Everton midfielder Leon Osman has signed a new 2 year deal at the club.

As reported on NSNO last week, Osman has signed a deal which will effectively see him end his playing days with the Blues, after first signing pro terms at Goodison in 2001.

After over 300 appearances for the Blues, Osman has scored 50 goals, and earned his first England caps this season – the delay being something of a mystery to many in the game.

Once described by Joe Cole as the most technically gifted young midfielder in England (they player together at England youth level) Osman has grown into a key part of Everton’s sides over the past decade, helping qualify for Europe more than once, and appearing at Wembley three times.

Alan Ball Remembered is a new DVD created to remember the “greatest of the all”, Alan Ball.

It has been produced by Health Through Sport, a charity set up by another Everton legend Ronny Goodlass which aims to deliver football coaching across Merseyside to vulnerable young people.

The DVD features a selection of Everton greats talking about Alan, including Howard Kendall, Joe Royle and Graeme Sharp. They reminisce about Bally’s commitment, determination and world class skills whilst playing in one of the greatest Everton sides of all time. Another former Everton star, Ron Goodlass, gives a unique insight into the great man, having actually been his ‘Boot Boy’ as a young player. It’s quite a story.

Alan himself is featured giving one of the most inspirational After Dinner speeches you will ever see.  He was renowned for his qualities as a speaker on the After Dinner circuit.  The footage was secured in 2006 when he returned to Liverpool for one of his final visits before his tragic death.

The DVD is available from Merseyshop and is a bargain at just £12.99 and as already stated, contains Alan Ball’s final after-dinner speech.  It covers his whole life and is one of the best you will ever see.

Health Through Sport also held their annual dinner on Friday evening at the Devonshire House Hotel, and NSNO was lucky enough to be asked to join the guests on the top table to celebrate their hard work and try and raise money to help fund another year’s activities.

Guests included David France, Croxteth councillor Peter Mitchell, author Becky Tallentire, and Everton legends Tony Kay, Derek Temple, Dave Hickson, and Joe Royle, who were all interviewed by Everton’s Darren Griffiths.

Sean Styles provided his usual excellent comedy performance, and ran the auction which raised several thousand pounds for the cause.

Everton forward Steven Naismith says that although he wanted to play more towards the end of the season, he has played more than he thought he would.

The former Rangers man has made 20 appearances for the Blues this season, and he says that he felt his best performances are yet to come.

“I have played more games and started more games than I thought,” said the Scot.

“The quality in the squad is really high. Coming back from injury and moving to a new club are big things for a footballer and I am happy with the amount I have played.

“I have not played anywhere near my best but hopefully I can keep in good shape over the summer, come back and have a good pre-season and push on.

“The boys put on a great show [against Chelsea], knocked the ball about well in the first half and probably dominated the first 45 minutes.

“It was great to get a start. Probably in the last few months I have not played as much as I would have liked but the team have been playing well and I have probably not shown enough to get a start.

“So it was a wee bit of a surprise to get the start today but the manager gave me a chance.

“I could have possibly had a couple more – I had a couple of chances – but the ball broke to me and I took a good touch with my right and put it over the goalie.”

The odds on Jurgen Klinsmann to become the next Everton manager have been slashed to as little as 9/2 with some bookies this evening.

Previously thought of as nothing but an outside bet, it seems some serious money is being lumped on the former German Olympic dive champion to become the next man to take the Goodison hot seat.

To add further fuel to the fire, Klinsmann has just started following the official Everton twitter page, adding it to just two other Premier League clubs he follows.(Spurs and Arsenal the other two)

Klinsmann is a manager of experience, having coached his country to the semi finals of the World Cup in 2006, and taking Bayern Munich to the Champions League final in 2008, but was sacked leaving his side three points off the top with five matches to play.

Could Bill pull this big name out of the hat after he famously flirted with the Liverpool job behind Rafa Benitez’s back?

Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini has refused to rule out a move away from Goodison Park in the summer.

Having been played in his favoured position on Sunday by former boss David Moyes, Fellaini says he wants to play for a club whose manager “really wants” him.  He also went on to say that David Moyes had swayed him into joining Everton.

“If I’m leaving Everton, I say if, it will depend on lots of factors,” said the Belgian.

“I only want to go to a club where the manager really wants me.

“In 2008, Everton did everything to convince me, especially David Moyes. He made me the player I am now.”