The Mail Bag
Don't worry... Be happy
Comments (29)
Does it matter if it is 10 signings or 4, if its box office names or unknowns, those touting for a move (or their agents), or those out of the blue you've never heard of, or even if we sell in the meantime?
Six weeks ago, the names Kyle Naughton (or Walker for that matter) and Lorik Cana, to name but two (or three), meant nothing to you (or me) and to be truthful they still don't, do they? Nor does the name of the Yank we've got (I can't remember the name whilst typing, and I'm purposely not going back to check), or that kid from Southend. Or the Port Vale trialist. So why worry?
We wish we'd bought...? who? — and please give me a rational argument. The Swedish guy who is umming and aahhring or the 39-year-old playmaker who wants £5k more per week (that's me incidentally) don't count. Let's remember the unknowns of 5 years ago who make you proud now - that's nearly all your first 11 today bar Yobo, Neville and Yakubu (the latter two who don't count as they played in the Prem elsewhere at the time).
Relax, enjoy the Summer, watch the Ashes, marvel at Le Tour, play some golf, go abroad and dance to Europop or Lisa Lashes and be glad the Circus that is Wayne and Coleen doesn't envelop us.
Carpe Diem; tomorrow might belong to someone else.
Mike Jones, Posted 24/07/2009 at 22:13:39
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Mike, I am sure you’ll agree with me that post was pretty damn useless.
Braam, I am sure you’ll agree with us that we don’t care what you think. If you don’t like the post, just move on ... don’t criticize!
Wow a Fresh approach to the doom and gloom merchants. Yet still people find time to winge and moan hey Braam!!
Time to enjoy the summer!
Time to enjoy the summer!
Anyone who knows a little about football knew who Howard, Jags, Lescott, Baines were. Those that know more, knew that Arteta graduated from Barca, Cahill’s goal for Milwall got them to an FA Cup final and the pace and finishing technique of Jo helped CSKA fly high in europe and domestically.
So while you (Mike) might not be bothered we’ve missed out on Cana, those of us who know a bit about out the premiership understand that Cana is easily twice the player captain pip is in CM + he can play out on the left. So while you are finishing the last of your summerie Pims and watch the blues take to the field minus a few decent fresh faces remember the summer lf dillusion you enjoy as the reality hits home that are top targets went else where...
Enjoy the summer.
So while you (Mike) might not be bothered we’ve missed out on Cana, those of us who know a bit about out the premiership understand that Cana is easily twice the player captain pip is in CM + he can play out on the left. So while you are finishing the last of your summerie Pims and watch the blues take to the field minus a few decent fresh faces remember the summer lf dillusion you enjoy as the reality hits home that are top targets went else where...
Enjoy the summer.
Well said Thomas, to those happy to choke on the sand their heads are buried in, be happy with kids neither old or good enough yet for the premier or bargain bin US college kids and god help us if we get injuries or suspensions and need to blood the poor buggers in the premier as they will be lambs to the slaughter, as Thomas says Cana could have and would have given us a valuable alternative in the CM role or would you rather see Osman being bowled off the ball as if he is a tiny schoolboy by some bruiser or Pip outplayed by some quality footwork?
The children we are signing and desperation bargains aren’t suitable for fifth place never mind a push for a CL slot.
The children we are signing and desperation bargains aren’t suitable for fifth place never mind a push for a CL slot.
Tom and Gavin, take a feckin’ chill-pill girls! Thomas, the point quite clearly is that the players we bought (including every single player you mentioned) did not have fans drooling - if you say they did your only kidding yourself. And Gavin, whilst i would like us to look in to a signing or two within the next few weeks i’m not going to pretend that i know what this lad Cana really cana/can’t do.
People seem to forget that the boys we have currently played some pretty nice football at times, WITH Pip in the middle. I thought he was excellent last season for the most part and that surprised me greatly. If nothing else the lad is our natural leader and commands the other players respect. Sure he could be replaced by a better player, but why would that be Cana? If he was that feckin’ good, then why did he sign for Sunderland of all teams?!
We’ve just reached the FA cup final AND we’ve finished 5th twice in two seasons - all of a sudden these players we have aren’t good enough to play for Everton anymore. Granted we need more players and perhaps we need more quality players but it’s not all feckin doom and gloom!
And is it just me or has everyone forgotten we’ve got this gem called Rodwell in our team?! This lad will be given plenty more game time next year so i wouldn’t be surprised if we leave DM well alone this year. We need a right back, centre back and a right winger. I dont think we need a DM player!
Bit of perspective i think is needed by some fans on this site. And some need to relax a little too!
People seem to forget that the boys we have currently played some pretty nice football at times, WITH Pip in the middle. I thought he was excellent last season for the most part and that surprised me greatly. If nothing else the lad is our natural leader and commands the other players respect. Sure he could be replaced by a better player, but why would that be Cana? If he was that feckin’ good, then why did he sign for Sunderland of all teams?!
We’ve just reached the FA cup final AND we’ve finished 5th twice in two seasons - all of a sudden these players we have aren’t good enough to play for Everton anymore. Granted we need more players and perhaps we need more quality players but it’s not all feckin doom and gloom!
And is it just me or has everyone forgotten we’ve got this gem called Rodwell in our team?! This lad will be given plenty more game time next year so i wouldn’t be surprised if we leave DM well alone this year. We need a right back, centre back and a right winger. I dont think we need a DM player!
Bit of perspective i think is needed by some fans on this site. And some need to relax a little too!
Thomas Christensen -
Finally someone who has a knowledge of world football!
i could not agree more! I remember being over the moon when we signed Arteta and i was also very pleased when we signed Pienaar! To the poster - I think a lot of people do actually know about players like Cana who is twice the player neville will ever be! But as we all know a Neville replacement/upgrade will never be bought until he retires, and i think that is why Cana was never pursued. I think our scouting outside of the uk leaves something to be desired!
Matt - i actually agree with you there and its something no one else mentioned "Rodwell"
We are lucky to have him and i can’t wait to see more of him this coming season.
I disagree with your opinion of Neville though sorry.
I think having him as captain sends out the wrong message and makes him an automatic selection in the first Xl which he should never be. He lives of the past and his Man utd days and everytime i watched him last season he was piss poor and gave the ball away very cheaply.
Cahill should be captain and thats that. He is the natural leader.
As for Cana he is a wonderful player and is tailor made for the EPL. He wont be at sunderland long you can bet on that. 5m is a steal!
We are lucky to have him and i can’t wait to see more of him this coming season.
I disagree with your opinion of Neville though sorry.
I think having him as captain sends out the wrong message and makes him an automatic selection in the first Xl which he should never be. He lives of the past and his Man utd days and everytime i watched him last season he was piss poor and gave the ball away very cheaply.
Cahill should be captain and thats that. He is the natural leader.
As for Cana he is a wonderful player and is tailor made for the EPL. He wont be at sunderland long you can bet on that. 5m is a steal!
"Does it matter if it is 10 signings or 4, if its box office names or unknowns, those touting for a move (or their agents), or those out of the blue you’ve never heard of, or even if we sell in the meantime?"
Er, yes. Yes it does.
Does it matter if we don’t progress? Does it matter so long as we’re in amongst the best of the rest? Does it matter so long as we remain in the Premier League in some capacity? Does it matter where we play football, league or location wise? Does it matter if the fans, players and/or managerial staff are mislead? Does it matter if we don’t have a pot to piss in? Does it matter if we do not so sufficient appetite then we’re in danger of disbanding the team that Dave built and losing our ambitious manager to someone who does give a fuck?
If to all the above you can say no, the seize the summer - go and relax, watch the Ashes, marvel at Le Tour, play some golf, go abroad and dance to Europop or Lisa Lashes and be glad the Circus that is Wayne and Coleen doesn’t envelop us. Because doesn’t it just prove that he was right to move on?
But most of all don’t worry, as if you’re happy then tomorrow will almost certainly belong to someone else.
Er, yes. Yes it does.
Does it matter if we don’t progress? Does it matter so long as we’re in amongst the best of the rest? Does it matter so long as we remain in the Premier League in some capacity? Does it matter where we play football, league or location wise? Does it matter if the fans, players and/or managerial staff are mislead? Does it matter if we don’t have a pot to piss in? Does it matter if we do not so sufficient appetite then we’re in danger of disbanding the team that Dave built and losing our ambitious manager to someone who does give a fuck?
If to all the above you can say no, the seize the summer - go and relax, watch the Ashes, marvel at Le Tour, play some golf, go abroad and dance to Europop or Lisa Lashes and be glad the Circus that is Wayne and Coleen doesn’t envelop us. Because doesn’t it just prove that he was right to move on?
But most of all don’t worry, as if you’re happy then tomorrow will almost certainly belong to someone else.
Yes it had me wondering why Cana should choose high-flying, potential Champion League qualifiers on Wearside in preference to one of the better sides in the Premioer League. Maybe he prefers the weather in the northeast or could it be the money ? Frankly it strikes me he has little or no ambition.
Or maybe Tony he thought to himself the EPL pays better than the Bundesliga and if I have a decent season under the very noses of Chelski, Man Utd and Arsenal I might get myself a move. Don’t forget all of those "no marks" Steve Bruce bought at Wigan, just think how much he paid for Palacios and Valencia and how much he got selling them on shortly after. Sunderland could well be rubbing their hands at another astute piece of Brucie business.
Very pissed off. Thank god I am off on holiday. I am not picking up a paper or looking at the internet for a couple of weeks. Every player we are linked with goes elsewhere.
All we need is two or three additions and we have I think the best chance to break the top four. We have the best team spirit, the best fans, as showed in the cup final... so how come we can’t attract players?
This Cana player — how come we missed out on him? Naughton... how come he went elsewhere? The Swedish boy has all gone quiet.. . I'm fed-up all round... it;s frustrating.
Thomas and James, I thought Neville had his best season in a Blue shirt last season. The biggest compliment I can offer him is that after about a month with him in the middle nobody, and I mean nobody was criticising Moyes for not getting a replacement for Carsley.
We need new players, especially down the right hand side but we all now that nothing is going to happen until we have the Sky money or if we sell Lescott.
Did we officially state our interest in Cana? I didn’t see anything.
It is quite funny that a lot of people (knee jerk reactionists) are frothing at the mouth for missing out on these signing when a few months ago we had no idea who they were.
Granted if you have seen him play and know what he is like then fair enough but most haven’t and don’t, yet they are going bananas over it.
The Naughton deal leaves a bad taste in the mouth but if he wants to go to Spuds then there’s nothing Everton can do about it.
We need new players, especially down the right hand side but we all now that nothing is going to happen until we have the Sky money or if we sell Lescott.
Did we officially state our interest in Cana? I didn’t see anything.
It is quite funny that a lot of people (knee jerk reactionists) are frothing at the mouth for missing out on these signing when a few months ago we had no idea who they were.
Granted if you have seen him play and know what he is like then fair enough but most haven’t and don’t, yet they are going bananas over it.
The Naughton deal leaves a bad taste in the mouth but if he wants to go to Spuds then there’s nothing Everton can do about it.
I spent last evening at a Quiz Night in Formby with my old adversary,Brian Noble.Nobby and I don’t agree about much but I think our discussion took very much the same line as your post,Mike Jones.
What’s the point of getting upset and losing sleep over signings that are only pipedreams and will never happen.
The Editor is always telling us not to believe anything till till ’the scarf picture’appears in the Echo.These days,it would be safer to say when the ’capture’ runs out for his first Prem game.We should take that advice,enjoy what’s left of the summer and just look forward to the opening game-new signings or not!
What’s the point of getting upset and losing sleep over signings that are only pipedreams and will never happen.
The Editor is always telling us not to believe anything till till ’the scarf picture’appears in the Echo.These days,it would be safer to say when the ’capture’ runs out for his first Prem game.We should take that advice,enjoy what’s left of the summer and just look forward to the opening game-new signings or not!
Trouble is Doddy we get the same shit every season:
the transfer window isn’t open yet
the transfer window has a long way to go
it’s only mid July
we still have a few days until August
then after the season starts and some of our key players still some way from starting a game what then wait til January?
The CEO makes statements like we want to get recruitments in early to bed them in in time for the start of the new season, well last time I looked the team are already mid way through their preparations and already in USA and who has joined, who has signed and who of those do you honest hand to heart say will be likely to appear beyond catching splinters in their arses as bench warmers because we barely have enough to name on a match day until another first team player is injured/suspended?
the transfer window isn’t open yet
the transfer window has a long way to go
it’s only mid July
we still have a few days until August
then after the season starts and some of our key players still some way from starting a game what then wait til January?
The CEO makes statements like we want to get recruitments in early to bed them in in time for the start of the new season, well last time I looked the team are already mid way through their preparations and already in USA and who has joined, who has signed and who of those do you honest hand to heart say will be likely to appear beyond catching splinters in their arses as bench warmers because we barely have enough to name on a match day until another first team player is injured/suspended?
Relax and enjoy the summer as Everton fail to compete with every other team around them in the transfer market. On the positive side, atleast we haven’t lost any of our key players yet.
Expections are high at the moment we are on a crest of a wave so now is the best time to attract players.We have never been in the position we are in now for the last ten years to win something or to really challenage the top four so lets take advantage.This is why it is so frustrating with the transfers or lack of, because our stock has never been so high.
Tony -
Neville best season perhaps yes but thats not really saying much is it. Yes he a great professional & committed but is he good enough for an everton team to challenge the top 4? Sorry the answer is no in my opinion.
If you play midfield you have to be able to pass! And his passing is horrible.
With regards to Cana i think you are absolutely right. The club never stated an interest so i think its safe to say there wasn’t one. This is why he was not signed it has nothing to do with him choosing sunderland over everton or a lack of ambition. He is a fantastic player and i think a lot of clubs will regret not signing him.
Naughton does leave a bad taste Tony yes could not agree more.
Steven sums it up for me though with
"this is why it is so frustrating with the transfers or lack of, because our stock has never been so high."
We desperately need to strengthen while we are strong yet i doubt it will ever happen as we blew the best chance when we finished 4th.
Neville best season perhaps yes but thats not really saying much is it. Yes he a great professional & committed but is he good enough for an everton team to challenge the top 4? Sorry the answer is no in my opinion.
If you play midfield you have to be able to pass! And his passing is horrible.
With regards to Cana i think you are absolutely right. The club never stated an interest so i think its safe to say there wasn’t one. This is why he was not signed it has nothing to do with him choosing sunderland over everton or a lack of ambition. He is a fantastic player and i think a lot of clubs will regret not signing him.
Naughton does leave a bad taste Tony yes could not agree more.
Steven sums it up for me though with
"this is why it is so frustrating with the transfers or lack of, because our stock has never been so high."
We desperately need to strengthen while we are strong yet i doubt it will ever happen as we blew the best chance when we finished 4th.
So the suggested alternative to evertonian transfer ’hell’ is....cricket, cycling, playing golf or dancing to lisa lashes?
I think i’ll stick to this hell.
I think i’ll stick to this hell.
Finished a good game of tennis, little swim at the lido and thought I’d just take a brief nerdy peek at nonstopmoaningbastards.com in between shower and going out for a few wines.
Never fails. Mike, you’re clearly a relaxed well balanced man who has more than one interest. What the hell are you doing posting on here about such things? Surely you know that makes you delusional and out of touch.
Been a good summer so far and likely to get much better over next 6 weeks, regardless of what doesn’t happen at Goodison Park. Clearly the team that finihed 5th last season without it’s best midfielder, best attacker, best defender (for a bit) and any atackers for a long stretch, has just lost it and will be lucky to finish top half because Spurs have signed a young right back, Villa have spent the Barry money on a timid midfielder who scored 1 goal last season and can’t play till Xmas and Sunderland have signed an Albanian midfielder.
And all I have left to think about is regular tennis, regular drinking, 3 Ashes tests, a week working in Sweden and a fortnight chilling on Isle de Re with my kids & no trace of nonstopmoaningbastards.com. You and I can’t be the only one’s Mike, surely...
Reasons to be cheerful, one, two, three...
Never fails. Mike, you’re clearly a relaxed well balanced man who has more than one interest. What the hell are you doing posting on here about such things? Surely you know that makes you delusional and out of touch.
Been a good summer so far and likely to get much better over next 6 weeks, regardless of what doesn’t happen at Goodison Park. Clearly the team that finihed 5th last season without it’s best midfielder, best attacker, best defender (for a bit) and any atackers for a long stretch, has just lost it and will be lucky to finish top half because Spurs have signed a young right back, Villa have spent the Barry money on a timid midfielder who scored 1 goal last season and can’t play till Xmas and Sunderland have signed an Albanian midfielder.
And all I have left to think about is regular tennis, regular drinking, 3 Ashes tests, a week working in Sweden and a fortnight chilling on Isle de Re with my kids & no trace of nonstopmoaningbastards.com. You and I can’t be the only one’s Mike, surely...
Reasons to be cheerful, one, two, three...
I’m all for enjoying the summer sun and sports, in fact i have been. however i want to enjoy next season even more. Rgiht now as people have suggested we are a pretty attractive proposition as a side to potential signings. while the player we have have done very well for us and finishing 5th and reaching the cup final was great i want more than that. But with our current financial plight and BK at the helm we are never going to be a top 4 side. For all moyes astute signings the best players wont come because of our wage structure and the good ones we have will always be a target of sides who are prepared to pay big money to get them. Right now Arsenal are vulnerable and with sum investment in the team i beleive we could have pushed them for 4th place next season but without new additions in key areas replacing the weak links in the team we have no chance of overtaking them. So lets all enjoy the summer and no doubt a decent season next year but when we are wondering why we dont occupy a top 4 place lets all remember another summer of inactivity in the transfer market.
Ha ha, Alan Kirwin! I like your style :)
I agree with the post on this occasion. Enjoy the Summer. We have brought in Jo, we still need another couple of players down the right and at the back, but there’s still time.
Let’s face it, only Man City have done much and we cannot compete with them financially. Last Summer was much worse as by this stage we had lost AJ and signed absolutely nobody.
I’m finishing work now and I’m going to a barbecue tonight, a 25mile bike traioning run with half a dozen mates first thing in the morning, lunch at a country pub with the family tomorrow lunchtime, watch a bit of telly, may clean the car if I feel like it and I’ll probably log in to Toffeeweb in the evening just to catch up. I’ll not be thinking EFC for the rest of the time - I have 40 weeks of the year where it dominates and you need to take it easy. My opinion anyway.
Alan - you do drink a lot of wine it seems - the chilled Rose has obviously arrived. I suppose Toffeeweb is like a Whine Bar for you?? :)
I agree with the post on this occasion. Enjoy the Summer. We have brought in Jo, we still need another couple of players down the right and at the back, but there’s still time.
Let’s face it, only Man City have done much and we cannot compete with them financially. Last Summer was much worse as by this stage we had lost AJ and signed absolutely nobody.
I’m finishing work now and I’m going to a barbecue tonight, a 25mile bike traioning run with half a dozen mates first thing in the morning, lunch at a country pub with the family tomorrow lunchtime, watch a bit of telly, may clean the car if I feel like it and I’ll probably log in to Toffeeweb in the evening just to catch up. I’ll not be thinking EFC for the rest of the time - I have 40 weeks of the year where it dominates and you need to take it easy. My opinion anyway.
Alan - you do drink a lot of wine it seems - the chilled Rose has obviously arrived. I suppose Toffeeweb is like a Whine Bar for you?? :)
For all those who seem disappointed that we didn’t sign Cana, why did Marseille sell him? If this guy was something special why has he ended up at Sunderland?
Get a grip, he is an average player and if you think Moyes not signing him shows a lack of ambition then you know very little about football. We don’t even need another defensive midfielder. On our limited budget there are other areas that need strengthening.
Get a grip, he is an average player and if you think Moyes not signing him shows a lack of ambition then you know very little about football. We don’t even need another defensive midfielder. On our limited budget there are other areas that need strengthening.
Alan Clarke we need cover in central midfield, Pip played the best he has in a blue shirt as he was alongside Arteta but then he got injured so showed his weakness again. We need cover in a number of positions Alan so when do you think we should expect them, July, August, January, never?
Thanks Karl :)
Well spotted. I do rather enjoy the grape. A fine, nicely chilled bone dry Rose goes down like silk knickers this time of year.
Once Autumn is on the wane it’s back to some nice reds. Whilst we’re en vacances I’ll be making one of my occasional pilgrimages to Chateau Kirwan, on the Haute Medoc across the Gironde from Bordeaux. Very dim & distant relations (less of the dim). I have a 1982 bottle (present) that I plan to open within hours of our next league title (or European victory).
But, in all seriousness, there’s sod all we can do about what’s happening and, particularly at this time of year, there’s so many things to do and talk about. I’m off out for dinner in few mins to local mates. He’s a Geordie with primary progressive MS and the bar-codes lost 6-1 to the mighty Leyton Orient today. But I know he’ll be the one laughing most.
The hidden moral is that so many contributors to this site (and of course other fan forums) have lost touch with a sense of perspective. We all hurt, but life’s too fucking short.
Well spotted. I do rather enjoy the grape. A fine, nicely chilled bone dry Rose goes down like silk knickers this time of year.
Once Autumn is on the wane it’s back to some nice reds. Whilst we’re en vacances I’ll be making one of my occasional pilgrimages to Chateau Kirwan, on the Haute Medoc across the Gironde from Bordeaux. Very dim & distant relations (less of the dim). I have a 1982 bottle (present) that I plan to open within hours of our next league title (or European victory).
But, in all seriousness, there’s sod all we can do about what’s happening and, particularly at this time of year, there’s so many things to do and talk about. I’m off out for dinner in few mins to local mates. He’s a Geordie with primary progressive MS and the bar-codes lost 6-1 to the mighty Leyton Orient today. But I know he’ll be the one laughing most.
The hidden moral is that so many contributors to this site (and of course other fan forums) have lost touch with a sense of perspective. We all hurt, but life’s too fucking short.
I’m not debating Gavin when we should sign people. I’m all for signing players as soon as possible but buying an average expensive defensive midfielder is not our priority so don’t get too worked up about not signing this Cana bloke.
Amen
happy to create so much debate, even if i didnt read all comments. must think about my next contribution now. ps that want my subject title
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1 Posted 25/07/2009 at 03:09:11
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I will say the only potential signing that pissed me off was Kyle Naughton ... fucking Spurs get in the way with every fricking transfer ... that kid looked very promising and by all accounts we very nearly had him .... til ’arry and his big fat wallet effed things up. Oh, well.
But that aside....no other signing has bothered me. Cana looks good but he looks like a booking every game (at least Fellaini had clumsiness and height as an excuse) and Rasmus(?) also looks good but hardly the next Ronaldo or whatever.
I do trust in Moyes but I just wish we could get at least one decent player (preferably three!!) well before the season starts!
Oh, well....just another 5 weeks or so to try and ignore the gossip!