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English Everton to play Chilean Everton in pre-season friendly

EVERTON will take on their namesakes this summer - in a unique pre-season friendly that Everton can't lose!

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov targets Champions League for Everton FC

DINIYAR BILYALETDINOV expects Everton to challenge for a Champions League position next season.

Leeds United chairman Ken Bates labels Everton FC 'a two bob club'

CONTROVERSIAL Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has been apparently caught on a YouTube video branding Everton a 'two-bob club.'

EVERTON finished the season on a high and there is good reason to be optimistic about the future at Goodison.

It's difficult when you've got nothing to play for and it was never going to be a classic against Portsmouth, but Diniyar Bilyaletdinov's stunning late strike sent everyone home happy.

It's been a fantastic second half of the season and it's exciting what the club could achieve in 2010/11.

CRITICS always complain that it's the PFA Awards which are handed out too early in the season. Perhaps Everton officials may wish to reconsider the timing of their end of season awards, too.

Steven Pienaar adorned the cover of the matchday programme at Goodison Park yesterday, proudly holding his Player of the Season title.

No-one even hinted at doing anything against Portsmouth to compromise the integrity of that award.

But the Goal of the Season decision would have come under serious scrutiny.

Not the recipient.

THE main awards given out at Everton's end of season gala dinner did not come as a surprise.

In a year which has been full of inconsistencies, not just at the club but throughout the Premier League, it has been certain for some time that Leighton Baines and Steven Pienaar take the plaudits.

Their form and inter-play down the left has been a consistent feature in Everton's season, particularly since the turn of the year, producing some of the club's best moments.

MANY fear that with Spurs qualifying for the Champions' League, and Manchester City set to spend big in the summer once again, the window of opportunity for Everton is shutting.

If you look at the amount of money spent on transfers this season, Spurs and City are only finishing where you would expect.

But it isn't all about just money. The top four should remain an objective for Everton next season, and they should not be deterred by the astron-omical cash that City are almost certainly ready to splash.

THERE'S no doubt missing out on the Europa League is a big disappointment but Everton's players can hold their heads high this season.

We all love big European nights and competing against teams from the continent is where the Blues want to be.

But now David Moyes and his players just have to concentrate on ensuring we're only out of Europe for a year.

STOKE are one of the last teams you'd want to be playing after they have been beaten 7-0.

They're a proud club with a good management team and Everton's task will be made harder by the Stoke players who will be determined to make amends in front of their own fans.

Peter Reid is loving every minute of his time as Tony Pulis' number two, and Reidy will have them fired up with a few choice words make no mistake.