Sounds like he went off for Derby in the second half with an injury.

Anybody know anything more about it?

Iraqigoals and JustinTV haven't been behaving for me on the earlier matches and my links to other streamers from last season seem to be obsolete or missing. Anybody got other options for watching the match today online?

Man City and Villa can join big four, says Wenger
Reuters
August 6, 2009

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expects big-spending Manchester City and much-improved Aston Villa to turn the Premier League's established big four into a big six this season.

However, the Frenchman warned it will not be easy for City, like Spanish giants Real Madrid, to turn their newly-recruited group of superstars into a balanced team.

"City look like they have made some great signings and have a high-quality squad, but it can take teams three months or more to find the right balance and to click," Wenger, who lost striker Emmanuel Adebayor and defender Kolo Toure to Abu Dhabi-owned City last month," told reporters on Thursday.

"Don't forget that Real Madrid finished second last season and have already a very strong squad - they are not rising from 10th like City will have to. And history is on the side of Real Madrid as well.

"But I think City will be there and be strong and remember that Aston Villa were challenging for the title (last season) until they faded in the last 12 games.

"When I arrived, Newcastle were there, at the top, and then it was Leeds," he said. "So I think the top four is not something that is set forever."

Speaking at the launch of Arsenal's charity partnership with the world-famous Great Ormond Street children's hospital, Wenger maintained he was confident that his team would again challenge for all the major honours.

He also had a slight dig at Arsenal fans who have become restless at a lack of silverware.

Asked what would be an acceptable level of success for the season, he said: "To win the league championship and to win the Champions League - anything else is a disaster - according to our fans!"

Wenger said his team were over-criticised last season for failing to win a trophy and only reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the Champions League, losing to Chelsea and Manchester United respectively.

"I do not think it was a disastrous season," said Wenger whose side finished fourth in the Premier League and will find out on Friday who they must face to qualify for the Champions League group stage. "We had a long unbeaten run, we played our football and we had no blips."

Asked about a comment by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson in which he did not mention Arsenal when talking of title rivals, he said: "Football is not as predictable or scientific as some people think and sometimes people are wrong in what they say."

Wenger is interested in adding one defender and one forward to his squad, at the right price, before the transfer window closes at the end of August.

"Don't forget that most of the business is done between August 26 and 31, at midnight," he said.

Asked if Arsenal were close to completing a deal to re-sign 33-year-old midfielder Patrick Vieira wenger said: "Not at the moment, no."

This story is about another transfer deal SU are involved in, and pissing people off over. Sorry if it's been brought up in one of the many Naughton threads or seems a little OT. But it does indicate that the club are making a habit of this nonsense, whether they're bringing a player in or sending one out. And we thought BK was a bitch to deal with on transfers.

From Sporting Life
BLADES BLASTED OVER McINDOE DEAL

Bristol City manager Gary Johnson has hit out at Sheffield United after a deal to sign Robins winger Michael McIndoe fell through.

The 29-year-old looked certain to join the Blades after the two clubs agreed a fee and McIndoe agreed personal terms, but United have stalled on the deal and the Scotsman has returned to Ashton Gate.

Johnson told the club's official website: "Sheffield United are pleading poverty a little bit and I think they need to bring some finances in.

"Michael feels he's waited long enough. We agreed a fee with them a long time ago, they asked us to wait and Macca to wait until they came back from Malta.

"Macca felt he needed to have an answer, yes or no, and it's a no. It was a bit out of order, in my opinion, keeping us and him waiting. They'd agreed a fee and terms with the players.

"Macca called me and said 'whatever happens now I don't really want to go there'."

God bless every booze-soaked molecule of him.

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-life-features/liverpool-arts/2009/07/10/shane-macgowan-and-the-pogues-look-forward-to-summer-pops-date-92534-24114960/
When I ask him what he thinks will be the best thing in Liverpool in 2009, he answers simply “Everton”.

Liverpool Arts
Shane MacGowan and The Pogues look forward to Summer Pops date

Jul 10 2009 by Jade Wright, Liverpool Daily Post
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SHANE MacGOWAN’S last trip to Liverpool was an eventful one, to say the least.

He was arrested in his dressing room and spent a night in police cells at St Anne's Street after a man claimed he had been hit in the face by a microphone stand MacGowan had allegedly hurled into the audience at his Liverpool University gig.

MacGowan said he hit the concert-goer by mistake. Police searched the venue for the mic stand in question but it had been stolen by a fan, desperate for a souvenir.

Nonetheless, the Everton fan is looking forward to returning here next week to play the Echo Arena Liverpool as part of the Summer Pops, and we can look forward to “Pretty much what we've been doing for the last 26 years,” says Shane. The Pogues were founded in King's Cross, in 1982, as Pogue Mahone. They tried busking, but didn't do well.

But they persisted and succeeded, and over the years Shane has worked with Sinead O'Connor, Christy Moore, Van Morrison, Pink Floyd's Michael Kamen, and, famously, duetted with Kirsty McColl for Fairytale in New York.

Johnny Depp sometimes plays guitar for him, Pete Doherty idolises him and his sublime ode of love lost, Rainy Night In Soho, was covered by superb Irish troubadour Damien Dempsey last year. He can't choose any favourite songs he's written â€" “It all depends on the time of day,” he shrugs. But, he says, if he ended up in a karaoke bar he'd sing “something I'd never heard before. Or something by the Pet Shop Boys.”

I'd pay to see that.

MacGowan doesn’t give much away during our chat. But then the press he's had over the years would make anyone wary of interviews. His lifestyle would make Amy Winehouse wince in disapproval. His has been a life on the very edge.

So what’s the worst thing he's ever read about himself.

“That I'm an arrogant, violent psychopath,” he replies.

His has been an almost Biblical tale of death and disappointment. Yet, despite all his troubles, he finds the poetry in life, weaving daydreams for realists.

When I ask him what he thinks will be the best thing in Liverpool in 2009, he answers simply “Everton”.

But what does he, the man who wrote about the “measure of my dreams” actually dream of? “Immortality. Oh, I see what you mean,” he corrects himself. “I don't, or if I do I don't remember them.”

THE Pogues, supported by Amsterdam, play The Summer Pops at the Echo Arena Liverpool, on July 15.

Crazy times for Timmy back home. Real soap opera. Anybody know exactly what happened here. What fellow Oz player (and his agent) are trying to sabotage Cahill? Who in their right mind would piss off Timmy?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=657770&sec=worldcup2010&cc=5901
Cahill slams ''bitter'' player agents after row
June 28, 2009
Tim Cahill has blamed ''bitter'' player agents for a recent row within the Australia national team.

Speaking to SBS TV, Cahill admitted he was angry with a situation that evolved in the Australian camp during the recent World Cup qualification campaign and said that a player agent, who he did not name, had deliberately tried to tarnish his character.

Everton midfielder Cahill has endured a rollercoaster month in the spotlight, after he helped Australia to qualify for the World Cup, then was involved in a nightclub incident which prompted a media reaction against him before he turned hero again with two goals in Australia's win over Japan at the MCG.

The Everton midfielder would not elaborate further on the claims, only saying that the support he received from people like Mark Schwarzer was very important to him.

Schwarzer publicly backed Cahill and was himself then targeted in a letter to a newspaper apparently written by an anonymous team-mate, criticising both him and Cahill - though some reports suggested the letter was drafted by the agent of the unnamed player.

''It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what's happened in the last couple of weeks,'' he said.

''Obviously there's player agents involved who are very bitter and it's something that's very difficult to explain, because me as a person, you think you can play football and that's all that matters.

''Outside of football, commercially, is one thing you would hope wouldn't affect a team.

''It's one of those issues that definitely will be addressed after this whole camp.

''It's something that's made me angry and something that as a team, when we play we are unbelievable, but outside when it comes to other issues it's a bit sad.

''The best thing I can do is let my football do the talking and that's what I've done for years which is what has brought me to where I am. Some big footballers have come out and supported me and understand the politics behind the scenes with players' agents only, which is sad.

''I do my business on the pitch. It doesn't affect me because it doesn't faze me. It disappoints me, that's all.''

Loved the "Dangerman Cahill" bit. Guess the reporter's seen him out afterhours as well as on the pitch
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=655659&sec=worldcup2010&cc=5901

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=643089&sec=england&root=england&cc=5901

Nice to see Yobo getting some positive recognition. (Could also help drive his price up a bit over the summer.)

Thought Pienaar should have made the squad, too, though.  

Joey Barton got sent off after a bad tackle against Alonso today, and Jon Champion comments, "the Evertonian leaves the pitch in disgrace." Guess the Liverpool fluffer isn't content with the digs he can get in against us during the Everton games he calls.

Well worth watching if you havent' seen it already. Not as many goals as the other first leg CL quarterfinal games (not a bad one in the lot, really, except the second half of Bayern-Barca). But the Gunners and the Yellows flashed some spells of dazzling football. Camera could hardly keep up with all the quick passing at times. Fine stuff, if you like your football stylish. And the goals are fucking tremendous.

Story on the prodigal son vowing to never return home, if he an help it. Even has a badge kissing photo.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=632962&sec=england&cc=5901

Anyone know the best sites for free streams of the World Cup qualifying matches this weekend  and next week? Would be particularly interested in England and Ireland games. Have never tried Iraqgoals for anything other than Everton matches.

ttp://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/02/02/manual_092630.html
Sounds like his deal is done with Arsenal, so there goes any hope of catching them. He's just what they are lacking right now (well, other than a spine).

Damn shame Eveerton didn't swoop for him a year ago when we knew first-hand how good he was ahead of almost everyone else.

Much as I've resigned myself to Everton not having a spare quid to spend and not getting my hopes up, shit like this still feels like a kick in the gut.

According to Sporting Life, the only other teams not to bring in anyone significant during this transfer window are:
Chelsea
Arsenal
The Shite

I'd say we were in "good company" if the Shite weren't on the list. Still, says something about the transfer market, especially January, when those three aren't making any significant moves.

...Joao Moutinho, Josie Mourinho, Jo, Jo Mama, JoJo Starbuck, Bart JoJo Simpson,
Riquelme, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Ronaldo's three favorite hookers
Carlo Nash, Jr,, Lars Jabcobsen Erickson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic,
Vidulka, Dracula, Blackula
Diego, Diego Maradonna, Pele's teenage clone, the George Best Airport,
Gilles Barnes, Gil Gerrad, a Steven Gerrard imitator, Staveros, Keely Hazel
and, of course, Alan Smith.

That should about cover it for the day's rumors....Ah, there will be others.

"Jo about to Join Everton on Loan"
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=614972&sec=transfers&cc=5901

...my bad, didn't realize this was also the subjet of the "SSN" thread.

I like this lad. Works hard, isn't intimidated and seems to have a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

..,.if they're enraging these cunts. They were awful about insisting on taking Pienaar away early in January for their pathetic ACN Tournament. Good to see the club getting them back a bit.
"SAFA Denounces Everton Over Pienaar"
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=593657&sec=england&cc=5901

...and welcome to AJ, Fulham.
Still, given the success of our former players against us, I'd bet a few quid on AJ scoring his first for them against us this weekend.
"Hodgson Asks Fans to Be Patient With New Strike Duo"
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=586862&sec=england&cc=5739

Anybody else see that thunderbolt young Victor just  put into the top corner of the Roma net for Inter? Have seen Inter play a few times this season and don't remember him doing much until this. But Sweet Jesus, it would have been nice to see him scoring that for us at Goodison.

Still can't believe we couldn't get a work permit arranged for him this summer...well, it was Everton in the summer of '08, so I guess it's not so hard to believe.

Anyone know if there's any chance we may yet see him at Everton on loan or is that possibility as dead as our CL ambitions this season.