What The Papers Say - 2 January

Round up the day's Everton-related paper talk.

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

 

 

VICTOR ANICHEBE paid tribute to the fans who chanted his name after the "emotional" comeback against West Brom which saw him seal victory for Everton FC.

The 23-year-old forward scored the only goal of the New Year's Day victory at the Hawthorns, making his first appearance for David Moyes' side since August.

Anichebe, who badly damaged his groin on international duty with Nigeria in early September, reacted quickest to stab home the goal the moved an injury-hit Everton side up to ninth in the Premier League table.

He said: "We've had the short straw with games over Christmas but the fans have been great as ever.

"They came out once again against West Brom and they were singing and willing us on so it was nice to see them bouncing at the end.

"It's good to show your appreciation to them because they're supporting us - especially on a New Year's Day when they might be feeling rough.

"I could hear them singing my name when I scored and it's a nice touch - especially on New Year.
"It was an emotional day."

Anichebe described his frustration at being sidelined for most of the season so far, the latest in a long list of injuries which have limited his chance to shine for the Blues.

He said: "Words can't really describe how frustrating it's been.

"Sometimes I'd go home after training and wonder why is this happening?

"But I've got good friends and family who help me get through it.

"They helped me get through it last time when I was out for 12 months.

"It's frustrating but as long as the team does well I'm happy, and hopefully now I can help them out.

"Every time I get injured I try to think of it as a blessing in disguise.

"Every time I come back hungrier and I always see every set back as a challenge. Hopefully I can come back and want it more and show it.

"I had a chance of travelling to the Sunderland game but we thought it was going to be a bit too early. I found out just before kick-off that I was going to be involved.

"Then he told me and Denis to warm-up and go on. It happened so quickly.

"Tim Cahill helped me to get into the game, and we nicked a goal which I think was well deserved."
The powerful attacker has been receiving treatment with specialists in Belgium alongside his usual rehab and Finch Farm, and hopes he can now avoid injuries for the rest of the campaign.

"My aim now is just to stay on the pitch," he said. "I'm tired of doing rehab in the gym. It can drive someone insane.

"The physios at Everton and the guys in Belgium helped me get back and I'd like to thank them too. Sometimes you're in the same environment all time when you're injured and you need to change it.

"Fellaini recommended the guy in Belgium to me and he was great. He works you really hard, like four sessions a day. I know it was that good because I hated it so much. He's got me back to this point and Danny, Dom, Matt, Craig all the physios here. Just like us they're a team and they've helped me so much. Hopefully I can stay away from it now."

Anichebe hopes the winning start to 2012 can pave the way to Everton's traditional post-January resurgence.

And he believes any new signings in the transfer window will only increase his hunger to remain among the action.

He said: "We always have a good second half of the season but we'd like to have a good first half too. Landon will give us a push and whoever we can bring in too. The lads have said I'll be like a new signing.

"Hopefully we can all add to it and finish the season strong. The most important thing is keeping a clean sheet and we did that.

"I'm not setting targets for myself anymore. If we do bring in someone it's good for the team. Competition for places can only help. You can't deny that we have some good forwards too though.

"Louis and Tim are still great players, and Denis' work-rate today was phenomenal. Tolis wasn't involved either and he's important. Nobody can object to signings though. It's all about the team."

 

 

EVEN David Moyes had to admit that if this game was released on DVD he wouldn't buy it.

In truth it could be in the cut-price section during the January sales, and the most ardent bargain-hunter would be wise to think twice.

There was very little to ease the hangovers of the travelling Everton fans, or the watching nation, in this insipid New Year's Day contest at the Hawthorns, absurdly given an early kick-off for broadcast on Sky Sports.

Watching in the visitors' dug-out, Landon Donovan must have wondered why he has swapped the beaches of LA for a wet and windy Premier League winter.

In turn Evertonians will have been watching for 87 mind-numbing minutes, and praying the American still has that jet-fuelled pace to provide them with some much-needed attacking impetus.

But in the end it was an altogether more unlikely saviour who stepped from the bench to score the solitary goal that gave Everton a winning start to 2012.

Victor Anichebe had not even had the requisite fitness boosting run out for the reserves, when he was included among the substitutes in the Midlands, but the big forward made all the difference with his first taste of Premier League action since August.

Three points won't entirely silence the murmurs of concern at a starting line-up which was sorely lacking in width or invention, but ultimately Moyes provided any critics with the right response.

It's almost always about winning with the Everton manager, and that his side did just that is partly testament to a classic away performance.

The Blues were deployed primarily not to concede, with two defensive players in Phil Neville and John Heitinga in central midfield, and no Royston Drenthe in the squad. It wasn't pretty, at times it was downright ugly, but Everton weathered the storm (or mild gust of wind), which represented the Baggies' attacking threat, and then Moyes made the changes which counted in the end.

The endless endeavour of Denis Stracqualursi and improvement provided by Magaye Gueye and Anichebe will give their manager food for thought ahead of two home games when he will also consider his remit to entertain.

Moyes had started by handing Jack Rodwell his first taste of action since the game against Stoke on December 4, and with no Drenthe, the England midfielder played on the right of midfield. That he hobbled off feeling his tight hamstring again will give further concern to Moyes, who is frustrated at how little he has been able to use Rodwell since he was injured playing for England against Sweden in November.

Leon Osman was again used on the left despite shining in a more advanced role against Swansea.
The first real chance fell to Roy Hodgson's side when Shane Long headed over at the far post as, unsurprisingly, the Blues struggled to muster any threatening possession in the opening period, all too often passing sideways and backwards.

It was only when Leighton Baines got the ball that Everton looked like creating something, and the England full-back started a move which resulted in Heitinga trying his luck from outside the area only or his effort to be blocked.

Then from a Baines corner, Louis Saha hooked the ball over his head and as home goalkeeper Ben Foster flapped, Rodwell set himself to shoot but the former England goalkeeper was quick to smother him.

As Everton began to hog the ball, Saha fired wide from a decent position in front of goal and Rodwell's header from a corner was off target.

The second half began with another wasted chance, this time West Brom's Peter Odemwingie blasted woefully over the bar when put through against Tim Howard.

Moyes added the width he had so sorely lacked by replacing Rodwell with Gueye on 57 minutes, and the young Frenchman's first touch was a shot - even if it was wildly off target.

In response Paul Scharner, so often a thorn in Everton's side, rifled a first time effort over Howard's bar. It prompted further changes for the Blues, with Anichebe giving the Baggies back four a headache, and Stracqualursi replacing the ineffectual Saha.

At least the more attacking shape gave the away supporters something to get excited about, even if it did little to improve the game's overall quality, and Everton looked the most likely to break the deadlock.

And so they did finally. Osman's inspired pass found Tony Hibbert who crossed to the far post. After collecting Scharner's awful attempt to clear, Anichebe swivelled and fired home. It was the game's only moment of real quality, and enough to seal the points.

Livid with his side's defending, Hodgson hammered his head against the back of the dug-out.

Not a classic then, and everybody will hope the New Year contains more inspiration to go with the perspiration, but victory against a side that held Manchester City to a scoreless draw on Boxing Day isn't to be sniffed at.

Just avoid the DVD.

 

 

 

DAVID MOYES hopes Victor Anichebe's dramatic late winner against West Bromwich Albion can help rebuild the Everton FC striker's confidence.

Anichebe came off the bench to mark his first appearance in four months with an 87th-minute winner at The Hawthorns yesterday.

The win moved Everton up to ninth place in the Premier League and stretches their unbeaten run over the festive period to four matches.

It was Anichebe's first goal for the Goodison outfit since August after suffering a serious groin injury while on international duty with Nigeria.

And a delighted Moyes hailed the return of the 23-year-old, who netted only the eighth league goal of his career.

"Victor hasn't even had a reserve game before this because he got an ankle injury when he first came back," said the Goodison manager.

"He's someone we have missed as he can play in several roles. He has a lot of potential, if we get the opportunity to unwrap it.

"I don't think Victor is a striker who will ever score loads of goals, but he is a good all-round forward player.

"He can play wide and up the middle, he has a lot of good attributes. He is a powerful, powerful boy and is very quick.

"At times he lacks a bit of self-confidence but the goal and the reaction of the supporters will help him.

"But even though he has played just 25 minutes, he was saying afterwards he was tired, so it's a matter of getting him match fit."

Anichebe was one of three changes made by Moyes around the hour mark in an attempt to shift the course of the game back in Everton's favour.

Denis Stracqualursi and Magaye Gueye were also introduced, and the Goodison manager believes all three contributed to the win.

"The subs made a positive impact on the outcome of the game," said Moyes.

"We had to make sure the game didn't go in West Brom's favour. They started to get some steam up and we wanted to alter it.

"We needed to do something different. We chopped and changed and the subs made an impact, Victor with his goal and Denis with his contribution. Magaye also gave us a bit of balance when he came on.

"I wanted to get as many senior men in at the start and give ourselves a chance of getting a result."
One of those making way was Jack Rodwell, whose comeback from injury was cut short on 57 minutes as a precaution.

"Jack felt his hamstring tighten up again," said Moyes. "It disrupted us for a wee while as we were going to make a few changes and he wasn't one of them."

Of the game, Moyes - who saw Royston Drenthe join Marouane Fellaini and Seamus Coleman on the sidelines - added: "The game overall was a draw. There didn't look like being many chances for either team.

"We tried to make it difficult for West Brom. It was a bit of a stalemate, and you wouldn't buy the DVD of it. But this has been a hard place for us over the years and we have needed to grind out results lately.

"We wouldn't have said a point was a bad result. West Brom have been doing really well lately. I saw today as a tough game but to come and win gives us a good start to the new year.

"Everybody is drawing attention to the fact we keep having a good second half to the season but there's no guarantee it will happen. You need to work at it."

Meanwhile, Rubin Kazan have been linked with a £6million move for out-of-favour winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, who was an unused substitute yesterday.

 

 

Everton boss David Moyes has joined the chase for Huddersfield hot shot Jordan Rhodes - but will have to find £4 million to get the new Scotland cap.

Moyes is looking for a goalscorer and will rival West Ham and Celtic for the prolific forward who is pushing Lee Clark's side towards promotion.

The Goodison chief will be given money for a new forward by owner Bill Kenwright. His budget is below Rhodes's asking price, but he can pay for the striker in installments.

Rhodes has shown his class for club and country this season and Everton spies think he could be the answer to their problems.

The Terriers are reluctant to sell but they have an auction on their hands and may take the biggest bidder if it reaches the £4 million figure.

Hammers are also committed to landing Rhodes, but his valuation may be too rich for SPL giants Celtic who would have to sell before they can fund his capture.

 

 

David Moyes wants to "unwrap" Victor Anichebe's huge potential after the striker was Everton's match-winner on his comeback.

The Nigerian international scored the only goal in the 87th minute at West Brom in front of the away fans.

It was the burly marksman's first Premier League goal this season after injuring his groin on international duty in September.

And now the Goodison boss is determined to get the best out of the 6ft 3in powerhouse after a four-month absence.

The Scot said: "At times he lacks a bit of self confidence. I think the goal today and the reaction from the supporters will help him. Everyone likes scoring the winning goal in the Premier League on their first game back.

"We have missed him because we can play him in several roles. He has a lot of potential if we get the opportunity to unwrap it.

"He has a lot of good attributes. He is a powerful boy, it is his natural build." Moyes gambled and threw on Anichebe for the last 25 minutes as he regains his fitness.

"It was a bad injury," added the Everton boss.

"He tore the muscle off the bone in his groin and had not even played in a reserve game before today."

 

 

Everton are showing interest in Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson.

However, the Republic of Ireland international, who was dropped at the weekend for the surprise 3-2 home defeat by Blackburn Rovers, may stay at Old Trafford until United boss Sir Alex Ferguson can bring in reinforcements.