Last night’s round of Europa League games saw two unfamiliar blokes cutting rather lonely figures beside each goal. Making its trial debut as part of Michel Platini’s grand plan to cut out diving, ghost goals and general tomfoolery, was the ‘Additional Assistant Referees’ (AARs) system - basically plonking two flagless linos goalside.
Their biggest challenge, last night’s tie between Everton and AEK Athens, was a mixed bag. A contentious penalty shout was turned down, probably correctly, but Louis Saha was then sent off in the dying minutes for raising his hands, after having his legs used as kicking posts by AEK defender Juanfran.
Despite coasting to victory 4-0, David Moyes found time to moan about the new system:
‘It’s amazing - they see the small arm from Louis but not the big kick that was aimed at him beforehand, despite all those officials in and around the box now.
Everton manager in “does thing he said he wouldn’t do” shocker
David Moyes, April 25th:
“We want to keep the base we have, some of the players we have now, to replace them would cost £15-£20million, and so why would we do that, with no guarantee that we could find better?”
David Moyes, April 25th:
“We want to add to this squad and I can assure you that no one we want to keep will leave.”
David Moyes, August 8th:
“The crowd know and understand that what we are doing here is right and we have been very consistent and we have said that Joleon Lescott won’t be sold. There’s not much point me elaborating on that because I have been consistent - he’s not for sale.”
David Moyes, August 15th:
“I have said often enough that Everton are not selling”
Everton FC official website, August 23rd:
“Everton has agreed an undisclosed fee with Manchester City for the transfer of defender Joleon Lescott.”
As Spurs fans jauntily swagger down the street, whistling the Champions League theme tune, and Everton supporters sit hunched in their garages considering their very existence, its worth remembering that the Opening Day is often as misleading as a blood substitution in rugby union.
There may be plenty of examples of markers being laid down for the entire season on day one, but Spoiler correspondent Eliot Pollak recalls five matches which prove that even a blind hen pecks the odd bit of corn.
19th August 1995
Aston Villa 3 Manchester United 1
The apotheosis of opening day anomalies. First half goals from Ian Taylor, Mark Draper and Dwight Yorke saw the Holte End bouncing with optimism, while Alan Hansen told the nation later on Match of the Day that Fergie’s summer boot sale of Paul Ince, Mark Hughes and Andrei Kanchelskis was unlikely to bring success. “You win nothing with kids,” deadpanned Hansen, turning up his nose at Beckham, Scholes, the Neville brothers and Nicky Butt.
By May, United had won the double, and the stunning 25 yard consolation a certain Mr D.Beckham whacked in at Villa Park that afternoon, was soon to be his trademark.
17th August 1996
Coventry City 0 Nottingham Forest 3
Frank Clark certainly wasn’t one of the most charismatic of Premier League managers, but he proved competent, at least until the 1996-97 season. A Kevin Campbell hat-trick and stellar performances from summer signings Dean Saunders and Nikola Jerkan more than accounted for Big Fat Ron’s Coventry City. The Sky Blues were booed from the pitch, and Atkinson’s wisdom in splashing out £3m on the 31-year-old Gary McAllister was cast into question by the following day’s press reports.
Forest ended the season bottom, and even worse, with Harry Bassett in charge. Campbell only scored three more league goals the entire season, whilst Coventry, as always in the 90s, survived on the final day.
7th August 1999
Chelsea 4 Sunderland 0
An unusually early start to the Premiership season,
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Rafael van der Vaart to Liverpool
The Times say that Liverpool are ready to make an offer for the Dutchman who is valued at around £10m. But the paper immediately dismisses its own claim by noting that Senor Benitez has nearly exhausted his transfer funds.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: The Real Madrid attacking midfielder (and his WAG) would be welcome additions to the Premier League, but surely financial constrictions will deny him a move to Anfield.
Joleon Lescott to Manchester City. Maybe.
David Moyes has dropped the want-away defender from his Europa League squad, citing a poor attitude following the embarrassing defeat to Arsenal at the weekend. The Everton manager now seems a little more open to the prospect of Lescott moving on, telling the Guardian that “the price we have been offered is not close to our valuation.” Said valuation is understood to be around £30m. The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Clearly, Lescott is no longer a positive influence
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Joleon Lescott to Manchester City The Times are reporting that the Everton defender spoke to manager David Moyes yesterday to tell him that he wants to join Manchester City and spent the evening writing a letter to chairman Bill Kenwright.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: It’s claimed that the Toffees are holding out for £30 million but an offer of £22 million may prove too good to turn down for England’s fourth-choice centre-back.
Alberto Aquilani to Liverpool
The Spanish press were reporting yesterday that Liverpool have reached an
As The Spoilermentioned on Friday, we’re stunned that Coral are offering 5/1 on Everton being the best-placed Premier League team outside the Big Four.
It’s understandable that Manchester City are favourites - after all they could buy every single Everton player at ten times their asking price if they wanted - but to have the team who have finished fifth in each of the last two seasons at such a long price seems like a big mistake.
Yes, they don’t have as much money to spend as City and potentially even Aston Villa and Spurs but they were written off last season for the same reason and as always defied the odds, despite having key players ruled out for long periods with injuries.
Are we overestimating David Moyes or are the bookmakers leaving themselves liable for a substantial loss? Let us know which team you think will be the “best of the rest” in 2009-10 with a vote and comment below:
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies…
Maicon to Chelsea
The tabloids have grown tired of linking every current AC Milan player - minus David Beckham - with a move to Chelsea should Carlo Ancelotti takes over. Instead, they have started identifying players at other Italian clubs, with 27-year-old Inter Milan’s right-back Maicon reportedly a £22 million target.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Maicon is one of the best right-backs in the world but with the Blues’ ageing squad in need of an overhaul, they can’t really afford to spend that much on a position where they have three options under the age of 26 (Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Mancienne).
Brede Hangeland to Arsenal
Arsene Wenger has identified Hangeland as the standout performer in the Fulham defence that have conceded less goals than Arsenal this season and is
Carlo Ancelotti is now odds-on to take charge in the summer
Following David Beckham’s revelation that Carlo Ancelotti is learning English, the AC Milan boss has been cut to just 4/6 with Sky Bet to be appointed Chelsea’s next permanent manager.
However, while acknowledging that winning the Champions League twice is an impressive achievement, The Spoiler doesn’t believe that the Italian has had enough success domestically to justify being Chelsea’s first choice.
But what do you think? Let us know who the Blues should go for with a vote and comment below:
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