Still Aiming For Fourth

Leighton knows that a win in this weeks Derby can help Everton's quest for Champions League football next season.

Bainsey says: "We know how much it could mean not only in the race for fourth, but for the fans as well. We will keep aiming for fourth place - we know if we can get a good result there we are right back in it and we know they have some tough games to come. We have more home games than away games left." (25/03/08)

Reassured

With Bainesy only starting 6 games since his £6m move from the pie eaters, due to his injuries and more recently having Roger and Nuno in front of him, Moyesy has come out to reassure him that he'll be in that number 3 spot for yonks.

Moyesy says: We think the world of him and he is going to be our left-back for a long time to come. But, just at the present time, for different reasons he is finding it hard to get in. He's picked up one or two niggling injuries and that's cost him. But I can see him being Everton's left-back for many years. I've spoken to Leighton. I've reassured him. But he has got nothing to worry about because he is got a big future as a left-back here.” (27/02/08)

Back In Training

Bainsey is back earlier than expected and could have played in Saturday's game against Arsenal.

Moyesy says: "Leighton and Stubbsy are training again and, if they were required, they could have probably played against Arsenal. It's good to have them back. We are getting people back to fitness and the only one who is likely to be out for any length of time is Leon Osman (broken toe), who is going to be out for between four to six weeks." (31/12/07)

Four To Six Weeks Out

Defensive problems for Moyesy ahead of a busy Christmas League and Cup period. Leighton Baines who pulled up with a hamstring problem in Saturdays defeat of Fulham has been ruled out for four to six weeks with scans showing the problem is worse than first expected with a small tear in his hamstring. With Nuno and Stubbsey out for the next few matches, Moyesy will be shuffling his defensive pack starting at West Ham in the Blues Quarter Final League Cup clash tomorrow evening.

Moyesy says: "We have had the results of the scan and it looks like Leighton is going to be out for between four to six weeks. It’s a blow because he has done so well for us. With Alan Stubbs also out, we are a little bit limited at the back.

We have been really pleased with Bainesy and he had looked sharp against Fulham, but this something that happens. He had a bad ankle knock against Derby and before that had been in really good form." (11/12/07)

Scan Time

Bainsey pulled up clutching the back of his thigh and was immediately substituted yesterday against Fulham. He will have a scan to reveal the extent of the injury.

Baz Rathbone says: "It's a hamstring injury but it doesn't look too bad. We'll scan it, considering the importance of the next few weeks. He'll be back. It could be a cramp - although we think there's a slight tear there. Nuno has a slight hamstring strain as well but he's making a good recovery and we'll get both of them back as soon as possible." (09/11/07)

Your Right Boss We Were Rubbish

Leighton Baines and his fellow defenders came in for some scathing criticism of their defending at the skunks on Sunday from Moyesy, and the Summer signing could not agree more with his Boss. He is hoping that the International break will give the players left behind a chance to work on a few things before the shite visit Goodison next week.

Leighton says: "We did well to get ourselves back into the game on Sunday but to concede three goals is disappointing. Maybe you could say it’s a lapse of concentration. The first goal was sloppy, there were three or four different occasions we could have cleared. And for the third again, they had two men in the box and we had five and they managed to get a clear header.

We’ve got to highlight the goals we concede. The manager spoke to us about that. Ultimately we have to look to be positive and look forward. We have some time off and time to work on a few different things with the lads who aren’t going away on international duty." (09/10/07)

Provide Chances For Strikers

Everton must provide the strikers more than just good free kicks and corners. So says Bainsey.

Bainesy says: "I think we need to create more chances and give the lads up front something to go on. They aren't getting the goals because we aren't giving them anything to go off. We aren't creating enough for them, so hopefully we can improve in that area.""It's not often you see one of our strikers running through with only the keeper to beat. I think we have got to look for more than set pieces. We have got to start cutting people open and being a little braver when we get near the oppositions goal and trying things. Sometimes that is what it takes to unlock the door. We are fully capable of beating Middlesbrough so that is what we will be looking to do." (29/09/07)

Cup Win Can Give Confidence Boost

Bainsey will be working hard with the rest of the defence to make sure they are on top of their game for the Sheffield Wednesday Carling Cup game.

Bainesy says: “We are not performing quite how we want at the minute. Sometimes you just have to keep going until it clicks into place and that’s what we will be doing. The manager was disappointed with us against Villa and he felt the first goal could have been cleared much earlier. We should never have conceded the second goal either. We’ve got to make people work hard if they want to score against us.

But we can’t beat ourselves up too much. I don’t think Villa played particularly well. It just turned out to be one of those days. But we have got a cup game to look forward to now and hopefully we can go on a good cup run. We haven’t done that for a few years. This offers us a good chance to get back on track and a win would give us a confidence boost going into the weekend. We need to be facing Middlesbrough on a positive." (25/09/07)

Can't Wait For Europe

Leighton Baines fresh from his man of the match performance against manure on Saturday cannot wait for his European bow this Thursday when the Blues take on the Mentalists at Goodison. The ex Wigan full back is settling in at Everton, and he is hoping to develop his game and take it to the next level now he is at Everton.

Leighton says: "I'm still getting to know the lads and finding out different things about the way they play. You see them in training, but it's not until you play in a game that you really get to know everything about each other. So far it has gone okay and hopefully as we play together more, we will be able to develop.

We've got an ideal game to pick ourselves up now. It's a complete variation on the game against Manchester United. We are playing a team that we know absolutely nothing about, but this is what being in Europe is all about. We are all looking forward to it. Playing in Europe was a big factor in wanting to come here. I haven't managed to play in Europe at club level before, so I can't wait." (18/09/07)

Attacking Debut

Everton's new left back was quick to show the fans that he is an attacking full back and loves to join in the attack as much as possible.

Bainsey says: "I would like to think there is more to come. It was nice to get the first game under my belt. You always feel you could have done more and I definitely could have done, but it was a good steady debut for myself so it's onwards and upwards now. Hopefully in the home games I'll get the opportunity to do that. Away from home sometimes you have to have a bit more about you and take care of your defensive duties, but when the time is right I'll step in and look to help the lads further forwards." (28/08/07)

Impressed

Moyesy was impressed with Bobby's performance and he will only get better when the lads get used to him.

Moyesy says: "I thought Leighton played well and in a lot of ways I didn't think we backed him up in his performance. Leighton will be pleased to get that one under his belt and hopefully next time he comes and plays for us we will play much better.(27/08/07)

Give Him A Week

A weeks training and Bainsey will be in the squad for Reading.

Moyesy says: "We are looking forward to getting him back. He trained for the first time today but he will need a week before we can really consider him. There has been no problem with him settling in and he has one or two friends here." (14/08/07)

Five Year Contract

Bainsey has signed a five year deal to join Moyesy's young guns.

David Moyes says: “We are pleased to have him. It’s a signing for now and it’s also a signing for the future. Leighton is someone that we have been after for a long time and he is someone who will give good competition to our squad. We see him as a left-back. We already have Nuno to play there and Joleon Lescott can cover in that position, but we want him to be a central defender.

We needed to add to our squad after we lost Gary Naysmith. We used him quite a bit last season and we needed to replace him. Leighton is a young player and he fits in with our policy of trying to buy good British players if we can. From all indications, he is a big Evertonian.

We have been impressed by him and the reports that we have had about him over the past 12 months have been good. He really came to prominence last season and has done well in the Premier League and at the European Championships, so that was a big factor.”

Leighton says: "I am very happy now it is all done and I am looking forward to getting on with it. I think people knew this was the place I wanted to come and I am glad now that it is all done.
I am a local lad and all my family support Everton so it's good to be here at last.

Europe is always something you are looking for as a player and something I am happy about because you need that European experience to help you progress onto the next level. We had a good season last year, the lads did really well so hopefully we can build on that, get into Europe again and have a decent European campaign. There has not been a lot of activity over the years but when they get someone in they are always top quality, like AJ and Mikel and some of the other players that have been brought in, so it is always exciting to get fresh faces in. I came along with Vaughany to watch the game (against Werder Bremen) and it looked good so hopefully we will get some more good games in against European sides like that.

I got to know Vaughany well over the summer, we spent a lot of time together and I spend a bit of time with him now when we can, if we have got a bit of spare time. There seems to be a good mix here. There are some experienced lads and quite few good young lads as well, Vaughany being one of them and people like Victor aswell. Those two look like a handful up front and playing against them two last season wasn't easy." (07/06/08)

   Full Everton Squad 2007/08