Your Club Expects

Leon Osman is convinced Everton's fantastic team spirit will see us through to a successful conclusion to what is turning out to be a great season. With UEFA Cup, a distinct possibility with a fifth or sixth place finish, the diminutive midfielder knows the League will be tight, but he and his team mates have the right attitude to do the business for Everton Football Club.

Ossie says: "The old saying, 'never say die' is in our dressing room at the moment, whether we go goals up or goals behind, we still want - and expect - to win games. It would have been nice to get the win (against Bolton), which is what we aim to do, but we can't be disappointed with a draw. It keeps us close, it keeps us in there and with five games to go it is going to be tight. I think we just need to keep taking one game at time and if we finish as high as we can we will be happy." (11/04/07)

We Believe

Now in sixth place and playing good football as well as getting results. Leon thinks with the player's character and AJ's goals, Everton have a great chance of qualifying for Europe.

Ossie says: “We believe we are going to get a result every game we play. It doesn’t matter who the opposition are. Whether we are at home to Arsenal or away to Manchester United or a so-called lesser team, we go into every match expecting to get something from the game. That is something the manager has instilled in us.

Football is a game of opinions and the Spurs game was a frustrating night for everyone, that’s players included. People voiced what they felt but that is all behind everyone and we are looking to be positive again. We hope that can continue. We have progressed a lot in the last couple of seasons.
We did finish fourth a couple of years ago but before that we were just basically down near the bottom of the league. Things are changing and it’s all about steady progression. If we can keep the other team out, then a striker of AJ’s quality only needs one chance and it is in the back of the net. That’s what you need to win games. We pressed Arsenal and got in their faces right from the first whistle.

We had a number of opportunities to score the goal and it didn’t look like it was going to happen. But a striker of AJ’s quality, you can’t take your eye off him for a minute because he will do what he did on Sunday. Andy’s as good a finisher as there is. He can score all types of goals. He can get them from long distance, he can get the poacher’s goals or with his ‘wrong’ foot like he did against Arsenal. I think he is going to get better, too. Obviously who plays for England has got nothing to do with us here but everyone within the club thinks he should be playing next Saturday. We all hope that is the case.” (21/03/07)

Its Mine, All Mine

Leon's determination to claim a goal know's no bounds. After his plea for more goals on Friday, he is now trying to claim yesterdays opener at Charlton. Leon got his noggin to Mikky's cross, but it was Herman Munster who deflected the goal bound header wide of the Charlton keeper, to give the Blues the lead. Leon however is adamant. C'mon Leon if you having that, I am third in line to the throne, no I mean the one in our house, I am dying to go !!

Leon says: "As far as I am concerned it's my goal. I have clearly got a header on it, it is going in the far corner. Then it has hit the lad on the shins and gone in the centre of the goal. I thought the rule was that as long as it is going in then it is your goal.

I was delighted with it and to see it go on the scoreboard as an own goal was upsetting to say the least. I don't know what I have got to do to score. I had two goals taken off me last season and before the game has even finished they are trying to take this one off me. It's starting to get a bit annoying. I'm sure if this was one of the top clubs it wouldn't be an issue." (26/11/06)

Isn't About Time I Scored

Back refreshed from a few days in the lakes on an outward bound course with the rest of the first team squad, Leon is saying again it's about time he scored a goal. We agree! So go and do it.

Ossie says: "I could definitely do with a goal. But I'm not the only one. There are a few of us here who need to start scoring. At the same time, we are happy to be doing our jobs to get the win. We know we are still part of a team and we have got to get back and do the defensive duties but it does help. But I definitely could do with a goal.

It's just one of those things that you have got to put behind you and move onto the next game. If we do our job and then the same person gets the credit every week, as long as we are winning that's not a problem.

The atmosphere is always great when you win but it has been extra special this week. Even though we had lost a couple of games, we had been playing reasonably well, but it was vital that we beat Bolton. If you're not up for the challenge and prepared to match them, they will walk all over you. But we matched them and Mikel popped up with an absolutely brilliant goal. What more can you say about him? It's the type of thing he does all the time in training.

Charlton lost their manager last week and whenever anyone new takes over, clubs seem to get a boost. This is their first home game since all that happened and the fans will be right behind them from the start. The players will be doing their best to show the new people coming in exactly what they can do. We go into every game wanting to win and most of the time we are geared up to do that. This will be no different. There will be more expectations on us from the outside just because Charlton are bottom of the table.

On the other hand, we are reasonably high up so the expectations will be there. But we expect ourselves to be right at it. We are going there to win. It's a nice feeling to have as it shows you have done something right to get people thinking that way. We all want that to continue. We had a little blip but we have knuckled down and worked hard to get through it. Hopefully the win against Bolton shows that we are on the right track again." (25/11/06)

Pass Master

Ossie is pleased with the passing game Everton played against Luton. All that was missing was a goal.

Leon says: "It's a pleasure to be in this side at the moment. We have become a lot more confident in passing the ball around and the players all want to get on the ball and play it. I keep popping up in there and I think a couple of times the ball has just gone past me. I'll keep getting in there though, and one will end up at my feet." (26/10/06)

Fit For Saturday

Leon missed the game at Boro, due to a hip injury, but should be fit to face Sheffield United at the weekend.

Moyesy says: “Leon’s a terrific player for us but he got a bit of a hip injury in training. We thought he’d be okay but when he woke up on the day of the game he didn’t feel right at all so there was no point in taking a chance.” (16/10/06)

Goals For Osman

One of Leon's best assets is his goalscoring. Although he has drawn a blank so far, Ossie expects to start scoring a few goals soon and thinks the way Everton have both Carsley and Neville in holding roles gives the other midfielders the chance to get goals.

Leon says: "The first three games or so, I didn't really have much of a chance. But in the Wigan game, then against Newcastle I've started getting a few chances again. That's a good sign. Chris Kirkland made a couple of great saves against Wigan. I definitely could do with a goal. It's just one of those things that you have got to put behind you and move onto the next game.

It's not just myself. He expects more, that extra 10 per cent, from everyone. It's not only scoring goals, it's running, passing. He demands a lot from us. That's good as it is going to get the best out of us and so far it has been working. I think the fact that both Cars and Phil are in there gives us even more of a licence to get forward, the likes of myself, Tim and Mikel. We know that we are still part of a team and we have got to get back and do the defensive duties but it does help." (08/10/06)

We Can Do Better

With Everton along with Aston Villa the only unbeaten teams in the top flight you would think the players would be ecstatic, not so it seems. Ossie for one still looks back at the decisions that went against us at Blackburn and especially Newcastle, and thinks of what might have been. Fair shout Ossie, so lets put it right against Shiittteeehhh this weekend.

Leon says: "It is nice to say we are still unbeaten but it shows how far we have come that we are disappointed we have not won at least two of those draws." (27/09/06)

Ossie For England

Moyesy has spoken to Steve McLaren about Leon Osman. Ossie has been outstanding in the first few games.

Moyesy says: "There were so many nine-out-of-10s and 10-out-of-10 performances. Our centre-forward (Johnson) was one of the 10s and my feeling is Leon Osman is good enough to play for England. I think he is close to being considered. If he performs the way he did today then it won't be long until he is in the squad. I have mentioned him once to the England manager. He has got tremendous talent." (27/08/06)

Squad Game

Ossie is keen to play in as many games as possible, but realises that it's a squad game now.

Ossie says: "We have got a squad full of players all playing really well at the minute and it doesn't matter who is on the pitch, you will get a good performance out of them. We certainly think there is a healthy edge in terms of competition in the squad. We actually won on Saturday but changed the team for Blackburn which shows the level of competition and how the manager has got trust in all of us. we are all chomping at the bit to be playing." (24/08/06)

Goals, Goals, Goals

Leon is targeting more goals to his game this season after he was officially credited with four goals last season, instead of the six he believed he scored. The hilariously named 'Dubious Goals Panel' took two of Ossie's strikes of him, but Moyesy has told the Everton midfielder that he got six last season. Everton I believe have set up there own panel called, 'We Don't Give a Flying Fart What you Take Off Us Panel', and after their first sitting this week, Ossie was given his strikes back. Ossie is going to make sure though his goals are his own this season, and we won't ever again have to sit in front of a panel consisting off Andy Gray, Floella Benjamin, Prince Harry and that old bint of a Seargant off The Bill, to argue his case over whether the goals are his.

Leon says: "I'm hoping to score a few more goals that are going to be given to me this time! I scored seven goals in my first season and the gaffer has said I can have last season's anyway, which would have given me six. It was disappointing for them to be taken away, but at the same time they were goals for us and important goals, and that's what really matters. But hopefully I can score a few more this time around and be able to keep them. We need to score more goals this season, and I want to contribute." (04/08/06)

Ground Running

Leon is hoping to catch the eye of David Moyes during the pre-season. He wants to make sure he is in the line up for the first game against Watford.

Leon says: "Everyone is trying to catch the manager's eye and make sure that you have worked as hard as you possibly can and play your best to try and ensure you are in the team come the first day of the season.

We've strengthened again during the summer and everyone is buzzing. It will be difficult to get into the team. Pre-season is about fitness. On a personal level I want to make sure my game is back and my first touch is back so that I can hit the ground running. The first week is about finding your feet and then you work on clicking with your team mates." (26/07/06)

Ossie Back At Bellefield Already

Leon has been back to Bellefield for a few training sessions during the Summer break as he wants to be ready for the start of the season. He's looking forward to the first few games.

Ossie says: "Hopefully we will start thus season as we finished the last one. Hopefully that will put is in good stead for the rest of the campaign. Of course you are always eager to see who you get on the opening day of the season, and then the next thing you look for is the derby and it comes up quite quickly this season. Watford will be full of confidence, and looking to have a
good start to their season as well so it could be a good game.

Of course we are looking forward to the Celtic game. They are one of the big clubs, it is a fantastic stadium and they are the places you are always looking to play in. I just want to play as many games as I can and score as many goals as I can and that will never be any different."

Ossie Last Season        Full Squad 2006/2007