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Toffees Looking For More Of The Same
By Mark Heys & Steve Jones
August 18 2005
Walking Down The Manny Road recently took some time out to speak to Steve Jones, a lifelong Evertonian who runs the highly successful Blue Kipper website.

Mark: The Champions League is a welcome, yet hectic distraction to Everton's league schedule, do you think it will have a overall bearing on the Toffees season?

Steve: Yes I do. We are hopeful that we will get through to the group stage, but if we don’t, we will play in the Uefa Cup. We have signed Kroldrop and Neville. Both of them said that Everton qualifying for Europe was a big reason for choosing to come to Everton. Getting into the Champions League is a measure of how far the club has come and it will give the players the taste, which hopefully will linger with them for the rest of the season.

Mark: James Beattie was injured in the opening day defeat to Manchester United to add to the absences of Gary Naysmith and Per Kroldrup, is this a good time to bring in the next Rooney or Vaughan to the squad or are you confident that there is enough cover?

Steve: Moyesy has said he is not afraid to bring in James Vaughan (The youngest ever Everton senior player / The youngest ever Everton League goal scorer / The youngest ever Premiership scorer. / The youngest ever Premiership player to score on his debut.) Realistically, Bent and Ferguson, although good players, are not prolific goalscorers. I would be surprised if we don’t sign another striker before the transfer deadline.

Mark: The games against Bolton proved to be very entertaining last season as both results ended 3-2, are you expecting a similar action packed game at the Reebok next week?

Steve: Yes, 3-2 to Everton sounds fine to me.

Mark: What are your opinions on the new faces at Goodison, Is Phil Neville money well spent or could the resources have been used more sparingly?

Steve: Moyesy has tried to sign a few more players, but for whatever reason has failed to sign some he wanted. This season it’s been harder to sign players. Even Bolton, who have a reputation for signing lots of players, haven’t done as well as Big Sam would like. Arteta, Davies, Kroldrop, and Neville are all Internationals. I still think, we will sign another couple of players before the transfer deadline.

Mark: Are you confident that you can repeat the success of last season under David Moyes management?

Steve: Yes without doubt. Moyesy is the best manager in the league. I wouldn’t swap him for even Mourinho. I’d like his transfer money though.

Walking Down The Manny Road would like to thank Steve for giving us this interview. Incidentally Blue Kipper, the site which Steve helps to run is unique in the sense that all of his friends from the match help to muck in on a regular basis. Should any Evertonians not be aware of this site then it is strongly recommended that you take a look at www.bluekipper.com

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