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Louis Saha would certainly not have been the first name on my list but on the question of him being injury prone, something which seems to be concerning a lot of Evertonians, my mind goes back a few years to the signings of Peter Reid and Andy Gray, both equally injury prone and yet two of the most influential signings in Everton's history.
I am not saying Saha will propel the team into the top four, but he's got to be worth a punt. Moyes says he has cost nothing and his influence on the likes of Vaughan, Anichebe and Obinna could be significant. Assuming Obinna is cleared by the Foreign Office, that's four players in for essentially nothing, all of them internationals with decent reputations — and based on what I saw at the Olympics, Obinna looks like a star in the making.
The whole thing looks like a canny piece of business to me and there is still time for the big money boys to arrive before the deadline. Surely by now people must recognise Moyes' ability to recruit sensibly and get his rewards. If anything it is big-money buys that have gone pear-shaped — Kroldrup, Beattie and now Johnson, for example. I am as frustrated as anyone over Everton's transfer dealings this year, but maybe, just maybe, Moyes has done right in not lashing out huge fees where they are not justified.
Look at Spurs. Two games in, a small fortune paid, and no doubt in the eyes of some fans already in crisis. Aston Villa, similarly, took their expensive squad to Stoke and lost. The other big plus for me is the exposure our own young players are getting. I really hope under the new 7 subs rule, the likes of Baxter, Rodwell and Gosling will stay involved and get their chance to grow and mature with cameo roles in the first team, rather than sit it out in the Reserves and feature in the odd League Cup match.
It's been a long time coming, but with key players to come back from injury too, I actually thing the Everton squad is showing signs of being a very potent mix and above all showing signs of being a team, rather than an assembly of expensive misfits. That was our strength last season, team unity and it's important that is maintained.
Richard Ewart,
Melbourne, Australia Posted 29/08/2008 at 23:40:13
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I think our collective first thoughts on Saha were "too injury prone, too high risk," however looking at his Wikipedia stats I see he has made 146 appearances in the last 5 seasons in the Premier League with a goal return of 56.
This averages out as almost 30 games a season with a goal average of 1 every 2.6 games, which I think we would all be happy with as a foil for 20 goal a season man, Yakubu. After learning this I am forced to reassess my initial analysis. If it is indeed a free transfer I think this could be a great bit of business from Moyes.
Has anyone heard much about Obinna? Moyes said he can play on either wing. He seems quick, and have a look at this video with him running at players. Could be the winger we have missed for years.
Saha had a calf strain on Friday and that is why his medical was postponed to today. Omens are there. Still worth a punt though, no cash to Man U until he plays according to Moyes. Come on though Everton, give moyesey some money and the contract he thoroughly deserves
I dearly hope Saha is able to shake off his injury problems and doesn’t break in half while chasing down a long ball at Goodison.
But I doubt he will. If United’s medical dept. with all it’s resources couldn’t get him fit on a regular basis then he’s either chronically crocked or is mentally soft.
As for Obinna. He could be a great piece of business. For a year. I saw some of him at the Games and if he develops to his potential Inter won’t be letting him stay here long term. It plugs a hole for a while, but that’s about it. Next season we’ll be on the lookout for another winger.
But for now..let’s see what these two can deliver.
I am excited about Obinna. He looks class. Saha was worth a shot. If he’s fit he’ll be a decent back up striker, and if he’s not he won’t cost us anything because his transfer fee is based on appearances.
Absolutely worth a punt, he was fantastic for Fulham for a season way back when and he might have lost a yard or 2 but surely he’s gained a bit of nouse and someone so highly rated by Sir Alex can’t be all bad, regular football might be good for him, some positive stuff, thumbs up :)
"Watch this Space" will haunt Bill Kenwright for the rest of his life. Along with the other 10 or so big lies that he has told over the years! The above will be he last anyway. Think he will retire this year and sell the club to Phil Green.
My thoughts on this is more about where Saha, will fit into our 451 formation.
To me he’s too much like AJ in that he has a good turn of pace but his distribution is not great.
Overall I’m a little underwhelmed by the signing although I hope to be proved wrong and it can’t be bad to have cover for the Yak in the unlikely event that he gets nobled
What we have scrambled together in a few days is welcome although a bit panic driven to my mind..I have misgivings but am optimistically looking forward to maybe one or two of the loan players making good..However, it does not excuse the delay in movement and the promises made..If I make a promise I keep it..or dont make it...but thats honourable and I dont think the word is in the present boards vocabulory..We still need that one big name signing to really lift the fans and I daresay the other players..I reckon all the money should be put into signing Arshevin or Moutinho...either would be the ingredient required to bring the best out of our squad..it would make us better at keeping possesion and cut out the stupid hoof ball stuff we habitually play, and this dates back to the Dunc days..Ferguson by the way only ever played over 30 games in one season for us..ONCE..and in all his time at EFC scored just 22 goals..Cambell scored 45 goals and played more often. I really do not know why Dunc was hero worshipped..he involved himself in too many sendings off was very injury prone and when he played it was dogs of war stuff...high balls and hope..I prefer to see a bit of flair. Whenever EFC were really good they had flair and played the ball on the ground.....better to watch and a much better disciplinary record.
On the Saha injuries issue, people keep mentioning Andy Grey and Peter Reid as examples of players who came to Everton with a bad injury record. Well I think that I must point out that they weren’t 30 years old when they joined the club. Reidy was in his mid twenties and correct me if I’m wrong but Andy was 27/28. Saha’s career is very much on the way out so for him to come good now is very much a long shot. Another thing I remember only recently Alex Ferguson complaining that nobody at United new what was wrong with Saha. He wouldn’t play unless he was absolutely, totally 100% fit. How many players are ever that, most of them are carrying something into most games. I think the chances are we’ve bought another Shandy.. hope I’m wrong and I really mean that, I’ll be the first to hold my hand up if I am.
Cast your mind back to the Sky interview with uncle Bill some weeks ago - Bill says "David mentions a player to me & I think yes, now I see why" (we automatically think he must have seen some magic in whoever he’s taking about) well, its all becomiing clear now, he was actually talking about the bleeding price. Well anyway, I suppose providing 1 or 2 of them can do a job for us our bank balance is starting to grow !.
Steve, I’m in total agreement with your comments I’m afraid I don’t see Saha making the team sheet very often and when he does we’re all going to be sat there waiting for him to breakdown or be stretchered off. In the mean time presumably we’ll continue to pay him a healthy wage along with AVD. Collectively the wages of these two will have a significant drain on our current limited resources and limit our options in the future. Of course your right if he couldn’t shake off the injury to date what hope is there at the age of 30. For me this has got to be the worst piece of business to date, a huge disappointment I really do hope I’m wrong.
Seemingly Saha refuses to play if he has even the slightest injury and that is why he misses so many games, I was disgusted when I first heard he had signed but if it really is a free transfer or small money then he probably is worth a gamble and I was surprised to see how many games he played for United in the last 5 years
Richard, well reasoned article mate.I agree, Saha has to be worth a shot especially with minimal outlay just yet.Moysie keep them coming mate, your overall record in the transfer market to date,apart from the notable exceptions is remarkable, considering what you spent. By the way, is this the same Richard Ewart that went to Ridgeway Secondry School with me in the 70’s and was the only other Toffee in the whole school down south.
Well at least Saha didn’t cost anything - unlike Beattie who also came to us with a good goalscoring record but not the injury history that Saha has. Will we create the same amount of chances for Saha to score that he had at Man Utd ?
Jeez, just tried watching football focus. Who keeps agreeing to having this morbid Lawrencen bloke on tv... plus its all top four oriented... nuts to it.
Look lads ! This is not a critisism. Can we leave it with the wiki nonsense. Anyone can go in and add to an entry, half of what is on there is bollocks. My mate went in once and wrote that Elvis has been found on a desert island. It was on for 2 weeks before someone removed it.
Just read that Saha IS fit, he just needs games, Its on skysports. Hes not on man utd injury list on the site utd site either.
Put him in the ressies miweek, see gow he gets on.
Give the lad a chance, if he scores us a few goals then spot on. Hasnt cost anything. Hopefully he can show the kids a thing or two. Maybe a bit of magic will rub off on Anichebe.
Got more hope on that Obinna fella though. He looks class.
Christ Dave, I booked my holidays on the strength of that Wiki report. Spent a whole fortnight on Mustique with the wife nagging me as I looked for Elvis to sign me autograph book.
Andy, just read your post and although I think wiki needs to be taken with a pinch of salt at times, the fact that DM has spent nothing ? literally not a penny ? on any of the incoming players suggests to me that our negotiators are at least looking to spend our summer budget on a big name...
C'mon Lisbon let him go! Joao wants to be a blue!!!!
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1 Posted 29/08/2008 at 20:28:37
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This averages out as almost 30 games a season with a goal average of 1 every 2.6 games, which I think we would all be happy with as a foil for 20 goal a season man, Yakubu. After learning this I am forced to reassess my initial analysis. If it is indeed a free transfer I think this could be a great bit of business from Moyes.