Royal Blue

The Royal Blue podcast returned from home this week to discuss the Everton intrasquad friendly played behind closed doors at Goodison Park on Saturday. Anthony Gordon caught the eye with a goal - further strengthening his chances of being involved in the squad to face Liverpool - while Cuco Martina operated as a makeshift centre-back with Yerry Mina out injured. Host Sam Carroll asked Adam Jones and Dave Prentice their thoughts on Gordon, Martina and a host of other topics, including how a young player would react to being included for a Merseyside Derby played in front of a select crowd. With the podcast to return later in the week to look ahead to the visit of Liverpool, Luke Garbutt - who will leave this summer - and young goalkeeper Joao Virginia are also discussed. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's bumper edition of the Royal Blue podcast we discuss everything from commercial deals to selling Morgan Schneiderlin. Host Phil Kirkbride is joined by Dave Prentice, Sam Carroll and Gav Buckland to talk through the major talking points coming out of Goodison this week. We start by assessing the club's new shirt sponsorship deal with Cazoo and the merits of ending the agreement with SportPesa before moving onto the news that players, board members and other key staff have taken wage cuts and deferrals - plus a generous donation from fans that was matched by Farhad Moshiri and Bill Kenwright. Goodison was given the go-ahead to host next weekend's Merseyside derby and we talk about how players will deal with no fans inside the ground and how Everton can overcome the challenges of making the stadium bio-secure. Carlo Ancelotti's preparations for the game have been dealt a blow this week with the news that Theo Walcott has been ruled out and Andre Gomes and Fabian Delph are concerns. The panel discuss wh

The Premier League have this week voted in favour of allowing teams to use five subs when the season resumes - but which Everton player will benefit the most? We ask that question and many more on the latest edition of the Royal Blue podcast. Host Phil Kirkbride is joined by Sam Carroll and Gavin Buckland to discuss the use of five subs and if Carlo Ancelotti could use the final nine games of the campaign to experiment with the team. The panel discuss the Merseyside derby and argue that for the 'integrity' of the competition, the game has to take place at Goodison and not at a neutral venue. And what is the mood among Evertonians about the season resuming? The lads debate that as well as the prospect of the club selling young striker Fraser Hornby. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everton were finally dealt a slice of good news on Wednesday as Leighton Baines was offered a new one-year contract at Goodison Park. The iconic defender has been brilliant when stepping into the side this term so this might not have come as a surprise, but it's certainly a welcome boost to supporters. This is, of course, after another injury was confirmed recently, with Yerry Mina picking up a thigh issue in training. Phil Kirkbride is joined by Dave Prentice, Adam Jones and Sam Carroll to discuss Everton's brilliant position at left-back - compared to the potential issues in central defence. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unfortunately, just as it seemed Jean-Philippe Gbamin might play a part for Everton this season, the opportunity has once again been taken away. The midfielder has suffered another serious injury which will keep him on the sidelines for the long term as his back luck at Goodison Park continues. Phil Kirkbride is joined by Adam Jones and Sam Carroll to discuss that situation and where that leaves both the player and the club in the long run. Also on the agenda is the potential of a Merseyside derby being played both behind-closed-doors and at a neutral venue - which causes a very interesting debate. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everton are facing up to a new transfer reality because of the coronavirus crisis. Planned spending looks as though it will have to be reined in and frees, loans and swaps could dominate the market when it opens. And on today's podcast, host Phil Kirkbride asks Sam Carroll and Adam Jones how confident they are that the Blues can still find the right players to improve the squad. We also look at a developing trend in the Bundesliga where there have only been three home wins in 22 matches, since the league resumed. So how concerned are the lads about the potential impact Everton could feel when games at Goodison are played behind closed doors, too? And in the final part of today's podcast, we assess the comments from Jean-Philippe Gbamin as he sets a target of playing again this season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we tackle your questions on the Royal Blue podcast. Listeners put a whole host of topics on the table for host Phil Kirkbride, Adam Jones and Sam Carroll to get their teeth stuck into. There were questions on the new kit deal with Hummel, future shirt sponsorship deals and potential pre-season tours of the US. The four key areas for Everton to target in the next transfer window, a question about the suitability of Adrien Rabiot and the future of Jonjoe Kenny. We had questions about a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, FFP, Ancelotti's system and potential rule changes. Sit back, relax and enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's all about the past, present and future on today's Royal Blue podcast. On the anniversary of Everton's 1995 FA Cup win, we ask why supporters are conflicted by the date and the panel discuss what has got to happen to bring silverware back to Goodison. Host Phil Kirkbride opens the podcast by talking about the day's breaking news, that Everton have struck a club-record kit deal with hummel to supply the club ahead of next season. Dave Prentice, Adam Jones and Sam Carroll shares their hopes for what the new deal could bring. And the third element of today's podcast, sees the lads talk through the latest developments in Project Restart, the league-wide testing, a return to training and the prospect of behind closed doors games. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Royal Blue Podcast returns - from home - to discuss the latest talking points surrounding Everton and the return of Premier League football. Host Sam Carroll is joined by Adam Jones and Dave Prentice as the trio dissect European Cup Winners' Cup glory, the latest government comments about the Premier League and talented prospects coming through the ranks at Goodison Park. Everton lifted the Cup Winners' Cup 35 years ago on Friday and Prentice delivers his memories of the victory over Rapid Vienna while Jones is encouraged by the willingness of current players to get behind the Howard's Way documentary film. A statement made by culture secretary Oliver Dowden about the Premier League returning in June is pondered while the podcast also discusses which partnership from different eras of modern Everton history they would like to have seen turning out together. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government has given the Premier League the green light to restart the season in June but the big question that kicks off this latest episode of the Royal Blue podcast is: should we be even talking about playing football again? Host Phil Kirkbride, Adam Jones and Chris Beesley also discuss the issues of playing out the campaign at neutral venues, and what will happen if or, in more likelihood, when a player gets tested positive for coronavirus once the action resumes. And what should Everton do about Oumar Niasse, Cuco Martina and Martin Stekelenburg, whose current contracts will expire before the season ends? And should the Blues wrap up a deal for the on-loan Djibril Sidibé? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The second part of our 1990s special begins with the appointment of Joe Royle as Everton manager. His impact was immediate, and lasting, as he kept the Blues up and then won the FA Cup. Everton would just miss out on qualifying for Europe the following season as a revamped squad, with Andrei Kanchelskis scoring 16 times in the league, looking like they would revive the club's fortunes. But the 1990s would prove a troublesome decade for the club and as the team's form dipped, a meeting between Royle and owner Peter Johnson would set about more dramatic change. Host Phil Kirkbride is, once again, joined by Dave Prentice and Gav Buckland to discuss the second-half of the decade which saw Kendall's second comeback, another last day survival job and the arrival of Walter Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our latest Royal Blue podcast special sees us tackle the 1990s at Everton. In part one of our look at the decade, host Phil Kirkbride is joined by Dave Prentice and Gav Buckland to look at the birth of a new decade, right up until the sacking of Mike Walker. As with our 80s specials, Prentice and Buckland provide wonderful insight, commentary and knowledge about a turbulent period of the Blues' history. This first part of the 90s would, eventually, pave the way for Joe Royle to lead the club to 1995 FA Cup success, but before that came hirings, firings and a survival battle on the final day of the season. With tales of signings that didn't happen, tales from the press box and more, this podcast is the first of two parts on Everton in the 90s. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Royal Blue Podcast returns on lockdown to discuss the fall of Marco Silva at Everton and the loss of Idrissa Gana Gueye as well as the next steps for Jean-Philippe Gbamin. Host Phil Kirkbride is joined by Adam Jones, Dave Prentice and Sam Carroll as they reflect on the one-year anniversary of the 4-0 victory over Manchester United at Goodison Park. The win is hailed as the high-point of Silva's short tenure and the panel assess whether the transfer of Gueye to Paris Saint Germain hindered Everton more than initially expected. Gbamin and his return to action is also on the agenda as well as assessing the performances of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as he faces scrutiny over his position as number one for club and country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everton legend Graeme Sharp’s call for the Premier League to be scrapped is one of the big talking points of the Royal Blue podcast. Adam Jones, Dave Prentice and Chris Beesley also discuss the future of Gylfi Sigurdsson with reports suggesting the Blues will have to take a huge loss if they choose to sell the Icelandic midfielder. And also on the agenda is two famous FA Cup semi-finals that took place on this day in years gone by – one we’re quite happy never to talk about again, and the other we’ll never stop talking about. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A special Royal Blue podcast as we also get the view from across the park on furloughing staff, players’ wage cuts, the prospect of behind-closed-doors football, and changes to the transfer market. Days before Everton were set to welcome Liverpool to Goodison Park, the Premier League was shut down, which it continues to be. So, to replace the derby that never was, Royal Blue regulars Phil Kirkbride and Adam Jones are joined by Paul Gorst and Joe Rimmer of the Liverpool ECHO’s Blood Red: Liverpool FC podcast for a Merseyside take on the big issues surrounding our clubs and football worldwide.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everton's 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the 1995 FA Cup semi-final is regarded as one of the Blues' greatest-ever displays - particularly in a big game - and the best performance of Joe Roye's tenure as manager. April 9, 2020 is the 25th anniversary of the match at Elland Road and in a Royal Blue podcast special, Chris Beesley speaks to Matt Jackson - scorer of the opening goal that afternoon. The former Blues right-back discusses why he believes his side enjoyed a psychological advantage before a ball was even kicked, his header from Andy Hinchcliffe's corner kick, the mystery behind super super Daniel Amokachi's introduction into the game and the delight of 'The Dogs of War' at denying the so-called 'Dream Final' between Spurs and the previous season's double winners, Manchester United. Jackson also offers his opinion on the current Everton side under Carlo Ancelotti and what he really thought about his old team-mate Duncan Ferguson going into management. For information regarding your data privacy

This is the second part of our special look at Everton in the 1980s. In part one, we looked at the years that came before Howard Kendall's side won league titles, European honours and domestic cups - and how a relegation fight at the start of the decade would ultimately lead to success. In part two, we look at how a changing Everton tried to live up to the expectations and standards set by that great team of Kendall's, after the manager left for Bibao. Host Phil Kirkbride is, again, joined by Dave Prentice and Gavin Buckland to talk us through the first two-and-a-half seasons of Colin Harvey's reign, the players from the title-winning era, the new ones, a British record signing and much more. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Still no football to speak of so this week we are going to do some short-term reminiscing. Thursday December 5th 2019 was the day Marco Silva’s tenure at Everton Football Club came to an end. That after the final straw of a humiliating 5-2 derby defeat to Liverpool. We all know what happened after that with the short-term appointment of Duncan Ferguson and the then permanent appointment of Carlo Ancelotti. But we are hear this week to discuss and debate on Marco Silva and where it all went wrong. This week’s podcast includes, Ian Croll, Rob Astell and Graham Callaghan. Enjoy!  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the first of a two-part podcast special on Everton in the 1980s.But here we focus not on the great Howard Kendall side that won league titles, lifted a European trophy and won an FA Cup, but on the years before and after that.Host Phil Kirkbride is joined by Dave Prentice and Gav Buckland to talk about Everton entering the new decade and how they began to lay the foundations to build one of the finest sides Goodison has ever seen.From Gordon Lee, his sacking, important signings, the appointment of Kendall and much, much more, the Royal Blue podcast talks through the first part of Everton in the 80s. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Royal Blue Podcast returns - in lockdown - to discuss when the Premier League could return from the current hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.From their respective homes, host Phil Kirkbride is joined by David Prentice, Adam Jones and Sam Carroll as the suspension of the campaign is mulled over following reports action could return in a TV 'mega event' to boost morale and complete the season.Kirkbride also asks his guests about players who failed to fulfil their potential at Goodison Park as names such as Kevin Mirallas, Gerard Deulofeu, Luke Garbutt and Jack Rodwell are mentioned.The Royal Blue Podcast will return later this week and you can send your own questions to the panel on Twitter via @SamCarroll0 or by joining the Royal Blue Podcast group on Facebook. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices