Another Saturday night and tomorrow's just another day.

I'm desperate for the Premiership to begin.

Tears for souvenirs.

I'm sick of Euro 2004, the thought of sitting through tomorrow's match: Portugal complete with the plaster earringed trixster Ronaldo v the Hit-and-run-on-speed collective of Greece, has no appeal whatsoever - and I'm a huge fan of football! I've got to agree with Hansen [todays Telegraph]; there's something dreadfully wrong here.

Who made who?

Rooney's supposed to be 'too good for Everton' according to many a pundit and media leech. Ha! We are without doubt one of the greatest clubs that this country has ever seen, having a heritage that all but say 3 or 4 clubs can only dream about. I'm annoyed that I felt compelled to refer to such sentiments about Everton's status. When are the media beauts going to admit that football didn't actually begin in the early 1990s? I recently discovered a marvellous, insightful and intelligent blog which expands upon the 1992 matter in today's post. It seems to be related to the wonderful Toffeeweb. I must update my links one day.

They're mad and I'm glad.

Continuing with my diatribe about many in the media, Moyes came out with the usual appropriate and timely words, "...laughable nonsense" being today's gem. Correctly, Moyes asserted that the position that the lad finds himself in today is somewhat thanks to Everton. Everton haven't put a foot wrong with him. Many in the media appear to be outraged that Everton had the temerity to discover and nurture the lad and are livid that we have the downright cheek to want to keep such a top England player. The fact that these jackals, ravens and hyenas are so obviously dissatisfied with Rooney's Everton love and position, continues to give me a Ready-Brek type warm glow of satisfaction.

Today, 'tis written that Grav. wants to stay [official site. I've said before that I'm a Grav fan and confess here and now to having sung, "Oh Tommy, Tommy, ..." more than once. However, I feel that we require a different midfield blend if we're to make the best use of him. So, notwithstanding that conclusion, I'm hoping that we can keep him and that Moyes will come up with the necessary and complimentary midfield assest[s].

Euro 2004 final? Olympics? Nah. It might as well rain until September.

Not about Everton but of a football interest anyway! Henri Camara, African Player of the Year 2005

eBay item 3686292410 (Ends 08-Jul-04 14:05:56 BST) - Henri Camara, African Player of the Year 2005

It made me laugh. What a wind up!

Someone had put the guy up for sale on ebay and bidding had reached £10 million last time I looked!

Naturally, it couldn't last and the ebay police have found out and removed the advert.

Everton-Liverpool Football Stadium groundshare - simplified 'news.'

Mersey Stadium - what colour do you get if you mix red and blue?

Pressure for clubs to agree to a ground share is building. The RS are coming under great pressure to agree to a ground share with Everton.

The North West Development Agency has said that it would reject an application for c£10M [grant funding] for a new stadium in Stanley Park, unless the clubs agree to a share. Also, the NWDA has given both clubs a month to make a decision about whether they will agree to work conjointly. Another c£10M of grant dosh from the county's Objective 1 programme is also in doubt, as no money has been guaranteed for the RS's solo Stanley Park project proposal. The Objective 1 Monitoring Group would have to transfer money from other projects that already have cash allocated to them, in order for this situation to alter.

I'm undecided at the mo' it's a big important step and I can see it from both sides of the argument. What's really peeing me off though, are the comments from certain RS's of my acquaintance, who are referring to us as 'asylum seekers' who want them to somehow 'bail us out.' Horlicks! Ha! Those people need reminding [which I have done] which club gave them Anfield in the first place!

If we do agree to share with them, the joint move will be partly due to their own affinity for the begging bowl, it being no doubt heightened by Houllier's profligacy. Also, due to the Planning restrictions/listing[s] applying to the city's Stanley Park, that location is by no means nailed on.

We must not be seen as 'tenants' nor 'tolerated trespassers' in any new shared stadium. Any evidence of that, would result in me being strongly opposed to any such venture.

Equal partners or no dice...

Everton Football Club's fixture changes, for the first half of the English Premiership

Everton have received notification of the first group of fixtures that will be switched to accommodate live TV showings. We'll be on national boob tube a whopping 6 times between now and Christmas. 4th from bottom and 6 times on TV in 5 months? The wonder of Wayne hey!

[1] The opener v Arsenal will be played 23 hours late, with a 14.00 kick-off. We'll be trying to break their unbeaten run again. The last time we did so, Wayne's goal had me crying.

[2] Portsmaaaarf away will be Sun. Sept 26, kick-off @ 16.05

[3] Norwich [a] will be on PayPVTV on Sat. Oct. 23 @ 12.45

[4] B-b-b-uuurmingam [a] also on PPVTV is Nov. 13 @ 17.15

[5] Toons [a] @ 14.00 on Sun Nov. 28

[6] Everton's last PPVTV game, before Crimbo is the Merseyside Derby on Dec. 11 and that's @ 12.45

If I've missed any, I'll add them later.

Finally, Palace [h] Sun. April 10, due to the fact that World's greatest horserace, 'The Grand National' at Aintree, is being held on the previous day …

Everton Football Club - Rearranged fixtures

Match with the RS [ Liverpool ] re-arranged for 12.45, live on Sky. More later.

Everton football club are holding auctions, y 'El Tommy Slapo Gravo' por Madrid?

Auction

No, it's not an auction for Rooney, well not just yet anyway. This is an interesting article from the official site. I've been hoping to see something like this, ever since I first discovered ebay and became very fond of the whole business of auctions. I suspect that this new service is evidence of the intellectual might and business acumen of Trevor Birch being brought into play.

Here's the link to the relevant part of the official site.


Pinball wizard

Turning to other matters. I'm a Grav. fan and I am saddened to learn that John Sivebaek [Grav's agent] has today announced that it would take "a big offer for him to sign a new deal" and went on to say, "... it may be now time for him to try something new." Despite being a fan, I do listen to those who constructively criticise him. With the right replacement, his departure may be acceptable to me, I'll have to wait and see.

The old, wise band of brothers have their say.

So far, the following old friends have come out into the media arena, to recommend that the boy stays with us:
*Neville Southall
*Dave Watson
*Kevin Sheedy
*Gary Lineker
*Notable absentee: Andy Gray

It's hard enough just 'being 18,' the poor lad's head is probably battered!

Time marches on

I'm going to look into the proposed programme [timing] for the move of the training base from Bellefield [West Derby] to Halewood. Bellefield is fairly close to home and my family, friends and I, will miss seeing the players around and about the area during the week. It will be a palpable loss, but obviously will be happily endured, if the superior facilites produce better results on the pitch!

Euro 2004

Off to watch the match now. I want Baros to not score and miss loads of sitters but the Czech's to win.

International football - Holland out, Portugal through. Oh and Gerrard to leave.

My interest in this tournament is fading rapidly. A disappointing Holland were out-thought by Portugal and so crashed out [2:1] of yet another tournament at the semi-final stage. Portugal are a team that I simply cannot warm to. The snidey Ronaldo, for all his tricks, leaves me cold. Perhaps there's a little resentment due to the manner of England's departure too - I'm only human. I hope someone literally puts Ronaldo on his @rse, very soon. Besides his annoying excesses, he deserves bringing down a peg or two for those band-aid plaster earrings. Anyhow, what am I worrying about? They'll draw a blank against the Czechs [ouch] who will slam them in the final.

By the way, if you ever have a flutter and you seek best value, try Betfair. The site allows an Average Joe, without a bookmakers permit, to fulfill the role of bookmaker or 'layer.' If you've ever thought that the bookies have it easy, this site will give you a chance to put your money where your mouth is. I foresee, in the long term [say 10 years from now], p2p betting exchanges will have a higher turnover than bookmakers. If you're already a member of an exchange, you'll know what I mean. Prior to enrolling, check that betting is legal from your part of the world and only bet what you're prepared to throw away etc.

Currently on Betfair, Rooney is heavy odds on 1.31 to leave this summer. Also, Everton are a whopping 550.00 to win the Premiership. Moyes is 26.00 to be the next Man U manager. How bloody depressing.

Other than Gerrard [he with the car reg. ending '-- 5AVE'] wanting to go to Notts Forest, it's gone quiet on the transfer front today - thankfully. I wish Gerrard luck, but respectfully suggest that he'll be at his proper level of competence in Div. 1. Hopefully, he'll end his playing days happily.

Everton kit for the football season 04/05

Just in case you hadn't seen the new kit and didn't know when it was being released. Here's an image from the official site of Everton FC.

It has a retro look, I like it.

Everton write:

"We are pleased to annou[n]ce that the new Everton Home Kit for season 2004/2005 will be launched on the 6th August 2004. You will be able to pre-order the kit Online from the 9th July 2004."

I've linked to this image on Bluekipper too to give you an idea of what the motif may look like

Everton Football Club and Rooney - 'gritty, groovy and gettin it' aka 'it's rough out there.'

The internet is an arid and unfriendly landscape, however, there is hope...

ToffeeWeb - Viewpoint - Stop the Madness

Yet again, I am brought to a literary standstill by the quality writings of my [dare I elevate myself to say it?] e-'peers.'

This article is absolutely top notch and, word by word, echoes my personal feelings. 'Tis rare to find a perfect fit in this off the rack world but when it comes to Evertonians, we're dealing with a very, very clued-up bunch and they often hit the e-spot.

Besides the utterly tremendous [if sometimes saddening] outpourings of the magnificent Toffeeweb, I have yet another chap to recommend, one that I have been following for sometime now, he is a regular must read and for me is a colossus amongst on-line Blues: Mickey Blue Eyes. I've never had the pleasure, but I'm sure he'd deservedly be given the mike at any major Everton fans' gathering.

See his online archives here

Blue Kipper - Wayne Rooney - Casting the Roons

I read the above yet again last night. Bearing in mind it was written when Rooney was well and truly 'ours' and was [internationally] an 'unknown,' it's breathtakingly relevant and moving for a hopeless Everton-lover, such as I.

It's people like these, at Bluekipper and at Toffeeweb, that have inspired me to undertake the labour of love that I hope that this EvertonBlog will be.

Once a blue.

English Premiership Football returns to the BBC with 'Match of the Day.'

I've had better post-tournament, pre-season episodes than this current one, all the transfer speculation is keeping me awake some nights. However, a nice thought crept into my mind over a cuppa earlier this evening. I recalled that ITV's 'The Premiership' is no more [for now] and that good old MOTD [Match of the Day to the unfamiliar] is set to return in August. Great! Back to reasonable coverage for ALL clubs, I trust. The Premiership's obsession with all things Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle [i.e. monetary] was driving me bananas. Everton were getting <2 minutes of coverage per week, unless we were playing one of the important crony-ring of 'P5' [my Premiership allegory for the 'G7'] 'big*' clubs. Yes, a grand old whopping 2 minutes was our usual allowance and that was WITH Rooney. To the millions of non-P5 clubs' fans, MOTD, assuming its old ethos is maintained, will allow them the luxury of having lengthy, regular, free-to-view highlights of their very own unfashionable, 'makeweight' team. Nice thought eh? The BBC can have my licence fee with pleasure in return for say a 300% rise to >7 minutes of Everton, guaranteed, every week.

A significant added bonus will be the presence of Gary Lineker in lieu of Des. Perhaps we'll see a lot of the wonderful Peter Reid too. Of the whole ITV team, only Gab [of course] and of late, Andy Townsend [if you listen to him, he actually knows his stuff] ever impressed me.

Bitter? No, just for real.

TTFN_2_ITV

-----------------------------------------------------------

*'big'
This is not my definition, it simply appears to be the view of the majority of the media. The 'New Football Order' that is The Premiership, doesn't appear to acknowledge footballing heritage pre-90s, nor does it reflect Newcastle's and Chelsea's serious lack of meaningful history, tradition and lightweight rolls of honour. No doubt, many Spurs and Villa fans feel like I do!

The old 'in-out'

The Unsworth to Bolton deal collapses. Personal terms seem to be at the root of it. It's sad situation but such is the modern game. Father time dances a wicked jig and Unsy's got to be considered as worthy of a year at most; I agree with Moyes. I think he'll end up in Div 1, hopefully with 'a contender.' His experience will add great value to such a club.

Thomas Helveg [Denmark's defender] is to leave Inter with Everton believed to be keen. Looks good to me, not sure about his age though [30+?].

Lineker urges Rooney to stay I see. Well done Gary. If only you'd been able to stay... Apparently Lineker admits he did not make the right move when he left us ['The greatest team I ever played for' - yes, that's what he's said] for Barcelona.

Rooney's being talked of as being valued at '£40m' a lot over the last 24 hours. Who's decided that I wonder? I hope Moyes sticks to his beliefs and demands a world record fee for the lad. United could well put any Rooney deal on hold though as, being a listed company, a 'PLC,' they must exercise more due diligence etc. than a private company would be obliged to do. A full and rigorous medical would obviously be impossible prior to August's kick-off. Manchester United's insurance providers would not be too happy with a lightweight medical. Chowski wouldn't have the same stringencies however...

I hope and pray that we don't end up with any Utd drift-wood. It's got to be hard cash only, surely? Moyes and the highly impressive Birch [at least] will know better than to accept anything other than greenbacks, methinks.

Arse'nil' and Golden Days

No 1st choice striker available for the opener v. Arsenal I see. Rad. has international commitments with Canada. I'm not going to get too down just yet though. The way this pre-season's unravelling, there's a fair chance that it will be somebody else's [Fulham's ?] problem and not ours.

Turning to TV for a change, last night's 'The Golden Vision' on BBC4 was tremendous viewing. I'd never seen it before and fortunately, I was alerted to it, only moments after it started. It was some team; footage of a 2:2 at Highbury was included - Young played like a megastar. If you missed it, catch it if you can, it is an important historical document of a different world.

Oh, Tommy, Tommy...

Tommy Grav out.

Denmark out of Euro 2004. At the time of writing, it's 3:0 and the match is still in play, but they've gone.

Ignoring the obvious sentiment, due to Everton and Liverpool players' involvement, I'm made up. For me, Denmark and Sweden were responsible for a footballing atrocity when their game ended in the desired '2:2' to ship Italy home. That was a bad day for football - a real low point of the tournament. I'm glad it's all ended in tears for them.

Agent 'oh oh 18'

Superb article from a very highly regarded site. Can't fault a single word. Just who is Rooney working for I ask?

ToffeeWeb Comments - Colm's Corner #100: Agents of Darkness

Agents are perhaps the worst of all of the football suits.

Yahoo! Sports - World Soccer - Andrade sends get-well soon message to Rooney

Yahoo! Sports - World Soccer - Andrade sends get-well soon message to Rooney

That's nice of him.

Contract battle

Everton are to offer Rooney a new contract to attempt to keep him. I wonder exactly what the agent's saying to the lad? I wonder what each of the different scenario's will earn the agent?

Fixtures.

The fixtures, correct at time of posting, can be found on the following link:

Everton fixtures