Who's up front?
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Just heard on 5 Live that Andy Johnson is at Fulham for a medical, I understand Big Vic will be at the Olympics for Nigeria, James Vaughan was missing most of last season, so it's just Yakubu then? Am I missing something, or is the "Rabbit out of the hat" looking like a dream scenario, with the five or six players required just to make the squad of a respectable size (never mind the quality). Keane looks like he is going to the dark side. At what point should I start panicking about our chances next season?
Simon Jones,
Coventry Posted 28/07/2008 at 13:06:26
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Just looked at the Sky Sports website and it says AJ is having a medical at Fulham as we speak. Is this a good thing and will we actually buy anyone now? Also I read that Valencia would listen to bids of £17million for Villa ? I know Liverpool wanted him but would he be better than Moutinho? And we could also grab fenandes in a deal like that for a few extra million... dreams eh?
We really are now into the realms of stupidity! ANOTHER player about to go and still no sign of anyone coming. Moutinho MAY come, but don?t forget, it?s Everton we are talking about here and there is still plenty of time to string the saga along until the window closes or the Barcodes come in and snatch him from under our noses.
Is it that Moyes is not arsed about what happens because he has already made up his mind to jump ship, and who would blame him?
We get used to transfer window speculation and delays, but this is now taking the piss.
I am seriously worried now. What if any of the already miniscule squad come a cropper in America?
It doesn?t bear thinking about.
What has Keane to do with us? Only some vague rumour with obviously no substance at all linked us with him.
But I guess we could use a replacement for AJ. How ’bout that Wolves-lad?
Fulham seem to be the graveyard of former Everton players: Pembridge, Radzinski, Davies, McBride and, looking likely, Johnson. If AJ does go, I would miss him. Abiding memories would be his double against the Shite, his goal against Spurs in 2006-07 and his wonder goal against Brann!
Don?t panic Mr Mannering.....
Who cares...?!?!? Doesn?t fukin matter who we buy we won?t finish 4th or above will we.......?!?!?!?!?
I reckon we start FC Everton.
Sounds like good business to me.
We never played to his strengths anyway.
Sure the club can find a good replacement..
Lets hope following our UEFA Cup run last season we can start to attract the players we need to progress.
Good luck AJ..
If we sign Moutinho, Topal and Milito we will be looking alot stronger.
I would be happy with
Howard
Neville
Baines
Yobo
Lescott
Arteta
Moutinho
Topal
Cahill or Osman
Pienaar
Yakubu
Its rather obvious Moyes will be playing one up front next season. I reckon he will play Moutinho just off Yakubu if we sign him and is still a big ??IF??. We have Cahill who could also play that role. You are right tho if the yak is injured then we will still be short of striker options. Would he have another £8 mil or so to sign another striker?? I'm not too sure!
Is it a coincidence that we look like selling AJ for £11 mil and our bid for Moutinho was around £11 mil! Only time will tell if we really don't have a pot to piss in. One thing is for sure though: we defo need 5 players if not more.
I can see the Moyes dilemma. He has some seriously good players now and its obvious he has to match that quality with any new players he brings in. In the past he could take a chance on players like Cahill, Arteta, Pienaar etc. He’s had a few go wrong like AVDM but generally he has got the best out of the bargain basement.
But we’ve moved into position where we expect European football and that means upping the stakes and getting players who can deliver from the off. I would much rather add the quality of one Moutinho than the possibility of 3 ADVMs.
Sorry to see AJ go but for all his effort he looked lost last season.
God this is depressing!
Even if we sign Stuart?s dream 3 we only need a couple of knocks and were up a smelly creek making splashing noises.
I can?t bear this any longer!
We go through the same scenario season after season it?s getting tedious now.
If Keane is costing £18 mil then Moutinho must be a better option at his age for anything like that amount. BUT I hope we dont stop at Moutinho..we need at least three to four others...I truly hope we have some youngsters good enough to slot in from the start...if we could maintain a decent challenge this season without all the money the other teams are spending then that would be fabulous...Please at the very least buy Moutinho and some squad players and get Vaughn, Cahill and Baines fully fit.
Brendan George, I wouldn’t say that Fulham has been the graveyard for all those players - McBride and even Davies have thrived there. (Having said that, Radz-whooo?)... I’m definitely putting money on AJ to score against us this year!
I think in today?s climate £18M for a 21-year-old creative playmaker like Joao Moutinho isn?t bad business especially if a much older Gareth Barry is valued at the same.
My problem is he is another midget gem and we need someone of stature to play alongside him with Cahill infront.
Whatever happened to the rumours of M?Bia? I don?t know much about him so would be happy for people to inform me if he is technically good enough, but he has the size (6ft 1in brick shithouse) and stature to help stop us being dominated by the huge midfielders in the Prem.
What worries me as said above is that with the numbers we had last year DM still said we were about five or six players short of making a go of fourth place, we have lost six about to be seven players so just to get to the numbers we had BEFORE that five or six, we will need seven players, this is leaving it bloody close despite most of the six/seven gone not playing we are still way too thin on the ground and only an injury or two or suspension or two away from a bad season - just look at the end of last season and our injured limp across the line. Syd hit the nail on the head over expectation levels too were we really need a cup run and silverware soon.
What about a cheeky £2m bid for Nugent? In my mind, he would be a straight replacement for AJ - and with him being a Blue might just give him an edge if he turns out for us - plus he has something to prove...I would certainly be looking at him as a squad addition...
Oh....and Sean Davis also - £4m for the two - decent additions to the squad.
Steve Callaghan, I hope you were joking cheeky £2m bid for Nugent? We might as well just throw straight down the shitter, this lad is absolute crap!!
The OS says that AJ is discussing personal terms with Fulham, having agreed an "8 figure transfer sum" - so it must be true!!
Based on what? His lack of appearences for a team he only went to for the wage packet with no emotional tie to whatever? I?d give him a chance for £2mil - he has pace and can be a poacher - plus likes the odd 40-yard shot. He is a local lad and, as I say - £2mil worth a gamble for me...
Come on lets start to think positively. At least we?ve made an offer for a world class player who seems to be interested in joining us, so we?re getting somewhere. If we didn?t have the funds then that wouldn?t have happened and also since when has anyone bought anything without testing the water first? You don?t buy a house without seeing if you can get a few quid off the asking price first do you? That?s all he?s done here and I for one trust Moyes to do what?s right for the club.
He?s said he wants 5/6 top players so he?s got his list, he knows how much they?ll cost so we should stop worrying about who we?re going to get and whether they?re going to be good enough and just be patient and see what occurs. I will admit that he needs to lead by example and sign his contract first though.
Here?s my input though - sorry couldn?t resist. We?ll play with the 1 up top, that?s almost certain and to get £10-£12m for a back-up striker isn?t bad business to me. The kids can then step up and be Yak?s back up. If we were to get Moutinho, he and Tiny would be lethal behind the Yak.
Here?s a blast from the rumour mill past but my prefered choice to replace Cars would be Lorik Cana. Don?t know what?s happned with that one but have you seen this lad play? He?s a big solid fella who can tackle, pass the ball and shoot. Him holding and the rest as above with Peanuts/Osman/Arteta wide? Not looking too bad now hey? Manny and how about Joe Ledley from Cardiff and we?re spoilt for choice. I?d say that totals about £35m with £10 coming back the other way for AJ. Total £25m spent.
So AJ's gone then, what a fucking dissapointment. With just a few weeks to go till the start of the new season we have sold or got rid of quite a few and signed no-one. If we don't finish at least 5th next season then we are a fucking joke. We should've been putting a team together to build for a better challenge on the top 4 next season; instead we?ve sold one of our better players and added none and even if we do sign players before the season starts they haven't exactly got a lot of time to get settled in before the big kickoff have they!?! So we might lose ground on clubs that have been clever enough to sign players early (Man City, Portsmouth etc) I'm really dissapointed. No wonder moyes wont sign that contract... I don't blame him.
A million quid says that AJ wins a penalty vs Hull in Fulham's opening game! Probably from his first run/touch of the ball in the box!
Also on the doom that is P Neville in midfield - just remember that HIbbo is out for a considerable length of time and the likes of Gosling, Rodwell and Jagielka who could play there aren?t...
At least for the first few weeks I still expect to see Neville used there. When Hibbo gets fit then is the time to worry.
Hey Steve, I hear Derby are trying to off load Savage as well? Or what about a cheeky bid for Alan Smith or Kieran Richardson?
There is a reason we didn’t sign Nugent and Sean Davis is too old and not very good. Any club’s transfer policy should be to improve the quality of the squad.
So Nugent likes the odd 40-yd shot and is a local lad? Ye gods! Come on davie lad get in there... 2 quid more like!!!!
Andy Callan, I'm with you but FC Everton or AFC Everton? Or even Everton Town? Who knows!
Everything the club has done recently has pissed me off! I've had enough!
Eric Arthur Blair
Posted 28/07/2008 at 17:12:09
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What I wonder is, where is the ?mooted? £15mil from Sky/Setanta??? If we aren?t buying until we sell....where is that money going to?
My concern is that our hestitation in the transfer market is going to leave us with players arriving so late in the pre-season, we won't have a ?team? by the first game of the season.
Simon - does that mean you haven't started panicing yet? Jeez... how have you managed that...
Anthony Millington
Posted 28/07/2008 at 17:14:33
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If all else fails and we can’t sign any good strikers to replace Johnson that is the time to panic buy for the likes of Nugent if we’re absolutely desperate, because he’s be better than only having Vic and Vaughan as back ups to the Yak and he’d be available on the cheap. It’d seem a bit of a waste to spend 18 mill on someone like Vagner Love and then have him sitting on the bench watchin the Yak upfront on his own.
Davis, Nugent and Ebanks-Blake. Jesus wept !
Millito is coming to us; my source tells me he was at Everton last week, and is going to sign very soon.
Some of the more respectable(!?) papers have said Bully Beef is in Krautland to tie up both the Topal & Moutinho deals, with Darren Bent being AJ?s replacement. Also up to to 4 loan signings as well but no names mentioned. I think Manny will be one of them as Valencia are having a bogoff sale coz they?re more skint than us!!
Anthony Millington
Posted 28/07/2008 at 18:36:02
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I don’t want Milito he’s 29 and he’s slow and good relegated last season with Real Zaragoza. We need someone with pace who’s of higher quality than AJ, if not we should just have kept AJ!
So much for him not be up for sale and not receiving a bid for him, the Official Site is full of shit and I won't be reading anything else on there ever again.
To win trophies you need to have a flexible system to cope with different styles of games. Very few teams can play one system and dictate the game on a regular basis. We have rarely dominated games for far too long even when we are leading and against weak opposition. 4-5-1 is fine as one variation but if your main goalscorer gets injured, suspended or has a bad game (or even a run of games) and there’s no-one else to take their place then the system falls apart. Please, no more get one goal and then hang on for a 1-0 victory....
The club is full of crap......why keep up the pretence that he was never for sale? I must watch a different game then Moyes because it is the midfield that is the problem and has been for years. Spend 15+ million on Moutinho - it doesn’t solve the problem about supply to the forward line. If we don’t get Moutinho we will look very stupid - one forward sold and 3 left on the books - one of whom is injury prone. Still no decent centre midfield player to compete with Lampard, Gerrard, Fabregas etc............AJ was a good player and worked hard - it makes you despair when you look at some of the average/crap players still at the club earning a fortune in wages. Most of it in midfield as well........
AJ'S on his way A Club statement read: "Everton can confirm that it has agreed an eight figure sum with Fulham for the services of Andrew Johnson. This is subject to the player agreeing personal terms and negotiating a medical." I am gutted but at least we have some money now...
AJ has gone!!
I can't believe it, I'm actually disappointed because we'll miss his pace. On the flip side, flogging him for over £10 million is good business. We must replace him asap though.
On another note, I've just booked my trip to Chicago, can't wait! I'll be on my tod so hopefully will meet some bluenoses who fancy a few beers before/after the game.
Kjetil Strandvorme
Posted 28/07/2008 at 19:47:36
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I am gutted ot see AJ go. He is one of our better players and always wore the Everton shirt with pride. The last few months we have lost McFadden, Carsley and now AJ. We should not be selling one of the best players we have in AJ, we should keep him and add to our squad. Even though Yakubu is the better finisher of the two, I think AJ?s contribution to Everton is greater. We will probably get someone like Martins or Bent who only turn up every five games or so.
What dissapoints me most are these comments made a few weeks ago.
"Moyes told evertonfc.com: "Andy Johnson is not for sale - it is that simple. He is a highly-valued member of my senior squad and I look forward to seeing him when the players report back for pre-season training."
Chairman Bill Kenwright echoed the sentiments of his manager.
"David (Moyes) and I obviously talk three or four times a day regarding his transfer targets," he said.
"He has asked me today to confirm what I already knew: that Andrew Johnson is not for sale."
I hate it when my club lie to me, it makes me care less about Everton.
There?s no doubt were desperate for new faces and we need to improve the size and quality of the squad. BUT (that's a big 'but' in case you were wondering) I would be delighted if some of the young players making an impression pre-season carried this on into the Premier League. It has been a while since some genuine quality came through the ranks.
My abiding memory of AJ will be him scurrying after shite balls twated towards the corner flag, by Hibbo / Yobo / Carsley / Neville / The Jag, even Lescott and Howard were often guilty of this.
I?m still - even after two seasons - undecided on AJ, how can we judge the poor fucker on the sort of service he got ?
The Mancs sing "that boy Ronaldo, will make you look shite". Not half as shite as that lot can make you look.
In Moyes we Trust.... although it might be a big risk, he may look to introduce Baxter this season. Also we could still sign Fernandes on loan and after that we would be looking for one more striker and a defensive midfielder.
If Moyes has got to sell then he is either in with BK & KW and isn’t that arsed. If not then he should get out now and go and fill the No 2 vacancy at Manure and inherit a team he can work with without flogging them off, have good replacements when the big guns are out and be clear and open with he fan base. If I had known AJ was off I would not have bought tickets for PSV and Blackburn. And if I had bought the new shirt with AJ’s name and number last week I would be at Kenwrong’s door demanding my money back
AJ loved Everton, but I beliEve it was his wife who could not settle here with family problems in the smoke.
Everton will make some great signing soon. Also don't be surprised that Gerrard will be on his way from the reds, he would like to win a League Champlonship before he is too old, they are a sell and buy club now.
News flash - Manager tells press that player is not for sale when he really is. Wow, what is the world coming to? Let’s have a little game here. Who can name me one manager who has never come out with "player x is not for sale" only for him to be sold a few weeks later?
Why not have a little think about why they said it, the answer shouldn’t be too hard to figure out.
I think the point is though Alisdair why lie about it at all? I think that now isn't the time for Bullshit Billy get caught out lying again. It is a disease at this club! Why bother saying anything at all!
Damian Killikelly
Posted 29/07/2008 at 08:28:21
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Totally agree with Alisdair - would people be happier if the club had got 7m after saying that they wanted to offload AJ and needed the cash? Its basic negotiation - there are plenty of things to point the finger for if you really want to - this isnt one of them
Well said, Dave Wilson, if he ever looked shite it's because we made him!! Watch some DVDs of him at Palace!!Ffucking amazing finisher! And why? Because his team mates gave him balls to feet or through balls to run onto! Not to the corner flag but (GASP) towards goal!! Wow!! Might send them to Neville and Co although they probably won't realise they're watching football as the ball's on the ground to much!!!
Anthony Millington
Posted 29/07/2008 at 10:20:52
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I?m not sure we should have sold him, but well done Moyes for saying he?s not for sale and therefore squeezing every penny out of Fulham we could get. Now it?s time to bring players in fast! Surely he has a replacement lined up, if not he?s an absolute fool! He sold Mcfadden and didn?t replace him and at times we could have done with him last year as we struggled to get a full squad out towards the end of the season.
So we?ve sold 2 strikers McFadden (£5.5 mill) and AJ (£12 mill) the money from the Rooney deal (£2 mill) and whatever money we got from our league position and Uefa Cup so that should be about £30 mill to spend, but I wonder whether we?ll see it.
It looks like AJ is on his way to Fulham, which leaves us extremely short up front. Vaughan and Anichebe are both missing for the start of the season and McFadden was never replaced. In addition Jose Baxter and Lukas Jukatwicz have not been given squad numbers for next season, which means we only have the Yak as a recognised striker.
If the AJ sales goes through, we are going to need to bring in at least 2 strikers (among other players obviously). One player who has gone quietly under the rader is Pavel Pogrebnyak. He plays for Zenit and is a physical centre forward who can finish. He was top scorer in last season's Uefa Cup but missed the final through suspension.
He is also Russia's 1st choice centre forward ahead of Roman Pavlychenko. However, he got an injury in their last warm up game and had to withdraw from their Euro 2008 squad. Missing those 2 high profile events has meant he has gone relatively unnoticed as I don't remember anyone being linked to him all Summer yet several clubs have been linked to Pavelchenko.
When he played at Goodison, I remember thinking he was like Big Dunc but quicker and hoepfully less injury prone and more reliable!! He was charging in to defenders and had a really good touch. He has a very good scoring record and is still only 24.]
See his wikipedia link and you tube video below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Pogrebnyak
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDF01noeN44
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1 Posted 28/07/2008 at 12:52:18
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