ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Enough of the transfer chat

Discussing potential transfers, and highlighting the players you would like your team to buy, is a pretty harmless activity. It goes on in Primary Schools across the country and gives the kids something to dream about. But the intent with which adults 'follow' their team's every vague transfer 'link' astounds me.

It especially mystifies me how people respond to these links by: a) questioning Moyes's ambition because the News of the World tentatively reports unsubstantiated and unlikely links with (e.g.) a striker from Port Vale; b) complaining that the manager's dithering caused the club to miss out on ANOTHER fabricated, fantasy transfer rumour (when did anyone at Everton ever say that they were interested in Lorik Cana?).

In every transfer window, teams change. They might get worse, or they might improve, but more than usual they just change. Player in; player out. Player in; player out. Every cog in this mundane transfer rumour merry-go-round is over-hyped because Sky Sports News have 24 hours a day to fill with their shit.

A couple of things to bear in mind. Everton are consistently the 5th best team in the Premier League — with a first team that 75%(+) of the Premier League would be delighted to have — and a number of players that would get in any top 4 team. For the first time in a long time, we've not lost any important first team players this summer and hopefully this can continue.

Secondly, if Everton genuinely bid for any other player this summer, the first you hear of it will be on the official site — probably as an announcement that that player is undergoing a medical. You will probably never have heard any rumour that Everton were interested in this player.

On another note, I think we need a right back and a right midfielder 0151 any suggestions? [Rhetorical :-]
Mark Stone, Liverpool Posted 28/07/2009 at 11:48:15

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Tony Gill
1 Posted 29/07/2009 at 03:07:01

Report abuse

I understand the frustration, but let’s face it, this is all we will get and the sooner the season starts the better. We all realize by now, I think that every summer will probably be the same, I think the desperation this summer is not as bad as last, so there’s a positive. I think the difference is in Moyes, he still seems upbeat to me, but what would I know. I have read for a while now people stating we will not buy until we get the ’Sky money’... does anyone know the exact date we get this windfall? Bring it on... stay strong fellow blues.

John Maxwell
2 Posted 29/07/2009 at 03:28:27

Report abuse

Well said Mark, I've given up reading it and reading any arguments about it on this or any other website.

I’m blame the internet but also glad I didn't waste my time and money buying so called newspapers.

Wake me up when either the new season starts or there's a pic on the offical site with our new signing.

Now back to winding up the aussies here in Brisbane about the Ashes... now that could make my summer.

Chris Wilson
3 Posted 29/07/2009 at 05:23:09

Report abuse

Well said, Mark. Transfer speculation has always been a favorite year round topic - players that fans would like to see in a blue shirt, transfers that got away, etc (how many times have Moutinho or Fernandes been mentioned in the past two years?). One thing we do know; most of the time Moyes brings in a player that nobody ever linked us with or even suspected we were interested in - My memory is hazy, but I don’t really recall us being linked to players like Kilbane, Howard, McFadden, Ferrari, Fellaini, Arteta, Neville, Castillo, Jacobson, or even Saha. A lot of these transfers came out of the blue with just a couple of days notice. Some panned out and some did not, but it’s always been interesting. We all know that the only way we’ll be 100% sure is when we see the pictures on the OS with the player smiling at the camera while signing his contract. Until then, just smile and enjoy the summer theater or theatre for my British friends.

Garry Martin
4 Posted 29/07/2009 at 05:55:29

Report abuse

Fully agree Mark - the media have papers & the television have viewers to catch, therefore, rumour mungering is started to fill massive gaps that these people need to fill.
We have definetley got a settled side, which, other teams below us envy, hence their continued buying & selling. They are trying to achieve what DM achieved 2 years ago.
We do however need to desperately get a better right back.

Alan Clarke
5 Posted 29/07/2009 at 09:49:58

Report abuse

I am constantly pissed off with myself for being drawn in by transfer speculation. I am even annoyed that I am currently writing this instead of doing my job. It’s like heroin, I can’t stop looking at it.

Tony Waring
6 Posted 29/07/2009 at 10:25:39

Report abuse

Yes let’s ban threads on transfer speculation ! Pretty difficult when we are surrounded by 24 hours news on every topic under the sun because Rupert and his buddies in the redtops have to dredge up something to feed to the masses.

It’s our fault really. If we didn’t buy newspapers (so called) or pay our Sky subs — which I resisted for years but eventually capitulated because I live 300+ miles from Goodison — they would (hopefully) die and go away. As things stand, I doubt that eventuality... so let’s just take everything with a couple of pounds/kilos of salt and applaud when something really happens.

Am I being too optimistic as I look out of the window and see the summer rain sheeting down?

Trevor Thompson
7 Posted 29/07/2009 at 11:08:40

Report abuse

I suggest we all sit down and write up a criteria of what is and isn’t allowed to be discussed on, what I thought was an open board. Frankly, those that can’t stand transfer talk can, a) not read the posts. Or b) come up with their own subjects to discuss instead of moaning about the amount of transfers.

Again, it’s transfer season. There isn’t much excitement going on at the club at the moment. It’s obvious that we need strengthing which is the main focus of the off season. I’m sure when the season starts, most of us will discuss, why we’re doing so badly/fantastic, players failing to perform/perform marvelously, Kirbky, cup exits/progression etc etc but for now lets leave those that want to talk about transfers to it and those that don’t ignore the posts and post something that interests you. Simples.

Mark Stone
8 Posted 29/07/2009 at 12:11:10

Report abuse

Well Trevor, it does say on the mailbag submission page ‘Football Manager-style player wishlists are better off in the ToffeeWeb Forum.’ So in terms of your criteria, I guess that’s already in place (albeit loosely).

Mark Stone
9 Posted 29/07/2009 at 12:35:17

Report abuse

Tony I’m not suggesting anyone ‘bans’ anything. If people know of a good young player - then it can be interesting to read about that player. I’ll give an example. I think Jordan Henderson is going to be a fantastic right midfielder. He’s strong, tricky, and quick. He’s got incredible endurance and his attitude is spot on.

The problem is, though, it doesn’t stop there.

When Jordon Henderson doesn’t sign for us (which obviously he won’t) all of a sudden David Moyes will be shot down, bang to rights for his dithering which made us miss out on signing this kid. Or Bill has built all of our hopes up and let us all down again.

Problem. Neither David Moyes nor Bill Kenwright ever expressed an interest in this player … I DID!

Ciarán McGlone
10 Posted 29/07/2009 at 15:19:53

Report abuse

Obsessive Evertonians, engrossed in who they’re team for next season might be...disgusting behaviour...

Trevor Thompson
11 Posted 29/07/2009 at 17:30:19

Report abuse

Mark, so Football Manager style posts should be submitted to the forum, then the editorial team should delete any transfer talk posts from the mailbag. I’ve never notice this disclaimer, maybe it should be in huge writing and again perhaps the editorial team can stop printing them as it’s getting on their nerves. Part of being a fan is about talking about the players you feel would make our team better and as long as it doesn’t get silly like suggesting we buy Raul or get Kaka on loan, then I don’t see the problem. We all can’t or don’t want to talk about AGMs.

Lets ban talking about tactics, player performances, League position as there’s notthing we can do about it and it’s Football Manager talk.

Mike Allison
12 Posted 30/07/2009 at 14:15:15

Report abuse

Why wasn’t anyone at the club interested in Lorik Cana? I see your point about following ’every vague transfer link’ but Cana spoke out himself saying he’d like to join us, and in my opinion would immediately get into our starting XI and make us a better team, so I don’t see anything wrong with making whatever comment we want about it.

Mark Stone
13 Posted 01/08/2009 at 13:06:06

Report abuse

Mike that’s half the point. It’s quite possible that people at the club were interested in Cana. As fans we don’t know either way.

I accept that he may be a good player and improve the team ... but Everton don’t pay £60 grand a week. Sunderland with their American Billionaires, do!

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment to the MailBag, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.