Rumors still abound this fine Fathers' Day morning about where David Moyes will be plying his trade this autumn. Amidst reports that Moyes has had no official contact from Spurs as yet comes another stating that Moyes will be offered a new 3-year contract by Everton.
We look at the prospects of the various Everton players at the European Championship which is now in the last round of group play where the field gets reduced by half. We also take a look at some transfer market tidbits (it is the football offseason after all).
To round off your Sunday, some news of Everton's dreaded offseason bootcamp.. a happy Fathers' Day to you all!
- Moyes: No Contact With Tottenham, Yet
David Moyes told BBC Sport in a quick interview on Saturday that he has not had any approaches from Tottenham and is happy to stay at Everton. Tottenham president Daniel Levy is out of the country and will return Monday, and the search is expected to ramp up after that. Ex-Chelsea coach Andre Villas Boas is the bookies' odds-on favorite with Moyes, French national team boss Laurent Blanc, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, recent Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola and seasoned managers Fabio Capello and Rafa Benitez also on the list.
Here are some quotes from Moyes yesterday:
"I hope to meet all my ambitions at Everton but you never know in this game, I've had no contact."
"I'm ambitious and I want to try to win things and ideally I want to do that with Everton. We brought in two or three players in January and you could see the difference it made to the club, so we want to try and do that again."
"I told my chairman four weeks ago [that money was needed to compete] so for me my concentration is on getting Everton ready for the start of the season, and hopefully getting off to a better one than we've had in recent years."
"I've always been loyal and I will continue to be loyal to Everton - as long as they want me, I'm happy there."
- Moyes Poised To Sign New Contract, At Everton
Meanwhile the Sunday Express is reporting that Bill Kenwright is ready to shell out the big bucks to keep Moyes at Goodison. Without naming their sources, they state that Moyes is contemplating a lucrative new 3-year contract being put on the table.
- John Heitinga's Dutch Team Facing Early Exit
With two losses in two games, the Netherlands are all but out of the tourney. No team has previously made it to the knockout round after losing both their first two games. However, a particular set of results could keep them in: a combination of Netherlands beating Portugal and Germany beating Denmark to make up a difference of three goals could send the Dutch through as runners-up in Group B, which plays today. Heitinga's partnership in the middle with Joris Mathijsen looked suspect against Germany and will be under intense pressure again today from the quick and skilful Portuguese.
- Nikica Jelavic Misses Training Session
Everton striker Jelavic has continued his hot streak into the Euros, but missed a day of training in order to take a break after complaining of a high fever. After giving Premiership defenders fits and starts since moving south from Glasgow in January, Jelavic continued his impressive form haranguing first the Irish then the Italian defences in Croatia's first two games. Croatia sit in second place in Group C, and take on defending Euro & World Champions Spain on Monday for first place in the group.
- Everton Keeping Tabs on Euro Surprise Mario Mandzukic
Everton are scouting want-away Wolfsburg striker Mandzukic at the Euros, and hope to reassemble the deadly partnership he has formed up front for the Croatian national side with Jelavic at Goodison Park. The Toffees first had him on their radar two years ago when Steve McLaren signed him up from DInamo Zagreb. With an expected £7million pricetag, Everton could be looking to sell first in order to sign Mandzukic as well as Steven Pienaar, who should command a similar price.
- Stoke City Snap Up Michael Owen
Stoke City looks to have won the race against Everton to sign veteran striker Owen, who was widely expected to leave Manchester United this summer. Reports say that Owen expressed his preference for Stoke over the Toffees.
- Everton Chasing Norwegian Striker Bjorn Sigurdarson
The 21-yr old striker plays for Lillestrom in Norway and is being pursued by Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are seeking a quick return to Premiership football.
- Everton Have Made Contact With Stephen Ward
Could this be it for Leighton Baines? Reports are emerging that Everton have talked to Ireland international left back Stephen Ward who is currently playing at the Euros. With Wolves having been relegated it is expected that Ward will be leaving.
- Interview With First Team Trainer Jimmy Lumsden
Lumsden is a great admirer of Moyes' offseason training methods, which he feels can be hellish but do pay off when it hits crunchtime in a game. The mental training is an important aspect of the game and Moyes steely-eyed stare should be enough to get the players going.
Greg O'Keeffe said it best - "Think special forces commando bootcamp, mixed with a boxer’s pre-fight training regime, and you’re close to the back-breaking, leg-wearying, vomit-inducing slog that Everton’s players endure each summer to ensure they are among the fittest in the league."
Lumsden also made some observations about the Premiership and squad depth in general:
“If you haven’t got it you can’t spend it. I don’t know the answer. So sure it would be nice if you were sitting there with £30m and deciding how to spend it. But we have got to get on with it."
“Personally I feel it was better when seven or eight teams could win the league, but it’s changed and it’s not just here. Look at Spain where only two can win. It’s usually the same teams getting into the Champions League."
“Nevertheless we can still match these teams in games. It’s down to fitness and the way the gaffer keeps on top of the players right throughout the season. Those training sessions are tough; he allows them to get away with nothing. He never accepts anything but their best.”