WHAT THE PAPERS SAY - 13 MARCH

Saturday 13 March 2010, 07:54
by Giulia Bould @YourEverton

The views on this page are taken from the local and national media and do not necessarily reflect the views of Everton.

Everton are ready to invest massively in their future by giving up to TEN players new long-term contracts.

The club want to build on the huge promise shown since the turn of the year, by ensuring that key players are secured on lucrative new deals to ward off interest from potential predators.

Toffees boss David Moyes has asked the club to give improved terms in the summer to young stars such as Jack Rodwell, Seamus Coleman and Dan Gosling.

Moyes said: “I don’t think for any reason I’ll lose any of the squad. I am confident we’ll keep the squad together.

“There’s no need for a big overhaul in the summer. We’d always like to add a couple of players if we can do so, but the important thing we’ve had is the stability.’’

DAVID MOYES aims to test Jack Rodwell's Everton ambitions by offering him a new deal this summer.

The teenager has shone for the Toffees this term and Manchester United are said to be interested.

He signed a bumper five-year contract at Goodison 13 months ago but Moyes wants the midfielder, 19, to commit to even longer.

And the Scot is also set to offer new deals to Leighton Baines, Steven Pienaar and Tim Cahill.

Moyes joined Everton as boss eight years ago and labelled the current group of players his best ever ahead of today's clash with Birmingham.

He said: "This is the strongest squad we have had in my time here.

"We need to keep recycling, bringing people like Rodwell and Dan Gosling in at the bottom end."

Today's game will be Landon Donovan's last for Toffees before he is due to return to LA Galaxy.

David Moyes has not given up hope of keeping United States skipper Landon Donovan in a squad he maintains is the best he has ever had at the club.

Boss Moyes celebrates eight years at Goodison Park next week frustrated that even in a campaign that has seen Everton beat both Chelsea and Manchester United in quick succession, there will be no major trophies.

Everton travel to Birmingham for a match that is a fight for a potential place in next season's Europa League.

And it will be Donovan's last game for the club before he is due to return to the US for the start of the Major League Soccer season after a highly successful two-month loan spell on Merseyside.

Moyes sees the possibility of Donovan staying longer if the MLS players go through with their strike, having voted in favour of action yesterday if they do not get improved labour contracts before their league starts on March 26.

The Scot also hopes that Donovan will realise what he is leaving behind and want another crack at the Premier League.

And if the only prospect left is another loan next January, Moyes will also consider that.

He said: 'I don't know yet whether this is Landon's last game, there is still a chance that there could be a players' strike in the US and that could give us the chance of having him a bit longer.

'He has done really well. He settled in very quickly and he has had an impact on the club in the short time he has been here, so we couldn't have asked for more from him.
'We have never talked about a permanent deal. But I think he will return to the States a and say "wow, the Premier League is where I want to be".
He added: 'It is a joy for him playing in the US, he is with a great team in a great place. But I think he will say: "I want to play in the Premier League again".

'Everyone wants to be somewhere that they are loved and cherished, which he certainly is in the US.
'But there is a different situation when you can be playing in the best league in the world against the best players. And if you want to be recognised at that level, Landon would probably want to have the opportunity to give it a go.
'We have not talked to him about the future, that is not right because he is owned by another club. Landon will be the one who in time says what he would really like.

'But if Landon was available again next January, I would probably try to bring him back here, certainly if he was available in the way that AC Milan keep re-signing David Beckham.'
For now, Moyes must focus on trying to secure European football again next season for Everton.

He said: "We have to win every game to take us nearer our objective. We have to avoid the question 'what is there left to play for'?

'This is the strongest Everton have been since I took over eight years ago. There is a good balance between a strong, hard-working side and the fact that we play some very good football these days.

'What we need to do now is build on that and continue to make this club stronger. I am excited because I can see that we are beginning to get to a level that could see us achieve things. But it is easy to talk about it.

'We are out of the cups and have been disappointing in the league. But I see around me a squad, that what we have got is a really good set-up.'

EVERTON face an uphill struggle to extend Landon Donovan’s loan spell despite a plea from the midfielder for LA Galaxy to let him stay at Goodison Park.

Everton will talk with Galaxy this week in an attempt to keep Donovan beyond what is scheduled to be his final game, at Birmingham on Saturday. Their hopes could rest on the start of the new MLS season being delayed by a players’ strike in America.

Galaxy face New England on March 27, and head coach Bruce Arena said a strike was the only way Donovan could stay. “If we didn’t have a league going we would entertain the idea of allowing Landon to stay,” said Arena. “But if we have a league, he will be playing for the Galaxy.”

Donovan said: “The clubs know how I feel. If that can be worked out, great. If not, LA are my team.”

Tim Cahill is targeting a return to full fitness in time for Everton’s next fixture at Goodison Park in a week.

The Aussie international wants to play against Bolton Wanderers next Saturday, after more than a month on the sidelines with a leg injury.

Cahill limped off during Everton’s first leg victory over Sporting Lisbon on February 16, and has missed games Manchester United and the crucial Europa league return leg in Portugal.

Now the 30-year-old is desperate to be back in contention for the Premier League clash with Owen Coyle’s men, especially because it is a rare 3pm Saturday kick off at Goodison.

After a number of recent home games were switched for live TV coverage, this Premier League fixture is a traditional kick-off time on March 20.

He said: “There is always a great atmosphere at Goodison but I get a buzz driving to the ground, seeing the fans arriving.

“It is a great time for families to come along to the game and cheer us on. Everton fans are always great at getting behind us and we need more of your support against Bolton.”

Last season the Blues beat Bolton 3-0 at Goodison Park, and David Moyes will hope for a similar victory to boost his side’s chances of qualifying for Europe again.

Meanwhile, Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric has revealed how his friendship with Bill Kenwright helped the Foxes win the race to sign James Vaughan on loan.

England under-21 international Vaughan was wanted by Derby County, where he had a brief loan stint earlier in the season.

Mandaric said: “It was unfortunate to lose Matty Fryatt (broken jaw) but James is a proper player. It wasn’t simple. The player was wanted by other teams.

“I have a good relationship with the Everton chairman and I said to him that my manager would like the player and your manager wants him to get additional experience, so let’s close the deal.”

Vaughan, who has netted twice for the Toffees this season despite his injury problems, will join Leicester for a month-long deal with the option of staying until the end of the season.

Joseph Yobo could be set for an Everton exit in the summer after falling out of favour with manager David Moyes.

Yobo has been a mainstay of the Goodison defence since arriving at the club in July 2002 from Marseille.

But the 29-year-old has dropped down the centre-back pecking order in recent weeks, and was an unused substitute in the last two games against Tottenham Hotspur and Hull City.

Yobo’s regular starting role has come under increasing pressure given Sylvain Distin’s impressive debut season, the return to fitness of Phil Jagielka and John Heitinga’s versatility.

The Nigeria international agreed a new contract last year as Everton sought to stave off reported interest from Arsenal.

However, it appears he could become a high-profile departure as Moyes looks to shake up his squad this summer, with the World Cup finals a likely shop window to impress potential suitors.

One Everton player definitely leaving, if only temporary, is James Vaughan.

The 21-year-old has joined Coca-Cola Championship side Leicester City on an initial one-month loan deal.

Having recovered from a litany of injury problems, Vaughan has made 10 appearances for Everton this season and scored against both Burnley and Carlisle United.

The striker had a loan spell at Derby County cut short by injury earlier this season, and although the Rams were keen to have Vaughan back the player has instead moved to their East Midlands rivals.

Leicester stand in fifth place in the Championship play-off berths, with Vaughan ready to go straight into Nigel Pearson’s squad for the game against fellow promotion chasers Cardiff City tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta believes Everton’s thumping 5-1 win over Hull City last Sunday could kickstart a late push for European qualification.

Arteta netted twice and has revealed the squad are in confident mood ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Birmingham City.

“To score a lot of goals could be really important when it comes to goal difference at the end of the season,” said the Spanish midfielder.

“But it was also important for us to put on that kind of performance.

“We have been playing well but we had a couple of bad results against Sporting and at Spurs we could have won.

“We knew we had to get back to winning ways. We want to fight for the European spots.

“We have got 10 games to go now and we are ready for it.

“We have to be really strong at home now and also look to score away. Let’s go game by game, but it is up to us now.”

David Moyes has not given up hope of keeping the United States captain Landon Donovan in a squad he maintains is the best he has ever had at the club.

Moyes celebrates eight years as manager at Goodison Park next week frustrated that even in a campaign that has featured victories over both Chelsea and Manchester United in quick succession, there will be no major trophies.

Everton travel to Birmingham City tomorrow for a match that is a fight for a potential place in next season's Europa League. It will be Donovan's last game for the club before he is due to return to the US for the start of the Major League Soccer season after a highly successful two-month loan spell on Merseyside.

However, Moyes sees the possibility of Donovan staying longer if the MLS players go through with their strike, having voted in favour of action yesterday if they do not get improved labour contracts before their league starts on 26 March.

The Scot also hopes that Donovan will realise what he is leaving behind and want another crack at the Premier League. And if the only prospect left is another loan next January, Moyes will also consider that.

He said: "I don't know yet whether this is Landon's last game, there is still a chance that there could be a players' strike in the US and that could give us the chance of having him a bit longer.

"He has done really well. He settled in very quickly and he has had an impact on the club in the short time he has been here, so we couldn't have asked for more from him. We have never talked about a permanent deal. But I think he will return to the States and say 'wow, the Premier League is where I want to be'."

He added: "It is a joy for him playing in the US, he is with a great team in a great place. But I think he will say: 'I want to play in the Premier League again'.

"Everyone wants to be somewhere that they are loved and cherished, which he certainly is in the US. But there is a different situation when you can be playing in the best league in the world against the best players. And if you want to be recognised at that level, Landon would probably want to have the opportunity to give it a go.

"We have not talked to him about the future, that is not right because he is owned by another club. Landon will be the one who in time says what he would really like. But if Landon was available again next January, I would probably try to bring him back here, certainly if he was available in the way that AC Milan keep re-signing David Beckham."

For now, Moyes must focus on trying to secure European football again next season for Everton.

He said: "We have to win every game to take us nearer our objective. We have to avoid the question 'what is there left to play for'? This is the strongest Everton have been since I took over eight years ago. There is a good balance between a strong, hard-working side and the fact that we play some very good football these days.

"What we need to do now is build on that and continue to make this club stronger. I am excited because I can see that we are beginning to get to a level that could see us achieve things."

Tale of the game

In December, at Goodison Park, the teams drew 1-1 with both goals coming in the first half. And, a month later in the FA Cup, Birmingham won 2-1, with goals from Christian Benitez and Barry Ferguson, with Leon Osman replying for the home side. Everton have won six of their last eight games in the Premier League but the two defeats in that spell have both come away, at Liverpool and Tottenham.

Birmingham moved ahead of Everton in midweek with a 2-1 win at Portsmouth. Stephen Carr and Lee Bowyer, rested at Fratton Park, may return but Stuart Parnaby hobbled off at Portsmouth. Everton still miss Louis Saha, Marouane Fellaini and Philippe Senderos.

Team details (probable)

Birmingham (4-4-2): Hart; Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell; Larsson, Bowyer, Ferguson, Fahey; McFadden, Jerome.
Everton (4-4-2): Howard; Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Osman, Heitinga, Arteta, Pienaar; Yakubu, Anichebe.
Referee: Lee Probert. Matches: 16. R4. Y57.

This season: Everton 1 Birmingham 1.

Last season: Everton 3 Birmingham 1, Birmingham 1 Everton 1.

Stat of the game: Everton have gone 14 games in the Premier League since they last lost by more than one goal – the 2-0 reverse against Liverpool in November.