The Mail Bag
More movement on the transfer front
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I just read on the BBC rumours page that Leighton Baines is the subject of a possible £6m transfer to Sunderland. The BBC source their stories and in this case they cite "various" which on there usually means there is some weight to them. I know that it sounds crazy, but with the squad the size it is, the thought that we could be considering moving on yet another first teamer is insane and probably true.
Even during the dark days of Agent Johnson, I don't remember feeling this down about an upcoming season. Surely there are rules about the size of squad on your team-sheet. If we have to resort to fielding half a dozen teenagers, I really fear for our Premier League future.
At the moment any thought of incoming transfers seems to be nothing more than a pipe dream and the reassurances of those saying there are still X number of days left in the transfer window are appearing increasingly absurd.
Mark Wynne, Posted 12/08/2008 at 12:52:44
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The OS is carrying a story from th Sun which says that Baines is on his way to Sunderland for $6million. They explain that Moyes "frustrated by lack of activity" needs to raise funds to buy Alan Smith for $2.5 million....
I’m afraid its now become an absolute joke - we have reached the depths, we are the joke club of the Premiership.
I lived for 20 years on the South Coast since leaving Liverpool and have endured some good and bad comments from the locals - its not a hotbed of football but Portsmouth are slowly bringing the round.
What I have noticed more than ever is that Mr Joe Public down here dont even mention Everton anymore ,other than in terms of " you’ve had your go at cracking the Top4 , have a good manager, but basically are a club in serious financial troubles. Even the local sports news on reviewing the Premeirship had Pompey,Spurs, Aston Villa,Man City and Newcastle !! as best candidates for 5th place - we didnt even get a mention.
I can stand the jibes about boring, snatch the odd goal , win by the odd goal etc , but what I cant stand is everton being totally ignored.
I lived for 20 years on the South Coast since leaving Liverpool and have endured some good and bad comments from the locals - its not a hotbed of football but Portsmouth are slowly bringing the round.
What I have noticed more than ever is that Mr Joe Public down here dont even mention Everton anymore ,other than in terms of " you’ve had your go at cracking the Top4 , have a good manager, but basically are a club in serious financial troubles. Even the local sports news on reviewing the Premeirship had Pompey,Spurs, Aston Villa,Man City and Newcastle !! as best candidates for 5th place - we didnt even get a mention.
I can stand the jibes about boring, snatch the odd goal , win by the odd goal etc , but what I cant stand is everton being totally ignored.
David Prentice has just reiterated what Tony Marsh and myself said yesterday that the squad is 10 players down from last season, so for all you who say we only need 3-4 need to wake up and smell the coffee.
Can't even be bothered anymore, going to watch womens volley ball on Sky for a year, its more exciting than this seasons going to be. Really really fed up with it all, can't see the point in bothering may as well sell the rest as well and enter the 5 a side league at the pitz.
Can we get a refund on the season ticket??? Like many fans I'm fed up with it all, always the same with Everton, should I be surprised? Why does the Echo tell us player to join in next 48 hrs etc? When a fee hasn't even been agreed? They must think we are muppets or something, they blatantly haven't got a clue. Today they say that they doubt anyone will be in before the weekend. Funny how yesterday they thought deals would happen with 48 hrs, they should be ashamed....
TG, you're right: 10 players to stay 5th with a chance of cracking the top 4, 3 or 4 to stay up with an outside chance of europe if nobody get injured. Watch womans volley ball... it's the only option left.
re: Tom Green ten players.
No, you and Toy ’nob head’ Marsh said we had let ten players go that needed replacing with first teamers.
That was mis representing because it aint true.
No, you and Toy ’nob head’ Marsh said we had let ten players go that needed replacing with first teamers.
That was mis representing because it aint true.
Pete said...
"going to watch womens volley ball on sky for a year, its more exciting than this seasons going to..."
Well DUH!! we?d need to win the treble and score 200 goals to get me going like WVB does....
Seriously tho, its easy for me to say this as living so far away I cant even consider buying one but next summer please will the season ticket holders tell the club in no uncertain terms that you will not part with your pre payment for what promises to be a massive disappointment until the board make a prepayment of their own in improving the "product" on offer.
"going to watch womens volley ball on sky for a year, its more exciting than this seasons going to..."
Well DUH!! we?d need to win the treble and score 200 goals to get me going like WVB does....
Seriously tho, its easy for me to say this as living so far away I cant even consider buying one but next summer please will the season ticket holders tell the club in no uncertain terms that you will not part with your pre payment for what promises to be a massive disappointment until the board make a prepayment of their own in improving the "product" on offer.
10 players down. Let?s go through them, shall we?
1. Victor Anichebe, at the Olympics, because we all know they last all season don?t they?
2. Tim Cahill, he?ll be like a new signing(!). He?s injured, but he?s vital to morale and to the 4-5-1.
3. Lee Carsley, left a hole in the first team that needs filling!
4. Manuel Fernandes, yes a blow to loose this chap. He was amazing.
5. Thomas Gravesen, oh how I?ll miss him so much, his consistency in the first team was... undetermined.
6. Tony Hibbert, miss him while injured, but when he?s fit people will want him to get injured
7. Andy Johnson, somehow racked in £10.5m which will no doubt go straight in the transfer kitty.
8. Steven Pienaar, another injury woe.
9. James Vaughan, probably suspended for a few games, but he?ll be back.
10. Stefan Wessels, see Thomas Gravesen.
So, I make it 5 permanent losses, 3 of whom were vital first team players. Out of the other 5, one is suspended (for how long?), two have broken feet (though one should be fit in a fortnight or so), one is away in Beijing and Hibbert is injured (when did he get injured?)
1. Victor Anichebe, at the Olympics, because we all know they last all season don?t they?
2. Tim Cahill, he?ll be like a new signing(!). He?s injured, but he?s vital to morale and to the 4-5-1.
3. Lee Carsley, left a hole in the first team that needs filling!
4. Manuel Fernandes, yes a blow to loose this chap. He was amazing.
5. Thomas Gravesen, oh how I?ll miss him so much, his consistency in the first team was... undetermined.
6. Tony Hibbert, miss him while injured, but when he?s fit people will want him to get injured
7. Andy Johnson, somehow racked in £10.5m which will no doubt go straight in the transfer kitty.
8. Steven Pienaar, another injury woe.
9. James Vaughan, probably suspended for a few games, but he?ll be back.
10. Stefan Wessels, see Thomas Gravesen.
So, I make it 5 permanent losses, 3 of whom were vital first team players. Out of the other 5, one is suspended (for how long?), two have broken feet (though one should be fit in a fortnight or so), one is away in Beijing and Hibbert is injured (when did he get injured?)
Haven’t we also forgotten McFadden & Stubbs!!!
Here´s the complete list of players out over the last months..
Please correct me if I´ve missed anyone.
OUT:
Wessels, Carsley, McFadden, Fernandes, Gravesen, Johnson, Gardner, Stubbs, De Silva, and possiby Baines to go
IN:
Please correct me if I´ve missed anyone.
OUT:
Wessels, Carsley, McFadden, Fernandes, Gravesen, Johnson, Gardner, Stubbs, De Silva, and possiby Baines to go
IN:
10 to improve the squad with at least a chance of getting in top four. Or 4 to replace what we have lost and hope that the rest haven't impoved on last year; niether is going to happen, is it?
Here’s my take :
We ended last season with six main midfielders who we relied on. The general consensus was that this was too few, and Moyes had dropped a couple of hints that he agreed with this. We then let Carsley and Fernandes go. So we’ve known for 3 months that we needed to bring in 2, preferably more quality midfielders. It’s unlucky that Cahill and Pienaar are injured, but its not abnormal, West Ham had much worse injury problems last season, you’ve got to plan for the possibility of at least two midfielders being injured at any one time.
It’s unacceptable that we’re in the situation we’re in now. Let’s just hope that Rodwell and Gosling can rise to the task.
We ended last season with six main midfielders who we relied on. The general consensus was that this was too few, and Moyes had dropped a couple of hints that he agreed with this. We then let Carsley and Fernandes go. So we’ve known for 3 months that we needed to bring in 2, preferably more quality midfielders. It’s unlucky that Cahill and Pienaar are injured, but its not abnormal, West Ham had much worse injury problems last season, you’ve got to plan for the possibility of at least two midfielders being injured at any one time.
It’s unacceptable that we’re in the situation we’re in now. Let’s just hope that Rodwell and Gosling can rise to the task.
Moyse may think Baines is injury prone since being at Everton and he has cover in Valente and Lescott. He might want to use the money to strenghen midfield. In his few games he’s played he started off looking very impressive but since his return from injury has got to the same level as when we got him.
In my opinion he can still be a quality player but he is going to need a consistant run of games and he may not get that at left back but he will probably be used as a left midfield no doubt at some time. Unfortunately his place has been taken by a center half who’s turned out to be the best left back in the league. I would have no problem swapping him for a right back of equal quality as i think we are desperate for a fulback who can attack as well as defend on the right.
But all in all if it’s just paper talk i’m not bothered as he was and can be a very good player and future England left back once Lescott gets the center back role.
In my opinion he can still be a quality player but he is going to need a consistant run of games and he may not get that at left back but he will probably be used as a left midfield no doubt at some time. Unfortunately his place has been taken by a center half who’s turned out to be the best left back in the league. I would have no problem swapping him for a right back of equal quality as i think we are desperate for a fulback who can attack as well as defend on the right.
But all in all if it’s just paper talk i’m not bothered as he was and can be a very good player and future England left back once Lescott gets the center back role.
According to sky baines isn’t going - " Everton are not interested in selling Leighton Baines to Sunderland, skysports.com understands."
http://www.skysports.com/football/transfer_clockwatch/0,23710,14896,00.html
http://www.skysports.com/football/transfer_clockwatch/0,23710,14896,00.html
They denied all rumours of an AJ sale, including a yellow banner of doom claiming "Breaking News". He still went, Stephen.
Stephen Carson:
They said the same about AJ, AJ didn’t want to go but he went. Go figure.
They said the same about AJ, AJ didn’t want to go but he went. Go figure.
Apologies for not having my full name on that last comment folks.
I think it's a huge shame that we are leaving any possible transfers this late... We really needed to push on after last season and strengthen... I fear a very bad season... it annoys the hell out of me with all these signings imminent and nothing happens... but there we go..
I don?t know what your all moaning about? Phil Neville is here to stay and Andy van der Meyde loves it on the physio?s couch!
Actually, AJ did indeed want to go. People who claim he did not are incorrect in there view. We got the best deal we could for him. The rumours about going back South were true which is why he went to a small club like Fulham.
David, I do not believe for one minute that AJ wanted to leave. I am more inclined to believe that something happened at the Preston game. Perhaps a falling out with Moyes ?
I live in trepidation that this will come back to haunt us. Like the last game of the season at Fulham ?
I live in trepidation that this will come back to haunt us. Like the last game of the season at Fulham ?
To be fair I think the comments on needing about ten players is drawn from the 7 vacant seats now available on the Everton bus and add to that from DM’s own quote when we were crawling over the line that he thought we needed an additional four or five players to make a crack of fourth place. Given he said that before the seven players departed I can see the logic behind ten. Whether those players played every game or hardly any they were available and indeed were called upon in situations were injuries and fatigue bit hard.
The season coming we don’t even have bench warmers to give the squad any leeway come injuries or suspensions or international call ups. If you think the current squad is anywhere near ready to challenge for the a good league run, two domestic cups and European football then tell your doctor to lower the dosage.
The season coming we don’t even have bench warmers to give the squad any leeway come injuries or suspensions or international call ups. If you think the current squad is anywhere near ready to challenge for the a good league run, two domestic cups and European football then tell your doctor to lower the dosage.
John Charles
Get your facts right mate no one said 10 players had left, we said that we have a squad of 15 first team players and we need 10 more to make up a squad capable of fighting on all fronts.
Either you can?t read or you are stupid. FFS!
Get your facts right mate no one said 10 players had left, we said that we have a squad of 15 first team players and we need 10 more to make up a squad capable of fighting on all fronts.
Either you can?t read or you are stupid. FFS!
One thing that amazes me with our transfer dealings is the length of time it takes. Yesterday it was announced Villa bid for Cuellar, today signed medical, wages etc !! The same with Shorey last week, WTF actually goes on with us and transfers ?
I guess Moyes wants to recruit only quality to improve the team and squad - he clearly doesn’t want run of the mill just to pad the squad out.
Trouble is, to get quality you have to pay the going rate in terms of fee, wages and agent’s bung.
And there’s the dilemma; we don’t have the where-with-all to do that.
So what does Moyes do? Prejudice his principles and sign players that won’t improve matters or play a dangerous game of hardball, unsettling targetted players and leaving it as late as possible so that the selling club feels that a last minute deal for a bit less than they’d hoped for is better than holding onto a disgruntled player.
Not saying its the right option, but it seriously looks like the latter. Fantastic if it comes off, but we’re staring into the abyss if it doesn’t.
Trouble is, to get quality you have to pay the going rate in terms of fee, wages and agent’s bung.
And there’s the dilemma; we don’t have the where-with-all to do that.
So what does Moyes do? Prejudice his principles and sign players that won’t improve matters or play a dangerous game of hardball, unsettling targetted players and leaving it as late as possible so that the selling club feels that a last minute deal for a bit less than they’d hoped for is better than holding onto a disgruntled player.
Not saying its the right option, but it seriously looks like the latter. Fantastic if it comes off, but we’re staring into the abyss if it doesn’t.
Steve
thats OK if you only want 1 or 2 quality players but if you NEED at least 4 or 5 then you need to get someone siigned quickly.
Villa have signed Cuellar, Curtis Davies, Steve Sidwell, Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Nicky Shorey and Luke Young with the minimum of fuss.
Spurs have signed John Bostock (Crystal Palace, £700,000), Heurelho Gomes (PSV Eindhoven), Luka Modric (£15.8m), Giovani dos Santos (Barcelona, £4.7m), David Bentley (Blackburn, £15m), Cesar Sanchez (Real Zaragoza).
We have signed ...............................
thats OK if you only want 1 or 2 quality players but if you NEED at least 4 or 5 then you need to get someone siigned quickly.
Villa have signed Cuellar, Curtis Davies, Steve Sidwell, Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Nicky Shorey and Luke Young with the minimum of fuss.
Spurs have signed John Bostock (Crystal Palace, £700,000), Heurelho Gomes (PSV Eindhoven), Luka Modric (£15.8m), Giovani dos Santos (Barcelona, £4.7m), David Bentley (Blackburn, £15m), Cesar Sanchez (Real Zaragoza).
We have signed ...............................
Jay,
Unfortunately you’ve missed my point. Please re-read my post. I was trying to explain how the Club is trying to fit a quart into a pint pot - nothing else.
Both Villa and Spurs have big backers - we don’t. You and I may not like it, but that’s where we are. We have maybe £20m to play with, hence Moyes’ decision to hold fire until as late as possible.
Incidentally, not one of Villa’s signings would make our first choice eleven and Spurs have spent nearer £40m. Even if we chose only Modric and Bentley (who would improve our first eleven), that would be £10m more than we have with nothing left for the so-called other 8 players (by the way I don’t think we need ten - still more like 5 - 6).
This isn’t a loaded question:
What is it that we want? Few of real quality or more of lower quality that won’t necessary improve the team? We can’t have both!
As I said, its a dangerous game but fantastic if it comes off, but we?re staring into the abyss if it doesn?t.
Unfortunately you’ve missed my point. Please re-read my post. I was trying to explain how the Club is trying to fit a quart into a pint pot - nothing else.
Both Villa and Spurs have big backers - we don’t. You and I may not like it, but that’s where we are. We have maybe £20m to play with, hence Moyes’ decision to hold fire until as late as possible.
Incidentally, not one of Villa’s signings would make our first choice eleven and Spurs have spent nearer £40m. Even if we chose only Modric and Bentley (who would improve our first eleven), that would be £10m more than we have with nothing left for the so-called other 8 players (by the way I don’t think we need ten - still more like 5 - 6).
This isn’t a loaded question:
What is it that we want? Few of real quality or more of lower quality that won’t necessary improve the team? We can’t have both!
As I said, its a dangerous game but fantastic if it comes off, but we?re staring into the abyss if it doesn?t.
Where are all the people on here at the weekend saying we had players flying in on Monday for medicals??? You lot piss me off getting everone's hopes up. You have gone quiet ,Vinnie Bird etc etc
Oh dear and now Sunderland is taking the piss. No really, they are really taking the piss. A bloody yo-yo club. When I read from the OS that we’re not selling Baines it only means one thing - we’re holding our for more money!
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1 Posted 12/08/2008 at 13:50:14
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That Cat might get a game ya know!