April 2009 Archives

Phil Jagielka surgery hailed a success - Everton latest

PHIL JAGIELKA was set to start his rehabilitation today after the operation on his knee was hailed a success.

Terry Darracott sees a role for Colin Harvey at Everton

COLIN HARVEY and Kenny Dalglish stand at polar opposites on the Mersey soccer map.

Blue Boys: Lessons learned as Everton pupils bash Middlesborough

EVERTON Academy manager Neil Dewsnip says his side learned the lessons of the previous week when they romped to an impressive win at Middlesbrough.

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Everton FC to take on MLS All-Stars as part of North American tour

EVERTON will take on the Major League Soccer All-Stars teams as part of a North American tour this summer.

Manchester City Reserves 3, Everton Reserves 1

A FINAL day 3-1 defeat at Manchester City meant Everton's Reserve side finished seventh in the FA Barclays Premier Reserve League Northern Section.

I WAS NOT at Goodison Park on Saturday, much as I would have loved to be - if only to witness the reception as the teams ran up the steps onto the pitch.

But I have little doubt that the result was down to a combination of possible fatigue after two massive games and performances in the previous week and the fact that the better face of the Jekyll and Hyde personality that has blighted Manchester City's season - both from the point of view of individuals and therefore the team - turned up on the day.

What the English Football Association has done with the ticket allocation for the FA Cup is nothing short of obscene. They are thieves. They've stolen an additional 7000 tickets from Everton FC and Chelsea FC supporters in order to line their own pockets. Now the so called "football family", code for "corporate" prawn sandwich eaters, will number more than the allocations of the real supporters. 40000 to 25000.
Everton FC and Chelsea FC supporters have shed blood sweat and tears to support their clubs to the final. It is Everton's first final in almost 15 years, and so its a massively important game for the ordinary fans. So what do the FA do? They thieve the opportunities of ordinary fans to support their club with an additional slap in the face.
The FA's damage to Everton FC's fanbase has already been done.

Thanks to the ill-conceived allocation, Everton supporters clubs for instance will not get any allocation whatsoever. These supporters clubs are the social mechanisms that cement the foundation of the supporter base and keep the club's interests going in lean years. It is on good authority that what has occurred with the ticket allocation, will lead to the potential break up of a number of supporters clubs, as members will see that when the big games come up - they are amongst the first to be ditched. It should be borne in mind that ordinary active members of these clubs - have attended all home games and have 20+ "away credits" - yet will receive no opportunity to apply for final tickets.
Yet if the FA had given the clubs that additional 7000 tickets - all supporters clubs would have been able to have been given an allocation, and the opportunity to attend the final. Instead the tickets will be sold by the FA to groups for a premium - with a certainty the bulk will end up on the black market and internet touting sites, since uninterested parties can purchase them, and sell them on. It's Club Wembley x10. A bad idea magnified.
Congratulations FA. You have just ruined grass roots domestic football culture - AGAIN.
Thieves. Money grabbers. The people responsible for the allocations should resign. No exceptions. Up to this point Lord Treisman probably had the respect of ordinary supporters. Not after this debacle. The FA have damaged grass roots supporters in yet another greed-festival with fans forced to pay over the odds for tickets, and swindled out of their own clubs's rightful share.

(image above): "so much for a football stadium"

Everton loan duo looking to seal permanent deals

LOAN stars Lars Jacobsen and Segundo Castillo may have played their way into a long-term Everton future.

Everton to face MLS All-Stars

EVERTON will face the MLS All-Stars this summer.

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Phil Jagielka reveals FA Cup final injury heartbreak

PHIL JAGIELKA admits he was left in tears by the heartbreaking injury that dashed his FA Cup final dream.

Lars Jacobsen keeping options open over Everton future

LARS JACOBSEN wants to stay at Everton - provided he can play regular first-team football.

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FORGET about laying a new pitch down at Wembley, the national stadium's maintenance men need to concentrate instead on installing a ramp or stair-lift in time for the FA Cup final in order for half the Everton squad to get up and receive their winners' medals.

Phil Jagielka's injury was an absolute sickener for everyone connected with the club and cast a far bigger pall over an otherwise great week than Robinho and company's disappointing but not altogether unexpected victory at Goodison.

Jagielka's been Everton's outstanding performer this season and his honest, no nonsense approach absolutely sums up what this team are all about.

DEVASTATED, distraught, sickened - those three words will sum up exactly how Phil Jagielka is feeling at this moment in time.

Nothing upsets more than when you see a team-mate suffer a serious injury and that's why I'd expect Finch Farm will be a quiet place this week, as everyone comes to terms with the damage Jagielka sustained to his left knee against Manchester City.

It is terrible news and my heart goes out to him, particularly as he will not play any part in the FA Cup Final; he deserved to walk out at Wembley and there will be no words to console him right now.

Everton's Robert Elstone raps 'hopeless' FA Cup final ticket scheme

EVERTON chief executive Robert Elstone has launched a fresh attack at the FA over the club's Cup final ticket allocation - labelling it "hopelessly inadequate".

Everton star Phil Jagielka in philosophical mood ahead of operation

EVERTON defender Phil Jagielka will undergo knee surgery in London tomorrow.

ACADEMY FOOTBALL: Everton youngsters turn on five-star show

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EVERTON are facing their biggest challenge in the remainder of the season - but it won't be overcoming the absence of Phil Jagielka.

Yes, it is a great loss for them and you obviously have to be sad for a player who has contributed so much to their campaign.

Unfortunately someone, for one reason or another, always seems to miss a cup final and sadly for Jagielka, he's the one who has to suffer the pain this time.