jimmy
05-19-2008, 02:11 PM
Lee Carsley quits Everton
May 19 2008 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
Carsley quits Blues
LEE CARSLEY today brought the curtain down on his six-year Everton career.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder has told manager David Moyes that he does not want to take up the offer of another contract at Goodison Park and will be pursuing other options.
Derby County are leading the chase for Carsley’s signature and are ready to offer him a two-year deal at Pride Park but reports in the Midlands suggest that Birmingham City have moved into pole position.
Carsley, whose family are still based in the Midlands, joined the Blues from Coventry City in February 2002 and went onto make 198 appearances, scoring 12 goals.
Though he performed a role that did not grab headlines, he was widely acknowledged as one of the most important members of Everton’s team and his form in the past two seasons has been as good as anything he has produced throughout his career.
However, Carsley was typically self-deprecating when asked about his future plans following what turned out to be his last appearance for Everton against Newcastle United last Sunday and pointed out that no individual is bigger than the club.
“If I went, someone else would come in and be just as good, if not better. Leaving Everton is not a decision I would make lightly,” he said.
“I have loved it here. I think the fans have loved having me here as well. I have been successful and in the seven seasons I have had here, four times we have finished in the top seven.”
Meanwhile, Joseph Yobo will be available to start the new season at Goodison Park – thanks to an administrative error by the Nigerian FA.
The Blues’ central defender was due to be named as one of Nigeria’s three over-age players in their squad for the Beijing Olympics but coach Samson Siasia confirmed that a mistake means Yobo will remain on Merseyside.
“Our secretary forgot to include Yobo’s name in our preliminary squad, so he won’t be going (to Beijing) which is Everton’s gain,” said Siasia.
But while the news about Yobo is a boost for David Moyes, the manager is likely to be without Victor Anichebe for the first four games of the 2008/09 campaign after he was selected by Nigeria.
Though Anichebe was eligible to play for England, he pledged his allegiance to the country of his birth earlier this year and made his international debut against South Africa and is likely to play a key role in Beijing.
Carsley’s departure means Moyes will now have to step up his search for a replacement but Everton – who have been linked with an £8m move for Bordeaux midfielder Alou Diarra – today distanced themselves with weekend reports suggesting they had tied up a deal to sign West Brom winger Zoltan Gera.
Gera is a free agent and will move from The Hawthorns this summer but though Moyes has run the rule over the Hungarian a couple of times, he is not top of his list of priorities.
Moyes has made it clear that strengthening the centre of his midfield will come first and Diarra – who was once on Liverpool’s books but never played – is a player whom he admires. Bordeaux are reported to want a fee in the region of £8m for the France international.
May 19 2008 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
Carsley quits Blues
LEE CARSLEY today brought the curtain down on his six-year Everton career.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder has told manager David Moyes that he does not want to take up the offer of another contract at Goodison Park and will be pursuing other options.
Derby County are leading the chase for Carsley’s signature and are ready to offer him a two-year deal at Pride Park but reports in the Midlands suggest that Birmingham City have moved into pole position.
Carsley, whose family are still based in the Midlands, joined the Blues from Coventry City in February 2002 and went onto make 198 appearances, scoring 12 goals.
Though he performed a role that did not grab headlines, he was widely acknowledged as one of the most important members of Everton’s team and his form in the past two seasons has been as good as anything he has produced throughout his career.
However, Carsley was typically self-deprecating when asked about his future plans following what turned out to be his last appearance for Everton against Newcastle United last Sunday and pointed out that no individual is bigger than the club.
“If I went, someone else would come in and be just as good, if not better. Leaving Everton is not a decision I would make lightly,” he said.
“I have loved it here. I think the fans have loved having me here as well. I have been successful and in the seven seasons I have had here, four times we have finished in the top seven.”
Meanwhile, Joseph Yobo will be available to start the new season at Goodison Park – thanks to an administrative error by the Nigerian FA.
The Blues’ central defender was due to be named as one of Nigeria’s three over-age players in their squad for the Beijing Olympics but coach Samson Siasia confirmed that a mistake means Yobo will remain on Merseyside.
“Our secretary forgot to include Yobo’s name in our preliminary squad, so he won’t be going (to Beijing) which is Everton’s gain,” said Siasia.
But while the news about Yobo is a boost for David Moyes, the manager is likely to be without Victor Anichebe for the first four games of the 2008/09 campaign after he was selected by Nigeria.
Though Anichebe was eligible to play for England, he pledged his allegiance to the country of his birth earlier this year and made his international debut against South Africa and is likely to play a key role in Beijing.
Carsley’s departure means Moyes will now have to step up his search for a replacement but Everton – who have been linked with an £8m move for Bordeaux midfielder Alou Diarra – today distanced themselves with weekend reports suggesting they had tied up a deal to sign West Brom winger Zoltan Gera.
Gera is a free agent and will move from The Hawthorns this summer but though Moyes has run the rule over the Hungarian a couple of times, he is not top of his list of priorities.
Moyes has made it clear that strengthening the centre of his midfield will come first and Diarra – who was once on Liverpool’s books but never played – is a player whom he admires. Bordeaux are reported to want a fee in the region of £8m for the France international.