ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

What next?

Let's face it, we will be stuck at Goodison in its current state for many years. Some will think this a bad thing, ohers will not. We will be polarised by the inclusion of certain players on the teamsheet, (Hibbert, Osman, Neville and Distin to name a few). We will love or hate Bill Kenwright, David Moyes and maybe even Ethel the cleaner, but at the end of the day we all love our club, and rightly so.

With all this in mind, I am curious of what other Evertonians think of this coming summer and the prospect of us spending the majority of our transfer budget on securing our current players on more lucrative deals as has been reported in the press today, instead of spending it on improving the team/squad with fresh players.

Next year could be a big one in our history, we seem to have a very good first eleven and some very good subs, including a couple of very talented youngsters. Is it worth losing a Rodwell to fund a few high profile signings that will really put this club on the map, or should we be securing the Arteta's Fellaini's and the others on deals which would probably smash our wage structure to keep them out of the clutches of others.

Personally, I think the latter. I would not be too disappointed to see minimal movement into the club if it meant keeping the squad together as it is. If we needed the extra cash then there are players at the crossroads of their careers that might benefit from a move away, such as Nash, Vaughan, Vic, Ruddy and Turner. This won't bring in a great deal of money, but could be enough to fund one decent player. It could also mean playing next season with a smaller but more talented squad, and we all know the perils that can bring with injuries, bans etc.

Anyway, enough of me and over to you, and for what it's worth... I quite like Ethel and think she is worth every penny she earns!

Al Reddish, Stafford Posted 07/03/2010 at 21:08:38

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Steven Barton
1 Posted 08/03/2010 at 01:39:52

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Agree, I think we need to ensure we keep hold of what we already have. In particular Pienaar and Jack and make sure nobody else has their heads turned, such as the big Felli. Arteta I think is already true blue so I don’t worry so much about him.

Also need a decent modern right back and tie down Donovan or someone even better for the R/H side. If we can do that and keep everybody fit, we should have a good season next year. It's important now that we finish in the European places this season.

Mike Elbey
2 Posted 08/03/2010 at 06:50:42

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Totally agree. If all we do this summer is tie the likes of Pienaar down to a long term contract and secure the services of Donovan I will be happy. Add to that the free transfers of maybe Beckford and Ledley and possibly a loan or two and to me the summer would be a success. With a little more luck with injuries next season we are easily as good if not better than the sides immediately below the top 3.

Peter Warren
3 Posted 08/03/2010 at 08:36:32

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A difficult decision but tend to agree that best to keep our best players. We need pace and I think Beckford would be a great addition. We need a fast striker and he would fit the bill.

I think we need competition for RB and a right sided midfielder too now Donovan going. Wright Phillips may be available although whether we can afford him / his wages is another matter, but I imagine he would like to come to us.

Hope Piennar signs. If not he should simply be sold if he doesn’t sign a contract before start of next season, his presence would be unsettling and we should cash in and replace him.

Chris Keightley
4 Posted 08/03/2010 at 11:53:24

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As much as a sprinkling of talent would be nice, securing the players we have is more important if we are to progress. Andy Gray yesterday was waxing lyrical about how good the current squad is; lose Rodders, Pienaar, and one of Felli or Arteta, and the hard work Moyes has done building this squad could be torn apart!!

My only wish next season is a trophy — it has to be our time!!

Brian Noble
5 Posted 08/03/2010 at 12:26:04

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Every penny should be spent on assuring we keep what we’ve got. Every manager is always the proverbial ’three players away from a good side’.It’s bollox- just avoid any ’Lescott moments’(I hear Pienaar’s playing up!) and hit the ground running in August.Even Moyesey should be satisfied with his pittance now!

Tom Bowers
6 Posted 08/03/2010 at 13:08:50

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Certainly we need additions.There is no way anyone can foretell when key players get bad injuries and this season has been a catastrophe in that regard.As I have said in recent posts the remaining 10 games this season should be used to give more tiime to the likes of Gosling,Rodwell,Coleman etc.Their experience could prove absolutely vital if we are to have an all round compettive squad next season. We have seen what Neville,Hibbert,Osman & Co. are capable of and let’s face it we have struggled too much against some poor teams when these experienced players needed to step up their game and didn’t. Fellaini needs to come back and really prove he is the real thing.We may have seen the best of Cahill and perhaps coming off the bench may be the way to use him next season.The Saha injury saga is one that won’t improve and another quality finisher must be found. Anichebe and Vaughan don’t appear to be the answer. A fully fit and functioning midfield quartet from Pienaar,Arteta,Heitinga,Rodwell and Fellaini would go a long way to giving us a much better season next year.

Colin Ryan
7 Posted 08/03/2010 at 14:01:52

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Definately think we should spend the little cash we have on boosting the contracts of Pienaar/Rodwell and possibly even Baines if he has a decent world cup.

Agree we shouldn’t sell anyone but to raise a budget of £10m i would offload Yobo for £4m and Yak for £6m.

Bring in Beckford and Ledley on frees and offer £5m for Donavon and £5m on some foreign gem which i will leve for Moyes to find.

Paul Gladwell
8 Posted 08/03/2010 at 15:28:48

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I will be very suprised not to see one of our big ones go as I am afraid it is how we bring cash in each year. The thing that is falling in our favour is the fact City aside everyone is skint.

However, I would not be suprised to see City come trying to poach someone so it’s up to Moyes to do his best to keep them here.

Any spare cash we have after getting players to stay should be spent on a fast striker with quality. Get shut of Anichebe and Vaughan and give the Yak a good pre-season to shift his weight and get him back sharp.

Next season could see us challenge the top four but, knowing Everton, a pre-season debacle is usually around the corner...

Pete Gunby
9 Posted 08/03/2010 at 16:02:59

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Asking for competition a RB is delusional. Moyes has a stack a lineup sheets with Neville’s name preprinted on them. The better teams will exploit us on the right.

Hugh Jorgan
10 Posted 08/03/2010 at 15:59:21

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A few people are saying get shut of Anichebe, Vaughan and the Yak, what would that leave us one injury-prone striker.

Anichebe: While the lad has yet to develop he showed promise against Hull in the inside right position Moyes played him, he drew defenders wide creating holes in the Hull defence. Strikers often do not develop until their early twenties (with some exceptions)

Vaughan: Injury has certainly blighted his career so far but he has pace and is willing to wait his turn, I still think we may yet see the best of him.

Yakubu: Yes he looks a little over weight but has always looked this way, if we sell him now, we leave the team short and will not get the money back we paid for him, however we may see him back to his best next season, I though he had a good game against Hull drawing defenders and could well have been on the score sheet once he regains his sharpness.

I believe we need two additions to a very good squad with no losses and an end to the injury crises to challenge the top four next season, however Moyes needs to prepare his squad properly before the season instead of ten weeks into it.

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