One of the most exciting prospects at Reading is a young Kevin Doyle. He came over from Cork City in the Irish league for less than 200,000 sterling. Good striker of a ball, pacey enough to be a winger and good in the air. Very excited about him from an Irish point of view. He wasn’t even expected to be a starter this year 
Did not know that they were never in the top flight.
Yeah, Doyle scored a good goal yesterday. Reading also have not one but two American regulars, Marcus Hahnemann in goal and midfielder Bobby Convey. If Reading do go up I shudder to think what will happen to them in the Premiership, but then I thought the same about Wigan.
I’m hearing a lot of good things about Convey (I’ve actually become a member on Reading’s website so I can track Mr. Doyle).
They’ll struggle once they go up but at least they’ll be fun to watch.
Yeah, it’s funny how things turn out…last June, who would have predicted Sunderland as whipping-boys, and Wigan as possible European contenders? (Well, maybe Ipswich fans, having been there all of five years ago 
)
Right now, Reading are a class apart from anything else in the Championship. It’s a shame they didn’t get a better Premiership team in the FA Cup, to make it an interesting test.
Well, that got screwed up somehow; I wasn’t paying attention. It should have said something like leveraging their success and position.
What the big clubs have done is take their success that existed as the Premiership started and used it to generate more income. They attract wealthy investors (Chelsea), they merchandise like crazy (Man. U.), etc. This increases the income stream, allowing them to buy better players, AND to increase their marketing and investment efforts.
In America, the comparative effects can be seen in looking at the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs of baseball. Both teams in the mid-80’s were located in good markets, and had recently undergone a period of unusual success. But whereas the Braves managed to attract a wealthy investor (Ted Turner), who used his media empire to launch season long coverage of virtually every game the Braves played, all on his private cable channel available nationwide, then used the channel to plug his team shamelessly and develop its merchandising potential, to the point the Braves became a kind of “America’s Team,” the Cubs, also bought by a media company, and also having a captive television channel broadcast on cable nationwide, didn’t follow the same path. Instead, the Cubs share WGN with the White Sox (the other Chicago team), resulting in far fewer games on WGN in the last few years than in the 70’s, when virtually all Cubs games were on the air. And while the Cubs “laughable losers” image, their popularity from not having been to the World Series since 1945, etc. should create a merchandisers dream, and despite the fact that there are Cubs fans literally everywhere the team travels, the Cubs owners haven’t been as shameless about plugging and pumping the team.
The result? The Braves have won the Eastern Division of the National League something like 14 years in a row; the Cubs in the same time frame have been to the playoffs twice, and often struggle to get above .500. It’s all about the money, which is no surprise. In the American League, the Yankees of New York City have the best record over the long haul, because they make and spend more money than anyone else in baseball.
I think that if you want a real contrast in England, you should look no further than Liverpool, which likes to “talk the talk” on spending, etc., but obviously is no longer quite able to “walk the walk.” The do well, 5th, 4th and 5th the last three years, but they haven’t actually challenged for the title in quite a while, and given that they are regularly in Europe, they should be doing better. Obviously, they are doing better than sides that don’t regularly get across the Channel, but that’s not saying much. Still, are the faithful at Anfield really unhappy that their directors haven’t gone the way of Man. U? I doubt it, if you put it to them that way.
Man Utd 1, Everton 1
Match on Sky Sports PPV - did not see, but have read commentary on the match. McFadden scored in the 7th minute, but Giggs from Man Utd scored 7 minutes later to tie the match. Appears that Everton weathered the storm and held on for the tie.
Frankly, I’m a bit surprised with the result - Cahill, Arteta, Martyn, and VDM all did not play. It appears that Wright (back-up goalkeeper) played one of his best matches in quite some time. Everton will get Arteta and Cahill for the next match against West Ham, but VDM will be out until January and Martyn will probably be out for a few more games. The rest of December will be a tough for the team - 5 matches to end out the year with Bolton and Liverpool especially difficult tests (although both will be played at Goodison).
Realistically, I expect Everton to pick up at least 4 points, but 6 points is not out of the question. Ending the year with at least 21-23 points is doable - more than 23 will be quite a surprise (but delightful).
Hopefully, Moyes will be able to bring in a few more players during the transfer window to bolster the squad for the rest of the year.
I suppose mamboman thinks that away draws at Old Trafford are the sort of result you should expect from Everton… :smack:
Everton 1 - West Ham Utd 2
On Fox Soccer Channel - Everton started out well with Beattie scoring 9 minutes in. Several minutes later, McFadden gets injured and Everton is temporarily playing with 10 men. Then Weir scores an own goal - from then on, Everton did not play very well the rest of the match. West Ham scored mid-way through the second half to secure the victory.
Frustrating game to watch - Everton looked great for the first 15 minutes; but after McFadden went off (and Weir scored the own goal) they just seemed to lose something. Weir needs to be replaced by Kroldrup - he’s now a liability rather than an asset.
Everton 0 - Bolton 4
Sigh - I guess I should stop watching Everton play on FSC. It seems evertime I watch them they lose. Everton played well during the first half, but feel behind 1-0. They dominated the start of the second half, but couldn’t get any of their crosses and corner kicks to drop their way. When it finally looked as if all the pressure was about to to pay off (McFadden scored), it was ruled (correctly) offsides. It was all downhill from there.
The team clearly needs to sit Weir down and play Kroldrup. They also clearly miss VDM. I am a loss as to what needs to be done. Everton was clearly rebounding from a horrible start. They should have beaten West Ham. And they could have clearly gotten at least a point today against Bolton. If Everton doesn’t get at least 4 points the next four matches (Villa, Liverpool, Sunderland, and Charlton), then I’m going to start siding with the Moyes detractors. I hate to say that, but it’s really frustrating to watch a team play well for 60-70 minutes (like they did today) and then totally collapse. It’s one thing if the team just isn’t good enough; it’s another when the team has the talent to compete.
I missed the first half, but watched starting with the start of the second half. While Everton dominated possession, appearing to have more hustle than Wanderers, there was one troubling fact I noticed well before the deluge of goals. Wanderers were getting ALL the headed balls. This isn’t a bad thing for Everton per se, but it IS a bad thing when you are trying to score by lobbing high crosses and long diagonal balls into the penalty area as almost your only attempts to create a goal chance. :smack:
I think the disallowed “goal” had a bad effect upon the team. They should have been licking their lips in anticipation; instead they appear to have lost their concentration. The second and fourth goals both came from bad passes, too much open space, and a failure to close down the attack promptly. We won’t bother to discuss the stupid penalty. :rolleyes:
I agree, which is what made things frustrating to watch. Allardyce has made is reputation on ensuring Bolton defends well in the box, especially on corner kicks and crosses. Everton was simply unable to penetrate their defense, and all Bolton needed to do to was patiently wait until Everton let up. Then, they pounced.
I may have been thrown off by camera angle, but it seemed to me that the central defenders for Wanderers were substantially taller than the people Everton had awaiting set pieces in the box. That makes it VERY hard to out jump the defenders.
Should note, though, that, but for being a half-foot offside on the disallowed “goal,” and but for the ball going over the net from close range, and but for one other good chance parried away by the Bolton 'keeper, Everton might have finished with three goals. Not that that is much consolation, but at least it means they weren’t really out of the game, like you might think upon seeing the scoreline.
Does anyone have any information on the club’s finances? How are they doing?
A horrendous 2005 now over, Everton can start afresh in 2006. After thrashings by Liverpool, Bolton, and Aston Villa, Everton bounced back by beating hapless Sunderland 1-0 and slumping Charlton 3-1. Everton now stands 15th after 21 matches with 23 points (and only 3 points away from 10th).
Rumor has it that Moyes will NOT be sacked, regardless of how they finish this year. So I will not be joining the “dump Moyes” bandwagon (as much as I may, in my angrier moments, want to see him gone). The main priority, for the rest of the season, is to ensure that Everton not get relegated.
Here’s hoping that Everton rebounds and regains it fighting spirit in 2006 - Go Blues!!
Everton 1 - 0 Arsenal
You were right, mamboman, sack Moyes. His team can’t do diddly. Only one goal at home against the 5th place team in the league. Get rid of him. :smack:
Everton 1 - Arsenal 0
Well, that was a delightful surprise. Early on it looked as if it was going to be a long day (brilliant save by Martyn on Ljungberg shot on goal), but Everton quickly responded with a nice goal by Beattie. He should have had another with a clear, open shot that went wide.
So far, 2006 has started out on a good note. However, Everton still hasn’t been able to secure another striker they so desperately need; Kroldrup was sent packing (I’m mystified as he never really got a chance); Stubbs is back (as backup - but with Ferrari’s injury during the match, this means that Everton is dangerously short on defensive help with Yobo playing in Africa’s cup).
Next up is Chelsea in FA Cup, but without Cahill.
I have to say, even I am impressed.
mm
Everton 1 - 0 Manchester City
Everton up to 11th in the table, well clear of relegation. And with a replay coming against Chelsea, held to 1-1 at home in the FA Cup last weekend.
I bet they are SOOOOOO glad they fired that incompetent boob they had coaching them… 
Hey look! You get rid of Souey and you get a full 3 points! How about that! Why did he remain as manager for so long now?
And Reading finally become a Premiership team, in suitably low-key fashion, a drab 1-1 draw away at Leicester. Chasing teams Watford and Leeds could do no better, so it means that the likes of Man U and Liverpool fans will be enjoying the queues at M4 junction 11 next season. Enjoy the views of one of Europe’s largest wind turbines while it lasts!