ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Is McFadden having the last laugh

I'm sure many Evertonians have identified our next home fixture against Birmingham as a great chance for the blues to return to winning ways at Goodison — where we haven't won in the Premier League since 20 September.

However, as we know, Birmingham are on a good run at the moment and I've noticed they've got two winnable home games before they come to Goodison next Sunday. That game will see the return of James McFadden, a player who used to frustrate me no end and who I thought Moyes did well to sell for the approx £5-6M.

Imagine a hypothetical option given to McFadden:- stay where you are or return to Everton for a second chance? Notwithstanding any issue he might have had working with David Moyes, would McFadden (or any Birmingham player) think EFC to be a better proposition?

In my opinion, Birmingham look like a progressive club — they've got a modern stadium, new owners with the funds to make some decent signings (£40M has been reported) and a decent young Scottish manager. Everton have got only one of these three things. Who would have thought at the end of last season that this situation would arise?

Not only that, but when they come to Goodison next week they could be a full ELEVEN points clear of us!! I'm not saying anything new here — new ground, new investment blah blah blah — but FFS to me Birmingham City look like they have a better future than us at the moment!!
Colin O'Keeffe, Sheffield Posted 02/12/2009 at 10:51:41

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Michael Kenrick

They're just higher up the table at the moment... like 13 other clubs. There are reasons (or excuses) as to why we are where we are. We may be down near the bottom all season... or we may get some players back, get our game sorted, and go on something of a run.

Is Carsley still getting a game for them?

Kunal Desai
1 Posted 11/12/2009 at 14:48:29

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Let's just take one game at a time. Chelsea up next... god I’ve got a horrible feeling about this one. No recognised centre backs possibly playing tommorrow. I think it might be another Benfica or Arsenal thrashing I’m afraid.

Mike Allison
2 Posted 11/12/2009 at 14:49:55

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Carsley’s played slightly less than half the games apparently.

Also, Birmingham have scored 5 league goals at home this season in 7 matches.

Ciarán McGlone
3 Posted 11/12/2009 at 14:54:42

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No matter how ’up the creek' we are, it’s a blessing having that waster off the books...

By the way, Contrary to Kunal — I’m quite unusually optimistic about tommorow... we always give Chelsea a good game and we have nothing to lose...

They may not expect us to play football and we just might have to play football to take the pressure of the back line...

I’m looking forward to sitting down and watching this one... and it’s a 3 o'clock match on a Saturday — Halleleuia!

Nick Entwistle
4 Posted 11/12/2009 at 14:55:10

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Didn't we have a James Beattie hypothetical a few days ago on the same subject?

McFadden was a a poor player though was mainly played out wide. But his genious against Charlton is always a double thumbs up moment on YouTube.

Dave Wilson
5 Posted 11/12/2009 at 14:56:19

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Maybe if Birmingham ever generate enough interest amongst their own fans, other people will sit up and take notice.

Thousands of empty seats for their recent game against arch rivals Villa, would indicate the Brummie Blues are still to be convinced.

Tony Williams
6 Posted 11/12/2009 at 17:11:54

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"and a decent young Scottish manager"

He’s 50!!

Fadds, as much as I wanted him to come good and become 10% of being a "Scottish Rooney", lets face it he was pants. He struggled last season to get into the Birmingham side and a high percentage of his goals for them have been pens.

I have always said that the person who got £5.5m for Fadds should be done for daylight robbery.

Keith Slinger
7 Posted 11/12/2009 at 18:07:22

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St Andrews, a modern stadium, FFS catch yourself on and get a grip of yourself.

Ray Said
8 Posted 11/12/2009 at 18:35:53

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Colin, To compare EFC with Birmingham is nonsense and I suggest you go and have a lie down, pick up a book about our club and have a rethink about the comparisons you are making. Remember who we are!

Sean Patton
9 Posted 11/12/2009 at 21:08:07

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£5.5 million for McFadden!!

I still think about that when I need a laugh. You can lambast the club for its transfer spending all you want but we know how to get a good deal for a player.

Selling Bent for £2.5 million or McFadden for £5.5 million — I don’t which one is more harder to believe.

Andy Crooks
10 Posted 11/12/2009 at 22:02:30

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Sean, I agree both were good sales. However, I think Marcus Bent was the reason that David Moyes had so much success with 4-5-1.

James Greem
11 Posted 11/12/2009 at 22:35:49

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Carsley to do a Stubbs and ’come home??’

Stranger things have happened!

Jay Harris
12 Posted 11/12/2009 at 22:49:26

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Colin you made a few mistakes in there.

Questioning whether McFadden should have been sold for £5.5 million.

Suggesting that Birmingham have suddenly become a better prospect than the 4th most successful club in the history of the league.

St Andrews is better than GP....

They have a "young" Scottish manager....

I lost all faith in you after that.

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