Everton - Reliving past Glories!
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Everton look to potentially tricky September
01.09.2010
After a fantastic start to his managerial career at high flying Everton, Andy Gray will look to maintain his sides early season form that see's them win their first three Premier League games. The most impressive was Everton's 2 - 0 shut out against the reigning Premier League Champions Chelsea at Goodison Park. There is a growing belief around the club that this might indeed be the right man to lead Everton forward despite a lack of experience Andy Gray has already shown his credentials with some strong performances from his side.
One man who has signs of having a top season is Tim Cahill who has scored four goals in his first 4 club appearances so far this season, with all of those four goals coming from area's of the pitch not usually associated with the Australian star. But there is no doubt that Andy Gray will be delighted with all of his signings from the transfer window, with his new look strike force already showing that they will be able to perform at this level.
September Fixtures
Everton face a tough September month facing the likes of Manchester City away, which will no doubt prove a tricky match up, with the Manchester club looking to break into the top four this season. The second game of the season see's Everton face up to a team that did last season break the monopoly of the 'Big Four'. Everton boss Andy Gray will be delighted with a home tie against high-flying Championship outfit Q.P.R, and will be expected to name a side similar to that, who faced Leeds United in the Second Round tie. With the final match of the month a tough away trip to Sunderland, there is no doubt that Everton will be tested this month, and Andy Gray's credentials as boss will be put under a further scrutiny.
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Premier League Summer Transfer Window Round-up
01.09.2010
The 31st of August was not the frantic close to a transfer window that we so often see. A total net spend upwards of £285 million took place. A large chunk of the £285 figure was contributed to by Manchester City, with the Arabian coffers providing a sixth of that amount on their own. However, only time will tell as to whether the money that continually gets thrown at this club will be worth it.
It wouldn't have required a genius to state that Manchester City were indeed going to be the busiest club in the transfer window, spending the most money. The cash rich club was one of the earliest movers in the transfer market when they secured Lille's want away star Eden Hazard for £19,500,000. They also added to their ranks Domenico Criscito £13,500,000 from Genoa, Jermaine Jenas £4,500,000 from Tottenham, Bryan Ruiz £14,500,000 from FC Twente and finally Zakaria Labyard £3,000,000 from PSV. With such a large number of incoming players, City faced the headache of trying to trim the squad in a bid to cope with the new 25-man squad regulations introduced to the Premier League.
Many will be surprised that only one of their considered first team, fringe player, Pablo Zabaleta left to Werder Bremen on a season long loan. This means that there is no doubt that there will be unrest in the Manchester City ranks, as players not chosen in the 25-man squad will have to go a season without representing their club.
The second highest spending club in the Premier League was Chelsea, spending an impressive £23,675,000 on 5 players, with the marquee signing being securing the signature of highly rated Brazilian striker Neymar who moved to the London club for a fee believed to be in the region of £17,000,000. With Chelsea fans no doubt highly anticipating the site of seeing the Brazilian star representing the Blues. The other signings were somewhat of lower statute including that of Everton's Jose Baxter who moved to the London club for £3,400,000, Brice Ntambwe £1,000,000 from Birmingham City, Mamaye Tounkara £1,200,000 from AS Monaco and finally Piotr Parzyszek £875,000 from Dutch club, De Graafschap.
An unlikely club fell into the place of the third highest spenders in the summer Premier League with Everton bringing in an impressive nine players in spending a grand total of £23,000,000. However, this was largely thanks to the sales of first Diniyar Bilyaletdinov to Stuttgart for a fee of £7,250,000, Louis Saha to Tottenham for £4,300,000, Seamus Coleman to Newcastle for £7,500,000, Jose Baxter to Chelsea for £3,400,000 and finally Shane Duffy to Fulham for a fee of £1,800,000. This meant that the Merseyside club raked in an in impressive £24,500,000 meaning that their net spend was £1,500,000 profit despite adding some much needed depth to their small squad.
With the marquee signature of Moussa Sissoko from Toulouse FC for a fee of £11,500,000 there is no doubt that the Everton fans see this as a signal of intent from the club and believe that there are good times ahead. Other signings consisted of Romelu Lukaku for £5,500,000 from Anderlecht, Tom Cairney £2,000,000 from Hull City, Alita Turan £1,500,000 from GF 38. There is growing belief within the club that with this added depth that Everton will be able to compete for top honours as well as fielding strong squads in the League and FA Cups.
Arsenal were also surprisingly active in the summer transfer window bringing in eight players spending £18,750,000, with the marquee signing being Kevin Gameiro from FC Lorient for £7,750,000. There is no doubt that there is still going to be doubt around the Arsenal camp that Arsene Wenger has not strengthened the side in key areas, being in defence and the goalkeeping department that have proved such a liability in the past seasons. The main defensive figure that Wenger secured was the signature of Gonzalo Pineda from Cruz Azul for a fee of £2,000,000.
Manchester United secured a somewhat marquee signing of Balazs Dzsudzsak from PSV for £12,250,000 as Sir Alex looked to find a potential replacement to the hole that is going to be left once the ever green Welsh Wizard Ryan Giggs, does eventually retire. Many people will also be surprised that Sir Alex has opted to send out the experienced South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung to FC Bayern as he looks to trim the squad ahead of the Premier League campaign.
Liverpool under the ownership of NESV decided to splash the cash securing the signature of five new players with the marquee signing being Charles N'Zogbia from Wigan for a fee of £11,250,000 on a 5-year deal. The want away Wigan star had stated that he was delighted to be given the opportunity to play for a club with the stature that Liverpool has and hoped that he could help them regain their rightful place back in the top four of the Premier League. Another interesting transfer was the signature of Tomas Necid from CSKA Moscow for £6,250,000 who looks like a fantastic prospect ahead of the coming season. The other players secured were Cameron Jerome from Birmingham City for £6,000,000 as new manager Kenny Dalglish looked to further bolster the Liverpool front line since the departure of Fernando Torres to Chelsea.
Finally Sunderland were the only other really active club in the transfer window when they secured the signature of five new faced, with the stand out figure being Argentinian left back and central defender German Re from Estudiantes for a fee of £6,500,000, as well as securing the signature of David Goodwillie £5,250,000 from Dundee United, Lee Wallace £2,800,000 from Hearts, Dzmitry Verkhovtsov £550,000 from Naftan and finally Mitchel Megginson for £220,000 from Aberdeen. There is a growing belief that despite the departure of Darren Bent from Sunderland that the club can push on have a positive campaign.
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nice win against stoke! but looks like the month will be tougth ahead! take no prisoners though! just keep it going how you are! nice to see a comment from fergie drop in there as well! love your manager reactions! 
and brilliant transfer window update! looked and read awesome! keep it up
and brilliant transfer window update! looked and read awesome! keep it upnice win against stoke! but looks like the month will be tougth ahead! take no prisoners though! just keep it going how you are! nice to see a comment from fergie drop in there as well! love your manager reactions!
Cheers buddy, will get another update done asap
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Cheers mate, yeh I looked at the lad and it was between him and Mark Beevers who fitted into my price range, and wanted to get a young english lad so went for Bennett, look forward to seeing how good he becomes!
Cheers buddy, will get another update done asap
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Cheers mate, yeh I looked at the lad and it was between him and Mark Beevers who fitted into my price range, and wanted to get a young english lad so went for Bennett, look forward to seeing how good he becomes!
He won't disappoint, I had him on my Peterborough save and he ended up at Inter Milan for £17.5m
Everton overcome City in dominant display
11.09.2010
EPL - Match Day 4
Man City
Romelu Lukaku (17)
R Lukaku - J Vossen
T Cahill
J Rodwell - M Arteta
M Fellaini
L Baines - J Heitinga - P Jagielka - P Neville (c)
T Howard
Everton got their month started with a flyer thanks to a dominant display at the City of Manchester Stadium, with the visitors limiting Manchester City to just one shot on target in the entire 90 minutes. Manchester City came into the game unbeaten having drawn two out of their three matches and won against Sunderland. However during the match against Everton the home side struggled to get on the ball and when they did they didn't manage to create and solid chances. Everton looked the stronger team straight from the kick creating several early chances, with Jelle Vossen causing Manchester CIty all kinds of problems, cutting to the right flank and working between the lines.
The first and only goal of the day came courtesy of some fantastic work down the left flank from Leighton Baines and Romelu Lukaku who seem to have a growing understanding with the season reaching it's fourth league match. With some great interplay Lukaku played the ball to Baines before the ever present Englishman played it back to the Belgian star who scored a typically placed effort leaving Joe Hart stranded wondering how Lukaku had managed to get the ball past him.
Lukaku has delighted Everton fans with his instant impact
Everton continued to dominate a poor Manchester City side with Mikel Arteta controlling the midfield with consummate ease, him and Jack Rodwell looked fantastic in possession today getting forward on many occasions the knowledge that Marouane Fellaini providing that invaluable safety net. As the game progressed the home side began to show more and more frustrated giving away petty fouls and surrendering possession on too many occasions. Lukaku continued to cause the Manchester City defenders problems throughout the entire match and could have made it 2 - 0 after some great work between the two Belgians up front.
Andy Gray will be delighted with the resilience that his side showed today against a Manchester City with aspirations of securing a top four position. They restricted the home side to just one shot on target and dominated possession despite playing away from home. On another day Everton could have won with 3 or 4. Andy Gray's side look completely different to the Everton side of last season being able to dominate games and remaining strong at the back, this is no doubt a winning formula for the Toffee's and they will hope that they can maintain this early season form.
Absolutely wonderful bud! the thought and effort that goes into your stories are phenominal! every update is wonderful to read! awesome to see lukaku off the mark too! keep it up bud!
Cheers buddy, yeh he really has made a great impact loving how good he can get as well
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Redknapp doubts Everton's chances
18.09.2010
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has turned up the heat against Everton ahead of Saturday's clash with potential top four rivals Everton by doubting that they can maintain their early season form. Redknapp said he believed that the top four will contain Manchester United, Chelsea, potentially Arsenal and then the final place will fall to Spurs or Manchester City, discounting both Merseyside clubs Liverpool and Everton.
"If you look at the history over the past few years Everton have struggled with consistency, and that is what you need to be able to qualify for the top four." he said.
He added: "However, they don't have any European matches to contend with so this means that they can focus all their resources on the league in an effort to gatecrash the top four."
Redknapp lead Spurs last season to the pinnacle of club sport in qualifying for the Champions League
Despite Spurs qualifying for the Champions League and looking to once again push for the top four, Tottenham have been disappointing so far in the season lying in 14th position winning just 1 out of their first 4 matches losing to Sunderland and only securing a single point against Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers. As well as their poor start to the season Spurs have also crashed out of the Champions League suffering defeat to Sampdoria in the Champions League Best Placed Play off.
There is no doubt that the London club will be looking to put this disappointment behind them and get their season back on track against Everton.
"Yes, Everton are a good side, and yes, they might be able the top of the table at the moment, but we have quality players and will be looking to take the game to them."
Tim Cahill brace sinks frustrated Spurs
19.09.2010
EPL - Match Day 5
Everton
Tim Cahill (27, 48), Jelle Vossen (77)
R Lukaku - J Vossen
T Cahill
J Rodwell - M Arteta
M Fellaini
L Baines - J Heitinga - P Jagielka - P Neville (c)
T Howard
In the build up to today's clash with Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Redknapp had written off Everton's chances stating that he believed they wouldn't be able to maintain their early season form. He was certainly left eating his words after he witnessed his Tottenham side get torn to shreds and reduced to frustration by an Everton side who look stronger and stronger every week. During the match Harry Redknapp saw his side pick up 6 yellow cards and continuously give away silly free kick all over the park, the frustration seems to be growing within the Tottenham camp in the wake of their Champions League defeat.
With Everton playing a high line and with high levels of closing down it became immediately apparent that Tottenham didn't like this and picked up a yellow card in just the 3rd minute when Gallas went in hard on striker Jelle Vossen. Tim Cahill almost opened the scoring in the first minute but his shot was fired straight into the body of Spurs keeper Gomes. In the fifth minute Jermaine Defoe showed his early frustration by going in hard on Everton left back Leighton Baines picking up his sides second yellow card in the early stages of the match. The deadlock was finally broken in the 27th minute in typical Tim Cahill fashion beating Gallas in the air to score a powerful headed effort.
Cahill has started the 2010/11 campaign in flying fashion
With the teams going in at half time at 1 - 0, Tottenham will have been hoping that they had weathered the Everton storm, but this certainly wasn't the case with that man again, Tim Cahill grabbing his second goal of the day courtesy of a goalkeeping howler from Gomes after a Romelu Lukaku who's cross was dropped straight at the feet of the 30 year-old Australian. Everton continued to press Tottenham and the London club could not get any time on the ball to create chances. This was mainly down to Everton's incredible work rate and and ability on the ball once they won in back being able to hold onto the ball once they had won in back. Tottenham nearly got back into the game with Van der Vaart being played clean through, but Phil Jagielka showed pace and precision putting in a fantastic last ditch tackle to take the ball away from the Dutch star.
There was no surprise that when the third goal eventually came that Tim Cahill was heavily involved picking up the ball from substitute Jermaine Beckford before running forward and playing a delightful pass for Belgian poacher Jelle Vossen who fired a powerfully placed effort past the despairing Tottenham keeper Gomes. With the game all but over Andy Gray opted to give new signings Gary Deegan and Moussa Sissoko some game time bringing on the duo with 13 minutes remaining. Tottenham nearly grabbed a consolation goal in the 85th minute with Tim Howard producing a delightful double save from Jermaine Defoe and Peter Crouch before the ball was cleared.
Jelle Vossen was delighted to score his 4th goal of the Premier League campaign
This victory see's Everton maintain a 5 match winning streak in the Premier League, seeing them storm straight to the top of the Premier League, 3 points ahead of second placed Manchester United on 12 points. Everton will be delighted with their early season form that see's them 9 points better off than this time last season when they suffered 3 defeats in their first 5 games, including that fateful 6 - 1 loss at Goodison Park by Arsenal on the opening day of the season.
Andy Gray looked overjoyed once again with the way his side performed and had every reason to be, as they once again produced a clean sheet making that 4 in their first 5 games when they conceded a cheap goal against Aston Villa in their second league game. The thing that will delight the Everton boss mostly will be the fact that his team have scored 12 goals in their first 5 games showing that their new signings up front have gelled quickly and this is an area of the pitch where Everton have struggled. Another bonus that can be taken from the game is the fact that Everton dominated possession and rarely look threatened despite Spurs getting 5 shots on target Tim Howard rarely looked flustered.
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Nice stuff mate! Keep it up! What position/role are you playing Timmy Cahill in? He cant seem to buy a goal in my Australia save!
AMC - Inside Forward - Attack he's unbelievable, I was surprised myself, I thought i'd play him in that role and hope I'd recreate his headed goals but he seems to be hitting them in from all over the park!
Steven Herkes
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ya couldn't tell me which roll you play vossen i have him in the first season at sunderland and cant seem to get a goal from him?
Poacher - attack, he works really well with Lukaku and seem's to get most of his goals through real poachers goals, sliding finishes etc
billymacca
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you know how to write a great story mate, KIU
you know how to write a great story mate, KIU
Haha cheers buddy, do my best!! Comes from a fair bit of practise though!!
Steven Herkes
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thanks very much mate and great story by the way
no worries buddy hope it helps, thanks for feedback also