge when most people didn't think we would stay fourth.

It is a challenge now, although it is completely different. It is one I am confident we will get through together and when we do it will make us stronger. But I don't care who we play, if we are at Goodison I believe we can be a match for anybody on our day. We have to get our performance as high as possible and try and knock Chelsea off their pedestal. We have got to make sure we are brave and bold. We don't want to hide and we want people to get in the box, get on the end of things and hope one or two things drop for us at the right time.

The pressure on the players is coming from me because I know how good they are. We are saying, 'if you performed like that last season then we want you back up to that level and if you are not then you are going to be hearing from me'. They accept it. Most have held their hand up at one time and said I know I can do better. They are taking responsibility for their actions and they are not burying their heads in the sand. The players have got a great spirit. If you didn't know where we were in the table and you were coming in here you would think we were high in the table. (22/10/05)

Oh No Your Not.....

Moyesy has peed on Van The Man's bonfire, by telling the Dutch winger that he won't be considered for Sunday's clash with Chelski. Andy had been telling Blues fans that he hoped to be included, but Moyesy is treading carefully with his signing from Inter Milan.

Moyesy says: "With regards to Andy we are pleased he got just over 60 minutes. He still looks like he needs more match practice and won’t be on the bench on Sunday." (21/10/05)

Moyesy Honoured Again

Moyesy has been awarded the National Football Writers Award for Manager of the Season for his exploits in 2004/05. He was honoured at an award ceremony in Manchester. Well played, lets now get that spirit back. Come on You Blue Boys.

NFWA's chairman Paul Hethrington says: "Everton were many people's favourites to be relegated last season but they proved their detractors wrong by finishing fourth in the Premier League to qualify for the Champions League, so don't write them off this season either.

They were robbed in the Champions League when Pierluigi Collina, supposedly the best referee in the world, disallowed a perfectly legitimate Duncan Ferguson goal. But Everton still had four games in Europe, two in the Champions League qualifying competition and two in the UEFA Cup. So for taking Everton back into Europe we congratulate David Moyes and were delighted to honour him." (19/10/05)

Ipswich Town, Your Havin' a Laff....

Moyesy is fending off suggestions about the comparisons been drawn between Everton's plight and Ipswich Town's plight off a few seasons ago. Ipswich finished third in the Prem in 2002, and the next season went out of Europe, and eventually got relegated. Everton......, well nuff said.

Moyesy says: "Everton are a bigger football club, and what Ipswich did was terrific but we aren't thinking about what eventually happened to them. Two years ago we were struggling, but people then were saying 'it's strange David Moyes has a team down there' and that is what a lot of people are saying at the moment. It's strange to me as well because in the main I've been at the other end of the table. But every manager has to learn from periods like this. There was a disappointment when we finished 17th after finishing seventh. We had to make a few changes, and last season we had to make more changes and ended up fourth. We've had to make more changes again this time around, and maybe it will be another season of rebuilding to get ourselves regularly among the top teams.

This week we'll do something different, and I've had it planned for a short while now. We are looking to try and make subtle changes to get us out of this situation. But there is no magic formula. You name it, we have tried it. But we are not going over the top. There are talented players in the group who I think are looking at each other for a bit of a lift, a bit of a spark.

It's not easy going in to training after a defeat and sometimes you have to wear a stick-on smile. We remain confident and positive, and it was only two months ago that these players were being applauded for everything. The players can't forget that, but they must move on and show strength to get out of this situation. But we have strong characters in the dressing room such as Phil Neville, and on Saturday I saw seven or eight of them on the field trying to take the lead." (17/10/05)

This is My Biggest Test

Being rock bottom in the Premiership, but Moyesy still has faith in himself and the players.

Moyesy says: “Throughout pre-season the drive for everyone was the Champions League. Going out had a psychological effect. A little of what we achieved last season was lost. Part of my philosophy is progressions and I wanted to keep the momentum going with the Champions League and Uefa Cup. Maybe some are lacking confidence, and when that happens it gets passed around like the flu. We need to get rid of that bug. It is my job to pick the players up and make them believe.

The support I have had makes me all the more determined to sort this out. Bill Kenwright has been A1. I couldn’t ask for a better chairman. The Everton fans have a special bond with the team and we need to make them smile again. Someone asked if my biggest achievement was to finish fourth last season. It was, but I believe this biggest achievement is still to come. This is my biggest test but I know there will be bigger tests to come.” (17/10/05)

Dig Deep Boys

Moyesy welcomes back his International contingent to Bellefield today, as he prepares for this weekends trip to Spurs. He is trying to keep the mood upbeat in the camp, and is urging his squad to dig deep and get their stuttering season off to a start.

Moyesy says: "We have had a tough opening to the season. Look at some of the games we have had. Apart from Villarreal and Dinamo Bucharest, Manchester United and Arsenal have been in that group. So we have got to view that and say it was tough but we know there have been a couple of games where we could, probably should, have done better. We know there have been times where we have left ourselves down on the day.

We do not want to be where we are but we are not getting the feeling that we are in a crisis. Don't forget we are only a couple of months away from being the side that finished fourth in the Premier League. We are using that as a motivation and looking forward rather than back to regain that type of form. But we are going into another tough period and there is certainly no respite for us." (13/10/05)

Bellefield Talks

Apparently Moyesy got all the players together before the Everton squad broke up to go to their International squads. The talks were a two way thing and was said to be very constructive. We'll see after the Spurs game if they did any good.

Moyesy says: "We are trying to be upbeat but we also have to be realistic. The players have had to be told and shown what I am not happy with. We are not going to bury our heads in the sand because the fact is we have to do better." (05/10/05)

The R Word

Its the start of October, and the R word, that Everton thought they had put behind them years ago, has once again reared its ugly head. Everton sit rooted to the bottom of the Premiership, with one goal scored in seven matches. Moyesy is admitting that the players are at a low ebb. Funny that, so are the fans.

Moyesy says: "You should find out more about people in adversity but I have been saying that for three or four weeks now. We will find out who can handle it, the ones who have enough to take the ball under pressure, who can carry on playing and doing the right things and we are beginning to see the ones who can't.

It is too early to talk about it (relegation). But we have got to get away from the position we are in. It is not about me, it is about Everton - and we all have to do much better. The boys lack confidence. I have had these tests before and I will have them again in the future. It is something we all have to deal with." (03/10/05)

Right Formula

Moyesy is adamant that he will stick to the formula that has served him so well in the past. With the Blues stuck at the foot of the table, and with a mountain to climb in the UEFA Cup this Thursday, Moyesy is happy with the effort his player's gave on Saturday, but not the result. Some divine intervention, me thinks, you pray to your God, and I'll pray to mine. COYB.

Moyesy says: "It's not easy at the moment, but it has been difficult before and we will continue to do the right things. There's no need for a big change. We will do what we think is right and what we are doing now is what took us to fourth place last year and seventh a couple of years before that. But we know we've got to do better and start pulling some results out.

We couldn't fault the effort on Saturday but the quality maybe wasn't there. I was quite pleased with the first half. We've only been in front one game this season, and we won it. We've lost three games so far this season 1-0, whereas last year we were winning them 1-0. Maybe that's the difference. We played James and Ossie up front on Saturday, and I think in the main both of them did quite well. We have been looking for goals somewhere, and I felt it was the right time to change things a bit. For 45 minutes they both looked very lively and made opportunities for each other." (27/09/05)

Work Hard

Moyesy will keep working hard with the players to try and find a winning formula.

Moyesy says: "It's not easy, but you have to keep going. It's been difficult before. We are going to continue to work in the way in which we think is right. The way we are working now got us to fourth in the table last season, seventh a couple of years before that. We know that we have to do better, we have to start pulling some results out of somewhere, hopefully it will be soon."

The poor run of results continues. We can't fault the effort, maybe the quality at times, but not the effort. We've only been in front in one game this season and we managed to win it. We've lost three games 0-1 now. Whereas last year we were winning them 1-0. Maybe that is the difference. I am certainly not bemoaning bad luck. That is not my style. I rely on good play and doing the right things often enough." (25/09/05)

Jewell Backs Moyesy

Under fire Moyesy has an unlikely friend in tomorrow's opposition Manager, Wigan's Paul Jewell. The Wigan gaffer fully expects Everton to overcome their recent blip, and even be challenging for UEFA Cup places come the end of the season.

Paul Jewell says: "This game is mad, isn’t it? David was named manager of the year last season and now people are talking about him being under pressure. It’s still early days, they’ve not started well, but you don’t get into the Champions League if you’re not a good team. They’ve had some injuries and maybe a few of their players aren’t on top form but I’m sure that come the business end of the season they’ll be up there again.

I think we all accept Everton are in a false position at the moment. They have far too many good players to be down among the dead men for long. Expectations are high because they did so well last season when they were supposed to be in turmoil following the sale of Wayne Rooney. They have to hit form at some time and although I hope their bad run continues this weekend, I expect them to be pushing for a European place come May." (23/09/05)

Right Reaction

Moyesy is confident that his squad of players will pick themselves up after Thursday's embarrassment in Bucharest. Just the small task of Arsenal to worry about, and memories of that seven goal mauling must still be fresh in their minds aswell.

Moyesy says: "I know a decent amount about my players. We have quite a few new faces here I am not quite up to speed with yet but in the main I know most things about the players, I know how they react and hopefully we will get that reaction I know they are capable of. The reaction of the players after the game (on Thursday) and their reaction on the journey back showed to me how much it mattered to them. It is a positive that they are hurting as much as anybody else and hopefully that hurt will come out in their performances. It doesn't matter about me, it is a matter of getting the team back together and the players performing and lifted the best we possibly can. We will do that in the next day or two. Football is a terrific game for lifting you up and knocking you down. Last year we were knocked quite regularly and we responded in the right way. People who know us know we have got that in the bag and hopefully now we will show it.

If we were coming back to play a lesser side there may have been more pressure. Now the players have got a chance to show what they are all about and compete with some of the best players in our country and hopefully if they go about it the way I know they can do they will not be far away from them. These are the same players with a few additions who finished fourth in the league last season. I am the same manager I was a year ago. We have not changed, we are all the same people. We know we can perform much better than we have done and if you have got talent it tends to rebound. You don't just lose it over night. We will move on very quickly from Thursday. I will not bury my head in the sand but we will not dwell on it. We have got a big game coming up and we are making sure we are ready for that." (18/09/05)

My Team, My Fault

Moyesy has finally admitted that Everton's start to the season to put it mildly has been shite. So much was expected of the Blues this season with our fantastic fourth finish of last season still fresh in our memories. Everton find themselves languishing third from bottom in the Premiership, and face an uphill battle to secure Group Stages in the UEFA Cup. Cue Harry Houdini.

Moyesy says: "It is my job and my responsibility to lift the players because they are my team. There will be no public condemnation of the players. Privately we will speak together and we will stick together. We will try and improve. Crisis is something that has happened in New Orleans, not in football. I thought we played well in the opening part of the season without winning. Last Saturday (against Portsmouth) wasn't good, so after the Bucharest performance and result, you have to say that we have got off to a terrible start. We don't hide things here. We are up front and we say it. We will try and do something about it." (16/09/05)

Same Again

Moyesy see's more and more Premiership clubs starting matches like the Blues did so successfully last season with a 4-5-1 formation. He states man ure and Chelski now operate in this fashion, and as we know England played that way last weekend. With Moyesy adding to his his squad quality midfielder's in the Summer, don't expect to see any different approach this season.

Moyesy says: "More teams are playing five across the middle these days. There has been a big change in the Premiership in terms of the systems teams play.

Look at Manchester United and Chelsea, they both play with one up front and they are two of the best teams in the country. Maybe it is making this a bit less entertaining, but teams have to play to their strengths.

The midfield has improved. We have a good blend with Phil Neville, Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill and Simon Davies has improved us too. Maybe teams are setting up more technically than in the past and people need to start bearing that in mind." (07/09/05)

The Boys Are Back in Town

Moyesy is looking forward to welcoming back a few of his injury worries in the next few weeks. Per Kroldrup, Harry Hill and Biffa Beattie are all on the come back trail, and add to that the new faces of Matteo Ferrari, Nuno Valente and Andy Van der Meyde, and Moyesy is confident that the Blues can start stringing some results together.

Moyesy says: "Overall, maybe in the next week or two, competition will start to get much tougher. The players will find if they play well, they will be in the team but if they don't we can look for alternatives. We are going to have to start getting results now. We have played three Premiership games and lost two, so I am disappointed with that." (05/09/05)

Learn From It

Even after the disappointment of the controversial Champions League exit in Spain on Wednesday, Moyesy is still upbeat that Everton's famous old name will be in the UEFA Cup draw today. Moyesy is convinced that the experience of Spain can be a vital lesson to his players as they embark on their first European Campaign in ten years.

Moyesy says: "As our name goes into the draw in that competition we will be looking forward to it. It was an incredible achievement to make the champions League with what was available. I told the players the supporters had waited 10 years to be back here, so make sure you do everything you can to try and achieve it. They have nothing to be ashamed of because they did well (on Wednesday). We have to try and play better, we know that, we don’t kid ourselves at Everton. Let’s be clear that they are a good side, made several chances and we required good goalkeeping from Nigel. If it was attitude, commitment, desire - all the words you hear quite regularly in our game, then Everton players had them all on Wednesday." (26/08/05)

Grasp The Chance

Settled in Spain with the team ahead of tomorrow's game at Villarreal, Moyesy is relishing the moment and wants the players to grab the opportunity to go through to the Champions League proper.

Moyesy says: “This is the biggest game I have been involved in and the one I have hoped for for so long,” he said. We have a chance to be in the Champions League group stage and this time last year you would not have said that was possible. But we did it on merit because we finished fourth and now we have to show that we can overcome the team that finished third in the Spanish League.

We know how difficult that will be but the first leg was a tight game and there wasn’t an awful lot between the two teams. If the players get the result it will probably be the biggest result any of them have come through. To go away to a Spanish side that finished behind Real Madrid and Barcelona will be tough. Both those clubs came to Villarreal and didn’t get a result, which gives you an indication of how difficult the task is.

I will be telling the players that they have to grasp the opportunity and don’t let it go, Grasp every chance that you can and if you come in at the end and your best hasn’t been good enough then we can’t ask for any more. They have worked really hard to get here and we will give it all on the night.” (23/08/05)

Owen Was a Target

Moyesy has admitted that Everton did enquire about Michael Owen in the Summer, but were given short shrift by his advisors. The Everton gaffer is reassuring all Blues fans that names will be added to the squad before the transfer dead line, but he is not going to pay silly money for players who he believes do not merit it. With Pisto out injured for a while, Moyesy is also scouring the continent for more defensive cover.

Moyesy says: "We have been in contact with Michael and his advisors. Michael doesn't see Everton at this present time as being what he would choose but I am reassuring Everton supporters that we are in for (big) names.

It is just to make people realise we are in for what we consider to be the top players. We have money to spend if the right ones are available and these names are the right ones. But getting them and actually being able to afford them is an issue.

We have got people in mind and I do hope to bring people in before the window closes. Sandro's injury may force us into trying to bring in another left-back. We were not quite happy with the first scan and we will get him done again in midweek." (23/08/05)

Still Hopeful

With Everton linked with more players than a fully fit Chelski squad, Moyesy is still trying to sign someone before the transfer deadline on 31st August 2005.

Moyesy says: "We have still got half an eye on more business. If we can do a litte more before the deadline then we will do. But basically, I am beginning to be much happier with what we have got." (15/08/05)

Moyesy's Worry

Moyesy has expressed his concerns at the prospect of the Blues being drawn against the shite in the final knockout round of The Champions League. The draw which will take place tomorrow, has conspiracy theorists working over time, with hot balls and cold balls, large balls and small balls in the po