Actim Players Ranking: 271107

Everton players in the Top 100.

Lescott: 14th (208) - Best defender (4/9); Second Best Defender(18/9), (2/10); Third Best Defender (25/9), (30/10), (6/11); Fourth Best Defender (9/10), (23/10); Fifth Best Defender (13/11), (27/11) Best position: 9th
Arteta: 18th (196) - Fifth best midfielder (28/8), (30/10); Best position: 8th
Howard: 57th (154) - Fifth best goalie (28/8); Third best goalie (4/9); Best position: 42nd
Yakubu: 66th (146); Best position: 66th
Neville: 84th (135) - Best position: 53rd
Pienaar: 85th (135) - Best position: 85th
Yobo: 94th (124) - Best position: 84th

Those who have previously made it to the top 100.

AJ: 96th (90) - Fifth best striker (4/9); Best position: 22nd
Hibbo: 100th (89) - Fourth best defender (14/8); Best position: 19th
Stubbsy: Nil - 80th (78) - Fifth best defender (21/8), (28/8); Best position: 18th
Ossie: Nil - 89th (66) - Fifth best midfielder (14/8); Best position: 9th
Anichebe: Nil - 84th (52) - Third best striker (14/8); Best position: 5th
Cars: Nil - Best position: 87th (39)

EVERTON vs SUNDERLAND - FULL TIME

Everton is in seven heaven!

The Toffees made their intentions known when Timmy and even Valente had shots on goal in the first 10 minutes of the game. Also, Neville looked lively on the right flank.

In the 11th minute, straight from Howard's goal kick, the Sunderland's defender allowed the ball to bounce. Yaks picked up the ball and cooly slotted the ball, albeit a deflection, into the net. Everton 1-0 Sunderland.

Wonder wonder goal by Timmy! Arteta gave the opponent's defence lots to think about. From the nicely weighted pass by Yaks, Arteta took the ball to the right flank, cut the ball back, and slide it to Neville, who then chipped the ball into the penalty area. Timmy controlled the ball and did a grounder sissors kick that saw the ball bulge Sunderland's net. 2-0!

Everton came close with the third goal with a glancing header. Arteta once again showing his class on the right side of the field.

Whenever a Sunderland player gets the ball in the final third of the field, two or three Everton would go in to harass the player, never letting him settle.

Sweet move that led to a wonderful goal. In the 42nd minute, Everton swept upfield through Pienaar. He played the ball to the overlapping Valente and the latter gladly slide the ball into the penalty area which Pienaar took over and displaced the ball nicely into the top right hand corner of the opponent's goal. 3-0!

But kudos to the Sunderland players, they took the fight to Everton and just before half time, pulled a goal back through ever-green Dwight Yorke. 3-1. Something that Moyes have to think about in the dressing room.

Sunderland removed two of their more influential players - Yorke and Etuhu. Wonder why Keano did that.

Everton started a little on their back feet. But Timmy helped change the scene.

From a straight ball from the middle, Yobo's punt saw it reaching Timmy who took it pass the last defender and slotted the ball into the net. 4-1. I was a happy camper as I hade predicted 4-1. But the goals actually continued to flow. Not that I'm unhappy about it. Far from it.

Pienaar and Ossie were creating much havoc on the right side of the field, and through this combination, the ball moved around in the penalty area and Yaks did them a favour by rotating his body and smashing the ball into the net. 5-1. The party has really started.

And we have six! AJ just back from injury sprinted towards the goal after Neville's clearance. Leaving the last man in his shadow, he then placed the ball pass the Sunderland's goalie. Incredible 6-1.

Sunderland was annihilated! Ossie got the ball just after the centre line, and he brought the ball all the way to the opposing penalty area where he put it into the net. What magnificant play. Sunderland's defence was totally napping throughout the 90 minutes of play. 7-1.

That's it. A total thrashing for Sunderland. And on the stands, we still had Faddie, Vaughany, Baines, Hibbo, Stubbsy, Tommy who were not even on the substitutes' list.

Score: Everton 7-1 Sunderland
Scorer: Yaks (2), Timmy (2), Pienaar, AJ, Ossie
Assist: Howard, Neville (2), Valente, Yobo, Ossie

EVERTON vs SUNDERLAND - Preview

Everton's playing at home, and with Sunderland visiting, we should beat them hands-down. Somehow, the critics expect it to be a draw because Keano is the manager. But I really don't see it happening.

Moyes has a full squad to choose from. Arteta is back, while AJ is all ready to bang in the goals.
There are just too many hungry players who want to show why they should be chosen. Thrashing I gather.

Predictor: Everton 4-1 Sunderland

Fast Rising Star - Joleon Lescott

From a Championship League defender to Everton's fast rising star, to now a full England national. If he was in the stock market, Joleon Lescott's shares would have risen from a small company to an international reknowned mega company.

He played for England once again in a useless friendly against Austria, and looks set to start in next week's match against Croatia next week.

Actim Players Ranking: 131107

Everton players in the Top 100.

Lescott: 16th (186) - Best defender (4/9); Second Best Defender(18/9), (2/10); Third Best Defender (25/9), (30/10), (6/11); Fourth Best Defender (9/10), (23/10); Fifth Best Defender (13/11) Best position: 9th
Arteta: 17th (185) - Fifth best midfielder (28/8), (30/10); Best position: 8th
Howard: 71st (134) - Fifth best goalie (28/8); Third best goalie (4/9); Best position: 42nd
Yakubu: 94th (111); Best position: 89th

Those who have previously made it to the top 100
AJ: 96th (90) - Fifth best striker (4/9); Best position: 22nd
Hibbo: 100th (89) - Fourth best defender (14/8); Best position: 19th
Neville: Nil - 97th (82) - Best position: 53rd
Stubbsy: Nil - 80th (78) - Fifth best defender (21/8), (28/8); Best position: 18th
Ossie: Nil - 89th (66) - Fifth best midfielder (14/8); Best position: 9th
Anichebe: Nil - 84th (52) - Third best striker (14/8); Best position: 5th
Cars: Nil - Best position: 87th (39)Yobo: Nil - Best position: 84th

CHELSEA vs EVERTON - FULL TIME

What will happen without Everton's talisman, Arteta? 10 minutes into play and Everton were still holding up well, soaking in the pressure while pushing up twice through their counter attacks.

Pienaar had the opportunity to put Everton one up but missed the ball as he tried to execute a first-timer.

20 minutes and it's still 0-0. Somehow without Arteta, time moved alot slower and Everton seemed to be suffering from the Stamford Bridge onslaught! It seems like the only time Everton could get a breather from Chelsea's wave of attacks was with the injury of Carvalho.

Everton somehow struggled to keep Chelsea at bay, and they needed Howard to save the day for his club. While his opposite number has been a mere passenger at the back. The difference in class is telling and Chelsea has been asking the question.

Everton was let off the hook when Drogba miss a total sitter. Half Time, 0-0. Barely alive and Everton did not even have a shot on goal. Worrying.

Moyes made the change. Neville was taken out and replaced by Faddie. The former was not doing well at all for this game. Also, Yakubu has been taken out in favour of Anichebe.

Another 45 minutes of worry!

Anichebe is holding the ball well to give Chelsea a few moments of concern. 10 minutes of the second half gone. I don't believe I'm counting by the second!

Cleared off the line by Hibbo!!! The pressure was incessant! 20 minutes has past.

Finally Chelsea scored. 1-0. Somehow, a team with talented players seemed to be able to create alot more space for themselves but somehow Chelsea seemed to be seating back and allowing Everton more space to launch their attack. In came Everton's third substitution - Tommy for Cars. The Toffees are fighting back and...

LOVELY, LOVELY GOAL!!!!!!!! Faddie cut in from the right, and he did the right thing by trying from distance. Faddie showed us so many times that he can score from outside the six yard box. But, this time, the ball bobbled into the penalty area and the Chelsea defender tried to clear the ball while Timmy was with him. The ball bounced up, and Timmy whipped the ball into the net with a tremendous bicycle kick!

Chelsea 1-1 Everton! AMAZING! What a late late goal in the 89th minute!!!

Undefeated in six matches! A team that fought without fear! Welcome to a new look Everton.

Score: Chelsea 1-1 Everton
Scorer: Timmy (And what a lovely goal! Enough of the exclamation already!!!)
Assist: Faddie
Subs: Anichebe. Faddie, Tommy

CHELSEA vs EVERTON - Preview

Ok, Chelsea has a group of individually-gifted players. They are also usually the top 4 team in the premier league. What's more Everton is playing them on their home ground. So what is expected of Everton in this match? A loss or a major thrashing? On the contrary.

Everton is no longer the boo-boo boys of the past. Neither do we play much long ball, as Benitez had claimed we do. Everton has flair players in the centre of the park - Arteta and Pienaar. We have Timmy in the form of an attacking midfielder, and "Fatty" who really do need to lose a bit of weight before he can carry himself through the 90 minutes.

So if ever there's a time for Everton to get their sixth win, it's now.

Predictor: Chelsea 2-3 Everton

NURNBERG vs EVERTON - FULL TIME

Playing away was never easy. Moyes knew it, and Everon left it late before they scored two goals. It was not all one-way street and the German club gave as good as they got. But it was Anichebe the substitute who came in to make that difference.

Anichebe was through on goal when he washauled down by the German defence. Arteta came forward and made the penalty count. 1-0. Not to be denied, Anichebe made the next goal his when he calmly slotted the ball pass the keeper. 2-0.

A 100% winning streak for Everton who just needs to win the next home match to go through to the next round.

Score: Nurnberg 0-2 Everton
Scorer: Arteta; Anichebe
Assist: Nil
Subs: Anichebe, Jag, Hibbo

Check out the goals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8gERo84Fec

Actim Players Ranking: 061107

Everton players in the Top 100.

Arteta: 10th (185) - Fifth best midfielder (28/8), (30/10); Best position: 8th
Lescott: 12th (176) - Best defender (4/9); Second Best Defender (18/9), (2/10); Third Best Defender (25/9), (30/10), (6/11); Fourth Best defender (9/10), (23/10); Best position: 9th
Howard: 68th (125) - Fifth best goalie (28/8); Third best goalie (4/9); Best position: 42nd
Yakubu: 89th (108); Best position: 89th

Those who have previously made it to the top 100

AJ: 96th (90) - Fifth best striker (4/9); Best position: 22nd
Hibbo: 100th (89) - Fourth best defender (14/8); Best position: 19th
Neville: Nil - 97th (82) - Best position: 53rd
Stubbsy: Nil - 80th (78) - Fifth best defender (21/8), (28/8); Best position: 18th
Ossie: Nil - 89th (66) - Fifth best midfielder (14/8); Best position: 9thA
nichebe: Nil - 84th (52) - Third best striker (14/8); Best position: 5th
Cars: Nil - Best position: 87th (39)Yobo: Nil - Best position: 84th

EVERTON vs BIRMINGHAM - FULL TIME

Everton played the 4-1-4-1 formation and they started by pumping high balls for Yaks to lay off to other team members or just to terrorise the defenders.

Pienaar has been wonderful on the left wing. It was his low cross that Everton nearly got the first goal through Yaks. It's good to see that the Toffees players are fighting for every ball. It was through Arteta's through pass to Pienaar who slided the ball from the right for Yaks to slot the ball coolly into the opponent's net. Everton 1-0 Birmingham.

Timmy also showed why we missed him with his midfield tackle that gave Everton the extra needed bite. Stubbsy somehow had an injury problem and was replaced by Jag. Everton continued to attack and Yaks nearly got the second with a mistake by the opposing defender which allowed Yaks to go through on goal. But he was aptly stopped by Birmingham's goalkeeper. Timmy, Yaks and even Cars were giving the opposing defence a horrid time everytime they marauded up field.

Pienaar did really well on the left. He was running after every ball. Who needs VdM now? Half-time: Everton 1-0 Birmingham.

Everton started the second half rather flatly with Birmingham piling pressure on the Toffees. But after 10 minutes, Everton started to have a stranglehold of the game. But the sucker punch came with Birmingham equalising. Once you do not kill the game with a second goal, this happens. Everton 1-1 Birmingham.

Moyes had to ring in the changes. In came Vaughany and Tommy in place of Ossie and Pienaar.

Goodison erupts! Cars scored an injury time stunner! And soon after, Cars pumped the ball upfield and straight away, Vaughany scores! It ends Everton 3-1 Birmingham

Score: Everton 3-1 Birmingham
Scorer: Yaks, Cars, Vaughany
Assist: Pienaar, Cars
Subs: Jag, Vaughany, Tommy

EVERTON vs BIRMINGHAM - Preview

Everton is on fire and they now host Birmingham at Goodison. Timmy is banging in goals, Tommy is taking a mickey out of every opponent. Everton just have to win this match to keep pace of the top 6, and there is no better time than now.

This may be the time for Yakubu to show the world why is he such a maligned figure.

Predictor: Everton 3-1 Birmingham

Carling Cup: LUTON vs EVERTON - FULL TIME

So we see the importance of Timmy once again as he lashed in the winner during extra time. Somehow the Toffees could not break down. Somehow when Arteta is not playing, the team seems to stop to tick. But thank goodness for the late entrance of Timmy to change the facade of the game.

This is great as Everton rakes in their third win consecutively.

Score: Luton 0-1 Everton
Scorer: Timmy
Assist: Stubbsy
Subs: Vaughany, Timmy, Tommy