July 2008 Archives

IT'S FRUSTRATING trying to figure out the inner machinations of something you care about, especially when it's something as complex and dense as Everton F.C.
There is clearly an awful lot happening behind the scenes currently, but those of us on the outside; fans, journalists, people in both camps, are left guessing in the dark.

ANOTHER surreal day in a typically Everton summer of transfer verbosity.
First the ECHO report that a deal is on the verge of being struck with Fulham and that AJ wants out.
Then the club deny any such offer has even been made by the Londoners, let alone a £10.5m deal struck. So far, so confusing...

THERE'S only one name on the lips of every blue today after our win over Preston at Deepdale.
Jose Baxter formally announced himself to uninitiated fans with a live-wire display of invention and maturity.
The 17-year-old from Litherland has been the academy's worst kept secret for some time now and his potentIal is undoubtedly vast.

RUMOURS of Everton's interest in Portuguese Joao Moutinho don't quite ring true with me.
His valuation, for a start, has got to be a sticking point. I'd say Sporting would be very unlikely to sell for less than £10m, and why should they? He's their 21-year-old highly rated captain who plays for the national side.

CREDIT where it's due. It seems Everton's board have, somehow, managed to secure another major loan to provide David Moyes with proper transfer funds.
Aware that something had to be done, especially with that unsigned contract looming large, Kenwright, Earl and Woods are reported to have persuaded another bank to brave the Credit Crunch and give us some readies.

OF ALL the people we’ve been linked with yet this summer, Darren Fletcher is one deal I can genuinely see happening.

EVEN though the Government have asked for further time to consider the Kirkby project, their verdict will still arrive sooner rather than later.
I’ve said already that what happens next could be the most divisive issue ever to effect the club.
I sincerely hope that whatever happens doesn’t lead to various schisms of Evertonians, but I’m not burying my head in the sand.

HERE’S a look at what could be our new third shirt for this season.
I’d heard about a month ago that the plan was to base the strip on Chelsea’s neon number last year.