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...

Danny Ings Injury: Updates on Liverpool Star's Knee and Return


By Tom Sunderland , Featured Columnist


The Liverpool Echo's James Pearce confirmed that Ings will not be lacing up for Liverpool again for the rest of the 2015-16 campaign.

As alluded to by the Times' Tony Barrett, it is the second time in a week the Reds were struck with the "ACL curse" after Joe Gomez suffered a similar injury playing for England’s under-21 side.

It is a big blow for newly installed manager Jurgen Klopp, as Ings is a vital part of the Reds' attacking unit.

Although the forward was made to fight for his place at Anfield under Brendan Rodgers after arriving at the club alongside fellow attackers Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino in the summer, Ings would surely have been eager to impress his new boss.

The 23-year-old only made his full England debut in the win against Lithuania on Monday, and devastatingly, his latest injury effectively rules him out of contention for Roy Hodgson's Euro 2016 squad.

Ings' long-term absence will not aid Klopp's efforts as he looks to revive the Reds after a lacklustre start to the 2015-16 campaign.

The likes of Benteke and Daniel Sturridge will now come under further pressure to stay fit and impress in the front line while Ings recovers.

Bad luck or what? his third major injury in that department, just as he had got into their 1st team and scoring goals, what a bummer for him.

Aye, not going to make Klippitty Klops job any easier that's for sure. From a neutrals perspective could be a big loss for England.

Everton vs Manchester United


With the penultimate international break of the year out the way and, seemingly, all of the Toffees' various travelling stars back unscathed from their exertions, Everton resume their Premier League programme by hosting Manchester United at Goodison Park for a rare 3pm Staurday kick-off – not since 2004 have the two clubs played each other in the traditional time slot.

The game is the second-to-last in what was a daunting start to the season which pit Roberto Martinez's side against all of last season's top eight within the first 10 fixtures, albeit one that they have navigated fairly well thus far with a return of thirteen points from the first eight matches played. A disappointing home defeat to resurgent Manchester City and a failure to press home their superiority against Swansea and Liverpool have been tempered by surprisingly comprehensive wins over Southampton and Chelsea and the thrilling comeback against West Bromwich Albion.

Now, thanks to that decent return, Everton go into this date with United knowing they can draw level with Louis van Gaal's team in the table with another victory to add their improving recent record against what used to be a perennial Premier League nemesis.

Prior to Martinez's assumption of the Goodison hotseat and the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, the Blues' record against United since 1992 was a miserable one but, starting with that memorable win at Old Trafford in December 2013, Everton have begun to make amends for years of apparent fear and inferiority by winning four of the last six meetings... as many as they managed over the preceding 21 years.

April's 3-0 demolition of the still-embyonic Van Gaal project was the latest in a series of impressive Everton displays against United and, were it not for the almost superhuman intervention of David de Gea in the reverse fixture in Manchester in September last year, they might have earned a deserved draw.

Having spent eye-popping sums of money since taking over from David Moyes, Van Gaal appears to have restored United to the role of title contenders and they went into their last game against Arsenal sitting on top of the league for the first time since they last lifted the title in May 2013. If that sent a rather ominous signal to the rest of the Premier League that the expenditure on the likes of Anthony Martial, Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Memphis Depay had put the most successful club of the Premier League era back on course for more silverware the the Gunners' demolition of them in the first half at the Emirates will have provided a reality check that the Red Devils remain fallible.

It's those vulnerabilities that Martinez will hope to exploit in the manner he did so brilliantly six months ago when goals by James McCarthy, John Stones and Kevin Mirallas delivered a handsome home win. United couldn't live with Everton that day and the Catalan will be looking for a similarly impactful performance this time around, although he will know that Van Gaal's side will be both stronger and more wary.

Martinez should be boosted by the return of at least one regular starter in the form of Seamus Coleman who played for the first time in a month when he completed 90 minutes for the Republic of Ireland last Sunday in their 2-1 Euro2016 qualifying defeat in Poland. The fullback had missed the previous four games with a hamstring injury but he looks set to resume his place in the starting XI at the expense of his more than able deputy, Tyias Browning.

Stones, too, could be fit to resume his excellent partnership with Phil Jagielka after recovering from a knee injury that has sidelined him for the last two matches. The centre half trained over the international break and seems to have responded well, although Martinez said that he will assess his match fitness before making a final decision between him and Ramiro Funes Mori. If needed, the Argentine might have to shake off some jetlag after returning from his country's friendly in Paraguay on Tuesday.

Elsewhere in the side, with Mirallas eligible again following a three-match suspension, Martinez has options when it comes to formulating an attacking strategy to target the same weaknesses that were exposed by Arsene Wenger a fortnight ago. As was the case in April – he came off the bench to score that third goal against United – the Belgian is an unlikely starter but he could be a useful weapon as a substitute. Assuming he doesn't start, it means the manager will likely have to decide between Arouna Kone and Steven Naismith as to who plays off Romelu Lukaku and which of Gerard Deulofeu and Aaron Lennon should fulfill the wide role on the right. Naismith and Deulofeu got the nod against Liverpool but neither were able to make much of an impact.

Regardless of who is selected, another fast, energetic start is likely to be key for the Blues and if they can get United on the ropes early on, it should work in their favour. Keeping Martial, the mercurial Depay and the fit-again Wayne Rooney quiet will be important for the back four but it's the task of nullifying the creative talents of Juan Mata likely to be shared by McCarthy and Gareth Barry that will be key.

In a campaign that is shaping up to be as promising for Everton as 2013-14, these are the kinds of games that will be barometers for judging whether the Blues have what it takes to challenge for the top six and, perhaps, beyond. If the failure to express themselves and find a win in the derby placed a question mark over whether they have what it takes, then a win over improving Manchester United would re-establish those Europe-chasing credentials.

Kick off: 3pm
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Predicted line-up: Howard, Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Galloway, Barry, McCarthy, Lennon, Barkley, Kone, Lukaku

Full coverage: ToffeeWeb Match Reports

Howard Kendall: Former Everton manager dies aged 69

Thanks for the memories Howard RIP!

First and foremost well taken goals by Man Utd. Martinez jury out once again. What was Kone doing sat on the bench he is not the greatest striker on earth but at least adds balance to the team. Lennon over Mirrallas wtf!!! Del boy sat next to him. Coleman and Stones thrown back in not match fit. Sadly Naismith what can you say, today of all days to say he was shite would be a compliment. And captain Jags oh dear. Sad day for the blue half of Merseyside. If Man Utd win the league I'll show my arse in Lewis's. Howard Kendall RIP.

From My Seat: Man Utd (H)
By Ken Buckley 17/10/2015 4 Comments [Jump to last]
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EVERTON 0 - 3 MANCHESTER UNITED

It was a dark sombre atmosphere in the Room of Nonsense as we took in the news of Howard Kendall’s passing. Stories abounded from those that either knew him or had met him at charity bashes. The upshot was he was regarded by all as the manager that took us to the heights and but for a bit of trouble at a game involving our cousins from across the park would suerly have sealed our BIG club status to this very day. Also everyone regarded him as great bloke who always had time to talk to fans.

It was only yesterday I was reading his column in the Echo making today’s news harder to take also it emerged that as late as last night he was with Snods at a charity do and at the end was heard to tell Snods he would see him for the game today. R.I.P Howard.

The teams were beamed through and with Coleman and Stones deemed fit plus Lennon and Naismith getting starts some of us wondered if too many changes were being made to face a side smarting after a bit of a mauling at the Emirates. We were to get our answer. The walk up was one of being slightly quiet but wall to wall fans snaking along Spellow Lane and Goodison Road a sure sign of a full house as the official attendance of 39,553 confirmed. I walked passed floral tributes that had been left in memory of Howard and into the ground in time to welcome the teams. There was to be a minute’s applause in memory of the great man which stretched to about two minutes as it started well before the ref blew his whistle for the official single minute. The man was well liked around these parts you see.

The game started and a stat came to mind that Rooney hadn’t scored an away goal for some eleven months. You just know some things don’t you!! For fifteen minutes mainly sparring took place with United looking the more likely as Everton played ‘almost stuff’ with things like Barry playing McCarthy forward but he ran it out of play, Naismith gave Lukaku a sniff but De Gea was fast out and took the ball from the toes of Lukaku, Naismith fouled on the edge but Lukaku’s free kick hit the wall and deflected for a corner which Barkley swung in but the ref spotted a foul and United cleared via the free kick.

I thought now that we were starting to play too much across the back line looking for a break but United had closed all roads so too often the outcome was a punt up to Lukaku and to be fair the big man really fought for them and held them up but all too often support was never near enough for us to get excited. United were attacking more now seemingly sensing we had little to offer going forward and Herrera hit one with power that Howard did well to tip over. From the resultant corner just before the 20min mark we could only muster a half clearance with no one rushing to close down Schniederlin seemed just to stroll onto the ball and arrow one passed Howard. We were getting very sloppy in our play now and some four minutes later it was no real surprise when from an attacking foray United won the ball and played down their left with one pass to their player who was criminally in acres of space and put in a first time cross to the beckoning Herrera who met it and had little difficulty in heading beyond Howard leaving us 2-0 down and many of us forecasting game over.

We didn’t have to be too bright to forecast that as the rest of the half would show. United were now in containing mode and happy to sit back and wait for the chance of a break which at times was agony to watch as we passed and passed across the back then when a break was made United seemed to have little difficulty in mopping up and coming at us. Coleman was being given a going over by Martial who was dangerous on their left wing but the Irishman did manage a run and cross that Lukaku beat De Gea to the ball but only red shirts were near enough to the incident and the ball was cleared. It was funny watching De Gea falling in a heap on the ground after Lukaku had beaten him. The ref told him to get up.

To round off the half we did attack a little more but could not muster any meaningful shot on target. We did have less than competent defending before the end of the half when defenders stopped to claim Rooney offside, he wasn’t and the Croxteth lad but Martial in on goal but he wasted a bit too much time and Stones and Howard between them managed to bundle the ball from him. Barkley finally had a good shot on target but De Gea pushed it away and that was that with most Blues glad of some respite.

H/T and the chat was all about how poor that first half was with Lukaku looking the only player up for the game. No matter what plaudits had been aired in the week this was dire. What Howard would have thought I don’t know?

Second half and Kone had replaced the out of sorts Naismith. I did wonder considering our woeful first half and United looking streets ahead of us in all aspects if a triple change and go for it might have been the better option. For a short while we did look more up for it as Lukaku almost profited with a header at the near post then Kone went on a powerful mazy one and exchanged passes with Lukaku but miss-hit his shot to accompanying groans. We had upped the tempo and Coleman got down the right and put a very good cross across goal that had Barkley racing onto it but it just evaded him. Many thought he should have thrown himself at it or tried the diving header.

The half was looking better as we gained a couple of free kicks the second of which saw a pile-driver from Lukaku stopped on the line by the leg of De Gea. At last Barkley got a free kick right as he arced it in and just a glance would have scored but no one was rushing in and the keeper palmed away and two follow up shots were both blocked by well-placed defenders. Less than twenty minutes of the second half gone and we are at last looking more interested but a goal was desperately needed so in true Everton fashion we contrive to put the game out of reach ourselves when after another period of keep-ball across the back Jags at last strides out of defence but plants his measured pass right to an opponent who put Rooney in and his eleven month wait for an away goal is served up on a plate as he strides toward Howard sits him down and nets.

That really was game over with still half an hour to play. Fair play the Blues tried to peg away but with only Lukaku looking like a man who was performing like you expect all our players to perform in these circumstances we were always ending up short. About a quarter of an hour to go and the manager subs off Lennon and sends on Deulofeu but United were comfortable now and managing the game to its conclusion. Fans were now leaving in droves with the Park End leading the way and by the time Barkley had struck a wicked free kick dipping toward goal the confident De Gea merely waved it over. At the other end Martial was still giving Coleman the run around outpaced him and came in along the goal line but it was Howard to the rescue who won a foot tackle to avert another goal.

Fellaini came on for a cameo and immediately Jags went through him with a strong tackle, looked like our skipper was a frustrated soul. The board went up with 3 extra minutes and there was quite a groan from those who were actually left in the ground to witness it. Final whistle and we all shuffled away in bemusement at such a luke-warm effort and the thought of a trip to the Emirates next week to face a team that beat United good style seems the stuff of nightmares at the moment.

MotM: Lukaku

A lousy day all round with the news of Howard then that display that makes me think that after such performances fans should have the ticket price repaid!
Still, no two games are the same so here’s hoping.

UP THE BLUES

Reader Comments (4)
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Andrew Presly
1 Posted 18/10/2015 at 02:30:30 Ken, I love you... but Lukaku MOTM?
It’s a day to give thanks but it wasn’t a fitting tribute.

Mark Andersson
2 Posted 18/10/2015 at 04:08:05 Great read as always. We had more than a bad day, worrying is that was last season’s form.
Lukaku played well... like he was on a mission to get a big money move.

Jim Hardin
3 Posted 18/10/2015 at 04:21:09 Great report as always. I agree that Lukaku was MotM. He held the ball up and seemed the only field player until Kone came on that looked up for it.
I wonder if Roberto had too much time to think about this game? I think that if this game were last weekend while the film of what Arsenal did to them was fresh that the lineup and game would have been radically different.

Somehow it seems Roberto convinced himself with all the time off that yes tika taka can work and possession and slow build-up will work. I wonder if he drinks when he makes his decisions because at least that would be an excuse.

Dave Pritchard
4 Posted 18/10/2015 at 08:03:43 Andrew (1) Lukaku was far and away our MOTM. He was lacking support all afternoon but continued to work hard and it was good to see him using his physical strength in the same way he did against Liverpool.

I remember Howard Kendal making his debut in the cup final for Preston CC, he had a decent game as well. A golden spell at Everton as manager as well in the mid eighties.

On another subject, Dil for my christmas present this year I'll have this.. thanks in advance -):

Aye sadly so can I Stan, black and white telly :0)

Harry Redknapp: Howard Kendall was a special talent - and fun to be around
Howard Kendall was a great manager and player who I loved talking to about our England U18 World Cup success, writes Harry Redknapp


By Harry Redknapp10:03PM BST 18 Oct 2015Comments2 Comments
There are three things that you can say about Howard Kendall with absolute certainty. He was a truly great player. He was a truly great manager but, most important of all, he was a fantastic person.
I have known Howard for more than 50 years and saw him only last month at Goodison Park when we were both at Everton’s 3-1 win against Chelsea. Howard never missed an Everton game and, through all my years in management, one of the highlights of the season was going to Goodison and catching up with Howard.
It was unheard of for him not to be an Everton game. Just impossible. He loved talking about football and our conversations would invariably drift back to 1964 when we were both selected to play for England in the Under-18 World Cup. Regardless of whatever else we went on to do, it was one of our happiest moments in football.
We were kids – I was 16, Howard was a year older – and it was the sort of shared experience at that age that you never forget. It was played in Holland and Howard was our captain. Howard would go on to become the youngest player ever to start an FA Cup final later that year for Preston North End against West Ham United and we also had a fantastic Under-18 England team at the time.

As well as Howard, men like John Sissons, Peter Knowles, Don Rogers, David Sadler, John Hollins, Micky Wright and Tony Brown all went on to have great careers in the game. We also had a lad called Bobby Noble, who would have played many times for England at left-back were it not for a car accident a few years later. We beat Spain 4-0 in the final to become the first English team to win the competition on foreign soil. Howard was fantastic and I remember us all lifting him above our heads when we won it.
A lot is rightly made of his managerial achievements but, as a player, he was also something very special. We have seen some wonderful footballers in this country but he played in what I honestly still regard as the best midfield I have ever seen in England. Kendall, Ball and Harvey, the Holy Trinity, and three of the most fantastic players you could imagine. None of them were big guys. Alan Ball would have been 5ft 6ins, Colin Harvey 5ft 7ins and Howard 5ft 10ins. They could play and tackle. All three of them were just the most complete midfielders.
Howard then achieved great success at quite a young age as a manager. The job he did at Everton during the 1980s was remarkable. Liverpool were one of the greatest sides in English football history during that period but the team he built was, for a time, the best in the country. He knew how to set up a balanced team. There were two wingers; Trevor Steven and Kevin Sheedy, who had a magical left-foot. He had Gary Lineker up front with Graeme Sharp then Peter Reid and Paul Bracewell in central midfield. Derek Mountfield was outstanding at centre-back and he had a great goalkeeper in Neville Southall.

Tactically Howard was also excellent and he would change systems when he had to. Everton beat teams like Bayern Munich when they won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1985 and, throughout that competition, he showed that he knew how to adapt to different opponents. It is amazing to think that no other English manager has won a European competition in the 30 years since.
That team played wonderful football but Howard also knew how to be pragmatic. His other great strength as a manager was his relationship with the players. You only have to listen to some of the tributes this weekend to realise how people like Peter Reid idolised him. Anyone who played under Howard loved him. He was one of those sorts of people. He was a fun character. He would always have a story. He lived life to the full and was great company to be around.
People on Merseyside, including all the Liverpool players and managers of that era, loved him as well. He was just someone that no one could possibly dislike. Whenever I went to Everton I always looked forward to see him and, even this last time, we were still laughing about the fun we had playing together in the England youth team.
Everton is a fantastic club for looking after the ex-players and managers and the chairman Bill Kenwright was great with him. Goodison Park is a place with real heart and feeling but it will never be quite the same again. They loved Howard there and he lived for Everton Football Club.

Are yes, those were the days.

Uwe Rosler: Leeds United sack head coach after 12 games.

Leeds United have sacked head coach Uwe Rosler after 12 games in charge.

Dil's reserves getting worst -):

Bad upbringing leads to

Best of social media

Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand was told off by a guard for putting his feet on the seat on a train.

He truly is a prize one retard

Roberto Martinez: Everton must overcome Arsenal hoodoo
Spaniard left baffled by his side's long-term failure to win in North London

By Chris Bascombe10:30PM BST 23 Oct 2015 CommentsComment
Roberto Martinez, Everton’s manager, says his club must overcome a psychological barrier to defeat Arsenal on their own turf.
The Merseysiders’ have never won at The Emirates Stadium, and their wait for an away win over the Gunners stretches to the 1995/96 season.


Martinez was able to guide Wigan to victories in North London, but is bewildered as to why his current club has had to wait so long.
“I don’t know. I’ve been thinking the same and it’s difficult to give a straight answer,” said Martinez.
“Obviously, two years ago we were very good there and deserved to win the game but ended up drawing 1-1 and you’re thinking about something a bit further than just the game itself in terms of the psychological edge you might need to go to places like Old Trafford and the Emirates and believe that you can win.
"On Saturday we have to react to our performance last weekend. We cannot just afford to be facing Arsenal and that could narrow things down in terms of not carrying that baggage of not being able to win there for a long time.
“We are facing an Arsenal team that I watched against Bayern and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that they won. They were very worthy of the win. They are a very complete team at the moment and I think this will be as big a challenge as we will face all season.”


Arsenal’s is not the only tough venue Everton have toiled. A similar barren run at Old Trafford ended two years ago.
“I think we are overcoming that,” said Martinez.
“There are landmarks that you need to achieve – winning at Old Trafford and doing the double over United is one; winning against Arsenal at the Emirates or at Anfield would clearly be other ones. You’ve got significant psychological barriers if you want that as a team you need to test yourselves against and those are landmarks that we are quite open about trying to reach.”



After last weeks performance they should be well up for it. Please give Mirrallas a start Bobby. The usual away tactic of hitting on the break won't work against the Arse, defence has been the catalyst which has improved for them imo, quick to cover and strong. Good time to play them. 5.30pm kick live on Sky. I'll be hiding behind the setee :0)

Another 3 away promotion pts in the derby I think you will agree Dilment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34557635

Well played Arsenal, again. 20 years now!

Dreadful display of goalkeeping again by Tim Howard. Been nicknamed Dracula, frightened of crosses.

You would think that Mirrallas must have shagged Roberto's missus, how he can justify playing Lennon ahead of him is beyond belief.

Every cloud, Liverpool really are shite. Well done Saints.

I hope Arsenal bury Swansea next week. :-))

dc - Gunner eh dc? There is a cure LOL!!!!