20 - Steven Pienaar - 2007/08
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20 - Steven Pienaar - 2007/08 |
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The Blues have made their first signing of the Summer when they finalised a deal to bring Peanuts to Goodison on a three year deal. Everton will pay Borussia Dortmund just over £2m for the South African midfielder, and he has signed on the dotted line till July 2011. Peanuts says: "It has been on my mind for quite a while and I just wanted to get it over with. As a person you always want to know where your future lies. If you are living in an uncertain world you don't know what is going to happen. Now that is behind me and I hope I can just concentrate on football. I have signed a deal for three years so I am looking forward to the next three years at the club. I have always wanted to play in the Premier League. I have had the opportunity to play for a good club with good supporters so I have to take that opportunity. I think from the first day I came here the guys were really friendly and the gaffer was good to me. It gave me the feeling that I was at home. When you get that feeling you want to stay and that is why I have committed myself to Everton. I think we just have to carry on the way we are going. Next season is a new season and maybe we have the chance to fight for a cup. It is every player's dream to win cups and I hope in the next three years we can make it possible." (22/04/08) As far as the boss is concerned Peanuts has signed for the Blues. If that's confirmed it will be bloody good news. I haven't said bloody for ages. Moyesy says: "As far as I know Steven Pienaar's contract is agreed, it's all done. I think it's his agent's money that isn't agreed. As far as I know everything has been done for a while, so I think it is to do with money for the agent. Steven has done well for us. Since he came back from the African Nations he hasn't reached the standards he reached prior to that but that can happen. He has picked up one or two injuries which haven't allowed him to get a head of steam. Steven is one of the reasons our football has improved. He is a really good football player."(11/04/08) Peanuts has fired a warning shot that if the Blues have not signed him by April 30th, he may have to pursue other options in his football career. The significance of April 30th, is that the Blues have till then to sign Peanuts from Borussia Dortmund for a pre agreed £2.2m. No doubt if this date comes then goes, that value will at least double after Peanuts impressive display's for Everton this season. Peanuts says: "At this stage I’m in the dark. I’m still under contract to Borussia Dortmund until June 2009 and only when they give me the go-ahead can I start to negotiate with any possible club. Obviously they will only give me this permission when they have reached an agreement with a club that wishes to buy me, but so far I have not been informed by Dortmund that they have reached agreement with Everton. I have enjoyed my time here, as I said. But the clock is ticking for me because I have a maximum transfer fee of 3million euros (£2.2million) in my contract with Dortmund that is only valid until April 30th. I cannot allow this deadline to expire because this is a transfer fee that is affordable to a number of clubs, particularly in the Premiership. So reasonably speaking, I can only wait for a few more days for Everton to reach agreement with Dortmund. If that’s not going to be forthcoming, then I will then need to pursue the other options that I may have and finalise everything by the end of April." (09/04/08) Steven recovered from his snotty nose to play in today's derby game, but came off limping. He immediately had an ice pack strapped to his leg and he left the ground on crutches. He may be sent for an x-ray tomorrow. (30/03/08) Withdrawn From South African Game The South African FA has reported that Steven has withdrawn from South Africa's friendly game against Paraguay on Wednesday due to flu. Peanuts was ruled out of Saturday's clash with West Ham because of his snotty nose. The signs are good for him to recover for the Derby game this Sunday. (25/03/08) Could this Friday be a very Good Friday, as the rumour mill has it that Peanuts will put pen to paper before the week is out and become a proper Blue. Our South African midfielder is still only on loan till the end of the season, but Peanuts wants to make his loan deal permanent as does Moyesy. Bluekipper hunted down an Everton insider to get the inside info and what he had to say will fill you with delight. The Everton Insider says: "Now go away this is harassment, I am trying to have a shit in peace, please shut the door." (18/03/08) You could see how much we had missed Peanuts after his stunning display in the rout against Brann the other night. Some forget that the South African player is only here on loan till the end of the season from German side Dortmund. Moyesy though is comfortable about that, and with a fee being agreed last year, it won't be long till Peanuts is a fully fledged Blue. Moyesy says: "Obviously we would like to keep him. We have a deal with Borussia Dortmund to the end of the season so there’s not an absolute desperation to do that. We are quite comfortable with it at the moment. The fee is agreed. I think he’s enjoying himself. He feels wanted here. He’s comfortable with the surroundings. It’s easier that he has other African players here as well. He would tell you that he’s really enjoying his spell here. Does it surprise me that he’s doing well? He was very good at Ajax. What worried me was that he went to Borussia Dortmund and it didn’t happen for him. His stature sometimes gave me the feeling that there was no strength there. We knew of him when he was at Ajax," admitted Moyes. "But probably his sights were set high and he thought Everton were not as attractive as Borussia Dortmund at that time. Some of the top clubs were linked. He has the ability. He went to Germany and didn’t feel settled there. Now he feels at home here. We’ve found similarities with Mikel (Arteta). Both are comfortable on the ball." (23/02/08) After returning from Africa, Peanuts will have a scan to see the extent of his ankle injury. It looks like he will be out for 2 to 3 weeks. The South African International was upset that some parts of the media were thinking he had feigned his injury. Steven says: “This is just nonsense. I am injured and will be out for three weeks. I am not that stupid and I don’t care what anybody says. I was having a good tournament and would have loved to play.” (05/02/08) FIFA Force Pienaar To Go To South Africa FIFA
have made it clear that Peanuts can't play against Chelsea because South
Africa have invoked the 14-day rule. Everton had hoped that with South
Africa's first game in the Cup of Nations on 23rd January, 15 days after
the Chelsea encounter, that the player could play in the Carling Cup
Semi-Final. FIFA say the ruling relates to the start of the tournament,
which is 20th January. Everton hope to have Peanuts playing for Everton after Moyesy highlighted the 14-day rule to lay claim to the midfielder. Fifa regulations say a country can claim their player 14 days before international action. The African Cup of Nations begins on January 20, but South Africa aren't in action until January 23 - which is 15 days after the game at Stamford Bridge. Reports say South Africa may seek intervention from Fifa. Moyesy says: "Steven Pienaar will be here as well. We have invoked our 14-day rule and Steven will stay with us. South Africa are unhappy, I have spoken with (South Africa manager) Carlos Alberto Parreira and I understand his argument fully, but I have to fight for Everton and we need to keep our best players. As far as I see it, they play their first game on the 23rd, our game is the eighth so that is 15 days and Steven Pienaar will stay and play for us unless we are told differently." The rules dont specify if it is 14 days before the first game or 14 days before the start of the tournament, so they can’t change the rules now. He plays on the 23rd and as far as I am concerned that makes him available to play for Everton on the eighth. I have said many times, we are the ones that play the wages. We respect the African Nations and I am looking forward to watching the tournament. We have been on with it for weeks and months speaking to people about it and we thought a little bit of common sense would prevail. We will get him on the first plane out of London on Tuesday or Wednesday." Everton CEO Keith Wyness says: "The basis of club and country co-operation is crucial for all parties and that does involve give and take. Everyone here at Everton is looking forward to a proactive relationship with the South African FA grounded on a mutual respect for each other's aims and objectives. One of those aims for Everton is fielding the strongest possible team in a domestic cup semi-final and that includes having Steven available for selection under what we feel are the rules, as stipulated by Fifa. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Steven and the rest of the South African team all the very best for the tournament." (07/01/08) Peanuts plea to join up with his International team mates on Wednesday after the Carling Cup Semi Final has been turned down by the South African FA on orders from Manager Carlos Alberto Parreira. Peanuts is needed by South Africa as they prepare for their forthcoming African Nations Tournament in Ghana. Their opening match is not until January 23rd, but Parreira wants all his players for pre Tournament training in South Africa on Tuesday morning. Moyesy may have a point, why should we play players wages when we can't use them. Good news is The Yak and Joey are available for Everton's first Semi Final in thirteen years, and I am a tadge excited. Morio Sanyane, director of communications for the South African Football Association says: “Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira wanted to help out domestic clubs but realised that if he allowed Pienaar to stay he would have to let the other players attend late as well. This would not be in the best interest of the team. I’m sure Pienaar will be disappointed that he is missing out on this game, but at the end of the day your country must come first.” (06/01/08) Give Me Just a Little More Time Peanuts is trying desperately to gain a few days dispensation so he can appear for the Blues in the Carling Cup Semi Final First Leg against Chelski next Tuesday. The South African International is due to meet up with his International team mates on the 5th January, but Peanuts is hopeful that the South African FA will allow him to stay with the Blues for a few days more. Peanuts says: "I’m supposed to be going on January 5th, but we are trying our best so that I can stay for a bit longer. I hope we can agree on it because I am in between at the minute and there is nothing I can do. Maybe I will find out today or tomorrow. I am like any other player and I want to be involved in the big games. The semi-final with Chelsea is so important and I want to be a part of the team that goes to Stamford Bridge. You always want to play for your country but you also always want to play for your club. I’m stuck in the middle but I hope the association gives me a day free because they know how important this game is for me. It will be sad going away for so long especially when the team is doing so well. The spirit here is tremendous." (02/01/08) Playing for Everton is so good, Peanuts has again reiterated how he wants to make it a permanent move. He also talks about the hard decision to move away from Holland to Germany. Steven says: "It was the most difficult decision I ever made, to leave Ajax and Amsterdam, as the club had done so much for me. They gave me an opportunity to become a professional football player and made me feel welcome when I moved away from South Africa and all my friends and family. For me to move away was very difficult but I had to make a sacrifice to try and achieve my goal. Ajax will always be special and I became very close to the supporters there. I'm having fun at Everton; the team is good, the players are really friendly, I haven't felt this at home since I was at Ajax. I came to Everton to work hard and to secure a permanent deal - I definitely want to stay. If you make a mistake here, everyone laughs and you're encouraged to keep trying. The attacking football we play is because of this encouragement; confidence is high and we're getting results on the pitch. This really helps to build your confidence, so I've settled in quick and feel like I've been here for years now." (18/12/07) Peanuts took his time settling in at the start of the season, but has established himself in the first team squad. The South African international had another great game at West Ham last night and was instrumental in setting up the first goal for Ossie. Moyesy says: "He's turning into a very influential player for us and is playing really well. So we will miss him when he goes to the African Nations in January. For tonight and the coming games we hope he will keep playing as good as he has done." (13/12/07) Peanuts who is on loan till the end of the season from Borussia Dortmund is still desperate to make his move permanent. Stevie who has made a midfield place his own of late, loves his team mates, but more to the point he loves the fans. It is reciprocal my South African friend. Peanuts says: "That's what I want basically, to play for this club. The supporters are unbelievable, they are always behind the team. To play in the team that your colleagues are so friendly and so warm, I think every player wants to play for a club like that." (10/12/07) Peanuts is so happy at Everton that he wants to turn his loan deal into a permanent one. Stevie says: "I want to establish myself in the Premier League and to make my move permanent. At the moment I'm just here on loan, but it's not in my mind that I'm here on loan. I'm here to play football and fight for my place and it's up to me to make it permanent by showing I deserve to be here." (11/10//07) After scoring his first Everton goal on Sunday, Steven is looking to win on thursday to get the team into the next phase in Europe. Steven says: “European football is always different and, like you saw in the first leg, teams like to play at their own tempo. If we fall into their tempo, it is going to be a long night for us, so we have to go there and be very disciplined. If we are disciplined and organised, then I’m sure we can get a couple of goals. I remember playing in a similar game for Ajax against Brondy. We drew 2-2 in Denmark and thought we had one foot in the Champions League group stages. But they scored early on and we realised it wasn’t going to be easy. We needed to stay focused and in the end we got the result. We
are so hungry and it is every player’s dream to be involved in European
competition. We won’t be going to Ukraine to relax. We believe we can
get a result and we believe in ourselves. We needed a win before the
UEFA Cup game and it is good for confidence. We’re up into fifth place
now and it has been a great week for the team. I hope we can keep on
winning now. Peanuts thinks the goals we scored in midweek will give the team confidence to push on and score more, but only if the players keep possession. Steven says: "I think that all our strikers want to score goals because we haven't scored many goals in a few games. For us to get three goals away was good for confidence and I think that the guys deserved the goals. I think it's a boost we needed and I hope we carry on from here and take the last 20 minutes into Sunday's match. If we keep the ball it's the only way we can create chances. If you look at the three goals at Sheffield that's how they came, by keeping the ball." (28/09/07) Steve is prepared to play the waiting game but wants to make sure he makes his mark when the time comes. He may get his wish when he starts against Blackburn. Steve says: "I want to establish myself in the Premier League and to make my move permanent.“At the moment I’m just here on loan, but it’s not in my mind that I’m here on loan. I’m here to play football and fight for my place and it’s up to me to make it permanent by working hard and showing I deserve to be here.The bad season is behind me and I’m just looking forward to playing football and enjoying myself again.” “I’m settling in well here. The guys are quite friendly and are helping me settle into a new culture so I’m happy. I’d seen English football on television a lot before I came, but my international colleagues always phoned me and told me I must come over to England and play because the game is fast and I would enjoy it.”(24/08/07) Steve came on for the last 20 minutes to make his debut against Wigan and was involved in the second goal. Moyesy says: "Steve did well when he came on, he played a good ball in for the goal. People will see he is a tidy footballer and will do well here. That was the first chance we have had to give him a run-out because of all the problems over his visa, so we were more than pleased with that. He has been a Champions League player with Ajax and Borussia Dortmund, so he will handle the pressure here." (13/08/07) Everton's new signing scored on his unofficial debut in the 4-0 win against Ventura County Fusion. He is glad to have his old team mate, Shandy Andy around and hopes he the great team spirit can help him stay longer in the Premiership, than just the one year he's here on loan. Stevie says: “It’s going okay so far and the lads have been really friendly. I’m excited by it all and I’m really looking forward to the new season. For me personally it’s good timing because I can meet the lads before the season and adjust quickly and get to the know the way they want to play. In England the football is different, it’s hard-working and the pace is faster. There are a lot of people watching and there is a lot of media. I am excited by it all. Andy is a very friendly person to have around and he likes making jokes and it’s always nice to meet up with your old team-mates. The spirit is so good and they are so close to each other. If you are part of a tight unit and people accept you it makes you feel at ease and that’s when you can play at your best. My long-term ambitions are to do my best for Everton and stay in the Premier League. We’ll take it to the end of the year but I hope I am here longer.” (26/07/07) Moyesy secured his second signing of the Summer, albeit on a season long loan. Steven Pienaar has been granted his work permit and signed on the dotted line from German Club Borussia Dortmund. The South African has already flown out to Los Angeles to join up with his team mates, and he is delighted to join a 'traditional club', like the Blues and he is relishing playing back on the European stage. Traditional club, Jesus we have been selling Curry and Tikka pies for the last few seasons, and those tropical fruit drinks, we are a club on the move, we even have fridges in some parts of the ground to boot. Stevie says: "I am really excited to have joined a traditional club like Everton. It is always a good opportunity for the players to play in Europe and I am looking forward to making a return myself as I missed it last season." (24/07/07) |
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