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More now from Kevin Sheedy, who has been telling Greg O’Keeffe just how proud he is of the young players rolling off the Finch Farm production line.
Click here.
Everton’s Kevin Sheedy, (right), and Alan Irvine, (left)
Jonjoe Kenny has been recalling the moment he secured European Championship glory for England Under-17s.
The Everton defender slotted home the winning penalty in Wednesday’s shootout win over Holland in Malta.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Kenny told evertontv. “I woke up this morning and I still can’t really get over it.
“Walking up to take the penalty, I was confident to be honest. I knew where I was going to go, so I just thought ‘stick with that spot whatever’ and if the goalkeeper saves it, he saves it.
“For the past two weeks we’d been practicing penalties in training, so I was confident I could do it and buzzing I could get the winner.”
Click here for more.
Everton stars Ryan Ledson, left, and Jonjoe Kenny, who helped England U-17s to glory at the European Championships
Good side this, with a fair amount of EFC talent in there too.
ON THIS DAY in 1984 – @england retained the U21 UEFA European Championship with a 3-0 aggregate victory over Spain pic.twitter.com/KecHWpkRMT
— The FA (@FA) May 24, 2014
5 years ago today Everton finished the 2008-9 season in 5th place
1 Man United 90
2 Liverpool 86
3 Chelsea 83
4 Arsenal 72
5 EVERTON 63
— Everton Records (@EvertonRecords) May 24, 2014
Greg O’Keeffe’s Royal Blue column reflects on a frustrating campaign for this man.
Click here.
LONDON, ENGLAND – Saturday, March 8, 2014: Everton’s Steven Pienaar limps off injured against Arsenal during the FA Cup Quarter-Final match at the Emirates Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Aiden McGeady is confident the Blues can mount a top-four challenge next season.
He told evertonfc.com: “We were challenging the top four (last season), so the challenge next season is to go one better and get into that top four.
“With the squad we have got, the manager and the backroom staff, the potential that the players have got, especially seeing as how many of the players are 22, 23, 24, young players, that’s got to be our aim.
“We probably out-performed what everybody expected of us from the start of the season.”
The winger, 28, continued: “At the start of the season, the first three games were draws and everyone was thinking, ‘This is a different type of football, a different way of playing for Everton’.
“But gradually over time, the manager and the way we play, we have won everyone over. We play football the right way and I think everyone is enjoying it.”
Click here for more.
LONDON, ENGLAND – Sunday, March 30, 2014: Everton’s Aiden McGeady in action against Fulham during the Premiership match at Craven Cottage. (Pic by Chris Brunskill/Propaganda)
We know who The Bomber’s money is on today then…
“@kayjay_official: @TonyBellew who you backing on the 2 big games today.. play off and champions league?”
Real and QPR
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) May 24, 2014
There’s a strong EFC theme running through Tony Bellew’s Twitter Q&A. He can’t quite decide who the Blues’ most valuable player is.
“@actionjackson7t: @TonyBellew whos evertons most value able player in your opinion?”
Ross, Seamus, McCarthy? were blessed at min..
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) May 24, 2014
Evertonfc.com have concluded their review of the season.
The final part looks back at April and May, and can be seen by clicking here.
Everton’s Kevin Mirallas celebrates against Arsenal
Roberto Martinez attended the Football Association of Wales’ National Coaches Conference yesterday.
The Blues boss was the guest speaker at the event, staged at the Dragon Park Development Centre in Newport.
Click here for more.
<img src="http://www.football-rss.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/a7a59aaf32_NWSTMCL261213EVERTON-28.jpg" width="510" height="361" alt="Everton vs Sunderland at Goodison Park. Everton manager Roberto Martinez and Gus Poyet. Photo by Colin Lane” class=”captify” title=”Everton vs Sunderland at Goodison Park. Everton manager Roberto Martinez and Gus Poyet. Photo by Colin Lane” /> Everton vs Sunderland at Goodison Park. Everton manager Roberto Martinez and Gus Poyet. Photo by Colin Lane
The season may be over but there will still be plenty of EFC reading in the Sunday ECHO tomorrow, including Chris Beesley’s statistical breakdown of Everton’s campaign.
Everton v Liverpool in the 221 Merseyside Derby. Romelu Lukaku celebrates Evertons third goal. Picture by Jason Roberts
Also in the Sunday ECHO tomorrow, Alex Rea has checked on the progress on the Everton players crowned Premier Academy League champions in 2011. Where are they now?
Conor Coady (right) with Jose Baxter after Sheffield reached the FA Cup semi-finals
Roberto Martinez has warned that Spain will still be a force to be reckoned with at the World Cup, despite being written off in some quarters.
The reigning champions are fourth favourites to win the competition.
Martinez said in the Daily Star: “This is a generation that sees a last chance – players like Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Iker Casillas, a group there that has a unique opportunity.
“This team is moved by targets. They wanted to win the first European Championships, then the first World Cup, then three tournaments in a row.
“Now they have the final target to be the first European team to win the World Cup in South America.”
The Everton boss added: “Now they have the extra element of Diego Costa, an ex-Brazilian who you can imagine is going to bring a lot of spice. I do feel Spain is still the team to beat.
“The conditions will force Spain to find different solutions and the addition of Diego Costa can help that.”
Everton manager Roberto Martinez controls the ball on the touchline
There’s a brilliant article on independent EFC website Toffee Web about Cyril Lello, a player who lit up the dark days of the early 1950s for Evertonians.
Click here.
Cyril is third from left on this pic.
Everton players in preparation for an FA Cup match against Liverpool, 25th January 1955. L-R: Eric Moore, Tommy Jones, Cyril Lello, Wally Fielding, Eddie Wainright, John Parker, Dave Hickson, Tommy Eglington, Peter Farrell, Jimmy O’Neill, George Rankin and Harry Potts.
The EFC blog in The Metro today focuses on Everton’s international stars.
Click here to give it a read.
Everton’s James McCarthy (left) celebrates with Seamus Coleman after scoring his side’s first goal during the Barclays Premier League match at KC Stadium, Hull – Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire
Lee Carsley’s column in the Sunday ECHO focuses on Ross Barkley. The former Blues midfielder says Goodison is the best place for the England man to flourish.
England’s Ross Barkley during the training session at the Vale Do Lobo Resort, Portugal
Happy birthday to Kevin Langley. The midfielder, who played his part in the 1986-87 title winning campaign, is 50 today.
<img src="http://www.football-rss.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/1894e52e7b_h-00242991.jpg" width="510" height="654" alt="Kevin Langley Everton Football player in action at Goodison Park September 1986. League match against QPR Final score: Everton 0-0 QPR” class=”captify” title=”Kevin Langley Everton Football player in action at Goodison Park September 1986. League match against QPR Final score: Everton 0-0 QPR” /> Kevin Langley Everton Football player in action at Goodison Park September 1986. League match against QPR Final score: Everton 0-0 QPR
It’s half time in the play-off final at Wembley and we’re no nearer to knowing who will be stepping up into the Premier League next season.
The score is Derby 0 QPR 0. We’ll know in the next hour or two whether the Blues will be making a trip to Pride Park next season, or whether it will be Loftus Road instead.
The teams are under way again at Wembley. Still 0-0… but there needs to be a winner.
Derby’s chances of making the step up to the Premier League have been given a boost. Uphill task now for QPR, but it remains 0-0.
O’Neil sent off for professional foul on Russell. Dreadfully cynical tackle. Deserved to go.
— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) May 24, 2014
This former Blue has been glued to the Championship play-off final. Still no goals. Into the last minute…
Is it too late for England to call up Robert Green?
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 24, 2014
Amazing scenes at Wembley. It’s QPR who will be stepping into the Premier League next season. Blues fans will be plotting a course to Loftus Road, not Pride Park. Bobby Zamora’s injury-time goal has won it for the Londoners. Not the greatest of games, but an incredible finish.
Congratulations QPR, Derby unlucky. That’s footie !
— Peter Reid (@reid6peter) May 24, 2014
And it all means Richard Dunne’s back in the Premier League…
Oh dear. Remember Dunney as a wide-eyed young Hunny Monster at Everton. He’s QPR’s elder statesman now.
— David Prentice (@prenno) May 24, 2014
Plenty of praise coming Richard Dunne’s way. Rightly so. He was outstanding today.
No better man in the heart of defence when down to 10 men. #richardunne #qprvder
— Kevin Kilbane (@kdkilbane77) May 24, 2014
“@JMcC_23: Without being a blight how good has richard dunne been so far #immense ”. Unreal lad
— Shane Duffy (@ShaneDuffy34) May 24, 2014
The Blues have issued their retained list. The most notable departure is one EFC fans have been aware of for a little while – Apostolos Vellios.
Click here for more.
Apostolos Vellios scores for the Blues against Bolton
Time to sign off for today. An evening of watching the Champions League final beckons.
I’ll be back from 10am tomorrow to bring you a steady stream of EFC news and views.
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