BLUES CLAIM CRUCIAL EURO POINT

EVERTON 2 (NEVILLE, YOBO)
ASTON VILLA 2 (AGBONLAHOR, CAREW)
By Daniel Gregory 29/04/08

Everton and Aston Villa failed to strike a killer blow in the race for European qualification as they drew 2-2 at the weekend.

David Moyes' men were poor in the first half and looked short of ideas as they lumped long balls up to Yakubu and Andrew Johnson. Villa were showing their class, and played with confidence, keeping the ball well, with captain Gareth Barry orchestrating proceedings in the midfield.

Everton escaped to the sanctuary of the dressing room at half time lucky to be level, and must have been given a torrid 15 minutes by Moyes as they came out and performed much better in the second half.

Phil Neville broke the deadlock for the Blues which gave the match a kick start and ignited the fans, who had been quiet in the poor first half.

Villa bounced back almost straight away when poor defending from a corner allowed Gabriel Agbonlahor to smash home to make it 1-1.

It looked like Everton were going to all but seal 5th place and eufa cup qualification when Joseph Yobo popped up at the back post to hammer home, but John Carew spoiled the party with a headed goal from a Barry cross.

EVERTON:
HOWARD (7) NEVILLE (7) LESCOTT (6) YOBO (7) JAGIELKA (7) FERNANDES (6) OSMAN (6) CARSLEY (7) PIENAAR (7) JOHNSON (6) YAKUBU (7) SUBS: ARTETA (6) ANICHEBIE (6)
Man of the match: Joseph Yobo.

Everton still suffering Viola Blues

Toffee's suffering a sticky patch
Everton 0
Chelsea 1 (Essien)
By Daniel Gregory 18/04/08

David Moyes must be looking forward to putting his feet up and relaxing at the end of the season.

What a season it has been! Moyes has to take most of the credit for forging a fantastic team, hard to beat, robust, and when the best XI is out on the pitch, good going forward as well.

But that is the problem at the moment isn't it? Everton don't have all their players fit, and the squad is suffering the effects of both a long hard season, and the defeat on penalties to Fiorentina last month.

Everton look jaded, and really are crawling over the line, with Portsmouth looking more lively and not a bad tip to leapfrog Everton into 5th spot and qualify for Europe.

Moyes' side continued their run of poor form with a drab, tired and un-inspiring 1-0 home defeat to title chasing Chelsea.

Although the game started at a bright pace, it ended up being a case of both sides being very uncreative and unisnpiring going forward.

Everton without Cahill are one thing, Everton without Cahill and Arteta are another, and Everton without Cahill, Arteta and Osman are nothing short of boring.

Manny Fernandes and Joleon Lescott were the only players who showed any spark whatsoever, and although Fernandes hasn't been at his best since returning to the club on loan, at least he is trying to be creative and trying to be creative, which is more than can be said for the likes of Tony Hibbert, Phil Neville and Lee Carsley.

The Everton side looks a shadow of the one that was dominating teams and looking fresh and spritely early this year, and if it doesn't prove to the board that massive investment is needed if Everton really are to take the next step, then nothing will.

Steven Pienaar looks likely to sign a permanent deal in the next week or so, and that will be a good deal, but he has also been poor of late, and has made some peculiar decisions when in possession.

A tired squad and tough fixtures to come = nervy times at Goodison for the last few weeks of the season. Everton will need to improve if they are to keep hold of 5th place and European qualification.

Michael Essien's 42nd minute strike has put a huge dent in Everton's hopes of fourth place, and has given Pompey the scent of blood. No doubt Harry Redknapp's side will finish strongly, so Everton will need to pick up points from somewhere. Just where at the moment is a mystery.

This season has been a fantastic one for Moyes and Everton, don't get me wrong. But the squad is small, and they really are running out of steam, ideas, and time in the race for fourth spot.

EVERTON: Howard (6) Hibbert (4) Yobo (5) Jagielka (6) Lescott (7) Pienaar (5) Fernandes (7) Neville (5) Carsley (5) Johnson (4) Yakubu (6) Subs: Gravesen (4) Anichebe (5)

Man of the match: Manny Fernandes: Showed glimpses of what he is capable of, and was the only player to go close to scoring, with two glorious free kicks.

Moyes confident of Pienaar deal

Blues boss re-assures fans of permanent deal for winger
By Daniel Gregory 16/04/08

Everton manager David Moyes has moved quickly to re-assure supporters that a deal to bring Steven Pienaar to the club on a permanent basis isn't far away.

The comments come shortly after the Borussia Dortmund midfielder claimed the clock was ticking on his move to Goodison Park, and that he may have to look elsewhere in order to seal a move away from the Bundesliga club.

It is believed that a fee of £2.2million will prize the South African winger away from Dortmund, but the deal expires at the end of this month.

But Moyes has assured fans that a deal is in place and should be concluded by the end of the week. Moyes also revealed that the only thing holding up the deal is the agent's fees, which should be resolevd soon. "As far as I know Steven Pienaar's contract is agreed, it's all done. I think it's his agent's money that isn't agreed. As far as I know everything has been done for a while, so I think it is to do with money for the agent," said Moyes.

"Steven has done well for us. Since he came back from the African Nations he hasn't reached the standards he reached prior to that but that can happen.

"He has picked up one or two injuries which haven't allowed him to get a head of steam. Steven is one of the reasons our football has improved. He is a really good football player."

Tired Toffee's collect vital point

Birmingham City 1 (Zarate)
Everton 1 (Lescott)
By Daniel Gregory 12/04/08

Everton picked up a point away at relegation threatened Birmingham City, but were made to work hard in doing so.

David Moyes' men are making hard work of securing 5th place and Eufa Cup qualification, and have struggled to find any sort of form since the defeat to Fiorentina on penalties last month.

And the Blues continued that run of form with an un-inspiring performance at St Andrews. Moyes will, however, be happy that his side are picking up vital points in the race for european qualification, despite the run of poor form.

Everton looked tired throughout and lacked the sharpness and mobility that has made them so effective and hard to beat this season, putting them in a strong position to qualify for europe again.

Nevertheless, Everton withstood a great deal of pressure against a re-surgent Birmingham side, including dangerous free kicks and set plays from former Everton striker James McFadden, who looked spritely up front.

Everton took the lead late in the second half against the run of play when Joleon Lescott took his tally for the season to 9 with a well placed looping header over keeper Maik Taylor after good work from Yakubu to head towards goal.

Birmingham were straight back in the game though when Argentinian striker Mauro Zarate, on for McFadden, nestled a perfectly placed free kick past a helpless Tim Howard and into the net, after Lee Carsley had handled just outside the area.

Both sides had chances to take the lead again and grab the points but good saves from both keepers kept the scores level.

Moyes will be happy to collect any points he can at the moment with an injury ravaged side, and a tired squad after a long hard season. Moyes said after the game: ""They are a team fighting for survival.

"We knew it wasn't going to be easy and we were missing key players.

"We had to some how grind out a result. In the first half we did okay and in the second half we got the goal and I actually thought we would see the game out there."

Clock is ticking for Pienaar deal

Winger may have to look elsewhere
By Daniel Gregory 09/04/08

On-loan Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar insists he may have to look for other clubs if a permanent move to Goodison Park cannot be secured soon.

The 26-year-old joined the Toffees on a one-year loan deal from Borussia Dortmund at the start of the season and is keen to remain at Goodison Park.

Pienaar said: "I can only wait for a few more days for Everton to reach agreement with Dortmund.

"If that's not forthcoming, I will need to pursue other options I may have."

He added: "At this stage I'm in the dark but only when Dortmund give me the go-ahead can I start to negotiate with any possible club."

A clause in Pienaar's loan contract allows him to leave Dortmund for £2.2m but that arrangement is due to expire at the end of the month, while his permanent Dortmund contract runs until June 2009.

"Obviously they will only give me this permission when they have reached an agreement with a club that wishes to buy me, but so far I have not been informed by Dortmund that they have reached agreement with Everton."

The South African international has been linked with moves to Arsenal, Newcastle and Valencia in recent weeks but at present he is not looking to move on.

"At this stage, no," he added. "I have enjoyed my time here. But the clock is ticking for me because I have a maximum transfer fee of £2.2m in my contract with Dortmund that is only valid until 30 April.

"I cannot allow this deadline to expire because this is a transfer fee that is affordable to a number of clubs, particularly in the Premier League."

Manny playing for pride

Loan star Fernandes hoping to regain full fitness soon
By Daniel Gregory 08/04/08

Everton's on loan midfielder Manuel Fernandes has revealed he is merely playing for pride and fitness at the moment.

The skillful Portuguese midfielder, on loan from Valencia until the end of the season has failed to show the kind of form that won him many admirers at Goodison Park during his first spell with the club last season, but has admitted that he isn't fully fit and has also struggled with injuries.

"This is more for me than anyone else. I want to be at the best fitness level that I can be," said Fernandes.

"It’s not for Everton or anyone else, it’s for me - but if I play well then I will help the rest of the team so that’s my main objective.

"I think I helped last year in getting them into the Uefa Cup and I’m going to try to help them this year also."

"To be honest I don’t feel in the best way but I need to change that feeling because I think that if I’m in my best shape then I can help the team in the final stages of the season.

"It’s not about my mental state, it’s more about my fitness levels because although I want to play, it’s difficult because I’m not at the same fitness level as everyone at Everton, which has had a little bit of an effect on me, but I’m trying to improve as soon as possible."

There is rumoured to be an agreement between Everton and Valencia to sign the player on a permanent basis, but it remains to be seen whether or not David Moyes will want to stump up a hefty slice of his summer transfer budget on a player who has failed to perform since re-joining.

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Vic aiming to follow the Yak

Young striker aiming learning from Yakubu
By Daniel Gregory 08/04/08

Young Everton striker Victor Anichebe is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Yakubu.

Anichebe, 19, is a product of the Everton youth system and has progressed well in the last couple of seasons since forcing his way into the first team setup.

Fellow Nigerian hitman Yakubu joined the Toffees in the summer and has been teaching Anichebe a thing ro two, with the pair hitting it off on and off the pitch.

Anichebe has been in and out of the Everton side this season but is making steady progress and is showing signs of real quality.

He said: "Since Yak has come here I have learnt a lot. I’ve also learnt a lot of Jo (Joseph Yobo), because they tell me about things that I don’t know about Nigeria so it’s helped me out a lot.

"The Yak hasn’t even been here for a season yet and me and him have become good friends."

Anichebe revealed that he is keen to emulate the former Middlesbrough striker's goalscoring record.

"I feel I need to get more goals in the Premier League but that will come because I’ve still got time and I’ve got people around me that are going to help me," he said.

"I’ve got the manager, I’ve got Taff (Andy Holden) and I’ve got the players as well.

"Yak has helped me out a lot on the pitch because I watch the way he plays and I can relate to it," continued Anichebe, who has five goals this term.

"He’s a great addition to the squad, he’s scored a lot of goals and I just watch him all the time and learn things from him because he’s a top, top striker."

Blues struggle to three crucial points

Everton 1 (Osman)
Derby County 0
By Daniel Gregory 06/04/08

David Moyes will be a relieved man this evening. His Everton side ended their dismal run of three games without a win, but struggled to flatter themselves in doing so.

A solitary Leon Osman goal was just about enough to secure the three points for the Toffee's, who still look short of confidence, if not a little drained after a hectic schedule so far this season.

The deadlock was broken when Osman latched onto Manuel Fernandes' pin-point cross to finish brilliantly past a helpless Roy Carroll. That was the only moment of any real quality in the match as both sides struggled in harsh conditions to string together any moves of attacking notibility.

Everton now sit comfortably in 5th spot in the Premier League, just three points behind city rivals Liverpool, who have some tough fixtures coming up, as well as Champions League fixtures to think about. With 5th spot all but secured, David Moyes can now switch his thoughts to planning his summer transfer targets with European football in mind, while the club can also mount a last minute challenge for Champions League qualification.

EVERTON: Howard (7) Baines (7) Lescott (7) Yobo (7) Neville (6) Arteta (7) Osman (8) Fernandes (7) Carsley (7) Johnson (6) Yakubu (6) Subs: Anichebe (6) Jagielka (6) Valente (6)

Man of the match: Leon Osman.