A Blue Horizon - 2010/11 Everton FC Season preview

★★★★

ABLUE

HORIZON

Your essential guide to Everton FC’s 2010/11 season

Moyes’ ‘best ever’squad ready for battle

Everton

SPORT Monday, August 9, 20102 ★★★★

EIGHTYEARSON...

JAN MUCHAPosition GoalkeeperHeight 1.89mWeight 87 kgD.O.B. Dec 5 1982Place of Birth Belá nad CirochouNationality SlovakianTotal games 0Total goals -● Established himself at MSKZilina before earning a move toPolish club Legia Warsaw wherehe spent five years. Played in thisyear’s World Cup finals.

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TONY HIBBERTPosition DefenderHeight 1.73mWeight 70 kgD.O.B. February 20 1981Place of Birth LiverpoolNationality EnglishTotal games 221Total goals 0●The longest-serving player inthe current Everton squad,Hibbert now holds the clubrecord for appearances inEuropean competition.

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LEIGHTON BAINESPosition DefenderHeight 1.70mWeight 70 kgD.O.B. December 11 1984Place of Birth KirkbyNationality EnglishTotal games 68Total goals 1● Became Everton’s mostexpensive defender when joiningfrom Wigan for £6m in 2007 andearned 2 England caps this yearbut missed the World Cup.

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THEN AND NOW: David Moyesthis summer and (inset) during hisfirst Everton game against Fulhamin 2002 – The hair might not bequite as fiery red as it was but thesteely determination remains inthe Scot’s eyes as he looks to sealhis legacy at the club by finallyending their trophy drought

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Everton’s Premier League finishes inMoyes’ full seasons

Monday, August 9, 2010 SPORT 3★★★★

Your essential guide toEverton FC’s2010/11season

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O’KEEFFEO’KEEFFEGregLIKE Stepford Wives in royal

blue shirts Everton playershave been churning out thesame optimism-laced messageall summer.

Sounding like they are on thebrink of something very special;everyone from Tony Hibbert toSteven Pienaar has repeated thesame mantra.

The words may differ slightlyfrom each soundbite to the next,but the point is clear: “This is thestrongest squad we’ve had underDavid Moyes. If we can stay fullyfit we can achieve something big –top four qualification, a trophy, orboth.”

Even the players are tired ofkeeping a lid on expectations –this could be David Moyes’ biggestseason yet. It’s a confidenceemboldened by a scintillating runof form from January to the end oflast season, when the Blues lostjust twice in 24 games, and whichwould have been enough to finishthird if sustained across acampaign. And there’s the rub.The challenge facing Moyes’ sideis to do that all season.

Of course, much of that will relyupon luck with injuries and themanager’s hopes of starting the2010/11 campaign without losingany of his most highly-covetedstars.

For the former, Moyes can onlycling to the hope that never againin his career can he endure such ahorrendous season for injuries tokey players as the previous one.

Everton players fell likedominoes, the manager missingalmost all of his key personnel forconsiderable periods. It hardlybears recalling yet finishingeighth in a season when he wasdeprived of so many players forlong spells was actually a realachievement. Phil Jagielka, MikelArteta, Phil Neville, Marouane

Fellaini, Yakubu, Steven Pienaar,to name but a few, all had spells onthe sidelines. Luck more rottencan have befallen few managers inthe domestic game.

So Moyes can do little but hopefor a reversal in fortunes on thecasualty front. He can do littlemore than hope for fortune in thetransfer market too. Moyes musthope that hedoes notexperience arepeat of thedeeplyunsettlingJoleon Lescotttransferscenario withany of his keyplayers.

Both soinfluential onEverton’s play,Arteta easedconcerns bycommitting hisfuture to theclub over the weekend, yet a cloudremains over Steven Pienaar’simmediate Goodison future.

Like Arteta, the South Africanhas been offered highly-lucrativenew contract, yet, at the time ofwriting, is yet to put pen to paper.

He does still have one more yearon his current contract, but if hedecided to leave with the samezeal of Lescott when it becameapparent there was a suitor withbig money on the table, it wouldleave the manager in anunedifying position.

Plus his options for replacingthem would be limited as the

summer creeps towardscompletion is another dilemma.

Nevertheless, Moyes hasworld-beaters to call on in manypositions.

With the ever dependable TimHoward in goal, facing freshcompetition from another WorldCup star Jan Mucha, thegoalkeeping scenario is aresounding plus.

Of his full-backs the Scot has ablend of experience and potentialwhich rivals would crave.

From the wise head andtackling solidity of Tony Hibbertto the England star in the making

ofLeightonBaines.

Thenthere is theflourishingpotentialoffered bySeamusColeman.

Incentraldefence hecan jugglea WorldCupfinalistwhosuggested

he can be an Everton icon lastseason in John Heitinga, despitesome ill-judged remarks before thetournament.

Then there is the dependableand experienced Sylvain Distin,Nigeria’s captain Joseph Yobo andone of the best Englishcentre-halves in the country inPhil Jagielka.

In midfield there are obviousmagicians like Pienaar andArteta, but also the experienceand composure of Leon Osman,the leadership of Phil Neville,Magaye Gueye’s nascent promise

and the highly anticipated returnof Marouane Fellaini. That iswithout mentioning a 19-year-old,in Jack Rodwell, with the world athis feet and the ink not yet dry ona fresh Everton contract.

In attack there are furtherriches. Tim Cahill’s pre-seasonform suggest he will offer hisusual glut of goals from behind acentre-forward, Louis Saha willcontribute deadly accuracy andsheer class when his body allowshim, and Yakubu may yet returnto the form which saw him score20 goals in a season two years ago.Of his few acquisitions, Moyeswas able to add JermaineBeckford, a calculated risk but aproven goalscorer who alreadyseems to have settled at Goodisonand may yet prove one of themanager’s shrewder buys in adensely packed field.

Last season’s damaging injuriesmeant that European qualificationwas just out of reach. There willbe no Thursday night EuropaLeague treats for Evertonians.

Yet that may still prove ablessing in disguise, with thesecond tier continentalcompetition providing adistraction, even if it is a welcomeone. Without that strain on hissquad, Moyes and his players canfocus on the league – a harder nutthan ever to crack withManchester City spendingceaselessly to break the top four.Equally they can focus on thedomestic cup competitions and achance to finally, after 15 longyears, bring some long overduesilverware back to Goodison Park.

None of these objectives will beeasy, but with this current squadable to stay together and stay fit,the chances of open-top busparades, of Blue pride flooding thecity, of long-awaited glory havenever been greater.

JOSEPH YOBOPosition DefenderHeight 1.88mWeight 76 kgD.O.B. September 6 1980Place of Birth KanoNationality NigerianTotal games 236Total goals 8● Moyes’ first signing – initially onloan from Marseille – afterstarting his career at StandardLiege. Has set up a charity to helpunder-privileged children.

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JOHN HEITINGAPosition Defender/MidfielderHeight 1.82mWeight 72 kgD.O.B. November 15 1983Place of Birth Alphen aan den RijnNationality DutchTotal games 35Total goals 0● Bought from Atletico Madridlast September. In a single weekthe former Ajax man was sent offin the World Cup final beforemarrying Bolo Zenden’s sister.

5

PHIL JAGIELKAPosition Defender/MidfielderHeight 1.80mWeight 87 kgD.O.B. August 17 1982Place of Birth SaleNationality EnglishTotal games 92Total goals 3● Utility man – includingemergency goalkeeper – at firstclub Sheffield United, Jagielka’sform at centre-back at Evertonhas earned him 3 England caps.

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Spur to go onEverton 1 Tottenham Hotspur 4, August25, 1984FANS leaving Goodison Park after theopening game of the 1984-85 season wouldnever have dreamed that nine months laterthe Blues would be crowned First Divisionchampions for the eighth time in theirhistory.

A crowd of 35,630 saw Adrian Heath neta penalty for Howard Kendall’s team as MarkFalco, John Chiedozie and a Clive Allendouble did the damage for the Londoners.

Mantra is that Moyes’ men can achieve

Everton


JOYOFBECKS

DINIYAR BILYALETDINOVPosition MidfielderHeight 1.85mWeight 79 kgD.O.B. February 27 1985Place of Birth MoscowNationality RussianTotal games 33Total goals 7●Joined from Lokomotiv Moscowlast August and filmed his owninternet video diary of his new lifein Liverpool for his friends back inRussia.

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LOUIS SAHAPosition StrikerHeight 1.85mWeight 86 kgD.O.B. August 8 1978Place of Birth ParisNationality FrenchTotal games 69Total goals 23● Had previous spells in thePremier League with Newcastle,Fulham and Manchester Unitedbefore arriving at Goodison in aninitial pay-as-you-play deal in 2008.

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MIKEL ARTETAPosition MidfielderHeight 1.75mWeight 64 kgD.O.B. March 28 1982Place of Birth San SebastianNationality SpanishTotal games 173Total goals 30● Multilingual – speaks Spanish,English, Basque, Catalan, Frenchand Italian, the former Barcelonajunior has also played for Rangers,PSG and Real Sociedad.

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GGOOAALLSSIINNIT WAS only a training game

during Everton’s pre-season tourof Australia, but it was impossiblenot to notice something specialabout Everton new-boy Jermaine

Beckford.The tattooed striker was doing little

of note outside the box, but in oneinstant he suggested his reputation asan instinctive goal-grabber is farmore than mere hype.

With a flash of electric pace, the26-year-old burst past his marker andthen scuffed a shot – whichnevertheless wound up in the bottomcorner.

Not a perfectly executedfinish by any means,

but the type ofstrike only

someone withgoals in theirblood canmuster.

Two weekslater, Beckfordscored his firstEverton goalson home soil, a

well-taken braceduring a 3-0

friendly win overPreston North End at

Deepdale.But for the man who fired Leeds

United to promotion last season with31 goals, including FA Cup strikesagainst Manchester United andSpurs, seeing the net bulge has beenthe only constant during a topsyturvy career to date.

After a schoolboy move to Chelseafizzled out, the Ealing-born strikerwas forced to roll up his sleeves andfind employment where he could; inrestaurants, sport shops and evenslogging it out in a warehouse.

Meanwhile, he spent his weekendsplaying in front of paltry crowds inthat local semi-professional league,his only ray of hope a consistent andprolific habit of scoring goals.

But it was a move toMiddlesex-based club Wealdstonewhere he began to show the potentialto go all the way to the top.

Veteran Wealdstone boss GordonBartlett helped nurture Beckford inthose early days, and will be tuninginto Match of the Day with specialinterest this season to monitor theprogress of a young player heremembers fondly.

“We got hold of Jermaine as ayouth player when his Chelsea movedidn’t work out,” says Bartlett.

“I was coaching the Middlesexcounty side as well and I spotted himplaying for them.

“He was the most natural finisher Ihave ever seen.

“He is confident beyond belief and Iwould say that’s one of his biggestassets.

“He never gets tense in front of goallike a lot of strikers do.

“Jermaine is the type of player whogoes to congratulate the keeper if hesaves one of his shots, because heknows he’ll just score past him nexttime.

“I remember he had a penalty savedfor us once and he stood there andclapped the keeper. Later in the gamehe put two past him.

“Some of the goals he scored for uswere out of this world. I won’t denythere were times when I was tearingmy hair out with him.

“He was a young lad, only justcoming up but there was never anydoubt he could go on to a successfulfuture in the game.”

During his time in charge Bartletthas seen seven players leave to playLeague football, four in the last 18months alone.

He even coached Premier Leaguegoal king Les Ferdinand at a formerclub.

Wealdstone is clearly a well-run,professional in all but name club,which gives players an excellentgrounding.

Beckford returned with Leeds lastseason to play a friendly against hisold side, and ex-Portsmouth strikerBartlett enjoyed catching up withhim.

“He was a credit to himself,” hesays. “Typically he stayed behindafter having pictures taken withkids and popped into the club andmet some old supporters.

“Between when he joined us asa kid and then when he left hechanged a lot.

“He grew up an awful lot andhad a newfound maturity.

“I did a lot of patient nurturingwith him and it paid off. I alwaysbelieved in his ability.

“We sent him out on loan whenhe was here a few times to helphim.

“I think that (loan moves innon-league football) made himrealise it wasn’t too bad atWealdstone.

“He got himself a full time joband fulfilled that responsibility.It was just a case of handling himwell to get the best out of him.

“I’ve got everything crossed thathe takes this opportunity and getsthe best out of it.

“It will be satisfying for us all if hedoes well at Everton.

“Management is all about dealingwith people – from the players to thebloke who cleans the dressing roomand they are all important to you.

“Becks was important to us and Ihope to see him banging them in forDavid Moyes’ side on a regular basis.”

O’KEEFFEO’KEEFFEGreg

EvertonEvertonEverton

CONFIDENT:Jermaine Beckfordknows he has goalsin him



IAIN TURNERPosition GoalkeeperHeight 1.93mWeight 88 kgD.O.B. January 26 1984Place of Birth StirlingNationality ScottishTotal games 4Total goals 0● A promising youngster with hishometown club, Turner arrived atGoodison in January 2003 but hasplayed just four first team gamesin seven-and-a-half years.

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JAMES VAUGHANPosition StrikerHeight 1.80mWeight 80 kgD.O.B. July 14 1988Place of Birth BirminghamNationality EnglishTotal games 57Total goals 9●Remains the Premier League’syoungest scorer after nettingagainst Crystal Palace in April2005, but the all-action striker’scareer has been blighted by injury.

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SYLVAIN DISTINPosition DefenderHeight 1.92mWeight 88 kgD.O.B. December 16 1977Place of Birth BagnoletNationality FrenchTotal games 38Total goals 2● Everton became his fourthEnglish club after previouslyturning out for Newcastle,Manchester City and Portsmouthwith whom he won the FA Cup.

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TTHHEEBBLLOOOODDInstinctive finishing suggestsBeckford can make step up

Hit for sixEverton 1 Arsenal 6, August 15, 2009EVERTON began last season in terriblefashion as Arsenal ran riot in front of39,309 fans at Goodison Park.

The Gunners struck through Denilson,Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas,Eduado and Cesc Fabregas (twice) beforeLouis Saha netted a consolation goal instoppage time for David Moyes’shell-shocked team.

EvertonEvertonEverton


FRINGEFESTIVAL

TIM CAHILLPosition MidfielderHeight 1.78mWeight 64 kgD.O.B. December 6 1979Place of Birth SydneyNationality AustralianTotal games 210Total goals 56● Arguably Moyes’ biggestbargain, a £1.5million snip fromMillwall in 2004, goal-scoringmidfielder Cahill has just penned anew four-year deal at Goodison.

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PHIL NEVILLEPosition Defender/MidfielderHeight 1.80mWeight 76 kgD.O.B. January 21 1977Place of Birth BuryNationality EnglishTotal games 187Total goals 3● Model pro who won 6 PremierLeague titles, 3 FA Cups and theChampions League with brotherGary at Manchester Unitedbefore joining Everton in 2005.

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I’mheretoplaymatchesMMuucchhaa bbeelliieevveess hhee ccaannddiissppllaaccee kkeeeeppeerr HHoowwaarrdd

PEARCEPEARCEJAMESJAN MUCHA insists he hasn’t come

to Goodison Park to warm thesubstitutes’ bench. The Slovakia

international goalkeeper madethe switch from Legia Warsaw on a

free transfer this summer and hasset his sights on Tim Howard’s

number one spot.Mucha faces a stiff test attempting to

dislodge the reliable American, whohas firmly established himself withEverton over the past four seasons.

But the 27-year-old shot-stopper isdetermined to stake a claim for aregular starting spot.

“Obviously the standard at Evertonis higher than before but I haven’t comehere to sit down and watch,” Muchasaid.

“I expect to compete for the first spotand myambitions arevery high. I haveheard about thePremier League.It is the bestleague and I havebeen watching fora long time.”

Howard, whohas been everpresent inPremier Leaguematches for theBlues for twocampaigns, isrelishing thechallenge posedby Mucha.

“I enjoy the competition,” Howardsaid. “That’s what gets me out of bedand that’s what I thrive on. I love to winand hate to lose and so winning thatcompetition makes me go.

“I have won a few battles and lost afew. Jan has come in having played inthe World Cup and is a really good guy.

“We need that at Everton and themanager seems to continue to bring inplayers to create that competition.”

Mucha started his career in hishomeland with Inter Bratislava but

failed to make a senior appearance andmoved on to MSK Zilina in 2002.

He helped Zilina clinch two Slovakiatitles and two Slovak Super Cups beforeearning a move to Legia Warsaw in2005.

During his time in the Polish capitalthe 6ft 3ins keeper enjoyed furtherleague and cup success and becameLegia’s established number one afterLukasz Fabianksi’s switch to Arsenalin 2007.

In 2008 Mucha was handed hisinternational bowand this summerhis heroics helpedSlovakia reach thelast 16 of the WorldCup in SouthAfrica.

Hisperformancesraised his profilebut Blues bossDavid Moyes hadalready securedhis signature backin January on athree-year deal.

Since arrivingat Finch Farm in

July, Mucha has settled in well to life inMerseyside.

“I am good friends with LukaszFabianski and I consulted him before Imade the decision to sign for Everton.He recommended this club to me,” headded.

“Everton has a nice familyatmosphere and there are a lot of goodpeople around. I would say that manyclubs in Europe would be jealous ofsuch a training ground. The conditionshere are of a really high standard.Everything is positive.”

Forest thrillerNottingham Forest 3 Everton 3,August 19, 1953EVERTON played their part in a six-goalthriller at the City Ground earning a pointwhich would eventually help them winpromotion back to the First Division afterthree years in the second tier of Englishfootball.

John Parker netted two for the Blues andTommy Eglington was also on target in frontof a crowd of 21,669.

EvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEverton

JERMAINE BECKFORDPosition StrikerHeight 1.88mWeight 83 kgD.O.B. December 9 1983Place of Birth EalingNationality EnglishTotal games 0Total goals -● Snapped up on a free transferafter breaking the 30-goal barrierin consecutive seasons for Leeds.Worked as a windscreen fitterwhile at non-league Wealdstone.

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MAGAYE GUEYEPosition Midfielder/ForwardHeight 1.79mWeight 73 kgD.O.B. July 6 1990Place of Birth Nogent-sur-MarneNationality FrenchTotal games 0Total goals -● Versatile forward player whohas impressed in pre-season forEverton following his switch fromStrasbourg after they wererelegated to France’s third tier.

STEVEN PIENAARPosition MidfielderHeight 1.70mWeight 71 kgD.O.B. February 17 1982Place of Birth JohannesburgNationality South AfricanTotal games 86Total goals 8●Rescued by Moyes from adisappointing spell in Germanywith Borussia Dortmund, theex-Ajax man has become one ofEverton’s most creative outlets.

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LEON OSMANPosition MidfielderHeight 1.73mWeight 69 kgD.O.B. May 17 1981Place of Birth BillingeNationality EnglishTotal games 203Total goals 29● A late developer, he wasloaned out to Carlisle and Derbyearly in his career but has nowmatured into one of Everton’smost stylish performers.

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Young pair’sbig chance

EVERTON boss David Moyes is buildingfor the future with the acquisition oftalented young strikers Magaye Gueyeand Joao Silva.

The 20-year-olds arrived at Goodisonthis summer full of enthusiasm anddesperate to prove they can cut it in thePremier League.

Gueye was snapped up from Frenchclub Strasbourg for around £1million ona five-year deal, while Silva signed forthree years after moving fromPortuguese second division sideDesportivo Das Aves for £500,000.

France Under-21 international Gueyewas a product of Strasbourg’s youthsystem and scored nine goals for theFrench second division outfit lastseason.

Gueye, who can play up front or on thewing, netted against Brisbane Roarduring the Blues’ pre-season tour ofAustralia and is confident he will be asuccess in the Premier League.

“I feel I have a good technique, a goodleft foot and I can be effective in front ofgoal,” he said.

“Everyone has been really kind.“I knew it was an extremely big club in

the Premier League. I knew it was a veryfamily-orientated club as well and that’sone of the big reasons why I choseEverton.”

Portuguese starlet Silva hasrepresented his country at Under-20level and is highly rated in hishomeland.

The 6ft 2ins frontman scored 14 goalsin 32 appearances for Aves last season

and was the league’s second topscorer.

Silva, who has beencompared to former

Portugal star Pauleta, said:“I am happy because to

play in the PremierLeague is a dream forany footballer becauseit is the best in theworld.

“Everton are a greatclub and I believe

(England) will be perfectfor me.

“It’s an enormous movefor me but I am ambitious.”

False dawnEverton 3 Huddersfield Town 2,August 19, 1950DESPITE winning their opening day gameagainst the Terriers, the season was to endin hearbreak for the Blues as they were tosuffer relegation from the First Division thefollowing spring.

A crowd of 51,768 were at GoodisonPark to witness a brace from Ted Buckleand a Jackie Grant strike to earn Evertonthe two points.


FRIENDLY RIVALRY:Jan Mucha shares ajoke with Tim Howardduring training atFinch Farm

PROSPECT: Magaye Gueye


By Mike Price


WORLDINMOTION

SEAMUS COLEMANPosition DefenderHeight 1.78mWeight 67 kgD.O.B. October 11 1988Place of Birth DonegalNationality IrishTotal games 7Total goals 0● Attacking right-back who wasnamed man-of-the-match on hishome debut against Tottenhambefore helping Blackpool toPremier League promotion.

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TIM HOWARDPosition GoalkeeperHeight 1.91mWeight 88 kgD.O.B. March 6 1979Place of Birth New BrunswickNationality AmericanTotal games 184Total goals 0● Form for MetroStars earnedhim a move to ManchesterUnited before joining Everton –initially on loan – in 2006. Starredin this year’s World Cup finals.

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MMiixxeeddbbaaggiinnAAffrriiccaaIT WAS a World Cup which

sparkled fitfully and isunlikely to be recalled as aclassic. But Evertonians willsimply be breathing sighs of

relief that their stars who took tothe South African stage avoidedinjury.

After a season so full ofcasualties, injury more than poorform was what the Toffees fearedfor their World Cup stars morethan anything.

There can have been few WorldCups with so much variedinterest for the Blues. With TimCahill, Steven Pienaar, JosephYobo, Yakubu, John Heitinga, JanMucha and Tim Howard allplaying starring roles there wasplenty to keep them glued to theirTVs.

Howard had aconfidence-boosting summer toremember. His star has neverbeen higher in the World gamesince he swapped Old Traffordfor Goodison Park. The Americanstopper was flawless, pulling off astring of top-class saves andhelping the USA enjoy a robusttournament which made footballfans from Atlanta to Hawaii situp and take notice. Their drawwith England alone generatedmassive media interest in the US,and Howard shook off someminor niggles to finish on a high.Already back into the hustle andbustle of Everton’s pre season heis set to be as strong as ever forthe new season.

Tim Cahill’s World Cup mightnot have lasted as long as hewould have liked, and featured acontroversial red card, yet heremains the David Beckham ofAussie soccer. The headlines hemade during Everton’s tour downunder left nobody in doubt of hisstatus back home, and DavidMoyes even suggested Cahillcould play in the 2014tournament in Brazil. Thetireless midfielder bagged a

hat-trick against Norwich in oneof the Blues’ pre-season games toremind everyone that he is readyto return to his bread and butterafter signing a morale-boostingnew deal.

John Heitinga can only havegrown in stature. Playing in aWorld Cup final will have filledhim with confidence, and added alevel of experience many playerscan only dream about. His redcard may have taken the glossfrom the night, but the Dutchmanlooks set to resume where he leftoff in May, as a hugely importantplayer for David Moyes.

Steven Pienaar’s tournamentflattered to deceive. The SouthAfricans struggled to cope withgreat expectations on home soil,and the man they call Schillocarried most of them on hisslender shoulders. Yet, his lack ofpersonal glory could still benefitEverton who will be secretlygrateful the diamond of theirmidfield engine was spared aneven bigger internationalexposure and the associatedtransfer interest.

For the Blues’ Nigerian duo, itwas an underwhelmingcampaign. Yakubu led the linewith the usual mix of power andexperience, but missed keychances. The striker, however,needs playing time still to fullybanish the memories of thathorrific Achilles injury and willhave benefited from the football.Joseph Yobo too will have feltdisappointment that the SuperEagles paled in comparison toAfrican pace-setters Ghana, butwill have benefited from theexperience.

At least Blues dodgedfurther injury woes


Blues coast itBlackpool 0 Everton 2,August 27, 1938IN what was to be the final season for sevenyears with the outbreak of the SecondWorld War the following September,Everton began with a winning visit to theirLancashire rivals.

Goals from Tommy Lawton and AlexStevenson secured the two points whichultimately helped the Blues wrap up theirfifth First Division title.

Lawton finished the campaign asEverton’s top marksman with 34 goals.


FINAL AGONY: JohnHeitinga trudges off afterbeing dismissed against Spain

AYEGBENI YAKUBUPosition StrikerHeight 1.83mWeight 83 kgD.O.B. November 22 1982Place of Birth Benin CityNationality NigerianTotal games 87Total goals 32● Prolific marksman withPortsmouth and Middlesbrough,he netted 21 goals in his firstEverton season but suffered aserious Achilles injury in 2008.

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GOODFELLA

JACK RODWELLPosition MidfielderHeight 1.88mWeight 80 kgD.O.B. March 11 1991Place of Birth BirkdaleNationality EnglishTotal games 64Total goals 5● Hugely-promising young talentwho’s assurance on the ball andcalm head show a maturity wellbeyond his tender years. Recentlypenned a new five-year deal.

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VICTOR ANICHEBEPosition StrikerHeight 1.91mWeight 85 kgD.O.B. April 23 1988Place of Birth LagosNationality NigerianTotal games 92Total goals 12● Moved to Liverpool as an infantand is another product ofEverton’s prolific youth scheme.Played for his homeland in the2008 Olympics and has 4 caps.

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Bigmanjustifieshisbigpricetag

MAROUANE FELLAINIstill commandsEverton’s recordtransfer fee. A sum of£15m may be small

change to other blue-shirtedPremier League clubs, but toEverton it’s a small fortune.

But the biggest tribute that can bepaid to the big midfielder with thebig hair, is that no-one mentionshow much he cost any more.

It wasn’t always the case.For 18 months Fellaini divided

opinion amongst Evertonians morethan a ground switch or DavidMoyes’ substitutions.

Asked to play an unfamiliar roleas an attacking midfielder,sometimes even a second striker –Moyes explained he still couldn’ttrust him to occupy the moredisciplined role of midfield anchor –he occasionally used his height andpower to aerial effect.

But consistently influentialdisplays continued to elude him . . .until last winter.

Finally employed in his favouritemidfield role, Fellaini’s influencebegan to grow and grow.

And the moment the uglyduckling became a swan arrived atGoodison Park on January 16.

“Just listen to the crowd roar!”declared Match of the Day’sincredulous commentator asMarouane Fellaini span his wayfirmly into Evertonian affectionsthat winter’s day.

Craig Bellamy had just been leftdizzy by an impudent piece of fertilefootwork.

And the stunning pirouette at theclimax of Everton’s crushing 2-0victory over Manchester Cityconfirmed that Fellaini was finallylooking like the real deal at theheart of Everton’s midfield.

He was the holding midfielder theclub had craved since the demise ofLee Carsley, but a defensive anchorwho possessed a cultured edge.

He reads the game eloquently,breaks up attacks with tank-traptackling – and redistributes the ballsimply but effectively.

While playing slightly furtherback he still retains a commandingaerial ability and as strikes againstSunderland, BATE and Boltonproved, still has an eye for goal.

Any debate on his merits orotherwise are now surelyredundant.

Patrick Vieira’s presence in theopposing line-up that Februaryafternoon provided a tellingcontrast.

If City’s latest signing was a faded

figure, Fellaini is the PremierLeague’s coming force – showing allof the attributes and more that theFrenchman usedto display in hisHighburyheyday.

Moyes saidwhen he boughthim he thoughthe could be thenext Vieira, anduntil the Anfieldderby matchthree weekslater he was notdoing a badimpression,even down tothe telescopiclegs that comesliding in fromhalfway across the field todispossess unsuspecting opponents.

Following a bruising Merseysidederby, the Belgian’s season was over

– a catastrophic collision withSotirios Kyrgiakos nippingFellaini’s flowering ….. in the bud.

But foronce forEvertoniansthere was asilver liningto seriousinjury.

While thesummer sawconstantspeculationlinking thoseothermidfieldtalentsStevenPienaar andMikel Artetawith moves

elsewhere, Fellaini was allowed toget on with his rehabilitationunchallenged.

There had been talk of potential

interest even before his anklebuckled under.

Fellaini’s first season producednine goals, but 13 yellow cards.

His second season produced threegoals and just seven yellows.

Born in Belgium of Moroccanparents, he spent the first 10 yearsof his life in Brussels, where herepresented Anderlecht as aschoolboy. After another seven yearsin Mons, he moved on to Liege topursue a career in professionalfootball, something his father hadunsuccessfully tried.

“He was a goalkeeper in Moroccoplaying for Casablanca,” Fellainisaid.

“But when he moved to Belgiumthe paperwork didn’t come throughso he had to play as an amateur inthe lower divisions.

“He got a job as a tram and busdriver and in his spare time wouldtake my two brothers and me to thepark to play football.”

PRENTICEPRENTICEDAVID

Nobody questions £15m Fellaini now

Baggies blitzedWest Bromwich Albion 1 Everton 4,September 6, 1890

EVERTON got a great start to what was toprove a memorable season with acomprehensive win at The Hawthorns.

A crowd of 5,600 were on hand to seeFred Geary net a brace and teammatesWilliam Campbell and Alexander Bradyone each in a success which helped theBlues win their first top flight title thefollowing spring.

CROWNING GLORY: Evertonians loved Marouane Fellaini’s pirouette around Craig Bellamy at Goodison


MAROUANE FELLAINIPosition MidfielderHeight 1.94mWeight 85 kgD.O.B. November 22 1987Place of Birth EtterbeekNationality BelgianTotal games 62Total goals 12● Everton’s record signing at£15m from Standard Liege, hewas initially used further upfieldbefore impressing in his favouredanchor man role last season.

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RETURNOFTHEYAK

Fit-againYakubufacescrucialyear

Increased competition for striker

JONESJONESneil

SHANE DUFFYPosition DefenderHeight 1.93mWeight 76 kgD.O.B. January 1 1992Place of Birth DerryNationality IrishTotal games 3Total goals 0● Had to undergo life-savingsurgery on liver damage in Mayfollowing a freak training accidentwith Ireland keeper Adrian Walshbut has now recovered.

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SHKODRAN MUSTAFIPosition DefenderHeight 1.84mWeight 74kgD.O.B. April 17 1992Place of Birth Bad HersfeldNationality GermanTotal games -Total goals -●Caught Everton’s eye winningthe 2009 European Under-17Championships with Germany. Aproduct of Hamburg’s youthscheme.

30

IT IS the sort of dilemma thatmost managers would like tohave, but for David Moyes theidea of having half a dozenstrikers to choose from is

something of a novelty.The additions of Magaye Gueye,

Jermaine Beckford and Joao Alveshave brightened an otherwisesubdued summer’s dealings atGoodison Park, but suddenlyMoyes has options in attack. Andfor one of Everton’s biggest names,that could spell trouble.

Yakubu’s Goodison career hasstalled somewhat since a seriousAchilles tendon injury, sustained atTottenham in November 2008.

After a fruitful debut campaign,the Nigerian has found consistency– and goals – hard to come by.Everton may have enjoyed afantastic second half to the PremierLeague campaign, but for Yakubu2009/10 was a season to forget.

Recovering from an Achillesinjury is no easy feat – as DavidBeckham will doubtless soon findout – but ‘The Yak’ laboured afterhis return to first team action lastOctober. His sharpness clearlylacking, he finished the seasonwith just five league goals in 25appearances as Louis Saha, with 13goals in 33, established himself asEverton’s ‘go to’ striker. Moyeshimself hinted at a mental barrierwhich Yakubu needed to overcomebefore he could return to top form.

The World Cup did little to repairthe former Portsmouth man’sshattered confidence.

Although he was on target with apenalty in Nigeria’s final Group Bmatch with South Korea, aninexplicable open goal miss in thesame game would ultimately costthe Super Eagles a place in thecompetition’s last 16.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, thenewspaper rumour columns weresoon linking the 27-year-old with amove away from Merseyside. WestHam were said to have made a£7million bid back in June, butEverton refused to countenanceany such offer.

Hardly surprising. Few strikersoutside the league’s elite boast thekind of record Yakubu does. Sincehis arrival in England from Israeliside Maccabi Haifa in 2003, hisgoalscoring return has beennothing short of prolific.

At Portsmouth he netted 43 timesin 89 games, earning a £7millionmove to Middlesbrough, where hecontinued his form uninterrupted.It was no surprise when, after 36goals in 101 games on Teeside,Everton took the plunge in 2007.

At £11.25m, Yakubu was theclub’s record signing.

He has since been surpassed byMarouane Fellaini in that respect,but 21 goals in his maidencampaign onMerseysideensured hewas a firmfans’ favourite.

Now, havinglost the bestpart of twoyears to themostunfortunate ofinjuries, thequestion onEvertonsupporters’lips is; ‘CanThe Yak everrecover his best form?

The cynics would probably sayno; Liverpool fans will rememberthe devastating effect Achillesinjuries had on both MarkLawrenson and John Barnes in the

late 1980s/early 1990s.Lawrenson was eventually forced

into retirement by his injury whilstBarnes, shorn of the pace andacceleration on which his game

was based,would neverbe the sameplayer again.

Yakubu’sfans wouldargue thathis game hasnever hadthe samereliance onspeed, withmovementandanticipationalways moreimportant to

the Nigerian.Yet those who witnessed his

anaemic displays at the back-end oflast season could not have failed tonotice the lack of sharpness in hisall-round play.

Moyes will be extra keen toensure that this is remedied soonerrather than later.

A good pre-season would havehelped, but Yakubu has been keptout of the Blues’ summercampaign, and was omitted fromNigeria’s 35-man squad for thefriendly with South Korea laterthis month.

Doubts clearly remain about hisgeneral fitness.

With Moyes likely to persist withhis single striker system, utilisingthe Blues’ midfield supporting cast,chances are that Yakubu will beone of seven senior strikerscompeting for one starting spot.Saha is likely to begin the seasonin pole position, but with JamesVaughan, Victor Anichebe and atrio of new signings on board,competition will be fierce atGoodison this season.

Whether Yakubu has thestomach, or the fitness, for thechallenge remains to be seen.

But Everton fans will be hopinghis best days are still to come.

Title marchBurnley 1 Everton 3, August 18, 1962EVERTON’S sixth top flight title-winningcampaign began with an excellent victory infront of 37,100 fans at Turf Moor.

Under club legend Harry Catterick’smanagement, the Blues earned both pointsat their Lancashire rivals thanks to goalsfrom Billy Bingham, Alex Young and RoyVernon.


FIGHTING BACK: Ayegbeni Yakubu has recovered from a career-threatening injury

JOAO SILVAPosition StrikerHeight 1.88mWeight80kgD.O.B. May 21 1990Place of Birth Vila das AvesNationality PortugueseTotal games 0Total goals -●Powerfully-built striker lookingto further his football educationat Everton after netting 14 goalsin the Portuguese Second Divisionfor Aves last term.

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BILYWON’TBEAHERO?

JAMES WALLACEPosition MidfielderHeight 1.80mWeight 80 kgD.O.B. December 19 1991Place of Birth LiverpoolNationality EnglishTotal games 1Total goals 0● Fazakerley-born midfielder whomade his Everton first team debutin Slovakia against Sigma Olomoucin last season’s Europa Leaguequalifying round.

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TThheerree’’ssnnoonneeeeddttoobbeeRRuussssiiaanntthhiissttaalleennttBlues can reapBilyaletdinovbenefitswith somepatience

THE season was seconds from ending butDiniyar Bilyaletdinov was not donequite yet. Shy and quiet aroundEverton’s training ground, the Russianprefers to let his feet do the talking and

when they feel like it – they tell a hugelypromising tale.

John Heitinga hurled himself into a tackle,winning possession as the game driftedtowards a disappointing curtain-closing drawwith relegated Portsmouth, and slipped theball to Bily.

Suddenly, in the timeJamie Ashdown had toblink, the ball was in theback of his net.

“I told the boys athalf-time I wanted someproper action, playersthrowing themselves atthe ball and getting onthe end of things,” saidMoyes afterwards.

“Until that goal itlooked like we’d run outof ideas – and let’s faceit, Portsmouth shouldhave had a goal.

“But what a goal tosettle it. A fantasticstrike out of nothing, topcorner, a goal of the season contender for us ifhe hadn’t already won that award for his goalagainst Manchester United.”

Moyes, not prone to exaggeration, wasblown away. The quality of the strikesuggested his £9m signing from LokomotivMoscow can be a force to be reckoned with inEverton’s midfield. At only 25, the Russianwho was recommended by Guus Hidink, stillhas plenty of room to mature. But first Moyesmust solve the puzzle which the midfielder

represents. The jury is outon whether Bilyaletdinovis really a winger. Insteadof beating his man, theplayer signed as a leftwinger, prefers a fastpassing game and to cutinside where his rightfoot can be used todevastating effect likehis wonder-strike againstManchester United atGoodison. It remains to beseen if he has the pace tooperate as a traditionalwinger, or if he will pushfor a more central place,possibly even contesting

TimCahillfor the rolebehind acentre-forward.

For everyquietperformance,whenBilyaletdinovseemsfrustratinglylow-key, he willflash into life andshow his eye forgoal. In Australiahis performanceswere largelyponderous, but in the

second half against Norwich, he showedwhat he is capable of again with adeftly-taken strike in a crowded area.

It is easy to forget that last season wasBilyaletdinov’s first in the Premier League, amassive change of pace and aggression fromthe Russian First Division.

It may well be that Evertonians mustcontinue to be patient, as their Russianenigma gradually unfolds, but the signssuggest that Bily could well be worth thewait.


The first of 60Everton 4 Sheffield Wednesday 0,August 27, 1927EVERTON legend Dixie Dean’sgreatest-ever campaign saw him net once asthe Blues romped to a comfortable winover the Owls.

Dean, who was to famously fire in 60league goals during the Blues’ thirdtitle-winning season, was joined on thescoresheet that opening day afternoon byDick Forshaw, Anthony Weldon and AlecTroup in front of 39,485 fans at Goodison.

JOSE BAXTERPosition Midfielder/StrikerHeight 1.79mWeight 74 kgD.O.B. February 7 1992Place of Birth BootleNationality EnglishTotal games 7Total goals 0●A former England schoolboystar, he has been with the clubsince he was just six years old andbecame the youngest player tostart for Everton in 2008.

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KIERAN AGARDPosition StrikerHeight 1.78mWeight 68 kgD.O.B. October 10 1989Place of Birth LondonNationality EnglishTotal games 4Total goals 0● Started with Arsenal’sAcademy side but moved toMerseyside in the 2005/06 season.Stepped up to the first teamsquad last term.

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CUPSHALFFULL

DAVID MOYESPosition ManagerD.O.B. April 25 1963Place of Birth BearsdenNationality Scottish●As a player, Moyes started atCeltic before turning out forCambridge, Bristol City,Shrewsbury, Dunfermline andPreston where he cut hismanagerial teeth. Joined Evertonin March 2002 and has led theclub to six top half finishes andthe FA Cup final in 2009.

STEVE ROUNDPosition Assistant ManagerD.O.B. November 9 1970Place of Birth Burton upon TrentNationality English● Injury forced Round to retireprematurely as a player aged 25after just nine appearances forDerby. After working with theRams as a coach he followedSteve McClaren to Middlesbroughand also worked under him withthe England team. Left Newcastleto be Moyes’ deputy in 2008.

JIMMY LUMSDENPosition First Team CoachD.O.B. November 7 1947Place of Birth GlasgowNationality Scottish●Started his playing career atLeeds but played just 4 gamesbefore going on to Southend,Greenock Morton, St Mirren,Cork Hibernians and Clydebank.Returned to Elland Road as EddieGray’s number two beforemanaging Bristol City. Part ofMoyes’ staff at Preston.

PRENTICEPRENTICEDAVID

CClluubbnneeeeddssttooggeettaalliiffttA GENERATION of Evertonians has

grown from childhood into maturitywithout the spine-tingling experienceof seeing an Everton captain raise apiece of silverware above his head.

It is now 15 years since Dave Watson joyouslyhoisted the FA Cup to the heavens at WembleyStadium, then found he enjoyed the experienceso much he did it again with the Charity Shielda couple of months later.

But there’s been nothing since.Not even a Full members Cup or an Anglo

Scottish Trophy to add to the honours list.It’s certainly not the longest trophy drought

Everton Football Club has endured.The near quarter-century which spanned the

title winners of 1939 and 1963 claims thatunwanted distinction – with only a wildlycelebrated promotion inbetween to offer anycause for celebration.

But 15 years is too long for a club ofEverton’s stature to endure.

And there’s a mood at Finch Farm whichsuggests more and more individuals think it’stime that drought was ended.

During the Blues’ pre-season tour ofAustralia, manager David Moyes sat alongsideTim Cahill and declared: “We have been adecent team in the Premier League for quite afew years now.

“But if you know about the history ofEverton – Everton have won championshipsand Europeancompetitions.

“The one thing me andTim haven’t done is winanything yet. I think for usto get that name we aregoing to have to dosomething about it.”

Back in England, TonyHibbert added: “We wantto win a cup. There’ll beplenty of focus on that.

”We’re long overduewhen it comes tosilverware. As a local ladwho’s been at the club allmy career it’d be amazingto be playing when we wona cup.”

It’s a feeling offrustration which has been growing year onyear.

Before the Blues last FA Cup semi-finalappearance against Manchester United, just 15months ago, captain Phil Neville said: “Gettingto the semi-final does not mean we’ve done it.We need to get to the final and we need to win atrophy.”

They fulfilled the first half of that vow, butdespite a 23-second strike by Louis Saha, it wasChelsea who ran around Wembley with thesilverware that afternoon.

But there’s no doubt Moyes is getting closer.In 2008 Everton reached their first League

Cup semi-final for 20 years, and when Yakubu’svenomous volley threatened to rip the StamfordBridge goal net from its moorings, then Jon ObiMikel did the same with Phil Neville’s knee toleave Chelsea down to 10-men, a Wembley final

looked distinctly achievable.A catastrophic 92nd minute own-goal,

however, changed the balance of the tie andEverton’s wait for a Wembley appearance wenton. This time Blues fans didn’t have to waitvery long.

The very next season perhaps the toughestFA Cup run in the club’s history yielded somespectacular results.

Liverpool, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough andthen Manchester United were all humbled –only for Chelsea to do exactly what they’d donethe previous year and break Blue hearts.

But there’s no doubt Everton are gettingcloser.

Beaten semi-finalists, beaten finalists, thenext step is arguably the hardest to take.

But it’s a stride clubs like Portsmouth,Tottenham, Blackburn and Middlesbroughhave all taken in the past six seasons, which iswhy the draw for the second round of thisseason’s Carling Cup will be awaited with alittle more eagerness than usual at GoodisonPark.

David Moyes has, by common consensus,assembled the most formidable squad of

footballers at Evertonsince the days of themid-1980s whensilverware jostled forspace in the Goodisontrophy cabinet.

But regardless of thequality of thosefootballers, theconfidence actuallyclaiming a trophy canbring to a squad istangible.

The squad of youngplayers put together byHoward Kendall ended a14-year trophy droughtin the summer of 1984.

Two league titles anda European trophy followed in quicksuccession.

This could be David Moyes’ biggest chanceyet of claiming that elusive first trophy.

And after that . . . who knows?Everton’s squad – provided the Premier

League’s predatory poachers are kept at bayuntil September 1 – is the strongest in recentmemory.

Influential stars like Marouane Fellaini, PhilJagielka, Mikel Arteta and Yakubu arerecovered from serious injury, rather thanrecovering, while the draining effects of aEuropean campaign will be missing thisseason.

Fifteen years is too long for Everton FootballClub to be trophyless . . . but there’s a growingsense of anticipation that things could be aboutto change.

Horne blowsEverton 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1,August 15, 1992EVERTON opened up the new era ofPremier League football by sharing thepoints with Sheffield Wednesday.

A crowd of 27,687 were in attendance atGoodison Park to see Barry Horne net forthe Blues with Nigel Pearson replying forthe Owls.

Tony Cottee was to be Everton’s topmarksman that season with 13 goals.


MEMORIES: DaveWatson with theFA Cup in 1995


THEKIDISMUSTARD

STEVEN PIENAARPosition MidfielderHeight 1.70mWeight 71 kgD.O.B. February 17 1982Place of Birth JohannesburgNationality South AfricanTotal games -Total goals -● Diego Cavalieri signed fromPalmeiras in July 2008, penning afour-year contract with the Redsto act as understudy to PepeReina in goal.

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LEON OSMANPosition MidfielderHeight 1.73mWeight 69 kgD.O.B. May 17 1981Place of Birth BillingeNationality EnglishTotal games -Total goals -● Diego Cavalieri signed fromPalmeiras in July 2008, penning afour-year contract with the Redsto act as understudy to PepeReina in goal.

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AYEGBENI YAKUBUPosition StrikerHeight 1.83mWeight 83 kgD.O.B. November 22 1982Place of Birth Benin CityNationality NigerianTotal games -Total goals -● Diego Cavalieri signed fromPalmeiras in July 2008, penning afour-year contract with the Redsto act as understudy to PepeReina in goal.

CHRIS WOODSPosition Goalkeeping CoachD.O.B. November 14 1959Place of Birth SwinesheadNationality English● Helped Nottingham Forest wina League Cup final replay againstLiverpool as a teenager beforelengthy spells at Norwich,Rangers and Sheffield Wednesdaykept him in the England picture.Won 43 caps and a handful ofhonours in Scotland and has nowbeen at Everton for 12 years.

ANDY HOLDENPosition Reserve Team CoachD.O.B. September 14 1962Place of Birth FlintNationality Welsh● A powerful defender, he wentfrom non-league football at Rhyland finishing bottom of theFootball League with Chester towinning a Welsh cap in less than ayear. Also played for Wigan andOldham. Followed Joe Royle fromBoundary Park to Goodison in1994 and has remained since.

ALAN STUBBSPosition CoachD.O.B. October 6 1971Place of Birth KirkbyNationality English● Lifelong Evertonian whostarted with Bolton beforebeating testicular cancer at Celtic.Fulfilled his dream when joiningthe Blues in 2001 and returned inJanuary 2006 after half a season atSunderland. Finished his playingdays at Derby before anotherswift return ‘home’ as coach.

Colemanisreadyforthebigstage

SEAMUS COLEMAN appearsdestined to take the PremierLeague by storm in royalblue. Consider the otheravenues down which fate

could have taken the quiet youngIrishman.

This time last season, Coleman’scareer hung in the balance after ablister on his foot became infectedduring their pre-season tour ofAmerica. Only quick-acting medicalstaff prevented him fromcatastrophe as the infection ate intohis flesh. Had it gone undetected,they said, Coleman could never havekicked a ball again.

Before that the Donegal youngsterwas made to choose between hislove of Irish sport Gaelic Football,and football. When a career in thesemi-professional GA whichdominates many Irish householdsbeckoned, it was a tough choice.Luckily for Everton, Coleman wasspotted by Sligo Rovers when helined-up for Donegal side, St.Catherine’s of Killybegs in afriendly match. He made his debutagainst Waterford United in 2006.But it was when Willie McStay,former teammate of David Moyes,recommended the right-back to theScot that his career in Englandmaterialised. Coleman was signedfor £60,000 in January 2009, ahead ofinterest from IpswichTown, BirminghamCity and Celtic. Howthat small fee seems abargain now.

The defenderflourished during asuccessful loan spellwith Blackpool,helping the Seasidersto Premier Leaguepromotion lastseason, and Hollowaywould love to havehim back. But after aseries of livewireperformances inAustralia, Moyes isletting Coleman go nowhere. Thepotential he showed when fearlesslytormenting Spurs on his Goodison

debut last season was noflash-in-the-pan. Coleman is set for abreakthrough season at Goodison

Park, with the21-year-old keen tolean all the time.Those oppositionwingers will have tothink twice beforecharging forward,with Everton’sbilly-whizz rightback ready andwaiting to turndefence into attackin an instant.

“I didn’t feel asmuch pressure onmy Goodison debutagainst Spurs,because I was on the

bench, someone got injured andthen I was on before I knew it,” hetold the Echo this summer.

“When you’re playing you don’tfeel the pressure. But at Blackpoolbefore the play-off final I felt thenerves. Ithelped me a lotplaying in sucha big occasionand it helpedme as a player.

“TheChampionshipis a strongleague. There’sa lot of big,physical playersand the goalsare flying in.

“I tried mybest to work onmy defendingand hopefully ithelped. It wasmore a physical task. Obviously it’sa good standard of a league, but then

you go up to the Premier Leagueand it shoots up a level. It’s toughdown there, maybe not as quick on

the ground,butchallenging.

“Now I justwant to keepimpressingthe managerand workinghard,” hesays. “If I getthe chanceI’ll shootagain, but ifyou’d seenmycelebrationyou can tell Ihaven’tpractised it

much. I’ll have a go though; it mightgo in or it might hit row Z.”

Full-backa rock atBlackpool


Hurst winnerArsenal 0 Everton 1, August 9, 1969A SOLITARY John Hurst goal earned theBlues both points at Highbury in whatproved to be a superb season for HarryCatterick’s men.

The campaign was to conclude withEverton claiming their seventh LeagueChampionship title in a side boasting thecelebrated midfield trio of Colin Harvey,Howard Kendall and Alan Ball.

Striker Joe Royle led the Blues’ scorerswith 23 goals during the season.


LEARNING CURVE: Seamus Coleman has benefited from his loan spell in the Championship last season


Everton FC2010/11 fixturesEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEverton EvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEvertonEverton

Everton special designed and edited by Christopher Beesley. Blues openers researched by Paul Snowdon

August14 Blackburn Rovers (a) 15:0021 Wolverhampton (h) 15:0025 Carling Cup R2 TBC29 Aston Villa (a) 16:00 SKY

September12 Man United (h) 13:30 SKY18 Newcastle United (h) 15:0022 Carling Cup R3 TBC25 Fulham (a) 15:00

October2 Birmingham (a) 15:0017 Liverpool (h) 13:30 SKY23 Tottenham (a) 12:45 SKY27 Carling Cup R4 TBC30 Stoke City (h) 15:00

November6 Blackpool (a) 15:0010 Bolton (h) 20:0014 Arsenal (h) 14:00 SKY22 Sunderland (a) 20:00 SKY27 West Brom (h) 15:00

December1 Carling Cup QF TBC4 Chelsea (a) 15:0011 Wigan (h) 15:0018 Manchester City (a) 15:0026 Birmingham (h) 15:0028 West Ham (a) 15:00

January1 Stoke City (a) 15:005 Tottenham (h) 20:008 FA Cup R3 TBC12 Carling Cup SF lst leg TBC15 Liverpool (a) 15:0022 West Ham (h) 15:0026 Carling Cup SF 2nd leg TBC29 FA Cup R4 TBC

February1 Arsenal (a) 19:455 Blackpool (h) 15:0012 Bolton (a) 15:0019 FA Cup R5 TBC26 Sunderland (h) 15:0027 Carling Cup final TBC

March5 Newcastle United (a) 15:0012 FA Cup QF TBC19 Fulham (h) 15:00

April2 Aston Villa (h) 15:009 Wolverhampton (a) 15:0016 Blackburn (h) 15:0017 FA Cup SF TBC23 Man United (a) 15:0030 Wigan Athletic (a) 15:00

May7 Manchester City (h) 15:0014 FA Cup final TBC14 West Brom (a) 15:0022 Chelsea (h) 16:00

A Blue Horizon - 2010/11 Everton FC Season preview

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