Black, Blue and Scottish

Last updated : 15 September 2003 By Sean Graham

So the internationals have come and gone and what a week it was for all home countries. On the Saturday the Scots(my lot),scored three goals against those Faroe Islands and only lost one, which meant they were heading to Germany full of confidence and with a young man who had just found a new club and the back of the net for his country for his first goal that man is of course James McFadden. Young James must have been on a high when he signed for Everton on transfer deadline day along with Nigel, Franny and Kevin and before I go on may I wish him and them all the very best with his club along with all the other new guys, I sincerely hope that with some new additions to the club that we can get up the table and stay there ! Back to the Internationals, briefly! Yes James is on a high then things can only get better for the young man, he is told that he is starting against Germany!

In fact up until Neil McCann scored for Scotland in the second half, James had one of Scotland's only chances when he fired straight at Oliver Khan from distance. But he was not given much support and was subbed after a not too bad performance. But the country and the Everton faithful must be patient with this young man much like Wayne in a sense. Anyone who has seen James will know that he has talent, bags of it, skill, bags of that too, confidence, loads! But he also has a short fuse, but then there is nothing wrong with that I hear you cry, we all have one ! I have just watched the highlights on Sky of the Everton v Newcastle match and I have seen some strange bookings, none stranger than that of big Dunc! He was only showing the ref how he has to use his arms to get up for a high ball when suddenly a yellow card appears in his face ! It was a disgrace!

But at least the big man had the bottle to take the penalty after all the nonsense that went on around him during the match and all the speculation about a loan move to Ipswich the day before ! Well done big Dunc! As I was saying I could just see young James being on the receiving end of a rash tackle and getting up and reacting, I don't want him to fall foul of the refs down south he had a bad enough time up here with some of them ! I think Moysie will bring him on, as he did with young Wayne gradually and then the Everton fans will see the best of James McFadden. Speaking of Wayne, it was great to see him become the youngest ever player to score for England, even me as a Scot cheered when he scored ! Not content with scoring once for England he did it again on Wednesday, well done young man but don't use all your goals up for your country save some for Everton !

Nice to see that Wales and the Republic also still have a chance of qualifying albeit it may have to be through a play-off, but shame about Northern Ireland they have not had a chance at all with no one scoring the goals for them, get Gerry Armstrong back, I am sure that he only works on a day when Beck's is playing ! It seems like a life time since I last wrote but I have been writing my columns but I think that there has been a problem with the internet thus meaning that a lot of my stuff has not been getting through I mean it is not as if I am sending anything Blue on the net......well I confess I am and they play at Goodison, that is the only Blue that I am interested in !Speaking of Blue I will be sending my membership away to A Blue this week now that Mark Johnston has been good to me once again ! I am looking forward to seeing the Rapid Vienna match again and reading about the Blues after it ! I am looking forward to seeing my pals again this weekend, I think it is great when I get a chance to talk to them or read the programme and things they send me about Everton, you don't get a lot up here about the Blues which surprises me as the club does have and always has a big Scottish connection ! Something for Sharpy to look at there I think ! It was good to see that the club got at least a point on Saturday v Newcastle, after the Derby match from hell it was nice to see that the club are picking up points again as well as injuries ! I hope young Wayne will be fit enough for next weeks match with Boro,they will be going all out for the three points after losing to Bolton at the weekend so it will be a hard match ! Before I sign off I would like to say a couple of things.

1) Good Luck to Niclas Alexandersson in his time at West Ham, hope everything goes well for you and the Hammers keep on winning, but keep out of Christian f..ing Dailly's way and don't dive ! 2)Thanks to Bill Kenwright and the board for backing David Moyes on all the dealings on deadline day, I think the Manager appreciated it and it put to bed all those stupid quit stories that we were reading in the press if no one was brought in. Moysie is happy with the players that the club have brought in and so am I ! 3)Good Luck to all the British sides in Europe this week especially if you play in green and white or red and black,you know who you are ! 4)Last but not least, Happy Birthday Dad birthd ay next Monday so hopefully you have a good weekend and I might buy you a pint if you are unlucky enough to see me !We have all been suffering with the cold in our family but that didn't stop Tracey teaching Catherine to be the new Jane Torvill at Braehead, I didn't fancy wearing the tights this weekend ! Best Wishes to all at Everton and fans all around the World ! Andrew and Tommy's have a safe Journey to Jockland !!!

James McFadden Profile

James McFadden
Position Midfield can play as striker
Born Glasgow
DOB 14/4/83
Height 5 10
1.78
Weight 11st 1(lb)
70.5
Signed from Motherwell Youth

James was described as the " main man " of the Motherwell team before the club signed him. Came through the ranks at Fir Park to become not only a first team regular but forced his way on to the International scene at the age of 20. Made his Motherwell debut v Dundee on Boxing Day 2000 in a 3-0 defeat. Scored 10 times in 25 matches for the Fir Park club that season. When on tour with Scotland touring Asia but missing the plane home leaving some wondering was he ever going to make it on the International front ? Appeared as a sub during match v South Africa-first Motherwell to do so since mid 90's. In his first full season as a Motherwell player he scored 19 League and Cup goals including goals v the Old Firm and a great curler v Rangers in a Scottish Cup semi-final. James has scored many types of goal. Headers, Free-kicks, mazy runs and lain old tap ins. He has scored quite a few memorable goals in his spell at Fir Park maybe none more so than against Dundee beating 3 players and curling a shot into the top corner of the net, a great run v Livingston with a low shot after running from inside his own half and maybe the two goals he left the club with v Partick Thisle, James is one for the future but he may also be one for the present ! He just scored his first goal for his country in a 3-1 win over the Faroe's. Let's hope that we see more of the same thing in a Blue shirt at Goodison Park !!