The Mail Bag
The Numbers Game
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My fellow Evertonians. I have been been a long time reader of this site but have never posted in the mailbag. I, like many of you, am very concerned about the upcoming season. We are 8 days from kickoff and we have not signed anyone. We have 16 senior squad players, not enough to even fill the bench! Amidst all this turmoil that is going on, I wanted to ask my friends across the pond a few questions.
If we do not get any new players in before the start of the season, I would like to know what sort of approach each of you would take towards the season.
We are in 3 cup competitions and obviously the league. Do we go for silverware or do we focus on a top four finish? Assuming that we finish there, it could lead to a pretty big payout (just look at the money Shaktar Donetsk made finishing last in the group!!). Do we play our youngsters in the cup competitions and save our senior players for the league?
Do we throw away our chance at glory in the Uefa Cup, because as we all know, there is no big payout in that competion. I would be interested to hear some of your thoughts...
Roman Fedkiv, Posted 07/08/2008 at 22:29:12
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I would go all out in the league. The prize money and Europe will be very important for next season. I can’t see a repeat of this pre-season for a good few years because its been so shocking and Moyes will not want a repeat. With the players we have, to go all out in most competitions, let at alone all, is suicide because we are talking 60 games and no player can play close to that many a season.
I just hope Moyes pulls out 3 excellent signings before the end of the transfer window and 3 loan signings to bolster the squad. If he does this I think a push in Europe and PL is a must and use the Cups to develop our youngsters.
I just hope Moyes pulls out 3 excellent signings before the end of the transfer window and 3 loan signings to bolster the squad. If he does this I think a push in Europe and PL is a must and use the Cups to develop our youngsters.
I think everyone needs to take a deep breath. Now inhale exhale now for fan around my age of close to fifty years old. We use to play forty two games and only had one bloody substitute to choose from. So 16 players was a luxury.
I understand the game has changed a lot but weren’t we in this boat three years ago and finished fourth. Forget the doom & gloom and lets get ready for kickoff.
I’m still in the camp a couple of new signings will be onboard before the window closes if not it isn’t the end of the world.
I understand the game has changed a lot but weren’t we in this boat three years ago and finished fourth. Forget the doom & gloom and lets get ready for kickoff.
I’m still in the camp a couple of new signings will be onboard before the window closes if not it isn’t the end of the world.
I’ve been reading these posts over the last few weeks with increasing alarm as I’m sure many of you have... but I have to agree with Mike Dayton here, things will be okay. I’m convinced that at least 3 signinigs will be conducted in the next 2 weeks. Couple that with the cakewalk that it the first several weeks of the season, and I think that our blues will be ok. The core of this team is intact and are highly capable of playing very very well together.
The League is the bread and butter.
It’s sad to see the good work of past seasons thrown out the window because of lack of finances. We don’t build upon; we break all the pieces and rebuild every post season.
With the cards dealt this coming season I’m afraid we’ll be fielding second string players in the cups. Which is what half the clubs do anyway, but sad to see Everton doing so too.
It’s sad to see the good work of past seasons thrown out the window because of lack of finances. We don’t build upon; we break all the pieces and rebuild every post season.
With the cards dealt this coming season I’m afraid we’ll be fielding second string players in the cups. Which is what half the clubs do anyway, but sad to see Everton doing so too.
Hi Roman, throw it all against the wall, I’d say. It’s Last Gang in Town time. Play anyone who can play when they can play?
For you Clash fans, Death or Glory! or Tora Tora Tora! Ned Kelly. We’re the Magnificent (El)even. We’re McQueen in the Great Escape (from sixth place). We’re Sinatra numerous times, and Elvis 68 Comeback, and Dylan never looking back. We’ll be alright. We won’t lose.
We’re out-manned but never out-gunned. That’s where I’m at.
For you Clash fans, Death or Glory! or Tora Tora Tora! Ned Kelly. We’re the Magnificent (El)even. We’re McQueen in the Great Escape (from sixth place). We’re Sinatra numerous times, and Elvis 68 Comeback, and Dylan never looking back. We’ll be alright. We won’t lose.
We’re out-manned but never out-gunned. That’s where I’m at.
Dont forget guys, there is another transfer window in January. The FA cup doesn’t start till then either,so i think the team will be chosen depending on where we are in the league and if we are still in league cup or europe. Maybe if we are still in a cup we might see another signing. There again pigs might fly.
Strikes me as being very similar to the summer we sold Rooney when all was doom & gloom.
My gut feel is that we will still do pretty well, although its extremely important for us to get more games out of Arteta & Cahill this season. I think the team will pull together in the face of adversity, the youngsters will gain crucial experience.
I would expect the FA cup to be the one scarificed again though, the league as mentioned above is your bread & butter and is a benchmark of progress. The carling cup tends to be an opportunity of silverware due to the sky 4 fielding weakened teams and the UEFA is important in promoting the club throughout Europe.
My gut feel is that we will still do pretty well, although its extremely important for us to get more games out of Arteta & Cahill this season. I think the team will pull together in the face of adversity, the youngsters will gain crucial experience.
I would expect the FA cup to be the one scarificed again though, the league as mentioned above is your bread & butter and is a benchmark of progress. The carling cup tends to be an opportunity of silverware due to the sky 4 fielding weakened teams and the UEFA is important in promoting the club throughout Europe.
I think we go all out attack to get a flying start in the league. And hope for some signings.
My thought is this: we start well, that breeds confidence. Now, the new signings will take some time to settle, but hopefully (hopefully, mind!) they’ll be ready to help out when we start writing October or so - in other words, if the boys we have now deliver for a month or two, we can hope other players will help from there.
Lot of hopefullness in this post, but then again I’m a religious man :)
My thought is this: we start well, that breeds confidence. Now, the new signings will take some time to settle, but hopefully (hopefully, mind!) they’ll be ready to help out when we start writing October or so - in other words, if the boys we have now deliver for a month or two, we can hope other players will help from there.
Lot of hopefullness in this post, but then again I’m a religious man :)
To be fair it?s the same every year. You all should be used to the bullshit emmitting from the club. Fasten your seatbelt, for annother season of highs ending with lows as per.
semper fidelis.
semper fidelis.
For all my bluster up there, we have the easiest start of the schedule than anyone: Blackburn, The 3 relloes, and Portsmouth. If we don’t walk away with thirteen points from the first five matches we’re left seriously contemplating our navels and grabbing points where we can get them til January.
I’m in the "concerned" camp. The lack of news from Goodison makes me wonder what is really happening. No signings yet, but... like another poster, remember the mid 80s when we won everything with the same team - dig your old programmes out and look at how many games the same players appeared - it can be done!
If we have our usual exit from the FA Cup and play the kids in the league cup then its just the UEFA cup and the league to wory about. I’m a ball of worry and anticipation though so "Come on you Blues (including the players who aren’t signed with us yet)"
If we have our usual exit from the FA Cup and play the kids in the league cup then its just the UEFA cup and the league to wory about. I’m a ball of worry and anticipation though so "Come on you Blues (including the players who aren’t signed with us yet)"
MY fellow Supporters ?BREAKING-NEWS? Sky Sports just announced BILLY No
Cash! Is to order all the players to train as DEEP SEA FOOT-BALL DIVERS He Just
Found out there are 20,000 League?s under the sea we must win one of them
Cash! Is to order all the players to train as DEEP SEA FOOT-BALL DIVERS He Just
Found out there are 20,000 League?s under the sea we must win one of them
Roman Fedkiv - If we don’t sign any players ( or just that tart Smith ) my approach to the coming season
would be ’ operation stealth ’ a 3 point plan to avoid the attention of piss taking Redshites !
1/ Stay, indoors & work from my home office more.
2/ Invest in a high quality disguise & only go out when the local kopites are either :
in court/jail visiting their probation officer, drunk at home watching daytime TV, Queing at the benefit office etc, so I should still get out quite a bit.
3/ Hoilday ( sorry vacation ) well away from Norway.
Problem is they are already gathering outside my house ( probably lost on their way back from special school ! ) in a scene reminscent of a Zombie movie. I guess its payback for all the goading & provocation I dish out, oh how I wish I’d kept my mouth shut ( well maybe not )
If things get real bad would I be safe over the pond in Ohio or has the red contagion spread that far ?
would be ’ operation stealth ’ a 3 point plan to avoid the attention of piss taking Redshites !
1/ Stay, indoors & work from my home office more.
2/ Invest in a high quality disguise & only go out when the local kopites are either :
in court/jail visiting their probation officer, drunk at home watching daytime TV, Queing at the benefit office etc, so I should still get out quite a bit.
3/ Hoilday ( sorry vacation ) well away from Norway.
Problem is they are already gathering outside my house ( probably lost on their way back from special school ! ) in a scene reminscent of a Zombie movie. I guess its payback for all the goading & provocation I dish out, oh how I wish I’d kept my mouth shut ( well maybe not )
If things get real bad would I be safe over the pond in Ohio or has the red contagion spread that far ?
Go for it in the league defo, the cups dont matter so much IMO.
In other news, Stephen M’Bia has said publically from Beijing that he wants to come to Everton, he’s pleading with Rennes to let him go and even says he’s spoken to DM and agreed terms of some sort.
Things are looking up folks......possibly.....
In other news, Stephen M’Bia has said publically from Beijing that he wants to come to Everton, he’s pleading with Rennes to let him go and even says he’s spoken to DM and agreed terms of some sort.
Things are looking up folks......possibly.....
Roman, I feel that if we have all our better players fit for most of the season, and a couple of very good players added soon, (positions are well known) plus 2/3 loans, we will still be too much for most of the PL, so our strongest sides must be in every league game, in any of the cups, we must attack sides a lot more, especially away from home, even with a lot of fringe players in the side. we should always win home cup games , but must attack more! I normally take a 3 week break in Jackson in January, so if things aren?t going too well, I might stay there and follow them on Fox and Setanta, and hopefully come home to a couple of finals, HA COYB!
WTF anybody thinks we shall hit the ground running is beyond me!For the last three months of 07/08 we were crap and why -,with less players to call on should we be any better this time?
Once again the Chairman has failed the manager and he has been more iterested in increasing his salary than getting in new players.
League or Cups? Dont make me fucking laugh-survival will be what it’s all about if they don’t pull their bloody fingers out soon.
Once again the Chairman has failed the manager and he has been more iterested in increasing his salary than getting in new players.
League or Cups? Dont make me fucking laugh-survival will be what it’s all about if they don’t pull their bloody fingers out soon.
The League. No question about it
If we only get in Mouthino and Smith we shall be far stonger than last season and well placed to make a real show in all competitions.
I am sure that Davey will sign on the dotted line and that a few early wins will see this period of rumour-fuelled crisis put behind us.
Bill and the Board should have little difficulty in seeing off the EGM ’rebels’ and will be then able to concentrate on preparing their case to put to the public enquiry on DK.
As the Acting CEO told us last night,’Everton are in good shape!’
You better believe it!
I am sure that Davey will sign on the dotted line and that a few early wins will see this period of rumour-fuelled crisis put behind us.
Bill and the Board should have little difficulty in seeing off the EGM ’rebels’ and will be then able to concentrate on preparing their case to put to the public enquiry on DK.
As the Acting CEO told us last night,’Everton are in good shape!’
You better believe it!
Richard Dodd wrote "Bill and the Board should have little difficulty in seeing off the EGM ?rebels? and will be then able to concentrate on preparing their case to put to the public enquiry on DK".
I wouldn’t be so sure on that as they can’t blame Wyness for everything as who appointed him ?
The Board must be hoping that we get off to a good start to appease the fans. If we start badly, then the EGM could get messy.....
I wouldn’t be so sure on that as they can’t blame Wyness for everything as who appointed him ?
The Board must be hoping that we get off to a good start to appease the fans. If we start badly, then the EGM could get messy.....
I'm all for calming down taking a deep breath blah blah blah but we are 8 days from KO and we haven't signed shit.
For me in this close season the most fundamental action within our football club is to work 24/7 getting new players that Moyes wants signed up, integrated and ready for 3pm v Blackburn.
To be honest I could not give a tiny rats arse weather DK has been called in, KW has resigned or that most Toffees think BK is a useless twat - thats all long term shit that really wont have any bearing on where we end up in the table or the silverwear we have won come May 09.
What will - is 3-5 quality new signings to cover injuries and/or inject a bit of magic into the team that is currently missing.
I kow a lot of Webites (if i may call them this!) think Davey is a bit of a knob, a bit of a boring, hoofball, all defensive, play it safe manager. I don't. I've rarely been critical of the man. What he has achieved on a fucking shoestring ? and let's be honest he has worked more or less on a fucking shoestring since '02 ? is absolutely superb. Yes he has purchased some crap. Who hasn't? But my god he has made some cracking signings for nothing. That's Wenger's style. And Wenger gets the plaudits for it all the time.
Now we need to get behind Moyes - as does the board - understand what he needs to keep us around 5th in the prem, and get those signings sorted.
I truly believe if all those above Moyes employed at Everton were as comitted and hard working as he - our club would be operate on par with Man Utd!
Memo to Everton Board - Villa, Spurs, Pompey - they are all signing players!!! Please please get to it!!!!
For me in this close season the most fundamental action within our football club is to work 24/7 getting new players that Moyes wants signed up, integrated and ready for 3pm v Blackburn.
To be honest I could not give a tiny rats arse weather DK has been called in, KW has resigned or that most Toffees think BK is a useless twat - thats all long term shit that really wont have any bearing on where we end up in the table or the silverwear we have won come May 09.
What will - is 3-5 quality new signings to cover injuries and/or inject a bit of magic into the team that is currently missing.
I kow a lot of Webites (if i may call them this!) think Davey is a bit of a knob, a bit of a boring, hoofball, all defensive, play it safe manager. I don't. I've rarely been critical of the man. What he has achieved on a fucking shoestring ? and let's be honest he has worked more or less on a fucking shoestring since '02 ? is absolutely superb. Yes he has purchased some crap. Who hasn't? But my god he has made some cracking signings for nothing. That's Wenger's style. And Wenger gets the plaudits for it all the time.
Now we need to get behind Moyes - as does the board - understand what he needs to keep us around 5th in the prem, and get those signings sorted.
I truly believe if all those above Moyes employed at Everton were as comitted and hard working as he - our club would be operate on par with Man Utd!
Memo to Everton Board - Villa, Spurs, Pompey - they are all signing players!!! Please please get to it!!!!
I can think of a lot a lot stronger words than ?concerned? with what has transpired this summer at EFC, incompetence could be one thanks to Blue Bill and the other jokers on the board. DM is the only thing good with our club at the moment...but for how long who knows.
As for the league, the players are going to have to man up big time to show us they?re worth the big bucks we pay them week in week out. I?m sure players such as Lescott will show us again why he?s a class act as our defence is a strong area on the pitch. As for the midfield thats the squeaky bum area we need to spend/loan players to strengthen in, it?s one of the smallest in the prem, but who we will bring in god knows. Having a good start to the league is always a must, it will settle everyone down, including myself.
I know UEFA cup doesn?t pay well, but having a good run brings confidence and exposure we desperately need abroad, its just another learning curve for the club. I bet we stay in longer than the other English clubs that got put in...I?ll show my lily white @rse if we don?t.
COYB
As for the league, the players are going to have to man up big time to show us they?re worth the big bucks we pay them week in week out. I?m sure players such as Lescott will show us again why he?s a class act as our defence is a strong area on the pitch. As for the midfield thats the squeaky bum area we need to spend/loan players to strengthen in, it?s one of the smallest in the prem, but who we will bring in god knows. Having a good start to the league is always a must, it will settle everyone down, including myself.
I know UEFA cup doesn?t pay well, but having a good run brings confidence and exposure we desperately need abroad, its just another learning curve for the club. I bet we stay in longer than the other English clubs that got put in...I?ll show my lily white @rse if we don?t.
COYB
I dont think we have any chance at all of landing Moutinho and i dont think we will pay Smith’s wage. I like the look of Mbia but it looks as though against blackburn we wont have any new faces in starting 11. Ill go for
GK Howard
RB Neville
CB Yobo
CB Jagielka
LB Lescott (BAINES NOT FIT)
RM Arteta
LM Pienaar
Cm Osman
Cm Holding Rodwell
CF Yakubu
CF Cahill ( playing n hole if fit)
Subs
Baines
Valente
Baxter
Ruddy
Vaughan
????
GK Howard
RB Neville
CB Yobo
CB Jagielka
LB Lescott (BAINES NOT FIT)
RM Arteta
LM Pienaar
Cm Osman
Cm Holding Rodwell
CF Yakubu
CF Cahill ( playing n hole if fit)
Subs
Baines
Valente
Baxter
Ruddy
Vaughan
????
Cahill wont be risked, Rodwell might.
You think vaughan upfront with yak then
Richard Dodd:
I do not see the concerned shareholders who have instigated the EGM as "rebels".
There are genuine concerns that need to be addressed and it is patently obvious, despite your sterling defence of the board, that what was promised re the Kirkby propsals bears little relation to what was really on offer. Shareholders have a right to have these issues aired.
Those who have submitted the special notice (or whatever it is called) for the EGM to be convened are not blasé about the direction EFC is taking - as you always seem to be - but want what is best for Everton and they deserve respect and (at leat my) gratitude.
We all know Billy Kenwright will try to avoid giving meaningful answers and to brush away blame but it only right that the oard should be answerable to the shareholders.
I do not see the concerned shareholders who have instigated the EGM as "rebels".
There are genuine concerns that need to be addressed and it is patently obvious, despite your sterling defence of the board, that what was promised re the Kirkby propsals bears little relation to what was really on offer. Shareholders have a right to have these issues aired.
Those who have submitted the special notice (or whatever it is called) for the EGM to be convened are not blasé about the direction EFC is taking - as you always seem to be - but want what is best for Everton and they deserve respect and (at leat my) gratitude.
We all know Billy Kenwright will try to avoid giving meaningful answers and to brush away blame but it only right that the oard should be answerable to the shareholders.
I had a likely team down vs Blackburn as being:
GK: Howard
RB: Neville
LB: Baines (he’s fit isn’t he???)
CB: Yobo
CB: Lescott
DCM: Jagielka
DCM: Rodwell or Gosling
CM: Osman
RM: Arteta
LM: Pienaar
CF: Yakubu
Subs: Turner, Valente, Rodwell or Gosling, Baxter, Cahill (not to be risked), Vaughan (not to be risked), Jutkiewicz
GK: Howard
RB: Neville
LB: Baines (he’s fit isn’t he???)
CB: Yobo
CB: Lescott
DCM: Jagielka
DCM: Rodwell or Gosling
CM: Osman
RM: Arteta
LM: Pienaar
CF: Yakubu
Subs: Turner, Valente, Rodwell or Gosling, Baxter, Cahill (not to be risked), Vaughan (not to be risked), Jutkiewicz
Good shout that about Jagielka in DCM. I think the team that plays tomorrow from start will show us what moyes is thinking.
Graham has to be about as close as anyone can get to the lineup, but I’d say DM will go for Nuno at left backl because he doesnt trust Baines yet - not just that but Baines has been injured and DM definately trusts Nuno.
Marc Williams,
The redshites are here as well. They show up every game day at soccer pubs and spew their lack of knowledge of the game. They are nothing more than glory hunters. I even approached a vile looking one last year and he couldn’t even name 4 players on their squad. They are pathetic here as they are back in England. No knowledge of the game or history, just a bunch of idiots who wear that disgusting red kit.
The redshites are here as well. They show up every game day at soccer pubs and spew their lack of knowledge of the game. They are nothing more than glory hunters. I even approached a vile looking one last year and he couldn’t even name 4 players on their squad. They are pathetic here as they are back in England. No knowledge of the game or history, just a bunch of idiots who wear that disgusting red kit.
Just a quick question here, folks, but why do people keep saying we haven't signed anyone in this transfer window. Correct me if I'm wrong, but even though the transfer was finalised many weeks before the transfer window opened, Steven Pienaar officially joined our ranks on the 1st of July. That's one transfer is it not?
Not saying it's enough to balance out the lack of activity this summer, and even though we had him last season too, he is one transfer we have completed.
Who are we going to sign? I've spent most of the summer across the Atlantic and have heard only a few loose rumours about the possible comings and goings. Thank god A.J has gone, a player who is supposed to be a "fox" in the box.
Perhaps I am being overly critical of johnson. Only, he never actually seemed to point where he wanted the ball to be played to him. When you have players in your team who can pick you out so well (Pienaar, Arteta, Osman etc.) it seems bizarre that he just never seemed to signal to his team mates where the ball needed to go. He just fell over.
I know very little about this Moutinho, but surely, is he 3 times the player Fernandes is? I find that hard to believe. So we've got Moutinho, Smith and M'Bia (who has stated his desire to stay at Rennes for one more season)... who are the other names floating about? Apart from Ronaldo and Messi. Naturally.
I have serious doubts about the coming season and tend to agree with many comments about the current management being able to move Everton to the next level. The current squad did well last season but they couldn?t beat any of the top 4 in eight attempts plus a cup tie. Scoring is the problem with only one real proven striker. Big Vic didn?t really improve last year and Vaughan still has to prove he is not injury prone. In this light more goals have to come from the midfield but this won?t happen with the current available. Experienced players like Fernandes and Van der Meyde are still out of real contention it would seem and may be better let go if some of the youngsters are going to be given chances. If nothing happens this week, I fancy the start of the season will be a little depressing...
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1 Posted 08/08/2008 at 02:31:01
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