Stay At Home

Joseph is pounding around Bellefield with Lee Carsley, while the rest of the squad are in Manhattan. He thought it best to get in shape for the Arsenal game, rather than join Shandy for a few burgers.

Joey says: "Arsenal is a massive game, it is probably the biggest for us this season. Every game is going to be like that because of the position we are in. It is going to be tough but we are looking forward to it. It is an opportunity for those who come into the team to prove what they can do. Things like this create opportunities for other players and they have to grab the chance.

We are doing a bit of work to keep ourselves going. There is a long time before the next game and we have to keep our fitness up. Every game is getting bigger for us especially now that we are in the sixth position. That is what we wanted; to get a European place. We have got it now but we haven't done all the work." (08/03/07)

Ain't Roger Great

The defensive partnership of yobo and Lescott has continued well since the start of the season. Joey has repeated that he enjoys playing with Roger.

Joey says: "Joleon is a very good player and I really enjoy playing alongside him. We played our first game together during pre-season and it went very well, so I knew that we could play well together. We were room-mates during the tour of America in the summer and we quickly be-came good friends, so it has been easy to get to know each other. Whoever plays in the team has got to be on top of their game because of the strength of the squad. Davie and Alan are both great players and it's good for the manager to have such competition for places.

We have started well and we need to make sure that we can keep on the same track. We needed to start well and we have done that. We had tough games but we showed a great fighting spirit, which maybe we didn't show enough of last season. That's what we have got to show more of. I think everyone realises that and we'll give everything." (14/10/06)

Roger and Joe Superb

The very modest Joey thinks his partnership with Roger is great for the future.

Joseph says: "From what I have seen he is a good player. It is good for us to play together - we played our first game in pre-season and we were both superb so I knew we had a good future together. We are roommates and we are friends as well so it makes it easier getting to know each other. He is playing well, I am doing okay and the team is doing well so it is good.

I would like to think that because of the quality players that have come in we are stronger than before. We have started very well so hopefully if we can build on this we are going to go very far. We finished fourth two years ago but we just need to take things in our stride. We never expected things to start this way but after that first win at home (against Watford) we have grown in confidence." (16/09/06)

Four More Years, Four More Years

Fantastic news for Blues fans in that Joey Yobo, has at last put pen to paper and signed a contract extension for four more years. Joey, like most Blues fans believes the club is heading in the right direction, and with the Summer captures of AJ, Joleon, and Tim Howard, this was enough to convince Joey that the club meant business.

Joey will be missing from today's clash with Celtic due to a niggling achilles injury, but he is expected to be fully fit for the Blues tour to the States.

Joey says: "I have waited a long time for this to be sorted out. There was no doubt of me being happy, I wanted to stay.

But I wanted a commitment from the club. At the end of the season I spoke with the manager and he told me the ambitions of the club and that was the first step. Then I accepted that I wanted to stay." (23/07/06)

Joe To Sign

Joey has confirmed that the club, with the new signings of Johnson, Lescott and Howard, now share his own ambitions to go forward and he will sign his new contract later this week.

Joe says: "I can confirm that I am going to sign a new contract with Everton. I just did not want to rush into making any public statements. I wanted to focus on my football and do well for Everton. But I had already made up my mind to stay long before the season ended.

The delay wasn't all about money. I just wanted certain commitments from the club. Everton are a big club and we should reasonably be challenging for a place in Europe every season. I see now that the club also shares those ambitions and some quality players are coming in and that is very important.

Everybody here has been great, from the chairman, the manager to the fans. It was hard for me to think about leaving, even though the thought crossed my mind. But I am happy here and if all goes well, I intend to see out my career here. By the time this contract ends, I will be 30 and at the peak of my game. Hopefully, I can prove to the fans and the manager how much I love this football club." (04/07/06)

Joey Last Season           Full Squad 2006/2007