Recently by David Prentice

"HAS anyone a cure for blistered feet?"

As first column headlines go, Alex Young's introduction to the Echo in August 1961 was an unusual one.

Still to receive his Golden Vision nickname, Young had moved to Merseyside from Hearts the previous November, and was unveiled as an Echo columnist on the eve of the 1961/62 season.

CONTRARY to popular belief, there is somebody at Everton who possesses the gift of foresight and forward planning.

Ticket holders for the lounges inside Goodison Park turned up on Saturday to free samples of Old Pulteney malt whisky.

Perhaps it was a slick move to anaesthetise against the inevitable.

But even that backfired. Just when most fans needed a stiff drink, the samples had been moved elsewhere.

DAVID MOYES chose the eve of the new Premier League season to admit that this has been the most frustrating close season of his football career.

But the Blues boss revealed that he remains totally committed to the club and has no intentions of walking away.

Moyes hinted that his new Everton contract may not be signed until after the transfer window has closed on August 31.

IT'S Alex Young week at Everton. For those fans who haven't yet seen it, Neville Smith and Ken Loach's seminal docu-drama, The Golden Vision gets another airing on BBC4 on Monday at 8.50pm.

And 40 years after its first screening, that indefatigable Evertonian, Dr David France, intends to make modern fans aware of his football hero's genius.

Dr France has produced a limited edition biography of Young, written in conjunction with the player himself, and called, quite simply: Alex Young - The Golden Vision.

VICTOR ANICHEBE is one match away from bringing home a medal from the Olympic Games.

But Everton's Nigerian international wants to go better than bronze or silver and emulate Daniel Amokachi - the Goodison favourite who struck gold at the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996.

Nigeria face Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals of the Olympic competition today and Anichebe told Nigeria's Daily Sun: "I have been a great admirer of the likes of Kanu, Daniel Amokachi and Celestine Babayaro after their exploits at the Atlanta '96 Games and I am preparing myself to join their league.

TIM HOWARD wants to summon up the spirit of seasons past at Goodison Park this afternoon.

The dreadful summer of 2004, when Everton were left licking self-inflicted wounds after their lowest goals and points tally of modern times, then sold their best player too late to bring in a replacement, was the catalyst for a remarkable campaign which ended with a shot at the Champions League.

The summer Everton have just endured makes that 2004 close season look like a stroll in the park.

Everton prepare to welcome Blackburn Rovers to Goodison tomorrow. And after a close season of inactivity in the transfer market which sees David Moyes depending on his established stars to get them off to a winning start, Chief Sports writer Dave Prentice addresses the hopes and fears of all Blues fans.

IT'S an old pub pastime on the eve of a new season. Name your best Everton XI.

Except Evertonians have been indulging in a variation on the theme this week.

Name an Everton XI for tomorrow. Any XI.

Go on, have a go. It's not as difficult as you'd think . . . because Everton only have ten senior players to choose from.

* WATCH our pre-season video special with previews from the ECHO's top team, an exclusive interview with Graeme Sharp and bookies tips here

EVERTON have made a last ditch bid to hijack Newcastle's move for former Chelsea midfielder Tiago, after their hopes of landing Vagner Love were dashed.

The Portugal playmaker, 27, who made 52 appearances for Chelsea in 2004/05, has been made available by Juventus and looked to be heading for Newcastle until the deal hit a hitch yesterday.

Sources in Turin claim the final decision is down to the player, but Atletico Madrid and Fenerbahce have now also been alerted and Tiago is believed to prefer a move to Spain.

Newcastle thought they had landed the midfielder yesterday in a loan move that could become permanent next summer for an £8million fee.

MIKEL ARTETA has ordered Everton to stop feeling sorry for themselves and focus on Saturday's "massive game" against Blackburn.

A number of Everton players have spoken out this summer of the need to boost their depleted squad numbers, but with the big kick-off just three days away, the prospect of new faces seems remote.

But Arteta is unconcerned and has urged his team-mates to pull together and secure an opening day victory at Goodison Park on Saturday.

"I think we need to stop talking about the new signings," said Arteta.

"The manager, the chairman, whatever it is they have to do they are going to do it for the best of the club.

EVERTON'S threadbare squad has suffered another crushing injury blow with the Blues today confirming Steven Pienaar has broken a toe.

Peinaar sustained the injury during Saturday's friendly victory over PSV and will now be sidelined for the opening six weeks of the season.

The news comes just four days before the Premier League opener against Blackburn. And with Tony Hibbert and Tim Cahill injured, Victor Anichebe at the Olympic Games and James Vaughan likely to be suspended, the Blues are now TEN players down on the squad which ended last season in fifth place.

Lee Carsley, Andrew Johnson, Thomas Gravesen, Manuel Fernandes and Stefan Wessels have all left the club during the summer, with the Blues still struggling to bring in any new faces.