ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Ayodele Adeleye

Thanks to the Toffeeweb Rumour Mill, I spotted the rumour that we are linked with Sparta Rotterdam's 20-year-old centre-half Ayodele "Dele" Adeleye, who said that Everton had been interested for a while but that nothing is known and he is "still a Rotterdam player".

Having had a Sparta season ticket last year, I can comfortably say that if Adeleye were to sign (a possibility given the lack of transfer gossip), he would really only be a back-up to our other three centre-halves. He is an OK defender but very much Joey Yobo Mk 2 in his ball distribution. He is fairly nippy and does have a good engine, and can power a few headers in at set-pieces.

Whether or not the move to the Premier League would suit him or not and improve his game surrounded by better players, is where I have my doubts. The Dutch league while a similar style to the Premier League does not have the same depth of talent that the English league does. I feel if he were to be bid for, that we really must be bidding £2m tops. Sparta's record fee for a player sold is £2.5m when they sold Marvin Emnes to Middlesbrough last season (who did the square root of nothing while Boro got relegated).

My gut feeling as well is that we'd be chasing the wrong player, and would rather go for Kevin Strootman, their 19-year old central midfielder. He's strong, peach of a shot, good distribution, and naturally left-footed and could work well on the wing cutting inside on the right allowing Naughton to overlap.

And given all of the above, is Moyes looking for a scout in Holland? I do need a job..
Peter Roberts, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Posted 10/07/2009 at 14:37:35

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Paul O'Hanlon
1 Posted 10/07/2009 at 21:37:51

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You obvioulsy know what you’re talking about regarding this "Dele" and sounds very average indeed. Which backs up what I always think about the Rumour Mill, it’s for fun, not for taking seriously. Seriously doubt Moyes would buy a backup for Lescott, Jags and Yobo when he already has Rodwell and the new young German lad.

Ismael Bondarenko
2 Posted 10/07/2009 at 21:56:38

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Very enlightening as I have never personally seen him play. However you forgot to mention that if he really is any good then he will be off to the African Cup of Nations for January and considering he would be a possible replacement for Yobo that would be the last thing we needed. A very unlikely signing for this summer I think.

Scott Milne
3 Posted 11/07/2009 at 07:09:47

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Basically, if our scouts and Moyes, Stubbs et al think he’s a goer, than I’ll be happy to see him come in.

We can’t honestly expect to see Mustafi or Rodwell starting Premier League matches at the back if we lose more than one of Jagielka, Lescott or Yobo — we really do need a new centre-back and I can’t remember reading any other rumours about any others so far this summer.

Steve Edwards
4 Posted 11/07/2009 at 10:09:48

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Scott — We’ve been strongly linked to the current Russian international centre back, I can’t recall his name. If Lescott were to go, I think that sort of signing would be more likely. I wouldn’t rule out another centre-back coming in even if Lescott stays. If that were the case, then it is more likely to be some up-and-coming player who would settle for playing more of a bit-part role.

Bradley Nolan
5 Posted 11/07/2009 at 12:37:20

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Sol Cambell is available for free, he’d be experienced cover for injuries and suspensions, remembering; Richard Gough turned out to be good business.

Steve Edwards
6 Posted 11/07/2009 at 13:39:33

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Bradley — Did you watch the Portsmouth v Liverpool game last season? Campbell was an embarrassment. It was sad to see a great player deteriorate to that level. No thanks, I don’t think he would do a Dickie Gough.

Ben Jones
7 Posted 11/07/2009 at 13:59:28

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God no, not Campbell, he’ll want ridicilous wages, and a player with around £30k a week for a 4th centre-back is definitely not worth it.

Ray Said
8 Posted 11/07/2009 at 14:15:34

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Campbell is no Gough. He is shot and not worth the risk at 200 quid a week.

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