So Everton fans, which match would you rather win, the League or the Cup? Vote in the poll or leave a comment.

The Englishman would probably request low wages and accept being a bit-part player just to return to the Premier League.

For those of you wondering why he’s been offered this clause, it’s due to an apparent fall out with Coppell who therefore now no longer want him in his first team plans.

He is definately worth a punt in my opinion and at 350k could be one of the signings of the season if he manages to net in excess of 5 goals. Not only that, but his price would rocket if we were to want to then offload him in the summer.

A bidding war may be nescessary though as Newcastle appear to also be interested in securing the Englishman’s services.

Watch this space and discuss in the forums using the link at the top of the page.

1 - Portsmouth or Bristol City - I fancy Bristol City could nick the replay at Ashton Gate, but I wouldn’t like to face Cup-Holders Pompey, will be a good draw if City win the replay
2 - Fulham - No thanks, although it wouldn’t be the end of the world if they came out the hat
3 - Liverpool - No, very dangerous team and probably Cup-Favourites
4 - Birmingham City or Wolverhampton Wanderers - A draw that wouldn’t be too bad but still isn’t preferable, both sides are flying in the Championship and would fancy an upset
5 - West Ham United - No thanks
6 - Middlesbrough - Again not preferable to play a fellow top flight side, but Boro would be underdogs against the Blues
7 - Hull City or Newcastle United - No, simple as
8 - Hartlepool United - A perfect draw, a full strength side should beat the League 1 strugglers
9 - Chelsea or Southend United - Chelsea will win the replay no doubt, definitely one to be avoided
10 - Nottingham Forest - Ideal draw, tricky tie but one of the easier ones
11 - Cardiff City - Ninian Park’s a tough place to go, but it would still be a decent draw home or away
12 - Ipswich Town - Would be delighted with this draw, shouldn’t pose too man problems
13 - Charlton Athletic or Norwich City - Another good draw, neither side going well in the Championship
14 - West Brom or Peterborough United - Not ideal, The Posh would be very tricky and West Brom are Premier League
15 - Torquay United - Don’t really need to explain why this is would be an amazing draw
16 - Leyton Orient or Sheffield United - Good draw, maybe a return for James Beattie?
17 - Southampton or Manchester United - No, a sure-fire way to exit the cup quickly
18 - Millwall or Crewe Alexandra - Another good draw, Millwall at the New Den can be though as Everton well know
19 - Histon or Swansea City - Swansea are a decent side, but shouldn’t be a problem for the Blues
20 - Derby County - Great draw, they pick up under a new manager though
21 - Queens Park Rangers or Burnley - Burnley have giant-killed a few times this season, but it would be a good draw
22 - Leicester City or Crystal Palace - Another one that would be decent for Everton
23 - Tottenham Hotspur - Spurs will be among the favourites, so no thank-you
24 - Cheltenham Town or Doncaster Rovers - Great draw, should see us in the 5th Round
25 - Arsenal - Don’t want a Premier League side, especially not a top-four side
26 - Kettering Town - The One. If we get them there’ll be a lot of happy Blues, and Kettering fans
27 - Blyth Spartans or Blackburn Rovers - Blackburn should win, don’t fancy playing them
29 - Watford - Good draw, average Championship side
30 - Sunderland - No Premier League teams please
31 - Coventry City - Would be happy with this one, shouldn’t pose too many problems
32 - Aston Villa - Among the favourites to win it, would be an awful draw

At 3 p.m the pitch looked in good nick despite recent scares that it could be frozen solid. A few bobbles here and there but that’s what you’d expect from a League 2 side’s ground. A sell out away end greeted the Everton team onto the pitch with a chorus of ‘If ya know yer history.’ All formalities were performed and 5 minutes later we were off. Everton in their white strip looked as if they were here to give Macclesfield a lesson in how to play football, however it were the latter who were to apply early pressure.

In the fifth minute and the first chance. It went the way of the home side. A ball pulled back was blasted over by Evans when a cool head was needed. Then on ten minutes another chance for Macclesfield. this time it was more clear cut. A quick free kick and a few phases later the ball ended up 5 yards out on Nat Brown’s head, only for it to go over with Howard struggling to get across.

But then Everton took to the ascendancy, however not many clear cut chances were shown for all the toffees’ pressure. Baines and Hibbert penetrated Town’s back line only for their crosses to be way off the target men.

It would be in the forty third minute before any side managed another shot on target, and what a shot it was! A poor corner came back to Arteta on the left who whipped in another ball. It was headed out only as far as Leon Osman who took a touch down on his chest, and on the half volley rifled the ball home from the edge of the area into the top corner. The travelling fans cheered and the blues were one up.

It could so easily have been two before half time only for some neat work on the edge of the Macclesfield box to be snuffed out. The ref then blew his whistle and it was half time.

Out for the second half and with the lead Everton looked a lot more relaxed. It was apparent the Town had run themselves into the ground in the first half as they just couldn’t keep up.

In the second period the toffees created a lot more chances than in the first but their impotency prevented Macclesfield from being embarrassed.

Anichebe was the first to have a chance. A bending shot from the left just going wide. Then it was Jagielka’s turn. With back to goal the Englishman hooked the ball over Brain but it nestled on the roof of the net. And then Another Jagielka chance. A ball by Baines into the box was clipped over from 8 yards out. The last Everton effort came courtesy of Baines whose cross come chip shot went agonizingly close as Brain could only watch it go over his head … but wide.

The final ten however was all Town and they could have earned a replay if it weren’t for the brilliant Tim Howard. The yank didn’t have to make a save all game but with the last kick of the match he jumped full stretch to tip wide Simon Yeo’s shot.

The referee blew and Everton had made it into the fourth round of the cup for the first time in three years. I know who I would like in the fourth round (Kettering)!!!

Manager Keith Alexander may start with a five-man defence, which was used well after two heavy defeats in the 3-1 win over Chester.

Tim Cahill could continue up front for Everton after Louis Saha’s hamstring injury keeps him out for another month.

Victor Anichebe briefly came on against Sunderland, but it’s likely he will be given a rest to nurse his back injury and be back to full fitness.

Starting Line Ups :

Macclesfield (to Follow later):   Brain, Reid, Jennings, Walker, Hessey , Morgan, Bell, Brown, Dunfield, Gritton, Evans (Formation unkown)

Subs: Towns, Thomas, Rooney, Yeo, Tolley, Brisley, Green

Everton:

Howard

Hibbert Jagielka Lescott Baines

Osman Arteta Neville Pienaar

Cahill

Anichebe

Subs: Nash, Fellaini, Wallace, Kissock, Gosling, Jutkiewicz, Rodwell

Internet streams: Follow this link, please note you will need to be registered to view the match. Furthermore any Evertonians coming on here today, please post responses to threads and join in the discussion!

WATCH GAME HERE

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It’s 2009 and Saints have a new player on their books in the form of former Everton left-back Lee Molyneux.

Born in Liverpool, Lee has signed a two and a half year deal that keeps him at St. Mary’s until the end of June 2011, and subject to FA clearance could go straight into Jan Poortvliet’s squad for Sunday’s clash with Manchester United.

A product of Everton’s Academy, Molyneux has picked up 24 England caps at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18’s level, and was turning heads whilst playing for the Toffeemen’s Reserves when he suffered two slipped discs in his back, which required an operation at the start of the 2007/08 season.

Now fully-fit again, he made his debut for Everton Reserves aged just 16, and despite his early years, he has already developed something of a reputation as a free-kick specialist, including a memorable strike during a Mersey-side Reserves derby match that saw Everton defeat Liverpool 3-2.

WATCH THE GOAL HERE >>> (Approx. 4 mins in)

Pace is another asset at his disposal and Lee is not afraid to attack as well as defend. He is also able to play in a more forward position in midfield, making Molyneux another versatile young addition to Jan Poortvliet’s squad.

Injuries have blighted the current campaign and with the Blues currently in 6th, who knows what could have been if the squad had stayed fully fit. There’s no doubting where Everton are lacking the most, the striker crisis is as bad as it could possibly be at the moment with Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini currently filling the void up front. Last season’s top scorer Yakubu is out for the rest of the campaign and James Vaughan is also doubtful to play again after a delay to his knee operation. Louis Saha is on the mend but will no doubt get injured again at some point and Victor Anichebe has had back problems. A whole host of names have been mentioned as possible replacements this window including: Vagner Love, David Nugent, Henrik Larsson Giampaulo Pazzini and Pavel Pogrebnyak, but it is unclear on whether there is any substance to these rumours.

Everton Manager David Moyes has had this to say on the upcoming window: “We are actively looking at what will make a difference, but I don’t think I will be able to do much in January. I am more likely to be looking at loans. Anything the club have got they will give me. But that doesn’t mean to say I am not out there looking for loans or Bosman signings or anything else that can help us. I don’t think we will be selling because we don’t have the numbers. We are short at this present time and that limits what I can do off the bench.”

Moyes has stressed that he does not have to sell but one player in particular has come into the shopping window over the past few days. After a Man-of-the-Match against Sunderland Mikel Arteta has attracted the interest of moneybags Manchester City and Arsenal, who are withough skipper Cesc Fabregas for four months. Arsenal are rumoured to be on the verge of tabling a bid between £10-12 million and it will be interesting to see whether David Moyes decides to cash in on his prized asset to be able to afford a new striker.

David Moyes has not been one to use the January-window in recent years, last year only acquiring Manuel Fernandes on loan from Valencia and Spurs’ Anthony Gardner, now of Hull, who didn’t make a single appearance for the Blues. However now more than ever Everton need players, so FollowEverton’s verdict…. you guessed is, Bill Kenwright’s  “watch this space”.

From all at FollowEverton we hope you have a very happy new year!

Our writer, Karl Hinchcliffe found two interesting foreign sources talking about the move. The translation is unclear but it seems that a 9.5 million euros bid has been lodged / about to be lodged and a 4 year contract has been offered / about to be offered. 

Source two says (translated): “Everton had offered a ‘Pogre’ a contract for four years, with figures more important than other polls that had the goalscorer. Entre ellos uno del Nápoles de la Serie A . Including one of the Serie A Naples.”

Source one

Source two

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On the transfers in front 24 year old Fiorentina striker Giampaolo Pazzini could join on a 6-month loan deal if you believe the back-pages. However the deal could hit a snag as Fiorentina are apparently going to ask for a fee. Pazzini shot onto the scene with a stunning hat-trick in the first ever game at the new Wembley Stadium between England and Italy’s Under 21s, scoring the stadium’s first ever goal after just 25 seconds!

Pazzini scores Wembley's opening goal

The arrival of Alberto Gilardino has left opportunities limited for Pazzini at La Viola so a move out on loan would seem likely. Moyes is in the market for strikers after Yakubu was ruled out for the rest of the season, and a delay to James Vaughan’s knee operation means he may not play again this term. Victor Anichebe is on his way back from a back injury and Louis Saha should be back in January, but it is highly unlikely that he will remain fit for the rest of the season.

Written by Ian Phillips

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