EPL Talk » David Moyes

Heitinga Transfers to Everton

Sam Hiser — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:03:46 +0000

photo: Yiorgos Karahalis | Reuters

Dutch international right back, Johnny Heitinga, has accepted a transfer from Atletico Madrid to Everton, completing a physical just under the transfer window deadline which closed at 5pm yesterday.

It’s a loss for Atleti and a serious loss for the Champions League competition (Everton competes in the Europa League but Heitinga is cup-tied for even that). I was looking forward to the rebels — “Los Colchoneros” (”the Mattress-Makers”) — of Madrid making a strong showing this year. Perhaps not.

Heitinga — a product of Ajax — is one of the quality right backs who’s lithe movement reminds a little of Cafu in his nimbler days. A skilled handler of the ball who gives firm ball on the ground and who is capable of launching stinging balls early across the 18 from wide space. He is clever, unpredictable, not easily read and not prone to tendency. He’ll set you up going outside then, later in the match, kill you driving inside. Unlike Ashley Cole, for example, Heitinga is the kind of wide back who keeps his wide opponents busy in their own end.

Moyes brings in Heitinga to replace Joleon Lescott who was snatched by Mark Hughes & Manchester City near the deadline. Lescott is a strong player, but this is at least a fair swap for the Toffees if Johnny can stay fit.

Heitinga rejoins his old teammate, Steven Pienaar, alongside whom he played at Ajax for five years. Said Heitinga, “I am looking forward to linking up with him again because he is a good player.”

Apparently, Heitinga was on a high salary in Madrid which Everton could not match (yet he now supercedes Mikel Arteta as Everton highest paid player). Nor can Everton offer Champions League competition this year. Even with these deficiencies in the bargain, a fine Dutch footballer feels the pull of the Premiership and the aura of living in Liverpool & environs.

My guess is Heitinga will take Tony Hibbert’s position wide-right; in which case it is unclear who among Baines, Yobo or Jagielka and others are best suited to partner Sylvain Distin in the middle of the back. It’s the kind of signing the effects of which will ripple through a side having its difficulties not a few months after just tasting the Wembley stage of an FA Cup Final.

FA Cup Final Live Blog: Everton v Chelsea

Michael Scallon — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:19:26 +0000

The last dance of the season, of every season, the FA Cup Final is the jewel in the English Football Crown. Last year’s final between Cardiff and Portsmouth was arguably the exception, but this year’s certainly isn’t:

Underdogs Everton come into the final for the first time in 14 years, since Joe Royle’s infamous ‘dogs of war’ – led by the terrifying Duncan Ferguson – beat Manchester United in a final that was described by many as “rubbish”. This is David Moyes’ first appearance in an English FA Cup Final, as either a player or manger, but with the experienced Phil Neville leading the side, there is no shortage of big match experience. Neville himself is going for his fourth FA Cup triumph, after wins in 1996, 1999 and 2004 with Manchester United. A crucial penalty in the semi final against his former club, he says, was the first time that he really ”felt like an Everton player” despite being captain for two years. Hmmm. Unfortunately, talented centre half Phil Jagielka misses out on the Wembley showpiece with a knee injury sustained in a game against Manchester City on 25th April. Nigerian Joseph Yobo is likely to take his place in the back four.

Favourites Chelsea bid a fond farewell to Guus Hiddink on Saturday, after the dutchman guided the Blues to third position in the league and a European Cup semi final, as well as tomorrow’s FA Cup Final. Midfield maestro Frank Lampard has been passed fit to play as Chelsea are bidding to add to their FA Cup haul of four, the last of those being in 2007, where a Didier Drogba goal in extra time saw off league champions Manchester United. Like Moyes, this is Hiddink’s first taste of an English FA Cup Final, but as a European Cup winner with PSV in 1988, he is no stranger to success and the battle of wits between the Scot and the Dutchman could be where this game could be decided.

You better add this to your favourites before you go to bed because it’s an early start American viewers, so bring your coffee and join me at around 9.30 EDT (2.30pm GMT, so not that early my fellow Brits) for this season’s denouement. Should be a good one. Maybe. Click Here for the live blog.

Editor’s Note: During the FA Cup Final live blog/chat experience on EPL Talk today, host Michael Scallon will be awarding an official EPL Talk T-Shirt to one lucky winner. Log in to find out how to win.

Everton Announced As The Opponent for MLS All-Stars

tyduffy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:56:45 +0000

Major League Soccer has announced Everton as the opponent for this year’s MLS All-Star game.

“We are very excited about Everton FC agreeing to be the opponent for the 2009 MLS All-Star Game,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said in a league statement. “Everton is an elite European club that features many world-class players, including former MLS standout Tim Howard, who will challenge our unbeaten record against English Premier League teams in the MLS All-Star Game series.”

Everton are excited as well.

“We are all looking forward to the match in Salt Lake City,” said Everton manager David Moyes. “I am sure there will be a lot of interest in the game and it will be a valuable part of our preseason schedule. We always enjoy spending time in America during the summer because the facilities are first-class and there is a warm welcome wherever we go.”

The match will occur on July 29 at Real Salt Lake’s Rio Tinto Stadium. It will be televised on ESPN 2 at 9:30 PM EST.

Spanish clubs Valencia, Villarreal and Atletico Madrid were also rumored to be candidates.

The MLS All-Stars are unbeaten in the game against European competition in this fixture and have outscored opponents 13-4. One suspects they would not fare so well travelling to England at a time when Premier League players are in midseason form.

The match is the first confirmed fixture of the 2009 summer schedule but Everton supporters are advised that the first-team squad will not be based in Salt Lake City and the game will form part of a wider tour across North America.

It will be the Blues’ fifth visit to the USA in their last six pre-season tours, which have included stays in Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago and Colorado.

For the latest schedule of preseason friendlies involving Premier League teams around the world, visit the preseason friendlies page on EPL Talk.

Is David Moyes Ready for a Big Four Management Position?

Sebastian Shepard — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:12:37 +0000

David Moyes has spent over a decade managing clubs in English football, hitting his peak over the last couple of seasons after some strange yo-yo performances by the Merseyside club in prior years.

He has earned a spot in the Champions League and secured UEFA Cup play twice, likely a third time straight this year around, all on a budget that would please Arsene Wenger. Even the 10 million + pound signings have looked quality, especially in light of 20 million + flops such as Veron, Shevchenko, and Keane from the Big Four.

More importantly than all of this is that a vacancy in one of the Big Four management is likely to open in the next few years, so let’s examine each case.

Chelsea

The London hotseat would probably be the most dangerous place for him to go simply because Roman demands results and prefers them over stability, which Moyes has brought to Everton for three years. The upside is that this is the job most likely to become available, and needs a manager (should Hiddink depart like he says he will) like Moyes who can build a team to compete in the future. Given his nose in the transfer market and a slightly larger budget than Everton can afford, Moyes at Chelsea for years to come could be a deadly combination, but only if Roman gives him time.

Manchester United

Sir Alex is going to retire; Sir Alex wants to win two more European trophies; Mourinho is taking over next year; Mourinho wants to stay at Inter and then move to Spain and then back to Chelsea and then Man U and then the Portuguese national team (where will he find the years?) and then conquer the universe.

The rumors have been circulating, but realistically Sir Alex will retire in the next few seasons. He is approaching 70, has won everything there is to win (of real importance) at least twice, is a Manchester United legend, and has so far outlasted all of his rivals, superstars with super-egos, etc.

Ferguson has spoken of the importance of stability, so it is doubtful that a “project” coach like Mourinho will appeal to the United hierarchy. However, everybody loves to win, and no one denies Mourinho’s knack for it. Regardless, Moyes should be considered, if only because Sir Alex has lauded him as a fantastic coach. On the downside, Moyes has never won anything but a League 2 championship, and does not have a proven European record, but to be fair, he doesn’t have the squad depth to be competitive on so many fronts. With a squad like United, he might showcase his talents on the continent as well as in England.

Arsenal

I consider David Moyes to be Arsene Wenger-lite, minus the pseudo-intellectual pretensions and the preference for all things French.

In all seriousness though, David Moyes might be the ideal replacement for Wenger should he leave. He knows how to stretch a budget, which the “selling club” Arsenal apparently need; he knows how to get the best out of players (such as Mikel Arteta); and as far as I can tell, he commands respect and loyalty from the players, club and fans.

What more could Arsenal want? They haven’t won with Wenger for quite some time, and so maybe the time is right for fresh blood, a new approach to signing players, etc. Give him a few years to seriously compete for the Premier League title, the Champions League, and the FA Cup, and see if he can’t hit the heights that Wenger has.

Liverpool

Rafa Benitez just signed a five year contract, so I doubt Liverpool will be in the market for a new coach anytime soon. It would also be outrageous if the Reds signed their crosstown rival’s coach, especially when Moyes referred to Everton as “the people’s club” in contrast to ‘pool. The odds of this happening are probably slimmer than Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Messi playing together at Real Madrid.

Conclusion

All in all, I’d say it is time for the Everton man to step onto the big stage and test himself. He has proved himself to be wel above adequate in managing at the highest level of English football, but hasn’t had the resources to build a squad with the depth and quality to compete in multiple, top-level competetions. He has the experience yet he is young enough to be appealing to any club who wants someone to stay for many years. Sorry Everton fans, but if Moyes has the ambition, he should move on to one of the Big Four.

Drogba Wants to Stay at Chelsea

Johnathan Starling — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:34:17 +0000

Sorry Drogba, but I have to call BS on this one.

After spending this season doing more sulking than any professional football player should be allowed to do by law, and in a week where Marseille’s president has said he wants Drogba back, Didier Drogba has attempted to shut people up by saying he wants to stay at Chelsea. He even wants to get a contract extension.

Look Drogba, get out. After showing your lack of professionalism by not bothering to fight for your spot up front when Scolari was around, you think that it’s okay to all of a sudden have a change of heart because of the new manager? You think it’s okay to do more flopping around than Cristiano Ronaldo and Steven Gerrard combined? Even worse to me, you think it’s okay to take your jolly sweet time to come back from injury? Yes I will admit that by that time, Scolari had had enough of your dog and pony act and your attitude deserved nothing but the bench. However when you are benched, you fight for a spot on the team, not fight to get the manager removed.

It’s going to an awfully long time for me as a Chelsea fan to warm back up to your performances. If you only had the balls to play like you did against Liverpool in last season’s Champions League semi-final second leg, you might actually be respected as a footballer. Instead, your words ring hollow, no one cares about your prepared statement.

Other Stories
So Jimmy Bullard is going to be out another lengthy spell of time. This time, Hull City could be without their record signing for up to nine months. While Fulham is sitting back counting their money, Hull City have to be wondering if Bullard will be able to get anywhere near the form he had coming back for Fulham. At 30, that’s going to be a difficult task. Yes Paul Duffen, this was a gamble that didn’t pay off.

What’s 2 weeks to Eduardo? The time it will take to come back from the hammy he suffered in his return to Arsenal first team action.

You have to give David Moyes credit. He is going to do everything in his power to make sure Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling gradually work their way into regular first team action. The last thing Everton need is for these two to have something happen where they have to be built back up from scratch. I think these two will be just fine.

Ian Herbert is asking if this Manchester United squad is the greatest Premier League team ever?

Joe Kinnear looks set to leave the hospital this weekend. I hope part of his orders is to not watch Newcastle/Everton on Sunday.

Here’s Christopher Samba coming out and saying that Blackburn are ‘too good to go down’. Umm..sure.

And finally, Giofranco Zola goes off on the bencher. You know, the big shot at the small club who takes the big contract to ride the bench at a bigger club.