Tonight I am fully aware I equal Harry Catterick’s record of most matches as Everton manager. I am incredibly thrilled and honoured to have been given the opportunity to manage this football club in so many matches and for so many years. Seeing my name alongside Harry Catterick’s is hugely humbling and I hope I can continue to add to that figure. What I really hope, though, is that I can bring trophies to the Club like Harry Catterick did in his period as Everton manager.
After tonight we head into another international break. Thankfully, for most people, the break is not as long as the last one, and on our return all clubs will face a really packed period of football leading up to Christmas and the new year. Hopefully all of our international players who are away on duty will return fit and well.
It is important we keep our squad strong and fit, with all of our players ready to perform when required to the standard we all want for Everton, as they have showed in the past few games.
It is important for us that we continue to try to show improvement week on week.
Tonight we welcome some ex-Evertonians and a former Everton manager back to the Club and I am sure they will get a good reception from you supporters.
Frank Lampard has done a great job in lifting Coventry out of the Championship and into the Premier League and we have no doubts tonight will be another competitive game.
One of the more pleasing aspects of being a manager is when you see players go on to have good careers, when it can’t always be at the club where they started, and we have a few former players in the Coventry squad who I am sure you will all warmly welcome back.
The performances of our own players in recent games has been excellent and you supporters have picked up on that. The effort they have put into getting those back-to-back results has been clearly noticeable on the field and you have responded.
Your support in the cup game was magnificent, as it was on Monday at Newcastle, and we will need every one of you again tonight to help us along, to give us that extra boost of energy and be the extra man when required.
Enjoy the game.
David