rubecula

How has the season been shaping up so far? Bloody awful in my opinion. What are your expectations for this season? Have they changed from day one? I expect a solid enough season overall, but I was feeling a little pessimistic at the start too. So no real change. Who do you think is your most important player(s)? Tim Cahill is my choice. Your worst player(s)? Hard as it is to say this, but I am very disappointed with Lescott. Do you have a particular memory of any previous meeting between our clubs? Say something that happened to you that day or a decision you disagreed with? One of my fondest memories was Sharpy's goal at Anfield. I fell down in the Anfield road end over that one when we all jumped up. Someone dropped a pie or something on me and it was a right mess. Decision I disagreed with was the way Gerrard berated the ref (he seems to do it a lot) What sort of line-up will be put out against us? I seriously am not sure given our recent performances. I think there will be some surprises brought about by Moyes. Saha will start I think, possibly dropping Osman to the bench. Maybe Lescott dropped or moved to centre and Yobo dropped. I don't know what else to say on this I am afraid as I simply have no idea. Do you have any favourite/best chant(s) and perhaps any that require an explanation? Naah, I like anything witty or whatever winds up the opposition Where do you expect Everton and Liverpool to finish in the Premier League? Liverpool I think will fade away a bit, maybe finish fourth behind Man City, Arsenal and Chel$ki. I really think Man Ure are going to come a cropper this season and be in 5th. (It is going to happen one day so why not this season) Everton have started weakly, they will get stronger (I hope) But 6th may be hard to get to. 7th or 8th I think. Cup Winners: EPL - Chelsea UEFA Cup Standard Liege (unfortunately) Champions League Milan FA Cup Lets go for Hull for a laugh. Which Liverpool player will you fear the most? None really. But Torres is the most dangerous to us I think. Do you hate Liverpool fans, and why? No, most of my family are reds, although as my sister lives on Arkles Lane, she is losing all compassion for them due to building in Stanley Park... if it ever gets done. I take the p*ss out of reds but nothing hateful. Care to predict the score? This could be a blood bath either way. Liverpool have had trouble scoring I feel and Everton have had trouble defending. If one gets it right on the day, the other is going to suffer. Being optimistic I think Everton will get it right first and the score will be another 3 - 1.... but don't quote me it may be bad luck. Have fun at the game, and COYB

Maybe Fellaini will show us why he was brought in and we will win by a couple of goals. <_<

Can't see him walking as he will have to recompense the club. I could see him being sacked though, especially if Spurs don't sort themselves out soon. Maybe they could replace him with Benitez?

I don't like the way this smells really. If a club knowingly breaks the rules, well they are a football club so punish them in a footballing way. Relegation, maybe as much as two divisions if the offense warrants it. But 30 million could destroy a club. Personally I would sooner beat them on the field of play and not wipe them out through the courts. Drop them to Division one and then they will need to get back up by themselves. £30 million could drive them not only down as they will have to sell their best players, but it might also force them into liquidation. I may be alone in this but I wouldn't like to see any team forced out of the game altogether.

It seems Mike Riley is to be the ref in the Derby. He sent DM to the stands last year and has shown a lot of yellows already this season. Is it too soon to get into a moan?

I saw this on the news. To be honest I am a bit gobsmacked. 30 million? How did they arrive at that figure? Should this have been allowed to go this far? Surely if they were going to go through all this rigamarole, then the FA should have sorted it out a lot earlier, after all the whole thing was laid open at the time. West Ham should have gone down and the Blades should have stayed up???? I am full of questions over this and I don't know any answers, but a 30 million fine ...... oh hell what would that mean to the likes of us if we were in that boat?

I have a similar problem. Not 500 miles but far enough, and I do work some odd hours, as well as having to travel about lately for my job. It is frustrating, but maybe things will improve.

That is a Shout and a half. Good answer, very good answer.

I can see your point. but whenever I have played football (not well or often) I get caught up in the game. I assume that would apply to most people. Some will not give 100% no matter what. But I am not sure that it always has anything to do with money.

In that case I will keep my eyes open for a report of some kind. It seems a bit odd that the official site has not mentioned it though.

I can't find anything about that either. Is it certain he was injured and it was not just tactics? (I didn't see the game I am afraid)

That is a pretty good comparison on the face of it. However give him a little time and we shall see. (Not overly confident mind you, but I am open to waiting a little while.)

There are a lot of money grabbers, and I can't condem it. If a rival company to mine offered me more money for the same job, I am pretty sure I would be interested. Footballers are the same. (A lot better paid than me admittedly) Besides being a money grabber does not make you a bad player.

I am not one who goes along with conspiracy theories, but after reading some of the opinions in here I think that some folks do believe that there is something conpirational going on. To be honest, and this is my own opinion, I think a lot of things are being unsaid simply in order to conduct business. I feel it will all be in the open when things are sorted. That is not to say I agree with it though. Like most folks I would love to know exactly what is happening.

ouch. Good point well made. So when do we buy back Rooney? LOL

Hard one to answer this, we do need a lot of investment, but after seeing Jamie Carraghers comments about the American owners of the R's I would feel very uncomfortable with Yank money coming in. I think Arabs want to win things, it is a matter of honour I believe. But as it has been pointed out, what happens to young talent if they do take over? Or would we sell them on, then buy them back at a later date when they prove themselves?

OOPs sorry I didn't see this thread before I posted another. I will not object if Admin gets rid of mine. and Sorry again folks.

Yes I agree and the TV coverage does not do it justice at all. I was in the Anfield Road end at the game and it was like a sudden effect in a film. I actually jumped when he hit it. What a shot. If the R's had three keepers that day they could not have stopped it. Great memory, truly great. Fred Pickering though could put one hell of a lot of power into a header.

I must admit this makes a bit of sense to me.

Rumour was confirmed on Sky Sports News. But in all honesty I don't know what to make of it all. I have seen him do some fantastic stuff, but I have also seen him play like a three legged horse. I don't know whether I want him here or not. Mind you I am getting to be a bit desperate for a signing now..... Should we go for Titus Bramble? (joke)

Is the ground around the area of Clubmoor recreation ground in any options or is it too small a footprint?

Not sure you will say it to my face mate. I know for a fact you don't live anywhere near me, and I seriously doubt you will be bothered to go to the game. I don't understand your vitriolic abuse. I admit to being a fan and I admit to feeling a touch pessimistic...... your response is to tell me to get to f**k. And why would I want to get in touch with you? I am not in the mood for a battle of wits with the defensless.

Everton issue challenge to city leader Warren Bradley over new stadium site Aug 8 2008 by Luke Traynor, Liverpool Echo EVERTON FC are ready to challenge city leader Warren Bradley to find the club a viable site for a new home. They believe Liverpool council is largely to blame for the decision to call in the Tesco-led stadium scheme at Kirkby. They now want Cllr Bradley to show them a viable alternative. At present they feel there is nothing on offer to beat the £400m Destination Kirkby project which would bring the club a brand new stadium for £78m. But there is no guarantee they will get the go-ahead for the ground at the end of a costly public inquiry which could last up to two years. The club has yet to decide whether to ditch the Knowsley scheme or fight for it side by side with Tesco. Everton have already dismissed as unworkable three sites proposed by the city. A series of “sensitive” discussions have taken place over the past 48 hours between the Blues, the supermarket giant and Knowsley council. But today well-placed sources revealed Everton are ready to take a second look at potential stadium sites in Liverpool. Cllr Bradley, who has waged a long campaign to keep his boyhood club in the city, said he would meet Blues owner Bill Kenwright next week. He told the ECHO: “This should finally release the shackles on the opportunity to have a dialogue which has been hampered by the exclusivity deal. “I have had an informal discussion with Bill Kenwright and we will meet next week to talk about the club’s next steps. “We should be trying to keep one of our oldest commercial businesses in the city. This is not blue-sky thinking. “I’ve put locations on the table which are hard options. We need to sit round the table and see what we can deliver.” As the ECHO revealed yesterday the decision to call in the Kirkby scheme could cost Everton £36m due to rising building and material costs and lost revenues. The Blues are understood to be unable to cover that shortfall and Tesco today refused to say if they would meet those rising costs. Corporate affairs manager Michael Kissman said: “It is too early in the process to accurately predict the full costs. We are at an early stage. Reacting to the call-in news a Tesco spokesman said: “We are obviously very disappointed with the decision to call in the proposals for Kirkby. “This project would regenerate the town centre, create over 2,000 new jobs in the region and deliver world-class facilities for Everton. “In times of growing economic uncertainty, the case for this regeneration project has never been so clear, and it is viable only because it is a single comprehensive development combining the stadium, retail and leisure. “We are pressing the government to fix a date for a public inquiry at the earliest possible time.” Everton FC’s hastily-called emergency board meeting will be held early next week to discuss the Blues’ next move. The date for the public enquiry is yet to be fixed but is likely to be scheduled before Christmas. A Knowsley council spokeswoman said today: “The council remains fully committed to securing this regeneration in Kirkby, and is confident in presenting this argument to the public inquiry which it is hoped will be listed shortly. “Kirkby is a prime location for development with excellent infrastructure. “Knowsley is committed to redeveloping the town, and we still want this once in a lifetime development to be delivered because we feel it gives Kirkby the very best opportunities for the future.” Kirkby Residents Action Group (KRAG) are due to hold a meeting in the next few days to plan its strategy for the public inquiry. Spokesman Ian Morris added: “We raised 35 major points that we were concerned about like traffic, litter and the impact on schools and the environment. “We are fully supportive of the regeneration of Kirkby town centre and we would welcome Tesco, but not a football stadium.” Colin Fitzpatrick, spokesman for Keep Everton In Our City (KEIOC), said their key objection was transport. “The stadium would be nine miles from the city centre and leave fans with 45-minute walks to the ground, being put in holding pens at Kirkby station and queue at the park and rides.” * WHAT now for Everton – and Liverpool? Former Anfield club secretary Peter Robinson tells Paddy Shennan why his controversial ground share idea still makes sense . . . Despite Everton and Liverpool having kicked the always-controversial idea into touch at various times since the 1960s, it continues to be brought back into the public domain. Mr Robinson said: “People are entitled to their opinions, but I do think the majority of fans, if a shared stadium ever came about, would quickly accept it.” Just over two months ago the shared stadium idea was given yet another airing, this time by sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe and culture secretary Andy Burnham. Mr Burnham, a Blues season-ticket holder, said he believed the idea was “highly attractive”. Mr Sutcliffe said: “It is important all options are carefully considered. “Nothing is ruled in and nothing is ruled out. It is a matter for the two clubs.” Five years ago, a high-profile Merseyside businessman and football fan said: “If there are one or two solid ingredients in place, a ground share could be a valid option.” He added: “Although it is not ideal in terms of timing for the clubs because they are at different stages of development (this was in 2003) one thing I have learned in business is that if a good opportunity comes along you just have to take it.” The businessman in question? Sir Terry Leahy, special adviser to Everton and chief executive of Tesco. Is opportunity still knocking? Split reaction over stadium inquiry decision KIRKBY residents are divided over the decision to call in the stadium plan. Dot Reid, 58, lives in Spicer Grove, one of the roads that may be cleared to make way for the development. She is a member of the Kirkby Residents Action Group which opposes the development, and is delighted there will be a public inquiry. She said: “This is what we’ve been fighting for. They’ve got to listen to the Kirkby people now before a final decision is made.” Sharon Murphy, 37, who lives on Rowan Drive near Kirkby station, said: “I just worry that there will be more trouble with rowdy football fans at the station, so I’m glad it might not happen.” Jean Keen, owner of Trevor’s Card Shop on St Chads Parade, said: “If anybody has any sense, they will stop the plans. We won’t survive if a Tesco comes here.” But others think the development would be positive for the town and are concerned about the inquiry. Among them is Laura Newman, 21, from Northwood. She said: “ I wanted the stadium. “We need regeneration in the town centre and it’ll bring more people to Kirkby.”

I am not sure how you will all feel about this, whether pro move or anti move or whatever. But for me the whole business has left me feeling sadder and more despondent as time has gone on. I just want an end of it all right now.

Iggy is right, it will be heated. Apparently JJB Sports has already sold out of baseball bats and there is a run on 2X4 with nails in.