Battle Of The Blues

A special interview with Carrie & Dave from Radio 1's Chris Moyles show...

As far as celebrity Evertonians go there’s one in particular who doesn’t shy away from discussing his love for the Blues ‘on air’.

Voice of the airwaves and renowned side-kick to Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, Comedy Dave is a name that many Evertonians wake up to when tuning in to the BBC’s popular breakfast show.

Never afraid to talk up his favourite club’s recent feats to the nation, Dave has given us his thoughts on the Blues’ season so far and his predictions for the visit of Premier League leaders Chelsea.

What’s more, Carrie Davies – the show’s sports newsreader – is an avid Chelsea fan.

evertonfc.com caught up with the pair in the Radio 1 studios to talk in depth about Wednesday night’s Goodison Park showdown, to discuss which member of the Chris Moyles Show team shares a particular resemblance to Landon Donovan, and who the main-man Moyles is likely to be cheering for….

> Download the interview with Carrie & Dave now

How did you come to support your club?

Carrie: As a kid I was really in to football. I collected all my Panini stickers, but when you are one of two girls in your school who likes football it’s difficult! I used to watch with my dad as he’s a Bristol City fan and I wasn’t going to support them as they were rubbish at the time. I then started talking to a friend of mine who supports Chelsea, started going to games and got addicted. I think it suits me as I lived down the road from the ground as well.

Dave: It was family for me. My dad, who is sadly no longer with us, is from Merseyside. He was a big Blue,as are the rest of my family. It was passed down.

Being extremely busy with your Radio 1 duties, do you get to games much?

Dave: I get up to Goodison as much as I can. I’ve got a Season Ticket in the Paddock. Obviously work often gets in the way but when I can I coordinate it with getting up to see the in-laws. So, coincidentally, when I suggest that we go up and see her parents it normally coincides with Everton being at home and she still hasn’t twigged that yet!

Have you attended Chelsea v Everton together in the past?

Carrie: The last game we saw together was the FA Cup final!

Dave: Well, when you say together, you mean we were sat in the same stadium! I enjoyed the first 25 seconds…

Carrie: And I was absolutely gob-smacked!

Dave: It was a shame actually because I was at Wembley for the semi-final as well and the whole carnival atmosphere – dancing our way out of Wembley having beaten Man United on penalties, and obviously we very much wanted to create that in the final. But it was strange. It was like the same day but completely different, if that makes sense?!

Last time the two sides met it ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge. How do you think this game will pan out?

Dave: I think it’s going to be tough again as always, because they’ve got Didier Drogba back and an array of great players. Obviously Everton have found some form of late and they’re getting players back from injury. And now that Fellaini seems to be in top form I think we’ve got a decent chance. At home I think we’ve got every chance of getting something from it.

Carrie: I was a bit worried as, if we had played you a few weeks back, we had our usual ‘Christmas blip’ which we always have - always at the top of the table then Christmas comes and we’re just rubbish for a few games. But having seen us play well against Birmingham City, then nick it against Burnley when it was getting a bit gritty, I think we’ll be alright. We tend to do quite well up at Goodison to be honest! We’ve got ‘the Drog’ back as well so, as long as he doesn’t start throwing himself around and plays to his full potential, it will be three points for Chelsea.

How do you think Carlo Ancelotti and David Moyes will approach the game?

Dave: I think David Moyes will stick with what he’s been doing recently. We’ve said a lot about Fellaini but he seems to be playing in a position that’s best for him. I think he was playing too far up the field before and he’s now in a more defensive role. I’m hoping Moyes starts with Louis Saha as well because he’s been putting in a lot more graft of late and has the natural ability to score from anywhere. I don’t think we necessarily have to change the way that we play because it’s Chelsea, I think we stick with our winning side and see what happens.

Carrie: Well I think Carlo Ancelotti is quite pleased with the way things have been going recently. He was a bit concerned over Christmas when things didn’t seem to be going our way, but obviously we’ve picked up since then and a massive 7-2 win over Sunderland - you can’t ask for more than that. It will be nice to see Drogba and Anelka playing together again because they do seem to gel, when everyone said they couldn’t.

Who is the dangerman to look out for?

Carrie: Drogba definitely. He is the main man for us, there’s no doubt about it. I was quite scared when he went off with the Ivory Coast to the African Cup of Nations but we’ve actually done okay. Without him we’re not the same team though. He’s just fantastic and we rely on him a lot.

Dave: Fellaini is just in remarkable form at the moment. I was at Arsenal away and he was fantastic there, and even the Arsenal fans conceded that we should have won that game. They all remarked about how impressive Fellaini was. Cahill is always a danger too with his heading ability. He popped up with another one at Wigan and his movement is fantastic. They are the players that Chelsea need to watch out for.

What do you think of Everton’s form of late?

Dave: Well, Everton are finding some form and I think the Birmingham game was a bit of a blip actually. Certainly the first half was, in the second half they were good. I was in the Park End for the Birmingham match and we were really unlucky not to pull it back for a draw. Unfortunately we’ll have to scrub the FA Cup off the list this season.

Who has impressed on the field for Chelsea?

Carrie: Frank Lampard’s up there. He’s a fighter and always gives everything, and can always bag you a goal when you need it most.

What are you thoughts on Landon Donovan?
 
Carrie: He looks like Aled!

Dave: Yes, he bares a striking resemblance to Aled, which I find slightly unnerving! From all sorts of angles he looks like Aled. But that aside I think he’s doing really well. I think he’s settled in great. His attitude and his work rate is fantastic. He’s got a lot to prove and he comes with a big reputation from the States, but with the World Cup coming up he’s got a lot to prove in this country and he’s setting about that and he’s slotted in really, really well.

Any players looking to be on the flight to South Africa?

Carrie: I’d like to see a little bit more of Joe Cole actually from an England perspective. I’d like to see him in a nice vein of form, picking up some goals and getting a bit of confidence. I’d like him to stay at Chelsea, because, if he’s not getting the games, then he probably won’t.

Dave: I think Leighton Baines thoroughly deserves it. I think he has been outstanding all season. After a slow start when he arrived from Wigan a few people questioned whether he was worth the £5 million or so that we paid for him. But I think he’s settled down and he’s found his feet and is now one of the names that is always first on the teamsheet. I think he’s fully deserving of an England call-up and we will just have to wait and see.

Are there any other Everton fans at Radio 1 HQ?

Dave: No I don’t think so, it’s just me flying the flag…there are a few celebrity Evertonians kicking around, but not here.

Carrie: There are not that many Chelsea fans actually. Trevor Nelson is the main one, but people don’t tend to admit to it…we just get loads of grief!

So what do you think the score will be on Wednesday?

Carrie: I’m going to say 2-0. Frank Lampard and Anelka bagging one each.

Dave: Do you know what? I’m going to play safe and go one each, with Saha scoring for us. I don’t really care who scores for them as I’m hoping it doesn’t happen!

And finally, if Chris Moyles had to take a side, who would he cheer on?

Dave: I think he would be fairly neutral, but if he had to go one way or the other he’d go for us. We’re a lot more likeable!

Carrie: He’d probably be more Everton because he supports Leeds. Leeds hate Chelsea!

To download the full interview with the Chris Moyles Show duo, click here.