BLOG POSTS ARCHIVE - February 2007
Posted Feb 28th 2007, 9:42pm
Everton Join Cut-Price Club
Season ticket prices at Goodison Park for next season have been lowered for a month.
There will be a 10% discount on an annual admission for the 2007/08 campaign, which will be available for season ticket holders, between April 1st and April 28th.
Prices thereafter will be frozen at the same as this season's, which are £574 for the most expensive seats - Park End Stand - and £234 for a child's place in the Family Enclosure, although that will now drop to the equivalent of £10 a match.
Blues Chief Executive Keith Wyness is aware of the recent criticism of ticket prices in the Premiership and the club have reacted by following Bolton Wanderers' and Blackburn Rovers' example by appeasing fans' concerns.
"Last year over 80% of our season ticket holders benefited from a two-week price freeze and this prompted our decision to introduce a four-week window this time around to give our fans more time to take advantage.
"The structure of this year's offer will also mean in many cases supporters buying during the early bird window can actually benefit from a cheaper seat than 12 months ago even if they did the same and purchased early last year."
The difference between Everton and their league rivals is that the Trotters and their Lancashire chums from Ewood Park reduced their prices after falling attendances.
Everton's average gates this season are 36,567, which is 90.5% of their capacity, so it is an admired step.
Blackburn have the lowest percentage with just 68.2% - the lowest in the top division - of their capacity filled this season. Bolton's isn't totally as they would be satisfied with either, with 83.2%.
The next step would obviously be for all of the Premiership teams to follow suit, but there are no fewer than twelve of the twenty sides in the league, filling more than 95% of their ground on average, every game.
So they would have no excuse, to lower their prices as they would see no benefit, to attract the fans. The only real reason would be to placate the possible boycotting of fixtures being quietly organised around the country, albeit by the minority.
That doesn’t seem as far away as you would think. Manchester United fans were furious at being charged £45 to watch their side against Fulham at Craven Cottage, during the weekend as their rivals City pay £25 for the same trip. Strange you may think, and somewhat unfair. But the prices are based on a Category system that Fulham employ. £45 for Category A’s – Arsenal, United, Chelsea and Liverpool fall into that grade.
Very unfortunate, as it seems the price of success!!!
Posted Feb 25th 2007, 2:31pm
Blues Dent Watford Survival Hopes
Earlier this season, Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd, commented that for his side to finish 17th would be "a disappointment". Unfortunately, it seems a little wide of the mark, and he may want to detract it now.
Their hopes of a late, great escape were dealt a cruel blow yesterday at Vicarage Road as a side close to Everton's full-strength, crushed them 3-0 and it could have been a wider margin, with a few missed chances and a couple of great saves by deputising 'keeper Richard Lee.
Lee appeared on BBC 2 programme Dragon's Den, where he and a pal were looking for investment to open a new shop, selling baseball caps. They already had two "Dr. Cap" shops and were given an investment of £150,000 to open a third.
He must have been wanting to cover his face early on, when a Tim Cahill volley slipped through his grasp and he had to scramble back and back to throw his hat on the ball as it rolled towards the unguarded net. Luckily, he manager to smother it a couple of yards shy of the goal-line, but he mis-kicked a goal-kick upfield, straight out of play for a throw-in (record number of hyphens in one sentence?) a few minutes later and must have been fearing the worst, as Everton pressed forward.
It was the home side who had the first effort on goal within a minute of the kick-off, breaking forward on the counter-attack, following a poor cross from Phil Neville, Darius Henderson shrugging off the Blues' captain but hitting a tame shot into the midriff of Tim Howard from the edge of the penalty area, when he had options to his left and right, not to mention the Everton rearguard stretched.
Hornets boss, Boothroyd also said pre-match, that his side was a very different one from the one that was controversially beaten on the opening day of the season at Goodison. That was true in one respect; they were soundly beaten and couldn't really complain about the result on this occasion.
It was seven minutes before the visitors mustered an effort on goal of their own; Cahill's acrobatic volley, under pressure, flying well wide of the target.
A cleverly rehearsed free-kick from Mikel Arteta, found on-loan midfielder Manuel Fernandes in plenty of space on the edge of the box, and although he did take some time to control and get his shot away, it was the first warning shot, for the Watford defence, even though it was a couple of yards wide of the left-hand upright.
Lee's near-misdemeanour was resurrected just two minutes after his embarrassing scurry to retrieve Cahill's shot. The Australian midfielder was involved once more as, he stroked a ball into Andrew Johnson, whose header was going towards the top corner, Lee comfortably but palmed the ball away for a corner.
But the all-important breakthrough arrived on 22 minutes, when Cahill's side-footed effort was fumbled by the keeper, allowing a mixture of Fernandes and Johnson to poke the loose ball into the back of the net, the Portuguese was given the goal, having got the final touch. (It was nice for me as I had backed him to score at anytime in the match at odds of 6/1.)
Almost immediately from the restart, a long punt up field was headed on by Johnson, who raced on to his own knock-on and on towards goal. His run was impeded by Malky MacKay, and the penalty was eventually awarded. Jay Demerit was booked for unsporting behaviour, and Johnson took the penalty himself and drilled in down the centre of goal, with Lee diving to his left-hand side.
Cahill could have made it three goals in eight minutes, after a chipped ball forward was flicked onto him by James Beattie, with the midfielder clean through. He took two quick touches before lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper, but also over the crossbar.
The crowd was almost shell-shocked as were the Watford players and they struggled to react for a while until eight minutes before the interval, when Jordan Stewart's right wing free kick was headed at goal by MacKay and Howard was equal to it, though replays showed it may have been going wide.
Former Sheffield United striker Steven Kabba also tested the US international, without no such luck.
Beattie also showed why he hasn't scored from open play this season. His last goal preceding his two penalties this campaign, was a majestic chip over Fulham's Tony Warner almost twelve months ago, 11th March to be exact. A free-kick in his own half from Joseph Yobo was well seized upon by Johnson, who squared a pass to the unmarked Beattie, but as always, he tried to take the leather off the ball as blazed over from eight yards.
Moyes' team talk should have been for Everton to contain the ensuing Watford attack in the second forty-five, and push them back, but the home side pressed and pressed and were nearly rewarded just before the hour mark, when substitute Tamas Priskin, found space to fire a shot just past the left post of Howard.
The Hungarian Priskin, was at the heart of most of the best chances for the Vicarage Road outfit, as he battled with Carsley in the midfield before spreading the play to Kabba, who did extremely well to get a cross in from the right under the close intentions of Joleon Lescott. Priskin connected with a header that bounced a few feet wide of the far post.
It looked like the home side would get a goal back and force Everton into a real battle but fortunately for the Blues and Moyes in particular, whose tactics when in front seem naive and negative, and the test never really came.
Arteta nearly grabbed his second goal in as many games when a lovely move and drag-through his legs from Cahill, found the Spaniard free, twenty yards out, he caressed the ball with the side of his right foot, narrowly avoiding the bottom left corner of Lee's net.
Everton's top scorer Johnson was replaced on 77 minutes, by James Vaughan, then three minutes later, the tiring Manuel Fernandes was replaced by Leon Osman, who has come in for some horrendous criticism from sections of the fans over the last eighteen months - and he delivered the perfect answer.
Beattie latched onto a flicked header from Vaughan, and knocked a pass back to Osman, who shifted the ball onto his supposed weaker left foot and drove a fantastic shot past the well beaten goalkeeper to ensure an emphatic scoreline was achieved.
It should have indeed been a wider margin, but the travelling fans won't complain and a thirteenth win in sixteen games against Watford will have sent them home happy. Maybe with the Hornets paying the famous Everton anthem 'Z-Cars' as the teams walk out on a match day boosts the team.
The march towards Europe is back on track for Everton while at the bottom, Watford need about four wins from their last ten Premiership fixtures, to give them a chance of staying up.
Everton Man of the Match: Andrew Johnson - chased every loose ball and proved a menace to the Watford defence.
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sorry for watford have not got enough quality for this level. Young and Foster were the best but will no longer be with you for next season.
Posted by Terry Griffiths, Feb 26th 2007, 12:22pm
Posted Feb 24th 2007, 2:30am
Watford v Everton Preview
What an important game for these two sides, for very different reasons.
Watford have had an indifferent season; a lot of commitment but lacking in real quality. They will be desperate to keep their mini-run going to help stave off relegation.
A vital 1-0 away win at Upton Park - their second there in a fortnight - was quickly followed by an FA Cup advance to the Quarter Final stage, beating Championship side, Ipswich by the same scoreline at home, and then a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic at Vicarage Road.
Everton on the otherhand, seem to be teasing themselves with the prospect of European football next season. Just when they seem to be on a decent run, they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and capitulate.
They have yet to win more than two successive games in all competitions, since January last year, when they won 1-0 at Fratton Park, knocked Millwall out of the FA Cup at the second opportunity, and defeated the travel sick Arsenal at Goodison.
The Hornets really thought they had a chance to gain a vital three points midweek, when Wigan's Fitz Hall was harshly sent off for nothing more than a genuine challenge for the ball, although it did appear that he led with two feet - and he has since lost an appeal for that dismissal and will now be missing from the Latics line-up for almost over a month.
It was really a chance missed, and they would have moved off the bottom of the table, had they hung onto their lead through Darius Henderson for more than 16 minutes.
Their best run this season in the Premiership is a sequence of games between the end of October and the beginning of November, when they were unbeaten in five games in all competitions, although they did lose the fifth game on penalties in the Carling Cup to Newcastle United.
One fan I interviewed was pretty hopeful for than pessimistic.
"Even the most optimistic Watford supporter (bar Aidy Boothroyd) would struggle to make a case for us," said Simon Mail.
In the lead up to the Everton fixture I asked him if he was still bitter at the wrongfully awarded penalty for the Blues at Goodison in the opening game of the season, there was a feeling of brackishness, although it was totally understandable; a tea that comes up to the best league in the world, surely can do without decisions of that ilk, it's hard enough accruing points of your own accord.... and fairly.
"It certainly hurt at the time. Quite possibly the worst refereeing decision of the season and probably the first too! The penalty that never was will certainly act as extra motivation. The game is so important though because we cannot afford to drop any points at home at this stage.
Everton on the otherhand will not be so empathetic, but some of their results against 'em at the bottom of the table in the history of the Premiership, can be read as pathetic. Relegated teams have won their fair share of points against the Blues.
Defeats against Relegated sides:
1992 A C Palace 0-2
1995 A QPR 1-3
1996 H Sunderland 1-3
1996 H Middlesbrough 1-2
1997 A Sunderland 0-3
1997 H C Palace 1-2
1999 H Nottm F 0-1
2000 A Man City 0-5
2000 H Coventry 1-2
2004 A Wolves 1-2
I think that with Tim Cahill back and hopefull if Andrew Johnson comes through his fitness test without any adverse effects, the we should be ok for a draw at the very least.
But it won't be without a fight!
The rest of the interview with Simon is below:
Q. How do you think Aidy Boothroyd has done this season?
A. "Aidy Boothroyd is a top young manager. But he probably thought he was slightly better than he is. Who wouldn't after his debut season? But to say 17th would be a disappointment looks foolish now. You have to admire his optimism. But tactically we are too one dimensional and our direct football has got worse as the season has gone on. Failing to get more firepower up front in the summer has come back to haunt us since King's injury."
Q. Sticking with transfers, do you think it was the right time to cash in on Ashley Young, or was the writing on the wall? And has the manager spent the money wisely?
A. "Ashley Young is a class act and will be a top player for Villa. But the money was so good we simply could not turn it down. It will keep us safe for years to come and allow us to rebuild. Most of the signings brought in after look like cheap options with a view to the Championship next year. Hopefully we will have some spending power in the summer."
Q. So, if the R-word does happen, can you bounce back straight away?
A. "Watford will be in great shape to bounce back. Few debts, plenty of good Championship players and a fine young manager. Put your money on the Hornets for a quick return."
Thanks for your time Simon, but I'm hoping we can get the three points and you stay up as well.
Team News:
Watford - There is a slight chance that 'keeper Ben Foster could figure if he recovers from the deal leg, which he suffered in the midweek draw with Wigan. Richard Lee will almost certainly deputise, with veteran Alec Chamberlain or youth keeper Scott Loach moving up to the bench.
Everton - The Blues will be hoping Andrew Johnson passes his late fitness test on the medial knee ligament problem that kept him out of the 1-2 home defeat against Spurs on Wednesday night. Tim Cahill returns from suspension, but Nuno Valente (calf) and Andy van der Meyde (groin) are out.
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
He has shown one red card - in his last match, Ibrahima Sonko of Reading against Aston Villa - and thirteen yellow cards in the six matches he has officiated in.
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Posted Feb 23rd 2007, 9:03pm
Toffees Miss Key Players In Defeat To Spurs
A disappointing performance from the Blues, resulted in a third defeat at Goodison Park in the league this season.
Goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Jermaine Jenas consigned Everton to a 1-2 reverse, Mikel Arteta's delightful free-kick levelling matters before half-time.
David Moyes started with a twin strike-force of James Beattie and Victor Anichebe, due to the enforced withdrawal of England forward Andrew Johnson, with a strained medial knee ligament problem.
Although, Moyes brought off youngster Anichebe after an almost anonymous first 45 minutes, that saw left-back Gary Naysmith replacing him.
Tottenham were more swift in their passing, but the first real opportunity fell to Anichebe from 25 yards, but he snatched at a half volley and it flew well wide of Paul Robinson's right-hand post.
Three minutes later, Leon Osman volleyed aright-footed effort which the visitors 'keeper did well to turn around the post for a corner.
Almost straight away, Everton lost possession in the midfield, and Aaron Lennon burst through the Everton defence and drilled a powerful drive into the midriff of Tim Howard.
It served as a warning which the home side never woke up to, as Osman dilly-dallied on the ball and was eventually dispossessed on the halfway line. The ball broke on the right flank to Lennon, who raced down the wing and squared a pass across the penalty area, for the unmarked Berbatov to side-foot past Howard for the opener.
It took only five minutes for Everton to come back, when Phil Neville's lofted pass forward, caught out Michael Dawson at centre-half and left Anichebe the wrong side of the Tottenham defence. He was clean through and running at goal when Dawson unsportingly, but cleverly, thwarted the Nigerian by pulling him back and denying him a clear goalscoring chance. Dawson was booked only his fellow defenders, who were just about covering, stopped referee Uriah Rennie giving the England player his marching orders.
There was a lengthy delay in the proceedings, as a few of the Tottenham players complained and protested about the decision, as the linesman on the far side, raised his flag for a foul on Dawson by Anichebe, but then changed his decision.
Unfortunately for the Tottenham players, Arteta dispatched the free-kick ruthlessly and with some aplomb across Robinson's goal and in off the foot of the post, to drag Everton level, and as the Blues celebrated with the crowd, the away team continued show their grievances at the awarding of the foul.
Osman went close again just after the interval as Arteta's slide-rule free-kick, saw him free on the edge of the penalty area, and Osman swivelled and shot left footed a couple of yards shy of the bottom left corner.
The Spaniard was the victim of a terrible challenge by Pascal Chimbonda, which again was refuted by the visitors, incredibly, as his studs went all the way down Arteta's shin. He floated the free-kick over the bar.
Ten minutes into the second period, Robbie Keane gave his first real threat in attack, as he held of the challenge of Alan Stubbs and let his Bulgarian forward partner take the ball from him and speed towards Howard; his reasonable strike was well gathered by the American International.
At the other end, James Beattie didn't have the luxury of any support upfront after the withdrawal of Anichebe at the interval and was forced to spend long periods of the last half hour chasing lost causes.
For the third time in the match Osman had a chance to score, after Berbatov had fouled Arteta, and the victim crossed for the attacking midfielder to inexplicably rise above three Spurs players, only to nod wide.
It seemed like the game could go either way, and with Joleon Lescott pushing further forward, it was his run that forced Chimbonda to bring him down as he galloped in between the challenge of the Frenchman and Lennon.
Arteta took the dead ball, but instead of whipping in a dangerous cross, he seemed to mis-hit the ball and send it into the side-netting at Robinson's near post.
With the clock ticking down the pace of the game became more frenetic, and both sides were stretched. Everton had more of the sustained possession, with Martin Jol's side playing on the counter-attack.
But that soon changed and Berbatov could have won it for them, with less than ten minutes on the clock, when he made space just inside the box, only fire over when it looked like he would double his and Tottenham's tally. Howard was furious with his defence for allowing the Bulgarian the freedom.
Keane then wriggled free of Stubbs, only to overrun the ball and force himself wide and never really threatened the frame of the goal as he screwed a left-footed effort tamely wide.
Everton were struggling to keep the ball and Spurs looked the more likely winners, and with most of the home players running on empty, midfielder Manuel Fernandes was replaced by defender Tony Hibbert; to the utter disgust of the crowd, with striker James Vaughan left on the bench. Surely in a game Everton had to win, it might have been more sensible going for it a bringing the Premiership's youngest ever scorer on to bolster the front line. - There are unconfirmed rumours of a fallout involving Vaughan, Moyes and the recently departed Mark Hughes, more to follow -
With less than two minutes of normal time to go, Jermain Jenas was given time and space to curl a shot past Howard and into the same corner as Arteta had in the first half.
There was time for Lescott to be denied almost on the line from Dawson, who headed behind and Vaughan to mis-kick from eight yards, but it wasn't to be and Tottenham recorded their third win in succession at Goodison Park.
Moyes' tactics left a lot to be desired and Everton look one-dimensional without Johnson and Cahill in the side; although a lot of the teams outside the current top four do also. Europe looks a big ask on this performance and the trip to Watford on Saturday is a crucial one.
Everton Man of the Match: Mikel Arteta - Great free-kick and saw a lot of possession, and crossing was quality at times. Wasted a couple of other set-pieces though.
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Posted Feb 19th 2007, 7:18pm
In The Last Few Days.....
Apologies for being away the last few days, it was my Dad's birthday on Friday and Southern Comfort mixed with a lot of Karaoke, and all-round entertaining, left me a little worse for wear over the weekend.
But I am back with a vengeance to catch up on what I’ve missed out on, and here are the latest updates.
Everton’s on-loan goaltender…. Errr….. Goalkeeper, Tim Howard has signed the most lucrative contract for an American Soccer….football player, period.
Howard was virtually declared as unwanted by his manager, Siralex/Fergie at Old Trafford and the Blues stepped in to make him a Blue permanently.
His performances on the whole this season have been impressive and although he hasn’t impressed me as much as Nigel Martyn did, he is much better than Dicky Wright, and will prove a stubborn ‘Cat’ to shift for the rising stars, Iain Turner and John Ruddy.
Howard wasn’t the only player at Goodison celebrating a new deal; Portuguese full-back Nuno Valente has signed a one-year extension and will be a Toffee until July 2008 at least.
Valente has struggled with injury this season and is out at the moment with a knee problem sustained in the 1-4 FA Cup defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers on January 7.
But David Moyes took up the option of a further twelve months available, in the 32-year-old defender’s contract, who joined from Porto in August 2005, and will be happy that he agreed.
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Posted Feb 13th 2007, 8:58pm
Hibbert Injured...Again!
Unlucky Everton right-back Tony Hibbert has had a scan on his injured knee.
But thankfully, Blues Head Physio, Mick 'Basil' Rathbone has said that the results were positive and Hibbert shouldn't face too long on the sidelines.
"Tony had a bad knock on the outside of his knee against Liverpool," said Rathbone.
"It was very badly bruised and also very painful for him but fortunately the MR scan we had done on Monday seems to confirm that it is no more than bruising and hopefully Tony will be re-available for selection quite soon."
It has been an unlucky season for the life-long Toffees fan, as he has only been available for 5 games this campaign.
He turns 26 a week today and he has already amassed 154 appearances for Everton, 132 in the Premiership, since making his debut in a 2-0 win at West Ham United in 2001.
Hibbert has already been out for most of the season with a tropical illness, he picked up when on the club's pre-season US tour, and then suffering a bad groin injury.
But hopefully he should be back to boost Everton's challenge for a European place.
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Posted Feb 12th 2007, 8:55pm
Manuel Could Become One Of Moyes' Boys
Everton manager David Moyes has given the first clear hint that on-loan Manuel Fernandes could become a permanent fixture come the Summer.
The Benfica youngster made his debut in Saturday's 1-0 Premiership victory over Blackburn Rovers at Goodison Park, with Moyes hoping that he could have at his disposal for more than the six months he is currently available.
"Any players I bring here on loan, I always hope that if I think they would do well we would look to bring them here," he said.
"I don't like to bring players here just to give them games for other clubs. I am bringing them here with a view to taking them."
The boss wasn't the only one impressed, as his midfield partner at the weekend, Tim Cahill, heaping praise on the Portuguese starlet.
"He was fantastic," said Cahill. "Manuel is a really good footballer and highly-rated around Europe.
"He did well for Portsmouth and has been an important player for Benfica, so we are glad to have him here. He's a great lad and I'm delighted that he enjoyed such a good debut."
The player himself was satisfied with the first appearance for the Blues and may be tempted to extend his stay.
"The first thing is to settle into the first team and then we will see what happens at the end of the season.
"I enjoyed the game and when you win it always good.
"They are very good lads, it's easy to fit in when everybody has such good spirit."
The home fans came in for some good words as well, as everything fit into place for the Toffees.
"The atmosphere was really good," he said. "In general the stadiums in England are unbelieveable and everyone supports you when you play at home."
Slowly but surely, David Moyes is getting in some interesting players and forming an outfit full of youth and vigour, and although he is still a few pieces short, the jigsaw looks close to completion.
Qualification for Europe is the aim again this season and with some winable games coming up away to relegation-threatened Watford and Sheffield United, the table could be kind to look at for the Blue half of Merseyside come May.
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Posted Feb 10th 2007, 7:36pm
AJ Celebrates Birthday With Winner
Andrew Johnson saw his strike total rise into double figures, with the only goal in a 1-0 win over Blackburn at Goodison Park.
The England forward turned 26 and helped the Blues gain a vital three points in their step towards European qualification for next season, on a chilly day on Merseyside.
After a week of hot air in the press about Mikel Arteta, - which ironically may have left a few of the Toffees faithful feeling cold - David Moyes' men delivered an important victory and kept up their unbeaten run.
Since Blackburn visited Goodison in the FA Cup 3rd Round at the beginning of January, Everton have drawn with Reading and Liverpool and beaten Wigan.
It is the crucial business end of the season now, where points are hard to come by and the scrappy games are more apparent.
Even though there have been for the manager's head from faithful during a Winter of discontent, Everton still sit in a decent position with a game in hand over the sides around them, and their defensive record has helped a lot.
Only Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool have conceded less goals at home in the Premiership and only the top four have shipped fewer in total this league campaign, with the back line of Joseph Yobo, Alan Stubbs and Joleon Lescott excelling.
The latter has played quite a few games at left-back in the absence of Gary Naysmith and Nuno Valente this season, impressing enough to warrant an England call-up, but it is yet to become apparent to Head Coach Steve McClaren.
And in this game Goalkeeper Tim Howard was extended a couple of times, saving from Zurab Khizanishvili, although that didn't come until the closing stages of the first half, as the home side enjoyed massive amounts of possession.
The only goal came on 10 minutes as first Lee Carsley, and then Mikel Arteta flicked headers on for Johnson to steer a volley, high into Brad Friedel's net, to raptures of applause from the 35,593 Goodison crowd.
Tim Cahill or could have doubled the advantage within six minutes and Johnson assited Andy van der Meyde, on 18 but neither profit.
Blackburn's first serious threat on the Everton goal came on 22 minutes, as Brett Emerton drove a shot, which drifted just a few yards away from Howard's top-left corner.
But the visitors were only advancing into the hosts' third of the pitch intermittently, and it was Johnson who was next to have an effort at goal; Christopher Samba, blocking the former Crystal Palace man's shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Johnson again had a chance to add to his goal, when he flashed a volley over the bar from a van der Meyde corner-kick. He was then to turn provider as Everton hit Rovers on the counter-attack, playing in on-loan debutant Manuel Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder saw a shot saved at Friedel's feet and then as the ball broke loose and with three Blackburn defenders covering the goal, he hit his resultant effort into the near side-netting.
Howard's hands were not warmed until two minutes before the interval when a vicious shot from 25 yards by Khizanishvili had to be touched over by the American stopper.
That was the influence Blackburn needed as they returned after the restart, hungry to grab an equaliser, and Paul Gallagher tested Howard from range, which the 'keeper pushed away for a corner.
At the other end, the Andrew Johnson show continued, as Arteta done tremendously well to beat two challenges, and squared for Johnson, - who was inside the 6-yard box - only for the striker to tamely mis-kick wide of a desperate scramble by Friedel.
Cahill's booking for a foul on Bruno Berner - which means he will now miss Everton's next game against Tottenham at Goodison a week on Wednesday - was the only real blemish on the day for the Blues, and not to be outdone, Andy Todd came on as a substitute and was promptly yellow carded just twenty seconds later for his challenge on Arteta.
There was time for one last attempt on Everton's goal as Friedel came up for a corner kick in injury time, but it wasn't to be and the Blues hung on.
Man of the Match: Alan Stubbs (Everton) Followed up his excellent display at Anfield last week, with an exemplary performance.
Posted Feb 10th 2007, 12:13am
Arteta Wants Euro Trip
Everton's Spanish playmaker, Mikel Arteta fancies a chance to visit some familiar friends in his native country, but not the way the newspapers have reporting recently.
He wants to help Everton get back into European football next season by virtue of a good league position. The Blues have stuttered through this campaign after a good start, but some good results in the last few games, including a clean sheet at Anfield last weekend have restored hope with just a third of the league games to play.
Arteta is in his second full season at Goodison Park, since his £2.1million permanent move from Real Sociedad after impressing in his five-month loan move from La Liga in January 2005.
He scored one of Everton's two goals in the 2-4 aggregate loss to eventual Champions League Semi-Finalists, Villarreal at El Madrigal two years ago and is looking to dispel the nightmare game in Bucharest, when Dinamo ended Everton's interest in the UEFA Cup at the first hurdle.
"It would be amazing (to get back into Europe), because I think next year will be massive for the club and we want Everton to be there.
"If we can achieve the UEFA Cup then I think it will help the club move to another level and that is what we want.
"It will make it easier to sign high profile players if we are going into Europe. I think everybody knows how big Everton is in England, but it will help foreign players have more knowledge about the club."
The 24-year-old also harbours international ambitions and his peers are predicted sooner rather than later that he will force his way into the Spanish national squad, but manager Luis Aragones has refused to include him in any of his squads as of yet.
This week, however, he suggested it remains a strong possibility, although his has some firce competition in midfield to overcome if he is to create a favourable impression.
"I completely understand (the situation), we have got so many players there (in midfield) and we have four or five players playing for great clubs who are in my way so I am the first one to understand the situation.
"Hopefully my versatility can help. That's what the manager (David Moyes) has been asking me to do and I think that is going to be good for me in the future as well because you learn to play in different ways and try to help the team in different positions as well so hopefully this can be a positive thing for me in the future."
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