It is now time to switch to a new Money AM football blog as the world cup is now over and we all look to the future.....World cup 2010 is over, Bravo Espana, and Forlan, once again and bring on the new season !.....I never expected the last thread to be such a success...thanks all.... so this new one might go on for years without the need to edit the title...we shall see...

@efchamishdufton
05 November 2014 16:26




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Roberto Martinez hopes the advantage of playing at home will help his side overcome Lille and take a significant step towards qualifying for the Europa League knockout rounds.

Everton face the French outfit in match four of Group H but, with the Blues on five points and third-placed Lille on three, a win for the hosts would all but secure their passage to the round of 32.

And, after defeating Wolfsburg in their last European night at Goodison Park, Martinez is confident his charges can pick up all three points on Thursday.

He said: “We really enjoyed our last game at Goodison against Wolfsburg. The two away games have been phenomenal experiences but the idea of playing at Goodison under the floodlights and facing French opposition for the first time in our history is really exciting.

“In the last two home games in the Premier League we had sell-out crowds, so you can imagine there is a real buzz around Goodison when we play our football.

“We really look forward to our home games, especially now we know the group inside out. We are looking to make our home an advantage.”

A place in the Champions League awaits the winner of the Europa League this season but Martinez knows that will mean nothing if progression from Group H is not achieved.

He added: “In our case, we don’t look that far. What we are looking at is making sure we play as well as we can in every game that we go into. The start of the season brought little blocks of games and I think we adapted towards that really well.

“I have been very impressed with the manner in which we, as a squad, have faced every game full of energy and desire, and the performances have been really good.

“What we want to do is grow into the competition and be as good as we can. The first objective is to try to get through. If we could manage to do that it would be a phenomenal achievement when you look at the teams we had in this group.

“Step by step, we are enjoying the demands of this season but, more importantly, the Europa League has brought a different challenge for the squad and we are starting to get the rewards from that.”

Lille manager Rene Girard says his side will be ready to face an intense atmosphere in their Europa League clash against Everton on Thursday evening.

The Blues drew 0-0 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy a fortnight ago and will now welcome French opposition for the first time in their history when Les Dogues visit Goodison Park.

The Ligue One outfit currently sit third in Group H after drawing all three of their opening games - but remain just two points off top spot, and the Lille boss believes the group could go down to the wire.

"I prefer not to talk about the future or the past," explained Girard. "I prefer to talk about the present because now is all part of the preparation for the game and I think we are all fine.

"The players’ minds are focused and everything is going well within the group.

"I think the predictions before the games started were that maybe Everton and Wolfsburg might be considered the favourites to qualify out of the group.

"However, as things stand, the group is very, very tight and currently there is everything to play for. I think it’s all about getting some good results in the remaining fixtures and it’s within any of the teams’ powers to qualify.

"We’re prepared to fight right until the end – you can consider the competition as a mini-league Championship and, although we’ve done OK up until now, we need to do better and win more games in order to qualify."

And, on a night that marks Lille's 100th game in European competition, Girard insists his side is well prepared for an intimidating atmosphere under the floodlights.

He added: "We know the fans will get behind their team and that will really, really help Everton. Things can really catch fire if they score and they could get into the ascendancy.

"We know we probably won’t get too many chances in front of goal tomorrow night, so we really have to be clinical and efficient in front of goal if we are to come away with a good result."

Don't you just love this tribute to Roberto Martinez from the Everton fans :-

Robbbie Had A Dream To Build Our Football Team!

We Had No Money, So We Signed The Players On Loan!

We Play From The Back!

With Ross In Attack!

The School Of Science Is On The Way Back!


DA DA DA, DA DA DA,

Robbie Had a Dream..............:0)

Tomorrow I will be attending the best alehouse in Aberdeen, God knows how they get away with it is called The Adams Lounge, Sunderland v Everton is not featured on Sky Sports or BT, so it must be in the ether somewhere. Anyway, whatever 1.30pm kick off, listen out for the above chant from the Everton fans priceless! :0) Then watch on Match of the day 2.

Onwards and forwards http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29973616

Great programme about Gordon Strachan on Sky right now.

Burnley FC in Europa League contention.. Yes you heard it here first.

For all you lucky people in the North West tonight.. I give you http://www.thefa.com/news/england/under-21/2014/nov/training-video-111114

.. erm, make that tomorrow night.

England U21 3-1 Portugal U21: Ings looking up for Gareth Southgate as local hero Danny scores twice at Turf Moor.

Local hero Danny Ings opened the scoring at his home ground with a clinical finish, Ings soon bagged his second with a close-range finish.

Gareth Southgate's side will face Portugal in Group B at European U21 Championship in Czech Republic.

Looks a good future prospect Stan. I hope Burnley stay up and they manage to keep hold of him. I remember Everton signing Martin Dobson from Burnley, he was a great player, legend at Burnley and Everton :0)

It was pretty obvious to all that FIFA were going to whitewash giving the 2018 and 2022 world cups to those big oil and gas countries like Russia and Qatar for the sum of : £.....oooooppppps......sorry....my mistake.....I nearly gaffed.....apparently.....it's all the FA's fault....well of course...who else's fault could it be..... ?.....some people are treading a very...very..fine line...

Blatter is probably one of the most corrupt officials in sport right now.

Scotland match is getting interesting. Roy Keane is losing his marbles as per usual!

Good goal by Maloney, well worked.

Yeah Danny boy's getting his best form back CC, be hard to hang onto him after January.

Dobbo yes a great player for both clubs and should have played more then 5 times for England.. not bad for a free transfer from Bolton was he.

Certainly wasn't Stan.

Just wondering what people would think if England told FIFA to stick the World Cup competition and refuse to play in both Russia and Quatar.

Could we actually do such a thing technically?

If we did, could we kick off a brand new version of a world cup competition of some sort? Would other countries come on board or are the rep's of too many of them corrupt too?

It would not be possible for multiple reasons......clubs and country would be banned from competitions across the globe....they would have to go through the courts first...the problem is : Russia won..ok if that was without bribes and such which I doubt but without proof can't say...so now the war or troubles in Ukraine is a massive problem....and as it is it would not be safe to hold a world cup in Russia at the moment.....but it is three and a half years away.....if the war escalates ; Fifa would have to look for another venue....not yet, but the deadline might be in a years time...
Now how on earth did the vote swing Qatar's way ?....football or soccer as the Americans like to call it is for temperate climates !...not to be played in 40 celsius !...at the highest level of effort....it is obvious that big money has come into play here !.....now proving anything about "pots de vins" is going to be pretty difficult...so apparently the Middle East has a lot to offer the footballing world....frankly Australia should have won....but there you go....I doubt if England will get the world cup organisation before 2030 at the earliest !...

Difficult group with the Scots, Irish, Poles and Germans......at a guess...I say : Poland or Scotland might come first and second with the Germans and Irish fighting for the third and fourth place....unthinkable that the Teutons might not qualify....