Daily Mirror sport

[Ged]

The only paper I get is this on a saturday for the weekly t.v. guide and the sports news. Two Liverpudlian reporters are in it, one an ex Echo columnist.

Some articles that caught my eye today:


1) Time to four-go cup as elite chase Champions League by Derek McGovern.

The last time a team from outside the big four won the F.A. Cup, Robson and Jerome were top of the charts with Unchained Melody. Since then the F.A. Cup final, unless you're Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United has been pretty much unchartered territory but you'd be wise to take the 7-4 sky bet on offer for a team from outside that elite quartet to emulate Everton's 1995 triumph this season.

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The big four must have realised by now that to prosper in the CL you must exit from the F.A. Cup as early as possible, Like Newcastle normally do. Liverpool reached the European cup final in 2005 and 2007 - by coincidence they went out of the F.A. cup in the 3rd round on each of those seasons. Arsenal reached the CL final the year they crashed out of the F.A. cup in round 4. If the eyes of the big four are trained elsewhere as they should be, then back Everton to capitalise. The blues are 20-1 despite lying 6th in the Premier League and meeting lower division opposition in the 3rd round at Goodison. Spurs, 12 points adrift of Everton are only 12-1 and they meet PL opposition today. You work it out.

[Ged]

Rebirth of Everton sends out a message...Don't panic. By Brian Reade.


There are many signs that Everton are quietly rising back to the top - their league position, progress in the Carling and UEFA cups, and depth of quality in the squad.

But the best indicator of the health of a club comes from footballers with no affinity to the place. So to hear Yakubu tell Middlesborough he was delighted to leave them for a team like Everton with genuine ambition, on the same day one of the country's top prospects, Plymouth's Dan Gosling, 17, chose Goodison above a string of other clubs, are the surest signs that Everton are in fantastic shape.

And all because the board stuck with David Moyes despite results and the phone-in whingers. All panicking chairmen and owners take note.

[Ged]

Heavens above, Joey - By Brian Reade.

Last month Joey Barton told Gaby Logan on the BBC's inside sport that he didn't care for earthly justice, that he will answer only to god, and that god would understand. Sadly for Barton, I hear the chances of Robbie Fowler becoming a Liverpool magistrate before his next court appearance on Jan 16th are pretty slim.

[22tonyred]

With the blues losing to lowly Oldham, at least they can concentrate on getting a EUFA Cup spot. :-}

[Ged]

I agree totally though i'd still rather be in, a mystery to me though why with Arteta, Cahill and Yobo missing through suspension and injury, Moyes rested another 4 first teamers including a goalie who had nothing to do at Boro.

It was Oldhams 7th straight away victory and they just shut up shop in the 2nd half but our hitting the post and off the lines mean nothing at the final whistle.

[jon_hall]

Oldham were missing loads as well from all accounts. I'm keeping quiet (ish) till later on, just in case.

[Ged]

Be bold

Greavsie said football's a funny old game. I was moaning we were drawn away in every Carling cup draw yet won them all, then we rub our hands at a home draw against a lower division side and, well you know the rest.

I think Liverpool will do it.

Let's hope i'm not as bad a tipster as Derek McGovern who I mentioned above.

[scouse mouse]

I agree totally though i'd still rather be in, a mystery to me though why with Arteta, Cahill and Yobo missing through suspension and injury, Moyes rested another 4 first teamers including a goalie who had nothing to do at Boro.

Rafa got lambasted when he made big changes against Burnley in 2005, then again he get's criticised every time he makes changes and the team don't win.

Nowt get's said when Moyes does the same.

[Gnomie]

he is defending his actions. so something must be being said

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...up/7173437.stm


A few Everton fan forums are having a go. but to be fair Oldham did us good, Scored a goal and kept us out well. So well done to them.

[Waterways]

he is defending his actions. so something must be being said

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...up/7173437.stm

A few Everton fan forums are having a go. but to be fair Oldham did us good, Scored a goal and kept us out well. So well done to them.

That team should have seen off Oldham. But is shows where the priorities are these days. Even Bolton and Blackburn fielded weakened teams.

The days of the FA cup being a top competition are gone. Even that Schmiechal said on TV that the FA is a route to Europe yet it is not easy to win. Concentrating on the League positions can get you in easier. Also Premier survival is essential, so the like of Bolton don't want tired and weakened teams through FA cup injuries. The lower teams are far more physical when they play them.

[Ged]

Rafa may get lambasted because the money lfc have had available over the last 5-8 years should be enough to see them with 2 great players for every position - not so with Everton who can't afford to field 2nd strings as we don't have the strength in depth with the skill of the top 3.

Just when I was glad he was taking the Carling cup seriously - and look where we are in it, he then fields a weakened team in the F.A. Cup and look what happens but even so, as Waterways says, they should have had enough about them to see off Oldham but like Gnomie says, they won it fair and square.

[Kev S]

Rafa may get lambasted because the money lfc have had available over the last 5-8 years should be enough to see them with 2 great players for every position - not so with Everton who can't afford to field 2nd strings as we don't have the strength in depth with the skill of the top 3.

Just when I was glad he was taking the Carling cup seriously - and look where we are in it, he then fields a weakened team in the F.A. Cup and look what happens but even so, as Waterways says, they should have had enough about them to see off Oldham but like Gnomie says, they won it fair and square.

The problem is, in my opinion, that although Liverpool have spent a lot of money over the last few years we have only just started to buy quality top class players ala Torres. The Mancs have done that for years. We are still light years behind them.

I don't blame Rafa as I think he is a great man but he does leave himself open to media groans and moans with his team selections.

[scouse mouse]

Rafa may get lambasted because the money lfc have had available over the last 5-8 years should be enough to see them with 2 great players for every position - not so with Everton who can't afford to field 2nd strings as we don't have the strength in depth with the skill of the top 3.

.

It's more so with the Toffees Ged, Everton have no chance in the league but they had a chance in the Cup, at least before Moyes started resting players for god only knows what reason.

I'll tell you mate, David Moyes has got the best job on the planet, nobody expects nothing, when he screws up most people don't notice and the rest don't even care.

[Ged]

I can only think he's putting all his eggs in the Carling cup basket having got this near and it's a Uefa cup spot should we fall away in the league. I know we're in the last 32 of the Uefa cup but that's still a big ask as we'll have to play better teams than we have to date if we're realistic.

[Waterways]

It's more so with the Toffees Ged, Everton have no chance in the league but they had a chance in the Cup, at least before Moyes started resting players for god only knows what reason.

I'll tell you mate, David Moyes has got the best job on the planet, nobody expects nothing, when he screws up most people don't notice and the rest don't even care.

As long as the club maintains Premier survival Moyes' job is safe. When the stadium is built then they expect results and then he may go. After over 5 years Moyes has done little at all, and one year they were above the relegation mob.

A pity he can't screw up big time and Morinio, or whatever his name is, can be offered the job.