The Week in Tweet: Royle return, Mirallas message & transfer gossip
Catch up with all the goings-on and kicking-off’s on planet Everton in the cold reaches of the Twitter-verse
The grass isn’t always greener, is it David?
It was clear to the whole footballing world that David Moyes was on borrowed time as Manchester United manager. Despite handing the Scot a six year contract last summer, a disastrous season has seen United fans calling for his head and on Tuesday morning the board reacted.
Moyes’ relationship with Everton fans has soured considerably over the last 10 months and perhaps it was fate that it was Everton’s 2-0 win over Moyes’ United on Sunday that ultimately sealed his fate. You’d have done well to heed your own advice David:
Last comment on #Moyes is his own… #Everton pic.twitter.com/a0luleqigM
— GrandOldTeam (@grandoldteam) April 22, 2014
Duncan Ferguson could have told Moyes the very same thing, having missed Goodison Park so much when he moved to Newcastle United that he returned, finished his playing career here and has now been promoted to first team coach.
— TheEvertonForum.com (@TheEFCForum) April 22, 2014
Bold stuff from the boss
Roberto Martinez has never been short of optimism and the Blues boss made a bold statement about his team’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League. The official Everton Twitter account tweeted the comments and accompanying article:
MARTINEZ: Boss expects Everton to qualify for the Champions League – if they can win their last three games: http://t.co/XP64VjVcoc #EFCSFC
— Everton (@Everton) April 24, 2014
It’s the kind of talk we’ve come to expect from last year’s FA Cup winning manager, who defied the odds to beat Manchester City to the famous trophy. Evertonians might expect to drop at least a point somewhere along the way to the end of the season, with a tricky away trip to Southampton followed by the visit of title-chasing Man City. As such there’s a feeling that Everton will have to win every game just to stay within touching distance of Arsenal, but Martinez’s comments imply that he expects Arsenal to drop points in their remaining three games.
Considering there’s an FA Cup final on the horizon for the Gunners, anything is possible.
A Royle appointment?
There were whispers at the end of the bank holiday weekend that Joe Royle could return to the club, 17 years since his last position at the club as manager.
The Toffees legend was responsible for bringing the last piece of silverware to Goodison Park in the form of the FA Cup in 1995 and Royle looks set to return to the club to cast an eye over Everton’s future.
On his official Twitter account, he announced:
My possible return to Goodison- http://t.co/aAJcSJBzue @bluekippercom @nsno @grandoldteam @Toffees_EFC @ToffeesNews @Everton @EvertonUSA
— Joe Royle (@DirofFootball) April 22, 2014
Roberto Martinez was quoted in various media publications including the club’s official website saying:
“Joe is someone we identified who would be fantastic in a role we want to create. There is a real need for a figure that is an Evertonian and knows the football club”
Source: The Official Website of Everton Football Club, http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2014/04/22/55525/martinez-seeks-royle-appointment
Royle himself via his personal blog (see link above) gave a short teaser regarding the possible new role:
“Roberto and I agree that there is a place for someone who can cast an experienced eye over the young players’ progress, both within the club and while out on loan
I left Everton as manager in 1997 with a heavy heart and I feel I still have something to contribute to the club I love, unfinished business if you like”
Source: http://directoroffootball.com/royle-return/
I don’t believe there’s a single Evertonian who would not like to see Royle make a comeback with Everton. A man with a deep love and understanding of the club, his return would no doubt be of huge benefit to Everton’s young players, to the staff and to Martinez himself. We know the Catalan likes to surround himself with people who embody the club and he’s doing everything he can to embrace the club’s past to aid his future vision. Great work Roberto! Make it happen!
From Kevin, with love (via Romelu)
The news that Kevin Mirallas will miss the rest of the season with a muscle injury sustained in the 2-0 win over Manchester United came as a huge blow to Blues.
The Belgian was in sparkling form on Sunday and was primed to end the season in style. He is expected to return for Belgium’s World Cup campaign but we won’t be seeing him in the Blue of Everton again this season. Living in some kind of post-apocalyptic bunker with no access to social media, Mirallas was forced to communicate his disappointment through Romelu Lukaku’s Twitter account:
As Kevin Mirallas does not have any twitter account he gave the permission to send his message to all EFC through my account
— R.Lukaku Bolingoli10 (@RomeluLukaku9) April 22, 2014
Kevin Mirallas says : " Thank you for your support! I'm very sad because i can't help my teammates for the last 3 games. (1/2)
— R.Lukaku Bolingoli10 (@RomeluLukaku9) April 22, 2014
Kevin mirallas says : " I hope the team will qualify for the champions league and i will have some treatment so i'm ready for the WC 2/2 "
— R.Lukaku Bolingoli10 (@RomeluLukaku9) April 22, 2014
His loss is frustrating for Evertonians. While he has not performed consistently in a Blue shirt, his pace and direct runs are a threat (even when he’s not on song) and has been our most productive player this season, scoring eight goals and making eight assists:
Kevin Mirallas has been directly involved in 28% of Everton's Premier League goals this term – http://t.co/9flBtRwDIv pic.twitter.com/boToj9Vqhk
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 22, 2014
Sylvain Distin is also expected to miss the rest of the season and the pair’s loss adds to an injury list which already includes several first team regulars such as Jagielka, Gibson, Kone, Pienaar, Oviedo and Traore. But opportunity will now come knocking on the door of Aiden McGeady and Gerard Deulofeu who have a great chance to play a big part in Everton’s future.
Silly season has started
With only a handful of games left to play till the end of the season the transfer gossip columns have started to buzz with excitement. While a second loan stint for the giant Lacina Traore (so good he played one game, scored a goal and has never been seen again) may be more realistic, the media rumours of two Red Devils heading to Goodison may be slightly more unfounded.
Football transfer rumours: Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley to Everton? http://t.co/VeWXylGjBv
— The Guardian (@guardian) April 24, 2014
The Guardian usually reserves it’s pages for the more respectable ventures of journalism but I suppose in this cyber-driven age every media outlet needs the hits, and gossip is a great way to get them. No attributable quotes, no links to sources: no story really.
But it does raise the question: would you take Welbeck or Cleverley at Everton? Martinez worked with the much maligned Cleverley at Wigan Athletic and it would seem the Catalan is still an admirer, even if the entire country isn’t. Welbeck on the other hand is fairly hit and miss, although a run in a team with youth, energy and bright ideas (as opposed to working with David Moyes)Â might re-ignite the young Lion.
Antolin, best leave the silky feet to Leon
I’m glad I’m not the only one to notice the efforts of Antolin Alcaraz on Sunday. The Paraguayan impressed as a half-time substitute, his first appearance since the Anfield debacle in January.
There were some fears that the change could be disruptive to Everton’s back four and that the slow defender could become a target for United’s pacy-er players. But Alcaraz showed incredible composure and never looked beaten. Except by Leon Osman in a mini show-boat challenge mid-game:
This made me laugh far too much. Both in the game and after. https://t.co/FQofiZnk1z
— TheEvertonForum.com (@TheEFCForum) April 21, 2014
Osman’s slippery feet allowed him to evade the attentions of two United players, showing quick thinking, improvisation, balance and pulling it all off with superb execution. Alcaraz, trying to return the ball to Osman simply puts the ball out of play while falling backwards (complete with somersault).
It’s alright Antolin, we know your strengths and getting yourself out of tight spots isn’t one of them.