Attractive Proposition

In the shallow world of Professional football, Moyesy admits it will be easier to attract top players to Goodison this Summer as a consequence of our European qualification and our stability in the Premiership. In the past Moyesy has been ringing round the agents seeing who is available, now the top Agents are knocking on his door, and Moyesy should be able to have the pick of the crop. That Tevez fella' doesn't look to bad yer know Davey.

Moyesy says: "We are going to try to be as active as we can. I think we are an attractive proposition to players who maybe just can’t quite get into the sides who are currently in the top four. I think they will see plenty to like about Everton.

They will see us as a good club to come to as we are making progress. We are an up and coming team, we are enthusiastic and we are knocking on the door and trying to win things if we possibly can in the future. Cup runs have eluded us so far during my time here. Every year I say that I would like it to happen. You will always be judged on your league form. That’s your bread and butter but we would like a run in a competition next year if we can. We are not far away from challenging the top four but it’s not the case of just signing two players and that will be it. But we did it two years ago and we live in hope that we can do it again in the future." (16/05/07)

Going For It

European football may be at Goodison next season, but Moyesy does not want to finish the season at Stamford Bridge with a whimper, more of a bang. Jose the Clown will no doubt tinker with his starting eleven, but the Everton Boss wants to keep the fifth spot his players have worked so hard for this season.

Moyesy says: "You wouldn't want to go to Chelsea having Europe hanging on it. But we do want to finish fifth and we will be going there to do that. It certainly won't be a meaningless end of season match because we want to win.

If they don't play their first XI they will still have good players - that is why they are such a good football club. Chelsea will do what they have to do for their football club - I will do what I need to do for Everton. It will be a hard game but we are going to Chelsea looking for a result. The players are up for the game and they want to make it as tough as possible for Chelsea. Who knows what he will do. I am sure what he will do is right for his club (Jose The Whiner). We go into the last game of the season in fifth place so it is a good chance we have got. It is a great achievement by the players; I am delighted and thrilled by how they have done this season. We want to be in that spot after Sunday." (12/05/07)

High Note

Moyesy is looking for his troops to end an eleven year hoodoo, that is to end the season on a winning note. Bluekipper's mate Joe Parky was the last player to score a winning goal for the Blues on the last day of the season, when his strike defeated Villa back in 1996. Moyesy takes his troops to FA Cup Finalist's Chelski this weekend hoping that one of his current stars repeats Joe feat, and in the process secure fifth spot in the Premiership for us.

Moyesy says: "We will go about our business in the way that we always do. It's the last game of the season and we hope to finish as high up the table as we can. We want to finish fifth and we will try to do that." (08/05/07)

Moyesy's Vision

Moyesy is promising new faces again this Summer as Everton will enter the new campaign with urope on their minds. Like last season, Moyesy will be hoping to tie deals up before he goes off on his jollies, and get away from deadline day scrambles. One face we may well be seeing is David Nugent, after Moyesy was spotted in the stands at Deepdale today running his eye over the new England International.

Moyesy says: "Everton in Europe is something you want to hear. I have a vision that we will bring in players to play in Europe every year. I would love it to be the Champions League but whilst we don't have that level of finances, the next best thing is to try and get the UEFA Cup. Don't get me wrong, every season starts and I want the Champions League and it is not impossible, as we have shown, but every year we have to put the money to use as best we can and see where that takes us. The squad is at breaking point right now, I know that. But it won't change the policy of trying to bring in players that will improve the squad but this summer we may have to try and make one or two bargain buys as well to boost the squad." (06/05/07)

Fans Can Get Us To Europe

The Everton fans have a big part to play on Saturday when we play Portsmouth in the 'must win' game and Moyesy is convinced the fans can help get Everton in Europe.

Moyesy says: “I have seen a couple of games this week where the crowd have played a big part in turning games around and this will be a great opportunity for our fans to do the same. This is a big game for us. We know what it is about and what we have to do. Now it is up to our players to make it happen. I will be looking for the same again from them in terms of effort. We just need to remember that games last for ninety minutes, not sixty." (04/05/07)

Must Win

With all the teams fighting for the European spot all winning this weekend, Moyesy has pointed to the last home game of the season as a must win game. With so many ifs and buts with two games to go anything can happen.

Moyesy says: "Now we have to win next week. There is nothing else for it, all that matters is to win in our last home game against Portsmouth. And for sure there will be no pressure off the team or me this week, because only a win will do. I'm not really sure what we need to do to get into Europe. I just know we need to win the next game to give ourselves a chance. We are still sixth, two games to go and in sixth place, you would have to say 'not bad'." (29/04/07)

Moyesy Master of The Understatement

Moyesy the master of understatement believes that the Blues are turning into a really good team. With Mikky, AJ, Tiny, Roger, Manny to name but a few in our set up, the Everton Boss is happy with the quality of football that his team is playing, and more importantly the consistency of their performances. A word of warning from the Boss however, with Charlton and West Ham next up for the Blues, their quality of performance and consistency will be put to the test against two teams who are fighting for their Premiership lives.

Moyesy says: "I think we have got the makings of a really good team. Whether we are playing better than we did the year we finished fourth, I'm not sure I'd agree with that completely. What I have certainly been pleased with though, is out consistency. In the past we would win a game, then lose a game, but we have put a run together since Christmas that has been quite good and has taken us to near the top of the table, which is where we want to be.

Now we have got to take that form and the attitude we have shown since Christmas into the next two games, but we know how tough it is going to be. Both Charlton and West Ham have really given themselves a chance of staying in the Premier League. They would not have been easy in the first place, but now they have both come into good form and their confidence will be up. We have raised standards of performance and although there have been a few times when we have dropped below that, generally it has been good. We've been very consistent these last five or six games." (14/04/07)

Fans Support Can Help Euro Push

The Everton manager has been quick to praise Everton's travelling fans and says they can help the team in the last 7 games to get that Euro spot.

Moyesy says: "It was great to see so many Evertonians at Villa Park and they were superb in getting behind the team. But I also noticed how well the Aston Villa fans responded to their side in the second half and they played a part in their team getting back into it. I hope we have the same kind of atmosphere at Goodison on Friday and in the other games between now and the end of the season because it can make such a difference." (06/04/07)

Final Countdown

Moyesy is urging his players not to let this campaign slip away like so many have in seasons gone by. Happy with his return of four points out of six against Arse and Villa, the Boss is targeting maximum points at home against Fulham tomorrow evening. We want Europe, Moyesy wants it so he can wear that lovely suit again, and most of all lets hope the players want it to. God I love being a Blue !!

Moyesy says: "The one thing we want to do is keep this good run going for as long as we can. I am conscious that we haven’t finished too strongly in recent years but that is in the past. It’s going to be tough mentally on the run-in but we are ready for the challenge. I don’t think too many people would have complained about taking four points from games against Arsenal at home and Aston Villa away if you were offered it beforehand.

We have got another two difficult games coming up now and I’d hope we get a similar total, if not more over Easter. I thought we played well against Aston Villa and we go into the game against Fulham full of confidence." (05/04/07)

I Don't Like Mondays

Everton start their run of 8 games for European glory on Monday evening away against Villa then Fulham at home on Good Friday followed by a game at Bolton on Easter Monday. Although it will give the Internationals a bit of time to recover, Moyesy is no fan of the Monday night game.

Moyesy says: "I don't think anyone really likes Sunday games, but I think we dislike Monday games even more because it makes it a long weekend. The players will have been in training Saturday and Sunday in preparation for the game. The only good thing about it is that it gives our international boys a little bit more time to recover for the game. Once we get started on Monday it is really non-stop until the end of the season.

You are more interested in getting your own result and moving up the table, whoever you play is tough and it was maybe an unexpected three points. We know that Aston Villa is the same; you can only win the games if you go and play really well, so we need to concentrate on ourselves and see if we can do that.

We want to make sure we are in the top ten and I don't think we have been out of the top ten since the start of the season and that is a good thing. Another couple of wins will near enough guarantee that and I always said at the start of the season that I wanted to avoid relegation then become a top ten team, and the final thing is to make on of those European places. I think another couple of wins will get a top ten place and anything after that is a bonus." (31/03/07)

Get It Right Boys

Moyesy who is upset at the way journalist's report inaccurate information is asking the profession to take more responsibility. It comes on the back of news wrongly reported that AJ was homesick for London and wanted to return as soon as he could. Andy Johnson refuted the claims immediately, and Moyesy is getting annoyed with false reports being more common place. On that bombshell bluekipper have decided not to run a story about an Everton footballer, a blow up doll, a live sheep, and a top city night spot, Jesus it was quite explicit as well.

Moyesy says: "It's down to bad journalism. Too many things you read now, or hear on the radio, are untruths and people should take a bit of responsibility.

It is amazing Andy has to come out and say these things. As the managers we are asked to talk to the media and be truthful and honest but there are some people in the business who seem to like doing there own thing and say things that are untrue. That is the world we live in but it is unbalanced." (18/03/07)

Five Things For Five Years

Moyesy has looked back and commented on his 5 years at the club.

1. Moyesy on motivation says: “The motivation comes from the amount of people who think that we cannot become a club like that again. Sometimes, in my darkest moments, I might have thought that myself, but not very often. It’s not going to be easy, not with the strength of the top four clubs now, but, outside the top four, why can’t it be Everton who do something?

People think it can’t because they don’t see us spending millions and we’re in the shadow of Liverpool. They think about what Newcastle have spent and what Tottenham have tried to do. We’re having to fight against all those things, but I’m not going to stop believing. I’m going to keep on believing that there’s a chance for us to get back to where we were. I’m ambitious and I want to work at the top with top players.”

2. Moyesy on success says: "I have said that it is teams like Arsenal that I want this club to aspire to. Now we have a very quick chance to prove we can do it. I have been at Everton for five years, Arsene Wenger has been at Arsenal for over 10 years and he has built a fine club with great players and constant success. Maybe if I am at Everton for 10 years, that is what I could aspire to. I definitely hope so."

3. Moyesy on his lowest point says: “Possibly the Manchester City game on the last day of 2003/04. That season we had got ourselves safe by Easter with five or six games to go and knew that if we had won our next four of five games we could easily have been in the top half of the table. But we lost 5-1 at Manchester City on the last day of the season, on the back of a terrible run before then – and we had all summer to brood about it.

That, for me, highlighted Everton always just trying to avoid relegation – that once it had been avoided, let’s get on holiday sort of thing. It was accepted. I felt a lot of the changes I have had to make at Everton have been mental ones like that. It’s not because of any person who was there at the time or anybody who has been there before, but I felt that I came to a club where I had to try and change the players’ mentality, and that of some supporters, a mentality that avoiding relegation was acceptable.

Have I done that? Well, I’ve always said that raising expectancy is a manager’s job because that means you’re doing better, but for me there comes a point when you have to say, and I may be contradicting myself here, are the positions Everton have finished in over the last three, four or five years what you would think Everton would do? There’s a couple of years when people would say we’ve probably finished higher than we should have done and a couple of years when we’ve finished lower. But in the main I think Everton have done better."

4. Moyesy on Rooney says: "One of my statements when I took over to the board was that I don't mind if you've got no money to give me but I don't want to lose my best players. But that wasn't down to the board, Wayne's choice was to go and we had no option in that situation. He's a fantastic player and as we can all see he's gone onto good things. We respect his decision now and we've moved on as well."

5. Moyesy on raising The Fans expectations says: "It's one of the things that Everton have had to change, the mentality from being a club which its success was seen as avoiding relegation. Success now has to be seen as being at the top end of the league and I think that's why expectations have risen and that's what a manager's job is to do. To finish fourth, there's only ourselves and Newcastle United since the Champions League format started who've made that. So I think that on its own is a big success." (16/03/07)

Here's My Cunning Plan

Not one to reflect on his last five years in charge, Moyesy is planning the Blues future for the next five years whether he is in charge or not. Moyesy's game plan is simple, new stadium, bigger crowds, more money, better players, and the icing then on the cake will be a trophy or two to celebrate.

Moyesy says: "I’ve put a plan for the next five years together and presented it to the board. It’s how I think the club should be run, even if I’m not here. They got it two months ago, and it details what I think the club should be doing on and off the pitch. It’s necessary to plan that far ahead.

In my first week here, after I’d got the first game out of the way, the first thing the board did was drive me to a field at Finch Farm to ask me what I thought about the area for a new training complex. That was five years ago, when we first looked into it, and it’s only just being finished now. So things at football clubs don’t happen that quickly, unfortunately.

I’m hoping I will be around long enough to see a new stadium, wherever it is, and that could well take five years to get developed, if that’s what we decide to do. So in between that period I need to try to do well enough at Goodison, to make Goodison work for us, and to attract players to the club." (13/03/07)

We're Still The People's Club

Moyesy has been at Everton five years and he still stands by the statement he made on the day he signed. The positive statement he made upset the few kopites who live in Merseyside.

Moyesy says: "I stick by the People's Club statement I made when I joined, definitely. I said the people in the streets of Liverpool support Everton, and I stand by that. If that ruffled a few feathers at Liverpool, it wasn't meant to. It's what I believe. We could easily say there have been things said by Liverpool recently that have ruffled our feathers. We think of ourselves as one of the big clubs in this country

Admittedly, we are behind other clubs at the moment but we are trying everything to get back. I certainly don't think I am an underclass to anybody as a manager. We are below where we want to be because we can't quite get to the top. But if you asked people at the start of the season where Everton would be now, it wouldn't be far away from our present position.

If Everton can't go anywhere, who else can? Middlesbrough have Steve Gibson and Villa might come good, but is spending money still all the difference? Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho both won European trophies at Aberdeen and Porto without pots of money. So I have to believe you don't need money to succeed - even though it is getting more difficult. That's why I'm trying to do it like Alex and Jose did. We don't want to be like Leeds United where you spend and if it doesn't work you're in big trouble. I want more money but I will always know where the limits are.

Our chairman Bill Kenwright has given every penny he's got and somehow found the money to buy Andy Johnson and J Lescott last summer. He is out looking for investors but no-one suitable has been found yet. Our main issue is that we desperately need a new stadium. We have very little corporate hospitality, fans still have to watch behind pillars and we don't have the modern trappings people require. It is imperative we change - and I think if Everton had a 50,000 stadium, then people would fill it whether we played in Liverpool city centre or 10 miles down the road." (11/03/07)

Leave My Arse

The debate recently among Blues is has Moyesy had his day, but according to our latest bluekipper poll, most of you feel he has done well, in his five years with the Blues. Love him or hate him, Moyesy has had chances to leave the Blues, but as he considers us one of the biggest clubs in England, there are few offers that would tempt him out of the Goodison hot seat. Blue Bill likes him, the majority of Blues like him, so he is here for the long haul, so lets get behind him, the team and everything Blue as we push on for Europe, a place were Everton should be season in season out.

Moyesy says: "I've had chances to leave, but I've not been tempted because I feel Everton are one of the biggest clubs in England. Why should I want to leave? There are very few clubs I feel that I'd go for.

I want to win things here. So many people say I've got no chance of doing that. Well I'm not going to give up on it. Maybe the time will come when Everton fans get bored with David Moyes. I don't know. It's not something I can do much about. I've just got to keep on doing my best. I won't get everything right, but I'll try to get it all right." (05/03/07)

More of The Same

Moyesy is determined to splash the cash this Summer and bring players of the calibre of Andy Johnson to Goodison. Hopefully Moyesy's job will be made easier if we have European football to offer, then no doubt there will be a queue of agents at his door.

Moyesy says: "Andy has been great for us and the sort of player and person that we always wanted. There’s a real good chance he can go on to become an England centre-forward and a regular in the coming weeks and months hopefully. He’s a valued member of the team and that’s the standard that we want to bring to Everton. We want to try and raise the bar and bring players of that ilk here." (27/02/07)

Anniversary Wish

Moyesy has come out fighting in probably his most turbulent week as Everton Boss. Last Wednesday Goodison turned en masse on the Manager after his defensive attitude cost the Blues points against Spurs. On Saturday however his team showed what they were made off when they took apart hopeless Watford in a first half of attacking football.

Moyesy who celebrates five years in charge shortly, still has ambition to make Everton a regular European team, and although he has not the spending power of the so called Big Three, he believes he can take the club further. No one would love it more Moyesy, than our faithful supporters.

Moyesy says: I’ve always said I want to compete, I want to manage in Europe regularly. That’s my personal ambition and I want to take Everton there, I really do. Most people are saying ‘it’s tough for Everton. How are they going to do it?’ Well I’m going to stand up and say I can do it and I want to have a go at making that happen.

In my eyes I think Everton are (one of the big clubs). But if you look in the 14 previous seasons of the Premier League, there have only been three seasons when Everton have finished in the top 10 and twice of them have been under me. So if that’s right are Everton one of the big ones at this level? So what we’ve got to say is that’s a fact. Since the Premier League started, Everton have not been in the top 10 very often. What do we do if we don’t? (try and break into the top four). Are we all going to accept that there’s only a top four.

I’m sure five or six years ago nobody thought Chelsea would get to that level. Things can happen. We’re doing it in a different route and trying to bring in a few players every year to improve things. We can’t improve it in one year or two years, we’ve been going five years. I would hope that people would say there’s been a big improvement at Everton." (26/02/07)

Quietly Confident

Moyesy is quietly confident off success against a resurgent Spurs outfit tomorrow night. The Londoners found their shooting boots in last Sundays FA Cup win against Fulham, but with the Blues not conceding in their last three matches, it will add up to an intriguing contest.

Moyesy says: "Spurs are in decent form, they have had a good run in the cup just now and they are not too far behind us in the league so it is an important game for us. Tottenham have got quality players throughout their side. Not just their centre forwards.

They are an excellent side, and a side people thought would be very close to challenging the top four this season, so they have certainly got those players there who can hurt you. We were pleased with our last fixture, so hopefully we will be pleased with the next one." (20/02/07)

Enough Bodies

With the signing of Manny Fernandes in the January window, and the likes of Nuno and Hibbo coming back from injury, Moyesy is happy with the level of competition for places at the Blues for the rest of the season. With suspensions now kicking in, Ossie yesterday, Tiny for the Spurs game, Moyesy will be using his squad to the full in the coming months as the Blues go in search of European qualification again.

Moyesy says: "We feel as if we are just beginning to get a few players back. I really feel as if we have got competition now. We started with Tony Hibbert injured, and Nuno injured in training on Friday but we are starting to get more competition at the back, certainly more competition at the midfield, with Manuel Fernandes coming in. But I do know we have got two or three people close to suspension - like Ossie was - and now we have got Tim Cahill suspended, so we are going to need those players between now and the end of the season." (11/02/07)

Intertoto A Possibility

Everton would be interested in entering the Intertoto cup next season.

Moyesy says: "I would be interested in going into the Intertoto Cup this time, Everton passed up a chance to compete in it a couple of seasons back, but the tournament has changed and it starts a lot later in the summer, now instead of taking on pre-season friendlies, you can compete in the Intertoto instead. From my point of view, I would not be as worried about it as in the past. We have got to make sure we finish in the top six or seven first, there's a lot of good teams around us in the table but we must have a real go for it now, to get into Europe." (03/02/07)

We'll Be Fine

Another January has come and gone and Everton lost two players and gained one, in the post Christmas sales. I wish you would tell my missus your secret of how to keep money in her pocket during the sales Davey.

Moyesy however believes that the personnel he has at his disposal are good enough to challenge for the few UEFA Cup spots that will be up for grabs come May. He did concede that the Blues did try and add a few new faces, but with the likes of Hibbo and Tiny coming back into the fold he thinks that the numbers he has in the squad will see us right.

Moyesy says: "We tried right up to the last minute to make things happen but unfortunately we were not able to do anything. We tried hard but it was not to be, but it is not as if we are desperately short of bodies. We would have liked to have made a few more signings, as I’m sure other clubs would have done, but we have got one or two lads coming back from injury and we hope that we are going to be fine." (01/02/07)

Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside.....

Moyesy is taking the troops on a seaside jolly to Bournemouth this weekend, as with no fixture tomorrow or in this Saturday FA Cup, it would mean the the Blues will not have kicked a ball in anger for a fortnight. Moyesy is honest enough to say that it is all our own doing, after going out of both Cup competitions again in the early stages. So next up its the shite, and lets hope the rest does the players good. I wonder if Chelski or manure would be happy with Bournemouth, Dubai would be more their style, never mind chaps, as Moyesy says serves us right !!

Moyesy says: "I actually feel that the way the fixtures are until the end of the season isn't particularly good. But that's our own doing. We got knocked out of the cup and that's our own fault. The Tottenham game has been called off, so we don't play for a fortnight then it's the derby.

Then we don't play again, then there's a game. Then we have Easter where there are three or four games together at one time and we have to fit in the Tottenham game as well." (23/01/07)

Meeting With Referee

Moyesy met with refereeing supremo Keith Hackett during the week. He brought with him a video of 10 penalty decisions that have gone against Everton. He was told that 8 were definite penalties. He also made a point of defending Andy Johnson.

Moyesy says: "We have got a Christmas video of incidents that haven't gone our way, including the offside goal against Reading. We have done something about it. We have had the correct people in here. We have shown them 10 incidents of penalty kicks and we have been told that eight of them are definite penalties and the other two are very close. So that tells you how badly we think we have been done by.

The goal against Reading was offside and the goal at Newcastle was blatantly offside so we have had our share of bad luck. They were conducive to our points and you have got to say well done to them for that and looking at it and going through every incident and they have actually supported everything we have said.

I have spoken to the people who I think are important and all we wanted to do was for them to come here and clear Andy Johnson from people thinking he has been diving. I think people talk too much. People on radio stations, other managers, people have just got too much to say sometimes about Andy Johnson.

We can't go back and get the decisions, all we can do is look and see if we are being fairly treated. In my opinion it has just been poor decisions from referees, there's nothing sinister about it. Because they are human that will happen."

Keith Hackett says: "We were able to look at a number of incidents on video with the coaching staff at Everton. It is always easier when you look at in a video because you can view it a number of times but I think it was evident that penalty kicks should have been awarded in several instances. They were not and so I expressed my disappointment that the referees got those decision wrong.

We will have a further discussion with referees, more about positioning and trying to get the right viewing angle and also to re-examine the clips provided by Everton that will hopefully help improve the standard of refereeing. I think what we try to do and the responsibility of the referees is to get the decisions correct.

During the season I will speak to many managers and in these instances there are maybe examples of poor positioning, in some instances a lack of support for the referee from his assistants and my task is to improve the standard of refereeing. It is also to listen to what is being said by managers and players. In that respect we are all aiming for the same thing - better refereeing standards. It is only through having a discussion of the quality we had with the coaching staff at Everton that we will improve those standards.

I want referees to go on to a field of play judging each player equally on the day. I think there is no doubt based on the video evidence put in front of me is that the speed, pace and the way he cuts across the defender means that at times Andy Johnson is not getting the penalty or free-kick that is due. As referees we have to improve our standard of detection and decision-making.

Like myself, David Moyes has been in the game a long time. I am not going to try and defend the indefensible. But I will say referees are operating in a very different area. Video sometimes allows us to look on a number of occasions and get the decision right. If a ref looks at video evidence and thinks 'yes, I got that wrong,' then we have to look at how we avoid getting it wrong in the future." (20/01/07)

Still Trying

Moyesy is not giving up hope of new faces at Goodison in this transfer window, but after Stuart Pearce's refusal to let us speak to Joey Barton, time is running out for the Everton Boss. The current crazy prices are working against us as well, so it looks like if any deals are done, it will be short term loan deals.

Moyesy says: "Obviously we would like to add to the squad this month and we know what we would like to bring in. We are looking around but the prices at the moment are inflated and the quality of player available is very limited." (18/01/07)

My Fault

Most Evertonians looked on in disbelief on Sunday when Everton players put a wall up to defend a free kick on the edge of the area, but then they decided to put more players behind the wall standing on the goal line and in the way of the keeper. Reading scored. There was plenty of discussion in the ale 'ouse on who will take the blame for it. Even more astounding is the manager has held his hand up. Do you believe they were practicing this sort of thing in training?

Moyesy says: "I'll take the responsibility for the goal. We had worked in training this week at filling the line in different ways at different times, and we chose the wrong time to do it in. It wasn't done well, but the goal was offside. When the free-kick is struck, Hunt is behind the defender and offside. The linesman is bang on line and looking at it, but he doesn't see it. It was poor defending, but we weren't helped by the official." (15/01/07)

No To Scotland

David Moyes has given a firm NO to Scotland for the time being.

Moyesy says: "I've had no contact from the SFA and it's not my time to be Scotland manager. It's not a job which interests me now - I'm more interested in bringing sustainable success to Everton. In time, when I'm hopefully older and wiser, I might be in a position to think about it, but, at the moment, the answer is 'no'."(12/01/07)

Twelve Years Of Hurt

Its been twelve long years this May since the Blues last won the FA Cup, and Moyesy like us all thinks it is long overdue that we do well in it again. Everton are the last club outside of the big three, and the shite to win Football's oldest Club Competition, and if the draw is a bit kinder to us this season, and we overcome the obstacle of Blackburn on Sunday, well who knows. Maybe Phil Neville can join Waggy, Ratters, Labby and co in lifting Everton's sixth FA Cup.

Moyesy says: "The FA Cup is something we want to try to do as well as we can in. We only have to look at the likes of Millwall and West Ham getting to the final. That is something we want to attain.

A good cup run is something I would really look forward to. As a Scotsman, taking a side to Wembley would be a great thrill for me. But, as always, there is a lot of work to be done before you can even think about getting there. There are 40 or 50 managers all thinking it is there turn but we are going to do all we can to do it. Blackburn is a really tough draw for us. We are at home, which gives us a little advantage but Blackburn are a good side that has picked up some good wins recently." (04/01/07)

Conspiracy Theory

Another game, another nailed on penalty that the Blues don't get. Never mind who killed Diana, JFK, aliens from Mars, the biggest conspiracy at the moment, is why the men in black are not giving the Blues any spot kicks. You don't mind losing out on one or two over a season, but this is ridiculous. Moyesy is totally baffled as to why the foul on Ossie yesterday did not result in a spot kick.

Moyesy says: "Distin doesn’t get his foot on the ball so it’s debatable whether the referee gives it or not. But he doesn’t touch the ball so in my mind that’s a penalty kick. The linesman is standing 15 yards away but he doesn’t give anything so we have to accept it and get on with it. I don’t like criticising but we are getting pretty fed up with it now."

Ossie says: "It was a strange one. I got there first and kept the ball in play, and I would have turned on the ball but I was brought down. The referee decided it wasn't a penalty; he obviously thought their player got something on it. But then he gave a goal kick so it was baffling for all of us." (01/01/07)

Safety First, Then World Domination

Moyesy once again is erring on the side of caution, and is looking to amass the historical forty points to secure Everton's safety before looking at any further targets. In fairness to the Boss, he is aiming higher, but like the season when we acquired Champions League football to Goodison he is not singing anything from the roof. Three points tomorrow, and we are just ten from safety, lets get them, then lets target the UEFA Cup. I miss my Euro jollies, as brief as they were.

Moyesy says: "I am realistic and as manager of Everton I realise my job is to look at the top end of the table - but first I want to make sure we get the points to stay in the Premier League. Once we have done that I will start answering questions about who we can catch. I would like to try and aim towards the top half rather than the bottom." (30/12/06)

No New Faces

Moyesy is preparing the fans for the disappointment of maybe no new faces from any transfer dealings come January. It is believed money is available for the manager if he needs it, but the players Moyesy may target are not available for him now. He has said however that he will be trying to strengthen the squad, but quality may be a bit thin on the ground.

Moyesy says: "At this moment in time I would have to say that I probably won't be doing any business. But that's not say that I won't be trying to. The players that I would want, I don't think will be available and I won't spend if I don't think I need to. This year is going to be quite difficult because I don't think there will be an awful lot available other than maybe some unknown names from abroad." (22/12/06)

Eats. Sleeps and Breathes The Blues

After all the intrigue at last nights AGM, Everton's drop in profits, Bully's bumper pay packet, The Blues moving to Kirkby, Bobby Ewing coming back from the dead, and how is Ken Barlow still in Corry, let us not forget it is the squad and our football that should be making the headlines and nothing else. Sadly of late the Blues performances have dipped after we topped the League fleetingly in mid September, but according to Blue Bill the club is in safe hands with Moyesy.

Blue Bill says: "The reason why David Moyes is a great manager like Arsene Wenger is that he sleeps, eats and breathes the club. We may have had a bad few weeks but Everton is in terrific hands.

When David first arrived, he told me his ambition was to bring in a new young player every year. He wanted to bring the age of the squad down and he has been true to his word. David will not waste your money and I trust him." (12/12/06)

All I Want For Christmas

Moyesy has given his biggest hint yet that new faces will arrive in the January window, albeit on loan. Priority is a new right back for the Boss, as with Tony Hibbert struggling, Moyesy has had to use Joey, Phil and Roger there this season. A midfielder may also be on Moyesy's Christmas list, as Tiny, Mikky, Leon and Phil Neville are all on the treatment table, so it will be a testing few weeks ahead.

Moyesy says: "We have really missed Hibbo. It’s been tough for us as we have not had a recognised right-back and that is something we are going to have to look at in January. We have been so short with him being out and it has meant that I have been having to find solutions when we have been running out of cover. We could have coped with losing one but when we lost Sandro and then Phil last Sunday, it has meant we have been juggling things around.

I have had to ask Joseph to play there and that has been the only alternative. It is not an ideal situation. We feel as if we can get ourselves through to Christmas and then in January we hope to maybe try and get one or two people in. (08/12/06)

Injury Woe

Mikky Arteta has under gone a scan today to see the severity of the damage to his swollen ankle. Phil Neville is also under going treatment, and Moyesy is in the hands of the God's and Basil Rathbone of course, to see if he can get his players patched up for this weekends trip to Pompey.

Moyesy says: "I've really no idea at this moment in time. We know that Tim Cahill will be out for longer than the others and it doesn't look as though Tony Hibbert or Sandro Pistone are going to be involved for a while. But the others, we'll just have to wait and see. It's difficult at the moment but I don't like talking about injuries, I prefer to talk about the players who are fit." (04/12/06)

Rally Cry

When the team need us the team need us, and every now and again Moyesy will ask the crowd to really get behind the team and became, like Monty Panesar the twelfth man. Moyesy has issued his twice season rally cry to the Goodison faithful ahead of tomorrow's West Ham clash, tight ground, floodlights, intimidating atmosphere, jumpers for goalposts, you know the score. Lets make some noise tomorrow, and scare de Hammers players shitless.

Moyesy says: "Goodison's crowd is terrific and really supportive. It can be difficult for the opposing team and that is they way we want it to be. West Ham are beginning to find their feet after a start they wouldn't have expected. We will give them the respect they are due but, in the same breath, we think we have been doing well and try to do what we can to win the match.

The fans at Everton are different, helped by a compact ground. It is tight, it can be intimidating when the crowd are in full voice and if they try to do that, we will do our bit on the field." (02/12/06)

Points Make Prizes

I don't think it is last nights drubbing at manure that is worrying Moyesy but more the points we have dropped to opposition like Wigan and Shittteeeeh this season. Our fantastic early start has not been built on, and the Blues find themselves mid table, when we should be comfortably in the top five. Moyesy like thousands of Blues out there is a tadge mystified at our points tally.

Moyesy says: "Yes we are and we are disappointed because I really do think that we've missed out on points that we should have had this year. But that's football and I have to sort that out and get the points.

I am looking to get some points from the games we've got now. But you need your better players in the majority of the games and we know that it's going to be tough for us because whether players are in-form or out of form, we have very little options to change things around." (30/11/06)

New Year, New Faces

It looks like the teasing is over and Moyesy will bail into the January sales, with Everton's injury pile now mounting up. The Boss would have rather waited till the Summer but with the threadbare squad, now even more threadbare the Managers hand has been forced. Don't get too excited and think we are about to spend millions, because as Moyesy points out, Villa, West Ham, Newcastle and another Premiership giant Boro all have till to spend. By the way we have probably won more than them four put together. Answers on a postcard please.

Moyesy says: "It possibly will do. But we have been short for a little while and the players that have played have done really well. The problem is that we may be able to do some business but I would have rather waited until the summer. With the numbers we have got we may have to have a look. But there are a number of clubs armed with cash - teams like Aston Villa, West Ham and maybe Newcastle and Middlesbrough looking with not an awful lot of players available so it will probably cause inflated prices. But we will be looking and working hard to find the right people, which is what we are doing all the time." (28/11/06)

January Sales

Oh Moyesy is teasing us. Although he likes what he has in his squad, he know realises that he may have to add to it, if the Blues want to push on for a European place come the season's end. The squad has looked a little threadbare of late with injuries to Tiny, Hibbo, Nace, Nuno and alike, but the manager does not like buying in January. Jesus Davey, my missus loves it !!

Moyesy says: "It'll be difficult to get players in to improve the side, and January's not the best time for shopping, but we might still need to do something. I think we're short. We were short before we started and, strangely enough, we don't have that many injuries. We're not a club with nine or 10 injured players, so we're actually just short of numbers in general." (21/11/06)

Stick Or Twist

Moyesy may not be buying anyone in the January transfer window unless it is essential.

Moyesy says: "I like what I've got here at the moment. We may be a little bit short on numbers but unless it was really, really worthwhile I wouldn't be thinking of going into the transfer market for anything that may be available." (12/11/06)

Shut Up

Everton should have had a few penalties in the last game, but haven't been awarded them. Simply because managers are falsely accusing Andy Johnson as a diver.

Moyesy says: "I definitely feel that Andy is now being punished because of what other people have been saying about him. People are talking about our players instead of keeping their mouths shut. We have certainly missed a couple of penalty awards in the last couple of games, never mind any other matches beforehand.

Andy has been treated totally unfairly. He is being accused of things that are not true. There are people with big mouths who are coming out and saying things, that is wrong, you should not talk about other clubs' players, they should just talk about their own. I'm not talking about Arsene Wenger, but many other people who should just look after their own clubs and concentrate on their own players." (10/11/06)

The Futures Bright, The Gaffers Orange

Even after we failed to gain anything at Fulham, and for the first time this season we failed to score in a match, Moyesy is not too despondent, and still believes like we all do that the club is heading in the right direction. Cardiff next Fbruary would not be a bad start Davey boy !!

Moyesy says: "There are much better times ahead. The players are giving me that feeling in terms of the way they are playing and the ages they are. We have now got an Everton side with potential and a direction to go in and that way is upwards.

The best part about the group we have got is the spirit amongst them and the way they look after each other. For me as a manager it is about what they do on the pitch as well. We have got very good professionals and some good senior professionals who make that happen." (05/11/06)

Lie In

Moyesy has given the first team squad a few days off in an effort to get rid of the bug that's been in the camp. So don't go down to Bellefield for autographs today.

Moyesy says: "The players have been suffering from throat infections and a virus and it has nearly affected everybody that we have got. We are hoping that this will clear it up and the players will be feeling better for the Fulham game at the weekend.

Before the Arsenal game me and a lot of boys were very ill and we really rallied well together as a team to get that result. We are such a small squad and we showed that as individuals we are nothing but as a team we are everything. That is the main thing about Everton - we are really playing for each other. We are looking forward to having a bit of a rest and getting over a few injuries and illnesses." (31/10/06)

Its A Funny Old Game

........and so it is. Moyesy reckons that the team that lost to Boro on Saturday is much better than the team that beat Boro there only six months ago. Moyesy your not wrong there mate.

Moyesy says: "I think the Everton supporters who came here last season when we won would say that the Everton team today that lost is better. We look as though we’ve progressed and I am confident that with the players we’ve got it’s going to be a good year.

Middlesbrough were desperate for a win, we knew that, but I thought we dominated possession for long periods and then when we went 2-0 down we still tried to win the game. I thought we played well but maybe not enough opportunities made for them but the play for excellent. I don’t think our play has been much better, apart from the Tottenham game.

I want to get as many points as we can. We should have had more points by now and I don’t think we deserved to lose this game. The players did well today and that’s what I’ve told them. They are full of confidence, full of self-belief and that’s the way I want it to be " (16/10/06)

Ssshh! Tim's Asleep

Everton will not know if Tim Cahill will be able to play against Boro tomorrow, as they may not be able to wake him up from his slumber. But if gets up and has his Weet-Bix, who knows?

Moyesy says: "We have to look to FIFA and ask them why players do not get back with their clubs until Friday midday which means they cannot train or prepare for our game because they have stepped off a 24-hour flight. It is something that certainly has to be looked at. We have got Tim Cahill just back from Australia. He touched down from his 24-hour flight at midday today and he will be sent straight home to bed to get over the jet lag the best way he can.

He will then fly up to the north-east independently to join up with the squad when he has had some rest. It's a very difficult situation for us and we will just try to get him into the best condition we can. It is always a difficult problem with players away with their countries, but in Tim's case it is worse because it is on the other side of the world."

He played in Australia at around eight at night, which is roughly about 11am on the Wednesday our time, then he didn't fly home until Thursday evening. I find that incredible. From Wednesday night after the game he cannot get on a flight for almost 24 hours. It should be done quicker, it's something FIFA should look at with players arriving back so late.

Australia always want their players as soon as they can to get maximum recovery and preparation for their games, but yet they stay on a day longer in Australia and then don't get them back to us until Friday, midday. They could push all the Premiership games to the Sunday but then that will have an impact on clubs playing in the Champions League the following midweek. That is probably not a real solution because if it was it would have been tried by now." (13/10/06)

Sick As a ...........

Moyesy is feeling sick as the proverbial parrot, after he believes two refereeing decisions in consecutive weeks, have cost the Blues maximum points, which would have them sitting proudly on top of the pile. A glaring error by the linesman at the skunks, followed by the ref playing a full minute over the extra three that he should off, has left Moyesy and all Blues gutted.

Lets put things right at Boro next week boys and things are quickly forgotten, honest. I for one never harp on about Clive shit ouse Thomas in 1977, Alan Handsen in 1984, Graham Poll Dancer disallowing Hutch's Derby winner, it just does you no good, aaahhhhhhhhhhhhh, were's my tablets, fuckers, ahhhhhhhhhh, take this razor out of my hand. Just leave me for a bit, the pills normally take a few hours to kick in.

Moyesy says: "We feel that we have been harshly done by. I have had a look at the tape a couple of times since Saturday and he (Ref) looks as if he is going to blow the whistle but allows City to have one more attack . That's twice in the last two games we feel as if we've been harshly done by. It is a while since I have felt as bad as that after a football match. It felt like a defeat and still does. But you can see from watching the tape we were not under what you would call real pressure. It's a shame as we should really have been talking about our performances in the past couple of weeks." (05/10/05)

Marathon Not a Sprint

Unbeaten start, twelve points out of eighteen, but Moyesy is drumming home the point that it is a marathon and not a sprint. As ever Moyesy is targeting the 40 points needed to regain our Premiership status, but like two seasons ago, the target will change with our sights set on the lofty heights of the Premiership, and hopefully European football again.

Moyesy says: "There is no fear in the dressing room at this present time and that comes from the confidence you get from winning games. When you add that on top of the signs we had in pre-season when we showed some good form, it gives you self-belief. We have had a couple of opportunities in recent weeks that we have not taken and in the Premier League, you have to take them when they come around. We know we could be a bit higher than we are at the minute. But there is not much point being at the top of the table at the beginning of the season then fading away and there is no point talking about targets now. We want to be there at the end of the season but the first goal is ensuring we are in the division next year." (26/09/06)

When Is Offside Not Offside?

The offside that never was for Newcastle has left all football fans and pundits totally puzzled about the offside rule.

Moyesy says: "I've not seen an offside like it. I really am trying not to mention referees and linesmen this season because I make mistakes and so do my players. We push up for offside, Ameobi's the last man, the ball goes directly to him and he scores so you can't even say there was a mix up. What do I do? Do I just stand back and say that's fine? I'm passionate about winning for Everton and we got a bad decision. I don't want my players to mob officials. The referee had a good game but I didn't think both the assistants did." (25/09/06)

Leave It Out You

Everton midfielder Tim Cahill has jumped to the defence of Moyesy after Wayne Rooney's comments in his much hyped masterpiece, blah, blah, blah, something or other, penned to keep Syd the Snake in buckets of slime, and insect feed.

Tiny has pointed out to the manure forward that it was Moyesy who gave him his break, and kept him out of the limelight, to allow him to grow up as normal as any 17yr old footballing wonderkid could. Sir Alex has obviously followed suit, not.

Tiny says: "Wayne is a very gifted footballer and the gaffer gave him his chance. He was at such a tender age. This is a manager who has given a lot of boys opportunities. It was very hurtful for him to hear something like that. As individuals you need to have respect for your manager regardless of who it is and regardless of what he does.

With autobiographies you're going to get controversial things like this. You're opening yourself up to be shot at or to shoot at someone else. For me, the biggest thing the gaffer instills here is strong, close, team bonding. He's very good for the players both on and off the pitch." (19/09/06)

League Managers Association Award for Moyesy

The League Managers Association five-man Performance of the Week panel, comprising Chairman Howard Wilkinson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Joe Royle, Dave Bassett and Barry Fry, gave the F&C Performance of the Week Award to David Moyes and his Everton team for the 3-0 victory over the shite. Lets hope this is the first of many awards Moyesy picks up this season.

Moyesy says: “It’s nice to be acknowledged in this way and we enjoyed that win." (16/09/06)

No Comment

Moyesy is waiting till after the Derby to make any judgments about Everton's start to the season. We can all say it is a damn sight better than last season's efforts, but Moyesy does not want to go shouting his mouth off before such a crucial game. I will though, the shite are shite, stink of poo, and are supported by Norwegians.

Moyesy says: "After this one we can say what sort of start we have made to the season. After three games we are happy but in my mind, after four games that is when we will make a decision on the start to the season and I can only say the players have done really well up to now. We are pleased with the form right now but we can't kid ourselves, Liverpool is a team that is aiming to win the championship - they have spent to win the championship and they have got a fabulous team and some really good players. We know we are up against it and we have to do everything we can to even that out. You can sense the adrenaline flowing with the players. And if the international week is a hindrance for us, it will be for them as well. It is the same for both teams, although they may even have more players away on international duty then we have." (07/09/06)

See You In Court

Moyesy is to sue his once young prodigy Wayne Rooney after the manures forwards claims that Moyesy forced him out of Goodison. Rooney made the claims in his autobiography, 'My Story So Far', which is on sale in all shite book shops. The writ is against the Daily Mail which serialised the Dick and Jane book, but Rooney made be called to the stand, depending on how the action goes.

Wayne, forgive us for asking, but did not Sid the Snake, and the lure of millions of pounds force you out of the club you once professed to love.

Moyesy's Brief says: "There are a couple of comments. I think the main one is 'Moyes forced me out. A writ has been issued against Associated Newspapers, for the Daily Mail and its editor. It refers to an article on 25 July, and Wayne Rooney is the subject matter.

At this stage, no proceedings have been issued against Wayne Rooney, for various reasons - the book has got to be fully read and David Moyes has to consider whether that is something he wants to do. If he does choose to go down that route, then the publisher Harper Collins would be named on the writ and probably Wayne Rooney as well." (01/09/06)

Call To Arms

My Team

David Moyes has now signed or renewed contracts of all the players in the squad. I didn't know that until someone told me. So if you didn't know, well I've just told you. Is it true?

Moyesy says:I feel as though this is very much my team now. We are building a young team, with the likes of Arteta, Cahill, Hibbert, Osman, McFadden and Johnson. There is a group of younger players who look as if they have got resale value if required."
They are going along with the club and they are making progress. I think the club is in a much healthier condition."(16/08/06)

Options

Moyesy is getting so excited about all his striking options that he is becoming moist.

Moisty Moyesy says: "Andrew is a proven goalscorer," said the Everton manager. "He banged them in for Palace and, playing with James Beattie, can form a great par tnership. But we've also got James McFadden up front, and Victor Anichebe has come into the squad and made a big impact.

"People are talking about Johnson and Beattie being a potential England partnership. And if they start off well for us there is no reason why one, or both, couldn't get their chance in the England side. But we also might end up with a partnership involving England's centre forward and Scotland's centre forward - and when was the last time any side had that?"(07/08/06)

Dreamer

David Moyes is dreaming of a special season. We all are.

Moyesy says: "I am a dreamer. And the dream I have is that we get Everton into a similar position to where we were a year ago.I hope we can be successful again. Everton's a big club so we start with high expectations, and rightly so.

"We've got to make sure we manage those expectations. Our main aim is to continue where we finished off in 2005/06 and have a good start this time."(06/08/06)

More To Come

Moyesy is still confident that some new faces can be added to the squad before the August 31st deadline looms. With the signings of Roger, AJ, and Tim, me thinks Moyesy job will be a lot easier in convincing players to come to our great club as the board splashes some cash to get us back into Europe.

Moyesy says: "I'm still hopeful that we can bring someone in before the deadline but there is nothing imminent. We are still looking and will continue to do so." (03/08/06)

Howard To Be Everton's First Choice

Reading between the lines, Moyesy has more or less said Tim Howard will get the nod as first choice goalie.

Moyesy says: “We are delighted to have Tim on board this season. He didn’t have a lot to do against Columbus Crew the other night, but he did well in what he had to do. He gives us competition in the goal keeping position. He’ll be given his chance. I have been very happy with him. A couple of years ago he was one of the best goalkeepers in the Premiership, and this will be a big year for him to show he can do it again.

I have seen signs from Richard in training that have been very good and he realises there is competition and he has to prove that he can do it again. He is training really well and if Tim Howard is not fully adjusted we know he is there. He is a super professional, and is an excellent trainer. You could never fault him on that score. We will wait to see how he responds.

I think the goal keeping situation is pretty good, and we need to try and keep pushing the young ones as well. We shouldn’t forget about them. We don’t want to stop their progression. Maybe at a different time we will look at loaning one of them out to a good quality side.” (31/07/06)

Yobo Signs For 4 More Years

Moyesy is chuffed, Joey Yobo has signed a new four year deal. The contract will keep him at Everton until 2010.

Moyesy says: "We're really pleased Joseph has finally signed. He's a good player and we know that he is someone who will get better. He has great pace and athleticism. He had an outstanding season last season. He made one or two mistakes but we know he is a player who is going to improve with age. Joseph is undoubtedly one of our better players. We know what he has got about him." (25/07/06)

Cut It Out

After a World Cup blighted by the theatrics of the many, Moyesy is hoping that the Premiership take the lead and get tough with the Ronaldo's, Robben's, and Joe Cole's of this murky world. Maybe Graham Poll's revolutionary idea of three yellows then a red for assimilation may catch on, then once and for all, we can get footy back to being a mans game again. Like the times when the Rodney Marsh's, Kevin Keegan and Franny Lee's ruled the roost, Jesus they were as bad as this current crop, RADA trained.

Moyesy says: "There is no doubt about it, diving is becoming increasingly more of a problem within the game. During the World Cup we saw far too many instances and it's clear that such behaviour can have a big influence on the outcome of games. Diving is a global problem within football and it would be nice if the English Premiership led the battle to drive it out." (12/07/06)

First Day Blues

Everton minus the World Cup stars returned to training yesterday in temperatures resembling the Aussie outback. Moyesy is upbeat the players are raring to go, and after the disappointment of the World Cup, so am I, roll on Watford.

Moyesy says: "It's great and I've been really looking forward to coming back. Hopefully we'll have a good season together. I think this is the way it used to be when everybody came back to pre-season in hot weather. It hasn't been like that in the last few years but it's very warm today and it's tough for the players.

With the heat today, that's stopped a few!. But we are tempering things properly. We've brought them back a little bit earlier after the longer break due to the World Cup so we don't need to go hell for leather, we can break them in gently." (04/07/06)

Still Looking For Players

Having replaced Ferguson with Johnson, Martyn with Howard and Kroldrup with Lescott, Moyesy still wants to add up to 3 more players to bolster the numbers in the squad.

Moyesy says: "We are weighing up two or three different options at the moment. I'd still like to get another one or two players to add to that before the start of the season, but it might be later on, nearer the end of the deadline. The club have done great with the money, but we've spent the money we've got but I'll still be looking around for a couple of players to add to the squad. I want us to go into the season with a feeling that we can improve on what we've done." (27/06/06)