Let Me At Them

Dickie Wright is confident ahead of Everton's visit to Champions elect Chelski at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. The bluekipper starman from Saturdays defeat by Spurs, is looking forward to Monday's match, and he is talking the Blues chances up. Fair shout Dickie, optimism is a good thing, but just watch out for them boards in the goal mouth first, then we will think about getting something from the match.

Dickie says: "If there are points on the board then we will go out and play for them. Every team wants to win as much as they can, and the last four results perhaps haven’t been what we need but we have still got four games to go and 12 points to play for and we are looking forward to those games. I am looking forward to the game.

Obviously there was the disappointment of Saturday and the best thing to have is another game around the corner and that is what we have got. Chelsea are a very good team, they are playing well and top of the league and wanting to win it. Whenever you play against the top teams you expect to have a lot to do and I can't wait to get out there." (16/04/06)

Aren't Fans Brilliant!

Everton's number 1, Dickie Wright has come out and said he thinks the Everton fans are brilliant. Can't argue with him there. We think we pretty cool, but don't like saying. The thing is most Everton fans will back whoever puts on an Everton shirt to the hilt. Unlike Dickie, we also think most Everton fans will be glad to see the back of him, as he's just not up to the quality we deserve. But as long as you've got the goalies's shirt Dickie, you'll get full backing from the fans. Now explain the one that nearly cost us the match.

Dickie says: "The fans are brilliant. They have always been great with me. Things have not been going 100 per cent for me but the fans have been 100 per cent behind me. A goalless draw isn't the ideal result at the moment because we want to be pushing up the table. It was a difficult game because they were putting a lot of balls in the box.

You do what you feel is right at the time. The ball was coming in behind Joe and I felt I needed to come and meet the ball. I didn't realise it was going to bounce so high. I thought that if I jumped and got a hand on it I could have played it down into someone's path but that if I could turn there wasn't enough pace on the ball to take it in. The ball bounced away from me but I was in control of the situation

The main thing is to enjoy my football. Things like that can occur in games but you have just got to deal with it and get on with it. It goes down as a save as well! The people behind the goal were fantastic. I have never had anything different from the fans. When things are not going that well you may not get the backing and I have not been performing that well. But I am working as hard as I possibly can and with them behind me as well it is fantastic. I have always done the best I can. The main thing is I am playing football again and enjoying it. The more I play the more confidence and everything will build around me and get me to where I know I can be.

We didn't go out with the intention of the game not igniting but that is the way it turned out. It was quite a slow game but if you are taking the plus points out of the match we kept a clean sheet. The boys in front of me performed very well and it is a good point. We need to take the positives and build on them for the last five games because we want to finish as high up the table as possible. Joe has come in and done well but Davie Weir had not done anything wrong either so all the boys in defence are in form at the moment. It was also good to see Lee Carsley back in the side. He is someone who gets in there, breaks up the play and helps protect the back four. For him to come in for his first start after so long out and do so well is fantastic." (09/04/06)

My Fault

Dickie has held his hands up and said he was at fault for the second goal.

Dickie Wright says: “I perhaps made Garcia’s mind up by rushing out and he just lifted it over me. I was disappointed to have conceded that goal. Had I stayed on my line he might have had a shot that I may have saved. There is so much at stake and it’s played at such a high pace. Everyone, players and fans alike, are so hyped up for the game and unfortunately for us it wasn’t to be today. The dressing room was dead after the derby but we’ve got a week to work hard and get a good result next week.” (26/03/06)

Fearless Dickie

Dickie who took the reins back off Sander last weekend after his misfortune at Chelski (less said the better), is confident the Blues can end the season on a high note. Dickie reemphasises the confidence in the team at present, and on a personal level he has no fear, and is enjoying his football. No fear......., hmmmm wish I could say the same for the fans watching !!!

Dickie says: "I think that there is so much we can achieve. There are 27 points on the table for us and we have got to go out with the same attitude that we have been showing and keep performing. We need to keep trying to improve ourselves and work hard in training to try and do it on the Saturday. If you look at the way James Beattie is performing at the moment with his goals and his work rate it is fantastic. Mikel Arteta is playing fantastically and you can just go round the team and speak about every individual and everyone is on top of their game and everyone is enjoying their football at the moment.

For myself, the aim first and foremost was to get into the team and if we can achieve stuff as a team and I am a part of that by playing then that would be fantastic. That is what I want and the main thing is that Everton Football Club achieves success and that we keep playing well. I am sure we can go about that with the confidence that we have in the team at the moment. When you come in and everyone is playing well around you then it definitely makes it easier.

There is so much confidence within the team and the squad. We have got Lee Carsley and Gary Naysmith not even in the 16 so there are great players who are chomping at the bit and trying to get their laces now so competition is always healthy. I just want to go and enjoy my football, that is the main thing for me. I know if I am enjoying it then that is the main thing. The other thing is that it is a team game and if I can do well then hopefully the team will be up there as well. I go out there with no fear and go out and enjoy myself. I am not worried about 'what if this' or 'what if that' I am going out and enjoying my football and that is the main thing." (16/03/06)

More Gas

Everton goalie, Nigel Martyn thought he was still on laughing gas when he saw what Dickie had done.

Big Nige says: "I got a phone call when I was just coming round from my anaesthetic! I put the television straight on and I couldn't believe it, he was so unlucky." (17/02/06)

Accident Prone Dickie

Dickie gave the fans another reason to keep calling him Frank Spencer when he landed on a wooden sign saying keep out of the goal mouth in the net and twisted his ankle before the Chelsea game started. Iain Turner then went in goal. What the sign was doing in the back of the bet is anyone's guess, but why didn't he move the fucker?

Moyesy says: “Nigel Martyn had an operation on his ankle problem yesterday and as everyone knows Richard Wright went over on his ankle tonight. An x-ray has showed that there is no real damage to Wrighty but it is badly swollen and there is a problem. At this moment in time I would say he could be out for a couple of weeks but I don’t know how long we will be without Nigel, we need to look at the results.” (09/02/06)

Clean Sheet At Last

Dickie was chuffed to keep a clean sheet against Man City. It has been two and a half years since he last did it.

Dickie says: "It was a great afternoon for me. It has been a long time coming, a clean sheet for myself, and you can’t believe how delighted I am to have gone out there in front of the Goodison faithful. The fans have been unbelievable to me, the amount of backing that I have had from people in the streets is fantastic and I was really pleased to get a clean sheet at last.

I am desperate to play football, I just want to get in and keep playing regular football and enjoying it, which I did today and which I did on Tuesday. Since I have been back in the team I have thoroughly enjoyed it and it is fantastic and I just want to keep out there week in week out and grow in confidence and keep a place in the team. They were fantastic in front of me today, but I don’t think you can just single out those two (Stubbs and Weir), it was a great team performance.

It was more of a dig in performance than a footballing one and sometimes you need to do that, and fortunately we did that today and got the three points. We have got a really tough game in midweek and we will take the confidence we have built up into that game and hopefully get a result there." (05/02/06)

Top Performance

With a man of the match performance against manure, Dickie, was naturally happy. But now he wants to keep the number 1 jersey. That won't be a problem, as Big Nige wears number 25.

Dickie says: "It meant so much. It has been such a struggle over the last 12 months or so, with my form, having injuries, not getting games and Nigel Martyn's form as well. It was a fantastic result for us. We are on a bit of a role now, we are enjoying our football and to come here and get a point was a great result.

There’s always banter between me and Nige, we always want to beat each other in training but it is all good and when Nigel plays I will support him and I’m sure he will when I’m in the team."

Moyesy says: “Richard’s done well today and I’m really pleased for him. He’s had to watch Nigel Martyn be very consistent and today will have done him the world of good. He’s come to Old Trafford, played well and made good saves when he had to. He’s set his standards now.” (12/12/05)

Dickie Up For The Fight

Dickie Wright will have an early opportunity to prove a point to Moyesy, after the Manager questioned his ability at last Months AGM. Dickie is on standby for this weekends visit to Old Trafford, and the keeper for one is looking forward to it. With Moyesy more than likely moving for a new keeper either in January, or next Summer, Dickie needs to play well to put himself in the shop window, as no doubt he will be surplus to requirements come the end of his contract.

Dickie says: "I have been involved in some big games at Old Trafford with Arsenal. Whatever team you go there with is a great occasion but we are very much looking forward to it and the lads are in good spirits and it will be an interesting game. When you are sitting on the sidelines, any game that comes along you want to play in. You want to play in the big games - if anyone had said 'where do you want your comeback game to be?’ then you go for the best, the biggest stadium in the country. I am really looking forward to it, it has been a long time and a long wait, so I just want to make sure I go out there and perform well.

If we were really struggling then it would be really difficult, but we are not going there to give anything away. We will work hard, the manager will prepare us right, we will know everything about them, and hopefully we will get a result.

When I came on on Saturday, one of the Evertonian's said ‘this is your chance’ and they were right. I am looking forward to it and I am going to work as hard as I can to take that. I was delighted to play against Blackburn, it has been a long time just plugging away. It gets frustrating when you are training all week and not getting a game on a Saturday. You play in the reserves just to keep yourself ticking over, so I was delighted to have an opportunity on Saturday and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I knew Nige had an injury prior to the game, but he was passed fit. Then he had a different injury which he came off the pitch with, so it was a surprise. Nige is not the sort of person who comes off for nothing, so I knew that if he had done something then I would be going on and I was really looking forward to going on the pitch and I really enjoyed it." (08/12/05)

Moyesy May Look At New Goalkeeper

Dickie Wright will be wondering if he still has a future at Everton after Moyesy's speech at tonight's AGM.

Moyesy says: "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. 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. 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." (24/11/05)

Give Me Games To Regain Number 1 Spot

Dickie reckons he would play better if he was given a run of games and not the odd game, such as the 7-0 thrashing at Arsenal.

Dickie says: "I enjoyed the Arsenal game. I know I conceded seven goals but I got a chance to make some saves and get involved. Obviously no-one wants to concede seven goals, that's no good for anyone's confidence, but it was just good to be playing. If you ask anyone at the club I've tried my hardest every game, trained hard and not taken anything for granted.

When you go on to a pitch and you've been playing regularly you don't think as much about things. I just think I needed a few more games to settle down and start playing and enjoying my football. I would have liked to have been involved and played a lot more games last season, but that's not always the case. When I did get into the team I didn't do brilliant and I felt as if I needed a couple more games. I had a spell at Christmas time and I just felt that having been out for so long and not playing regular football I needed more games but that wasn't to be." (17/06/05)

Richard's News From Last Season