The Mail Bag

Loans?

Aaron Ramsey. Kyle Walker. David Bentley. Roque Santa Cruz. Jermaine Jones. Gael Kakuta. Gai Assulin. John Carew. Wayne Bridge. Demba Ba.

And in all likelihood sometime today, Jamie O'hara and Stephen Ireland.

All players who have gone out on loan or free transfers in the last few weeks.

Am not saying all of them are good players but given our form and dwindling squad surely some of them could be useful options.

We have been told that there's no money and we are looking for loans. Given how many people have been going to other clubs it doesn't seem we have been looking that hard.

Apparently no-one is coming in before the window. Poor effort all round.

Sam Hoare     Posted 30/01/2011 at 12:16:46   Comments (70)

Damning Facts

I would like to set out how much our club is badly financially run.

1. Everton's net spend since the Premier League began is £55M (1992-2011); in the same period, we have sold £48.2M of youth players, meaning the club have spent just £6.8M of the money outside of youth players sales.

2. On the Official site we have 30 1st team players listed, 15 of which cost nothing, 7 cost £3M or less, 3 cost £5M or less and 5 cost more than £5M, given that Yakubu is one of the last 5, is out on loan, this now means over half of our squad cost nothing.

3. In 1998, before Sky and Premier League windfalls plus shirt sponsorships, Everton broke the transfer record for £2.2M (Cottee) yet, 23 years later, 20 out of our 30 squad of players cost less to buy than Cottee, and the club tells us we can't afford a loan player!!

4. Our net spend is the 11th highest in Prem, yet we are only one of 7 clubs to play in every Prem season.

5. Villa and Spurs are similar clubs & gates to us yet Villa have spent £60M net and Spurs £140M net more than us.

6. Wages? you ask... No, we are only 10th in the wages league.

7. Moyes has spent £106M but sold £81M, net £25M over 9 seasons, less than £3M per year. 10 managers have spent more than Moyes despite only Ferguson and Wenger being in their posts longer than Moyes.

8. Other possible explanations for the missing money: the ground? One stand rebuilt since the Prem started, and even that was cut in half, supposed to be two-tier.

9. In the last 3 years, here are some of the net spends of clubs over that period: Stoke £44M (£0M debt apparently despite that outlay); WBA £19.25M; Wolves £21.65M; Hull £13.9M; Fulham £12.3M; Birmingham £29.5M... also outspent by Sunderland until the Bent transfer ? what is Everton's spend over the same period? £5M!!

10. Other revenues acquired recently which have vanished: Chang £12M; Bellefield £8M; Kitbag £5M.

Summing up, despite being 1 of only 7 clubs to play in all Prem seasons, despite only spending £6.8M in 19 years outside of youth player sales, despite turnover that was £47M in 2006 but has hovered around £80M since, despite most of our time in Prem having the smallest squad, despite being only 10th in the wages league, despite being only 11th in net spend on transfers, despite having fairly steady around 35k gates in Prem, Bill Kenwright tells the fans we cannot afford a loan player or spend an amount we broke the transfer record with (£2.2M) on a player, 23 years later...

You, sir, are having a laugh, at our bloody expense, mate. Money is going astray in the bucket loads and you, BK, are responsible either directly or indirectly. In my opinion, BK is a stooge (see Alan Ball's book for that) and is DESTROYING OUR CLUB.

People's Club? Again you're having a laugh at our expense... you (BK) wouldn't even answer a Shareholders genuine question, you won't even allow an AGM or EGM... do us all a favour mate: your game is up ? RESIGN NOW.
Thomas Williams     Posted 30/01/2011 at 01:59:03   Comments (71)

Stop hiding, Bill

The attendance at today's match was a very worrying development. Less than 30,000 for a cup tie against Chelsea was startling. At the moment, Evertonians are in the dark. Rumours of administration, disagreement among supporters, talk of protests... It doesn't have to be like this.

What we need is leadership. A state of the union address from Mr Kenwright. Tell it like it is, Bill. We can take it. How skint are we? Is there any hope of a takeover? Is a fire sale going on?

Honesty and transparency could go a long way in making up for the money you don't have. If we know the worst Evertonians will stand together. Look at the proposal from Tony and Mike. What do you think? Come out of hiding and tell the truth. You'll feel better for it. Who knows ,you might even gain some respect.

Andy Crooks     Posted 30/01/2011 at 00:49:37   Comments (60)

Unlucky Cahill

The Asian Cup Final was a non-stop hard-fought good game in front of a huge crowd in Qatar. Japan won with an excellent volley from the edge of the box in extra time.

Tim Cahill played a similar role to his Everton one, usually just behind Harry Kewell who was the spearhead of the attack. Cahill's aerial domination created a number of good chances that Harry and others squandered.

If anything, it was Tim's domination in the air that led to Australia taking every opportunity to overdo things with an incredible number of high balls when often it might have been better to mix it up by occasionally keeping the ball on the ground.

I thought Australia were by far the better team but credit to Japan who never gave up plus being helped by a marvellous goalkeeper. Cahill started the second half with a bulky strapping on his left knee. Typically, he battled on though it became obvious that the injury he had picked up was getting worse and restricted his mobility.

His substitution was in my opinion delayed far too long. Moyes would have every right to complain about it.
Dick Fearon     Posted 29/01/2011 at 22:48:56   Comments (13)

Fuming!!!!!!!!

I cannot believe what I have just seen!!! Into stoppage time against the Champions, with a replay at Stamford Bridge (where we haven't won since '94) on the cards! Didier "cheating twat" Drogba goes down without being challenged and what do we do?

Instead of going for the kill, we fanny around wondering whether to kick the ball out so we are seen as good sports! And in the end we squander possession with a ridiculous crossfield ball that was probably played in panic because nobody had a clue what to do!!

I cannot believe this! Drogba has a history of this. He is a cheat.

Now let me ask you, do you really think Man Utd would have done that? Would they fuck!! That instance just sums up why we always fall short! No guts and certainly no killer instinct!! I am apalled.

You can come on here all you like and slag Moyes for his "interesting" team selections but we must look at the players! It was, and fair enough I might be getting carried away here, an act of cowardice! Poor little us doing ever so well to get a replay against a "big" club like Chelsea.

It was a pretty good performance, especially in the 2nd half, but that moment in stoppage time has truly pissed me off. PATHETIC!! No excuses! Grow a fuckin' pair.....rant over, for now...
Lee Courtliff     Posted 29/01/2011 at 14:27:44   Comments (27)

Worrying times

I have noticed that over the past month there has been little or no chance of signing new players to the club. After hearing Moyes state the need for a new striker a number of times, I have been waiting anxiously for any sign of the 'Saviour' for our season. Even when we were told there was only money for a loan signing I still waited for that scrap of hope.

Selling Pienaar surely gave us money to go and pay a player for the next 6 months? A £50,000 a week striker would easily be affordable even if the deal for Pienaar was only £2 million from Tottenham. However, despite this, there is no sign of a new player coming in before Tuesday. I like many others will think this is not good enough, as this shows;

Mbokani to Hoffenheim (on loan)
Santa Cruz to Blackburn (on loan)
Adebyeor to Real Madrid (on loan)
Demba Ba to West Ham (on loan)
Carlos Vela to West Brom (onloan)

Available to loan: Bendtner, Sturridge, Macheda, Robbie Keane..

Those players are off the top of my head and I'm guessing other people could add more to this list. But it goes to show at least 9 strikers have moved or available to move on loan in the past few weeks. I am not going to weigh in who out of them would be any better for us or not but you get the picture. What is going on at the club that means none of those are affordable?

Personally, I will lose all heart for the club if it ever comes out that we really are in trouble financially. Name me one other Premier League team who can say we have no money whatsoever? Even selling players does not seem to generate money. This is all after we offer a player £75 grand a week?

What scares me is that nearly every other disaster story in the league has been a result of the club's best interests (Leeds gamble for greatness, Mike Ashley restructuring a badly run club) or unforeseen circumstances (global recession). Is it really going to end up that we will go that way for our own fault?

The end result will always be bad, as we have 4-5 players who would walk if there is no sign of recovery, plus a manager who keeps quiet over it all leaving. The players we will be left with will still cripple the club with wages.

I have supported this club through the seasons of achieving nothing, and probably always will. I don't know if my heart will still be there if the signs are true though.
Chris Ashton     Posted 29/01/2011 at 10:31:35   Comments (15)

Dave Prentice equals verbal diarrhoea

Anyone else seen that complete load of shite served up by the self-styled "man on the inside of Merseyside football" in tonight Echo. if you haven't, here it is;

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2011/01/28/dave-prentice-are-everton-fc-heading-for-another-historic-crossroads-100252-28070036/

I don't think i've ever seen such a pathetic defence of the disasterous Kenwright regime. Prentice is a man who spent the last 2 years of the Hicks and Gillett reign slagging them off at every opportunity and they were owners of a club he doesn't even support, yet he won't say a fucking word against a chairman which is destroying a club he claims to be a fan of.

Prentice said Kenwright was "the right type of owner because he's a fan", FFS, words fail me! If that's the only credentials required to run this club then every blue in this City is up to the job.

Instead of pointing to Kenwright's achievements, because the are none, Prentice can only point to the Hicks and Gillett regime as some kind of success for our useless chairman. Pathetic.

Kenwright's cronies at the Echo would probably defend him if he clung on to his trainset all the way to League Two. Someone please put the once respected Prentice out to graze.
STE TRAVERSE     Posted 28/01/2011 at 18:17:38   Comments (20)

Can this season get any worse?

After all the build up to this season, I, like a good few others, thought this was it, this was the season we would be possible Top 3. Moyes saying it's his strongest squad blah blah blah. The fixture list being kind to us with very winnable early games to get us up and running...

And now what? Highly likely we are out of the cup on Saturday... absolutley no cash to buy anyone. Our forwards... well, the word useless springs to mind. And now that lot from over the park have had a mini revival...Sod it, I am off into town tonight, go down Mathew St and get legless...
Andrew Lawrenson     Posted 28/01/2011 at 16:26:11   Comments (31)

FA Cup and beyond

Decent article by Phil McNulty about our FA Cup tie against Chelsea tomorrow.

In a twisted, bizarre and ridiculous way I sort of wouldn't mind us getting beaten tomorrow. I just can't handle the thought of us just plodding along, regressing until we ultimately get relegated in a few years' time. I'd rather just lose, Moyes resign and the shit hit the fan now and let it all play out!

I'm a fan of Moyes but our relationship with him is coming to an end. Like McNulty says, next year he would've been with us 10 years. Even if we win tomorrow, Moyes will be off soon. I'm depressed.

Tom Winek     Posted 28/01/2011 at 13:57:35   Comments (43)

Captain Phil

Wax Face is back in for Neville. Love him or hate him, he is a model professional and a big influence both on and off the pitch. He also seems to be a nice guy.

Strange that Philip Green is supposed to be at Goodison on Saturday. Bet it's to twist BK's arm as it seems Spurs really want him.

Both Neville and Moyes gone by Monday Morning.... Bets anyone??

KENWRIGHT OUT.
Steve Sweeney     Posted 28/01/2011 at 00:43:55   Comments (34)

Protest is the Everton Way

Interesting times we live in. There may be a protest on Saturday against Bill Kenwright?s regime... and about time too; it may not materialise and someone is probably making mischief on the internet, but there appears to a visible change in attitudes to the Kenwright regime, not just on the forums, but also at Goodison on match day (so others would have you believe).

What?s changed? Will there be a protest or not? At the moment, it's irrelevant, what is of interest to me is that those shouting "Kopite" at anyone agitating for a protest are being given short shrift, and with good reason, not just because the failing Kenwright regime needs to be held to account, but because if you know your history... we Blues ushered in the age of mass protests against the board in the Premier League era.

Kopites and Geordies and even the red Mancs are merely following where we led in 1998. I wonder if any actual Kopites called the Shankly group ?bitter blues?. It appears that, for a collective fanbase that has long sung about our history, we appear to have forgotten the mass insurrection against Peter Johnson.

There may have been a time lag of approximately ten years, but this is embarrassing; apparently protesting is 'kopite' now ? except in 1998, when we all started off the trend for fans protest.

As for what it may achieve? If your?e expecting the October Revolution forget it, it's about the application of pressure and pressure pays off in the end. Put Bill Kenwright under pressure it?s the Everton Way.
David O'Keefe     Posted 27/01/2011 at 23:12:11   Comments (86)

Where's Wally?

The heat and the friction is rising around Goodison and for the first time in many years you can see real discontent with how the club is being run.

Moyes clearly has no say or options in the matter. Given the likely financial status of the club, he saw the sale of Steven Pienaar as good financial business. It was as long as we don't miss him, which we will. Short-term gain for long-term pain never works. We must be down to paying the minimum amount on our credit cards.

So, just where is our esteemed chairman while all this is going on? Not a peep? Of course shit is happening so Davey is on his own.

We deserve answers, we deserve solutions, we need something to cling on to. So step right up Bill Kenwright, the floor is yours, what are you going to do about it?

Christine Foster     Posted 27/01/2011 at 10:38:24   Comments (65)

Sexism in football

As a regular female contributor to ToffeeWeb I have a keen interest in all things Everton and by default football in general. I do know the offside rule as it happens, even though most linesmen have a hard time with it... but what do you expect from such dithering men?

Now, you see, that?s sexism, it's not offensive, just derogatory against men in general. In response, most men would raise their eyes and think ?Bloody stupid woman?? although not be quite so stupid as to say it in public, at least not on camera or in microphone distance if you work for Sky...

I live in Australia, it's not very politically correct at times, and you need a thick skin to survive; that?s the way it is in redneck Queensland.

But it's not just here, it's everywhere to some level or other. It's part and parcel of life in many areas; work, home and play ? and it never will change because of the nature of roles between men and women. As perceived by men, of course, and until the revolution that?s the way it is. Unless, of course, you're in the public eye, then we hold you to much higher levels of scrutiny.

Andy Gray and Richard Keys were idiots but they should not have lost their jobs. Indeed, to be correct, it was only Andy Gray who lost his because of innuendo towards a female colleague who it appeared was not bothered nor impressed by it. That?s NOT to say it's ok, because it isn?t, but I am sure she has heard and seen much worse. Because, for a woman, it?s a daily occurrence in many a work place.

Both incidents were off air, the later in my opinion far more serious than any comments regarding the capability of a female linesman, comments which were wholly initiated by Richard Keys not Andy Gray. In my opinion, Richard Keys instigated and by his comments not only implied sexism but frankly fostered it. Between two guys in a pub, happens every day; two guys in the public eye? Just plain stupid.

In my opinion, Richard Keys deserved to go for his initial comments about the linesman and women in general, his comments relating to Karen Brady just underlined his whole attitude. Stupid man.

The world has moved on, but not uniformly; in some places it?s still seen as banter, in others it's degrading and offensive. All depends on who and where you are. We should expect more but understand that change should not be done at the point of a gun. Education and acceptance are needed to change.

Before this is seen as a defence of Andy Gray and Richard Keys, it's not, not in the least! If they had made the comments on air then it would have been highly inappropriate and they would deserve everything they got. They didn?t, they had a private conversation that was recorded and released. Andy Gray's later act deserves what he got irrespective of being caught on camera or not. It wasn?t banter and it really would be offensive to a lot of women.

Strange though that both incidents were accidentally recorded and saved by someone who obviously had an agenda to do so.

Which brings me to a related point: what can you say in ?private? in a workplace? Has it reached the point where political correctness dictates that, between the hours of 9 ? 5, you are owned both physically and mentally by an employer? Does it mean you cannot voice an opinion to a colleague? Irrespective of it's correctness? Surely people will judge you for your own opinions and not stifle your ability to comment, dress or act on your own convictions without an employer dictating private conversations?

Football officials bear the brunt of every angry supporter, they are vented on because they don?t always get it right, not because of their gender. However, football is still a male-dominated sport from support to football administration and management.

One day, maybe not so far away, Everton might sign a world class striker and it may be a woman. How far away our attitudes to that happening? Will Gwladys Street cheer when she bangs in a hat-trick? Scary thought for many of you? It will never happen?

Sky made the right decision, although one has to ask about the motivation behind doing so and the way the incidents came to light. I hope they learn, but I doubt it.
Christine Foster     Posted 27/01/2011 at 08:14:26   Comments (31)

Vaughan gone...

According to his twitter feed, James Vaughan has gone back to Palace. Not sure, if it's a loan or permanent move.

With Saha being as fragile as my great-nan's hip, is it a good idea to get rid of another striker?

I'm still trying to get my head around sitting and then moving Yakubu, when he seemed to be finding some kind of form...
Paul Conatzer     Posted 26/01/2011 at 16:10:08   Comments (52)

David Moyes must sell if Everton are to stop begging and borrowing

Very interesting piece in today's Daily Telegraph:

It?s no surprise David Moyes hates the transfer window. After all, when the vast majority of his peers are out in Europe?s boutiques, South America?s markets and even their local vintage emporiums, flashing their credit cards and pulling fistfuls of £50 notes out of their wallets to chuck at the latest fad purchase to catch their eye, the Everton manager, his pockets empty, is condemned simply to beg and borrow whatever he can.

That?s not the worst of it, though. As well as being forced to turn to football?s equivalent of the Woolworths Bargain Bin ? reaching in hoping to pick up a Dieumerci Mbokani but ending up only with a London Boyz mix-tape and a pair of pliers - Moyes has to spend the rest of his time desperately fending off the sweaty, leering, looming advances of the Premier League?s established powers, rather like an attractive Sky Sports presenter stationed next to Andy Gray in lascivious mood. Moyes, at least, does not have to contend with playground innuendo and Richard Keys?s filthy sidekick giggling. He just has to deal with Harry Redknapp trying to sign Steven Pienaar, or Mark Hughes chancing his arm and flexing Sheikh Mansour?s chequebook to entice Joleon Lescott.

Moyes takes solace in the fact that, more often than not, Everton seem to survive the vultures. Pienaar and Lescott have left, but Mikel Arteta, Jack Rodwell, Phil Jagielka, Tim Cahill, Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini have all remained. They provide the core of a solid, multi-faceted squad. But the drip, drip, drip of departures is starting to take effect. Everton began this season hoping for a Champions League place. A spot in the Europa League remains an outside possibility ? though the FA Cup is a more likely source of salvation than the league ? but more probable is the comfortable mediocrity of mid-table. Hope is eroding.

That is not simply because Pienaar has left, of course. But it is partially because his departure is symptomatic of Everton?s problem. Moyes has lost arguably his best player for £3 million (remarkably, a profit on his initial fee). But that money will only be enough to bring him a loan player, should one of sufficient quality be identified in the next five days, rather than a permanent replacement. Everton are at their financial limit. There are no funds to bolster the squad. Without money, the only way for Moyes and his side, sad to say, is down.

The Scot, one suspects, knows that, for all his steely-eyed determination and gimlet glare in response to the very suggestion that this incarnation of Everton have come full circle. Much is made at such times of what Moyes will do. Will he ditch Goodison Park for a club that can allow him a bi-annual shopping spree? How will he ever fulfil his potential? Such questions are valid, but they miss the point. Moyes, that long-term contender for a prestigious seat at one of the Premier League?s most revered institutions, now faces the sort of test that will determine whether he is cut out for Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge or the Emirates. After eight careful years building his team, he must break it up and start again.

Bill Kenwright, as everyone knows, cannot furnish Moyes with money. Quite rightly, the Scot knows that selling one player will weaken his hand substantially (though cashing in on Jack Rodwell may not be such a bad idea, given that his value outweighs his current usefulness). So how to get the funds to rebuild Everton? Sell four or five players, for premium fees. Replace them with younger, cheaper and ? most importantly ? slightly more numerous models. Rodwell, Arteta, Jagielka and perhaps even Cahill would fetch around £50 million at least on the open market. Imagine what the manager who spotted the latter three, as well as Pienaar, and bought them for chump change could do with that money.

Such a suggestion is anathema to Moyes, loyal to his squad, devout in his belief that one player, maybe two, at the end of this season would rectify Everton?s problems. Possibly, but it seems unlikely. He has nurtured this team?s evolution expertly. That process has stalled. Revolution may be his last resort.

By Rory Smith
The Telegraph
James Carroll     Posted 26/01/2011 at 14:03:57   Comments (55)

Administration

Apparently there are very strong rumours that Everton are very close to going into administration. Kenwright is trying to get some Hollywood pals to take on shares to head off the banks. Yak and Pienaar were pushed through to ease finances and we are encouraging Spurs to take Neville off the payroll.

I got a text to this effect this morning and a guy I know has had something similar from a few different people.

Probably a load of nonsense. Thought I'd throw it out there to see what others had heard because, if it's true, it's relegation. Worring times.

Martin  Graves     Posted 26/01/2011 at 11:29:14   Comments (91)

Cahill into the Final

Before he was subbed at the 70-minute mark, Tim played an important part in three Australias goals. When he left the field, he immediately went down the tunnel and returned to the bench with a new fangled kind of ice pack wrapped around his left knee.

He seemed very cheerful and not in any kind of pain. Australia play Japan, one of the cup favourites, on Saturday night, Australia time.

I take this opportunity to wish all Blue Aussies specially Christine in flooded Queensland a happy Australia Day.

Dick Fearon     Posted 26/01/2011 at 08:36:31   Comments (11)

Neville ? stay or go?

Is it just me or if the reported rumours of Tottenham offering £3 million for Neville are true we should bite their hand off?!

Neville may be a good leader but he is not a good footballer; limited in defence (see recent West Ham performance), very limited in attack and VERY poor distribution (if I see another floated loopy ball to the forwards I may cry).

Why don't we just cash in now?

Chris Meddins     Posted 25/01/2011 at 19:29:16   Comments (55)

Andy Gray

Remembering Andy Gray fondly for his contribution to our success in the 80s, I was more than a little disappointed to read of his comments regarding the abilities of a female assistant referee. News of his sacking (for this and other similar offences which have now come to light) would suggest that he has an attitude to the world which is 20 years out of date.

Worse still for Mr Gray, I didn't watch the Liverpool game for obvious reasons, but I am told that he knows less about the offside rule than the lady in question; as it was later established that she was spot on in declaring a Liverpool attempt on goal to be offside!

This then got me thinking that, given the above attitudes combined with his lamentable commentary and "expert" analyses of games on Sky, we had a lucky escape when he decided to take the Sky shilling instead of the offer to manage Everton.

Steve Guy     Posted 25/01/2011 at 17:11:07   Comments (77)

Diego Castro

Apparently there's a rumour that we're being linked with Diego Castro. He plays mainly as a left winger for Sporting de Gijón in the Spanish Primera.

Reputedly this rumour is circling in the Spanish media and they are expecting Everton to make a formal bid imminently.

Some bright spark has entered this on his Wikipedia site. Made me laugh anyway!!

"Diego has expressed a preference to transfer to Everton FC in the EPL. He heard that Bill Kenwright cooked up a mean Paella."

This guy sounds like the real deal and his performances statistics for Gijón have been impressive. Has anybody heard anything?
Ben Howard     Posted 25/01/2011 at 11:07:08   Comments (27)

True Blues

I am a daily, in fact several times a day, reader and sometimes contributor, to ToffeeWeb. The constant debate is around Moyes as Manager and Kenwright and The Board (is their a Board at Everton FC?) as Management. Without going into the details of those questions I would like to open a debate on "being an Evertonian" a "True Blue".

I have been watching Everton since 1959, I pay for 4 Season Tickets every year, my daughter and 2 grandsons, go to every match, get to the match a few hours before to talk Everton and normally after a home game stay in the pub talking until very late. The point is because I am critical, seriously critical of Moyes's tactics, selections, substitutions, and worried about the clubs overall standing and future, I am constantly called "miserable" and asked "am I a real Evertonian". What is that, I wonder?

Are the people who still tell me that Moyes is "great", someone said to me recently that he was "the greatest Everton manager", and then people say it's all Kenwright's fault. When asked by me if they want an outsider whose money is from shady earnings, I am told "yes" and that the problem is I am not a real Evertonian. I asked just this week if people would applaud a dog playing with a Blue Shirt on, believe it or not some said "anything in a Blue shirt" should be applauded.

Does undying support or, better still, uncritical support. lead to acceptance of anything, to total mediocrity, to oblivion? Or maybe my criticisms in the pub, among friends and on ToffeeWeb are irrelevant, a waste of breath and not going to change anything...

So maybe it's time for me to be a real Evertonian and applaud rubbish football, bad Board decisions, total bad management from top to bottom of the club I love and just clap the "dog".

When I criticised the performance on Saturday, against the team at the bottom of the league, not booing or calling players during the game, but just questioned the performance, I was told "well just stop going". Is that the answer then?
George Mc Kane     Posted 25/01/2011 at 08:32:12   Comments (17)

3-5-2: The formation Moyes is looking for?

I have not posted on Toffeeweb for a while now, but I still come on the site daily and read all the great articles/comments posted by all you fellow blues.

We are all disappointed with the current position of the team, the lack of activity in the transfer window (except outgoing), the continued lack of investment, etc, but... that is the position we are in unfortunately and we(Moyes) need to find a way to best use the resource we have available.

Moyes in my view has always been a one-dimensional manager who has relied to heavily on his tried and trusted 4-5-1 formation and a certain Mr Cahill.

Moyes has also struggled, with the exception of the Yak in his first season, to get the best out of his strikers.

(for the record - I am a Moyes fan)

Everyone on Toffeeweb seems to be calling out for the 4-4-2 formation to solve our problems and I can understand why. However, this removes our biggest goal threat from the team and is simply not an option in my view (Cahill - once he returns from the Asian Cup of course).

The formation nobody seems to have considered but seems obvious to me is 3-5-2.

This formation is rarely used in the prem these days, but I believe it plays to all our strengths, let me explain...

Johnny Heitinga is constantly being played out of position. Moyes plays him as a holding midfielder but he is a World Cup final playing centre half. If we recall Yobo back from his loan, we could plan Heitinga, Jags and Distin as our back three, with Yobo as cover. Heitinga is happy and our strength at the back will be a match for any premier league forward line.

We then play Coleman and Baines as wing-backs, as both have great attacking qualities and they can offer the width we require if pushed further forward.

As we have an abundance of central midfield players at our disposal, we then play Felli as the holding midfielder, with Arteta and Cahill pushed further forward. This leaves Bily, Ossie, Rodwell and Neville (cover for Coleman too) as more than adequate cover.

What this means is we can still play two upfront and the obvious choice for me is Saha and Beckford.

Alternatively, drop Beckford and play Cahill as your second striker, with Rodwell or Bily drafted into the middle.

Looks like this...

Howard
Heitinga, Jagielka, Distin
Coleman Baines

Fellaini
Arteta Cahill

Saha
Beckford

Not sure what your views are and lets be honest, Moyes would not play this in a million years, but I personally think it would suit our current squad as:

a) it keeps the majority of the current squad happy and gives more opportunities to certain players.
b) it allows players to play in their natural positions.
c) it gives us strength at the back but still allows us to have the width and pace we need.
d) it plays to our strengths in centre midfield.
e) it means Cahill is still an integral part of the team and his goal threat remains (particularly if coming from deep).
f) it still allows us to play two upfront.

This worked for me on Fifa and Championship Manager anyway :-) Im interested to hear any thoughts?

Note - one caveat is that we lose the captaincy and leadership of Neville. Whilst this has been lacking of late anyway, it would still be a loss. I think Jags, Arteta and Cahill would have to step up to the mark, as Neville can't go on forever anyway.

John McKie     Posted 24/01/2011 at 22:29:50   Comments (21)

4-2-3-1 against Chelsea?

I think this is the formation we need. It will allow Bily and Mikel, arguably our two most creative players, to lose their shackles and attack and make things happen.

It also gives Baines and Coleman the licence to get forward on the overlap ? knowing they have Fellaini and/or Osman ahead of them to drop in and cover.

Fellaini and Osman can drive us out ? I think Ossie has played well and done a job in central mid when played there. He works hard and can pick a pass.

It allows us to get tight when we need to, with Rodwell dropping in and supporting when we are defending. He should have enough energy to do that role while supporting Jermaine, who surely has to be given a run in the team.

I personally think it would give us enough to combat Chelsea, as well as having the ability to open them up as well.

                       Howard
Coleman  Jagielka  Distin  Baines
                 Osman  Fellaini
     Arteta         Rodwell         Bily
                         Beckford

Brian Price     Posted 24/01/2011 at 13:09:12   Comments (26)

Moyes has got to go

There's been a load of posts with regards how bad the team are playing and why they are playing so bad: Howard is off-form and Arteta is having a stinker; Neville is to old and slow; Osman is not a Premier League player; this player is crap, and that player is crap, bla bla bla.

We all have opinions on who is the best players and in some players we can see no wrong no matter what they do. Nine months ago, all these players where playing together as a team and played very well. What has happened since then? ? It's not three years ago... it's only nine months ago.

These players that where playing their socks off the second half of last season haven't all grown old in 9 months or are recovering from horrendous injuries; it?s basically the same squad with a couple of new faces. Our Manager picks the team week-in and week-out, we look at his team selection each week and some supporters will think it?s a great selection against the opposition but others will think it?s a crap selection.

The point I am trying to make here is the fact that Mr Moyes picks the squad each week and he has run out of ideas; he simply doesn't know what to do with the guys he has available. He constantly plays his players out of their natural playing positions and thinks out of desperation it will work out ok. It's not working and it's his fault and nobody else's. The blame lies firmly on his doorstep and I think the whole team have lost confidence in him and that?s why we are seeing poor form week in week out.

They must be able to see the same as we can see and can do nothing at all about it. They will see what we are seeing week-in and week-out. It's not the squad that are at fault, it's not the players off-form, it is not the lack of funds... it's Moyes: he is not managing the team correctly and he is to blame for our bad form at the moment, nobody else.

He has to go and before I get slagged off for asking him to go, I don?t know who can replace him.
Mark  Burns     Posted 24/01/2011 at 10:10:41   Comments (77)

Expectation and ToffeeWeb

I've been a Blue for long as I can remember and that's a long long time. I read ToffeeWeb daily and WOW what depressive and bitter blues we are. Expectation, yes we all want to win, be Champions... but does anybody actually believe in their heart that we can compete with City, Man Utd and Chelsea week on week? Yes, on our day, we can beat anybody but every day we cannot. Yes, we are a Top 4 team, but in the 5th - 8th top 4 and we will most probably finish here again this season.

Let's give the team support and Moyes at least until May and then judge our team and management. Instead of slagging our players off week-in, week-out, give them support. Every week, we have a new hero and a new villain. Forget, support them all.

What's more depressing, watching Everton or reading Toffee Web?

Look at the league and every team is the same as us, not performing.

COYB
Mike Hargreaves     Posted 24/01/2011 at 07:59:52   Comments (30)

Fellaini ? great; Arteta ? rubbish...
I don't think so!

I can't believe what's now going on with some Evertonians.

Apparently Fellaini can do no wrong and Arteta can do no right but, from where I sit, I see them both struggling a bit and the fact of the matter is they do not look like they can play together effectively enough.

Last week against Liverpool, Fellaini was chasing shadows in the first half, totally unable to stop the Liverpool midfield creating attack after attack. He finished the half with his horror pass straight to Maxi Rodriguez on the edge of our box. But somehow he becomes Man of the Match.

Yesterday, against West Ham, he was clearly struggling early on and lost possession in the Everton half on several occasions. Again, he was praised after the game. On the other hand, Arteta is getting panned re his apparent horror shows.

Let's be clear: Arteta is not at his best and looks uncomfortable in his partnership with Fellaini... but he is certainly not playing as badly as some Evertonians seem to think.

I find it amazing that when Fellaini loses possession there is silence in the ground as though no-one has noticed it but, when Arteta makes a poor pass, all hell lets loose. It's just crazy and some Evertonians are very blinkered.

It is obvious to me that Fellaini is not the great defensive midfielder Evertonians want him to be. He can't tackle properly and he is too slow to cover the defence properly, too slow to get a good tackle in, too slow on the turn. Yesterday, all his best work was done when he was moved up front and he started to cause problems for the West Ham defence.

Against the trend, I know... but, for the Chelsea game next week, I would go with the 5-man midfield with Fellaini playing in the Cahill role and Rodwell being used as the anchorman. That would be far better for the balance of the midfield and better than moving Arteta wide. 4-4-2 didn't work against West Ham and it won't against Chelsea.

But please, Fellaini is not paying fantastic and Arteta is not the pits. It's somewhere in the middle and the simple fact is they have not been playing well together.

Arteta has been one of our classiest and best players in recent years and it's time some Evertonians gave him the respect he deserves before he too thinks it's time to leave.

If you want to show your frustration, aim it at Moyes who has not found the right balance/team all season. He should carry the can for the mess we are now in.
Ged Dwyer     Posted 23/01/2011 at 18:51:51   Comments (60)

Championship by 2014

Being a blue as always been hard. I love them dearly and it kills me when I see the club now in a spiral... a downward one. The Big 4 was actually the Big 5... us being the 5th, Spurs, Man City & Villa, just below us, but not only Man City have invested but Spurs as well...

In addition Sunderland have money, Stoke, Bolton and Blackburn have moved on... we have gone backwards. Unless we quickly inject funds into the club I cant see us playing PL football at the start of 2015, why 2015 you might wonder...just do the maths, look at the players who in the present team will be gone either retired or seen sense and moved on. Moyes often dithers in the transfer market and gives another manager the chance to step in.

Mr Kenwright as no money and was infact rooting down the side of his couch yesterday to find a bit of loose change. The ground is a dump, nobody will put money into Everton... even the present board have plenty of cash... but not interested in parting with it... August 2015 our first home game v Barnet !!
Andrew Lawrenson     Posted 23/01/2011 at 17:22:59   Comments (18)

Nevin, Limpar, Kanchelskis... Jennings?

I think most of us agree that a genuine winger will be a handy aquisition for Everton, but the dilemma is where do you get a decent one for the money we have available.

Well, the answer is closer than you think. In fact, its practically a stone throw from Goodison. Tranmere Rovers have a teenage winger called Dale Jennings who has been tearing up league one opposition all season. On Saturday he scored another wondergoal from 30 yards to outshine the most public of teenage stars, Alex Chamberlain (Arsenal bound apparently).

Apparently it would take less than £1m to get this lad at Goodison, but the price won't be that low for long. The boy looks immense!!! I for one really miss going to Goodison and watching Pat Nevin, Anders Limpar or Kanchelskis. A fast, tricky winger my just unlock one or two more doors than the steady-Eddie's we have currently.

I guarantee that if we don't sign him up to out ranks, he will soon be terrorising our own defence very soon, and be leaving Howard cursing the ball in the back of his net.
Gareth Mercer     Posted 23/01/2011 at 16:37:07   Comments (16)

Transfers

Here is one for you, and this just makes me laugh, how can this be true?

http://www.sportingo.com/football/a17922_everton-eye-swoop-liverpool-forward

I would say there is more chance of landing on Mars in my Honda Civic than Everton signing this guy from them over there....

He's poor, doesn't appear to have any pace nor work rate. Plus we have no money, AGAIN....

How can Moyes work in this climate with both his hands tied behind his back? Give me any manager in the top flight who has to work like this? It's almost like we have a League 2 budget and must cut our cloth accordingly. It makes we feel like we are pissing in the wind all the time.

It's HIGH TIME our manager (whether you like him or not) is supported by the people in the boardroom, it's just ridiculous..

So consequently any 'rumour' we hear of, or back page story of Everton signing someone, just don't believe... are we able to loan any of the ladies team by the way, they are pretty useful... impact player from the bench perhaps??? If i worked like this in my profession, i would be sacked day on day....Journalism it makes me want to spit!
Mark Hill     Posted 23/01/2011 at 16:32:05   Comments (10)

No holding Felliani

I was going to add this on to one of the match day threads, but i think this is a major point Moyes has to address. It's the role Felliani is playing at the moment, the holding position (Carsley role), breaking up the opposition's attack and protecting the back four.

Yesterday and other games, teams are walking right through our midfield like a knife through butter. Why? My opinion is Felliani is not staying in that position, he is stepping in to Arteta's boots, which leaves the balance and the formation in tatters. People say Mikel should cover for Marouane, but no way is Mikel a holding player. It's a Lampard and Gerrard situation.

It was no coincidence we saw a better Arteta when Marouane went up front. We need a tough tackling holding player.
Colin Malone     Posted 23/01/2011 at 15:33:26   Comments (13)

If you're going to moan...

... moan in the right direction

Evertonians would do well to remember the cause of their frustrations. Rather than booing the team or individual players, they really ought to be directing their anger towards a chairman and board of directors who have consistently failed to back David Moyes and his squad. Mikel Arteta, for one, does not deserve the criticism that is coming his way. Fans ask for loyalty, and Mikel has shown Everton tremendous loyalty since arriving at Goodison six years ago. Yes, he is handsomely rewarded, but he could quite easily have picked up that money or more at other richer clubs.

Don't forget either what David Moyes has done for EFC: a brief synopsis shows six seasons in which his team have been in and around the 60-point mark (or well beyond); four of those campaigns have yielded European football; and, I believe, in any other era of English football pre-1992 he would have brought silverware to Goodison.

Patrick Hart     Posted 23/01/2011 at 14:24:04   Comments (34)

Keep the faith

I know we were awful yesterday, inept in fact, but the future is not all doom and gloom. We have only lost one of the last 9 games, away at Stoke. Drawn 5 including Liverpool and Chelsea both away. Wins against City (away) and Spurs. If you look at the table, both ourselves and Fulham have drawn far more games than those around us ? not enough goals to win matches.

Cast your mind back to before Christmas when we were all bemoaning loads of chances not taken. Moyes has now tinkered with his system to try and score more. But this was a case of ?what ain?t broke ? don?t fix.? We were creating chances then... but we are not creating chances now!

Last two games have been transitional in my mind. Pienaar was going and our left side has suffered badly. Nothing at all yesterday (or at LFC) from that side when it is usually our best.

Arteta has not suddenly become a bad player ? when he looks up and forward there is no-one free to pass to ? so he goes sideways. To my mind he needs to play further forward in the Nasri style role. Keep the faith guys. COYB
Andrew Mahon     Posted 23/01/2011 at 13:20:21   Comments (11)

KENWRIGHT OUT!!!

As you are all probably aware, I have been one of BK's biggest critics on here and will only be happy when he has gone. He is slowly but surely killing our club. I went to his facebook page and mailed him the folowing. If enough people do this, he may take notice, but please if you do ? be polite!! Here is a copy of my mail:

Mr Kenwright,

I realise that Everton Football Club means a great deal to you but you are slowly loosing the support of the fanbase.

Our Club is dying under your Chairmanship, we need major investment in order to progress. You cannot take this great club any further, John Moores must be turning in his grave at the state of the club.

Please resign as Chairman and sell up and go.

Steve
Another True Blue

Steve Sweeney     Posted 23/01/2011 at 10:35:38   Comments (31)

Moyes: Time to go my friend

I've been a Evertonian since the early 80s and in all my life supporting them I have never known us to be so boring to watch. Yeah, Moyes has worked with a smaller budget but he has bought some shockers for big money.

Now the time has come: he resigns... and let's us get someone else in. I personally reckon we should go for Slaven Bilic. We need someone with contacts...
Darren Jenkin     Posted 22/01/2011 at 22:32:35   Comments (70)

The Pain Continues

Having finally collected my thoughts on today's performance, I am beginning to wonder whether I watch the same game as Moyes. I'm confused constantly by his decision making either in initial team selection or when trying to change things. Does he think last weeks performance warranted an unchanged team today?

At the moment Arteta is stinking the place out, although I have to say today he was a little better. If he is to retain his place what about pushing him out wide right or left? Rodwell is touted as one of Englands best prospects yet he can't get a game in a midfield that is clearly misfiring big time.

The wins against City and Spurs unfortunately are papering over the cracks in Moyes's tactics. I'm also thinking that if he is going to stick with 4-4-2 he needs to start playing Coleman at right back. Neville offers nothing going forward in support of a midfield 4. Today he was poor, is the Tottenham talk affecting him?

Why did Moyes take off Beckford at half time? Lots of people seem unsure about him but he constantly gets in scoring positions, he makes good runs but rarely gets the right ball played to him. Taking him off at half time will damage his confidence and also appears to make him a scapegoat for the teams failings. I'm sorry but last time I checked the most important thing to do is to keep a clean sheet! (How many this season?)

Distin is immense after his shaky game v United, Heitinga is a better passer from defence than Jagielka although he passed it straight out twice today, Baines is playing really well, Neville is ok defensively, but weak going forward, Howard is a great shot stopper but has dropped a few clangers this season. Collectively there is something wrong we need to start keeping clean sheets.

Osman is a squad player and nothing else. He is talented but to lightweight to hold down a regular place, today Moyes makes 3 substitutions yet Osman plays the full 90. Go figure? Is it me, an Evertonian of 40 years, through good,bad and awful, or does Moyes know best and should never be questioned (as per Sharpy on the City phone-in, and all the other Moyes apologists)

andy roberts     Posted 22/01/2011 at 20:22:51   Comments (23)

Indifference

I'm not angry any more. I didn't think we'd win today, nor did I think we'd be as poor. Fellaini's late goal has postponed what is inevitable and that's the departure of David Moyes. Better for him and better for us. Unfortunately a long lingering death awaits, taking away any good memories we had.

There are not three worse teams than us in the Premier league. Yakubu scores two goals in two games elsewhere and..... actually it doesn't hurt as much as it should.
Andy Crooks     Posted 22/01/2011 at 18:25:35   Comments (19)

The Moyes Family Business and Charlie Adam

Charlie Adam, the in-demand Glaswegian midfielder currently putting the Bloom into the Bloomfield Roaders, has a not-so indirect link with Everton. His agent is Kenny Moyes, brother of our manager and son of one of our Scouts - yes David Moyes senior is not just making up the numbers in the front row seats.

And David Senior is no slouch. He scouted Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka and is often seen in the ear of his second-born.

So, should we be bothered? Well, we should certainly debate it. If the manager, his brother and his Pa are all involved in the business of football surely that is something we should feel queazy about. It is not hard to imagine the Everton manager getting a call from his agent brother saying, 'Hey, Davie, put in a word about one of my players would ye?'

Now if it worked the other way I would not be too concerned. 'Hey, Davie, I've a wonder-kid here I'm putting your way.'

But the idea that a brother of an Everton manager should be involved in arranging a classy player join our fiercest rivals leaves me feeling downright disappointed.

Can any of us imagine ? if he had one ? Howard Kendall's brother arranging a player, say Ian Snodin, to join Liverpool? Or Joe Royle's kith-and-kin smoothing the wrinkles on a deal to get Kanchelskis to Anfield?

Dear Reader, I think not.

Ged Alexander     Posted 22/01/2011 at 13:21:37   Comments (21)

No More Africa Cup!

Following the departures this month at least we do not have to be concerned with the core of our team not being available through the middle of the season.

Every cloud and all that.... just the Asia cup to put up with!
Tom Owen     Posted 22/01/2011 at 10:11:16   Comments (5)

How to accomodate Tim and two strikers

Since Cahill Tim has been at the Asian Cup, and Moyes' decision to go with 2 out and out strikers (and our up-turn in form), there has been continued debate on this site as to what we should do when Tim returns.

I don't think anyone can doubt Tim's importance to our team, his goals return is phenomenal, his work rate second to none, and he winds the opposition up brilliantly. Without being exactly a world class player, and certainly less skillful and gifted than one or two of our other players, he has become our most important players.

But, despite his g oals this season, I think most of us would agree that our 4-5-1 system which accomodates him has pretty much been found out by other teams. I also think most of us have really liked seeing us play with two strikers.

So, what do we do when Tim returns? Keep him on the bench, use him in a four man midfield, or revert to type? I was giving this some thought, and i think there is an alternative. Basically, i think an option worth considering is switching to the 3-5-2 formation.

I realise this is a set-up which has a lot of critics, and is one that is rarely used in England, but i think we have the personnel to make it work. with Heitinger, Jags and Distin across the back, Seamus and Bainsy as the wing backs, Fellaini and Arteta in the middle as they have been, and Tim playing his usual role, but this time behind Beckford and Saha/Vic/Whoever. I know this formation has its shortcomings, but I think we'd have a very solid spine with Fellaini in front of three very good defenders, who would balance very well, and Seamus and Baines I think are tailor made for the wing back roles.

Tim would have the freedom to do his usual job of getting stuck in in midfeild, and bursting into the opposition box. He certainly works best breaking from midfield rather than being used as a striker, which frankly just seems desperate. With the pace of someone like beckford and the class of an in form Saha, or the power of Anichebe and the brilliantly timed late runs of Tim we'd have a lot of threat going forward, especially with the deliveries of Baines and Coleman's ability to get to the line.

Fellaini would have to be extra discplined to protect the back four when Baines and Coleman burst forward, but I think he's easily up to the job, and once Mikky gets back in form he can pull the strings in the middle. An advantage of the particular personnel in the line up is that, if things aren't going well we can easily switch to a 4-4-2 formation, with Heitinga, Jags, Distin and Baines across the back, and Seamus, Tim, Fellaini and Arteta across the middle, with of course the added options of changes from the bench.

I'm not 100% convinced this change would work. I can't think of an English team who play this way, and i doubt Moyes has much experience of coaching it, and everbody involved would have to be extremely well drilled, but I think it potentially offers a solution to a quandry Moyes will certainly face when Tim returns.
Nathan  O'Hagan     Posted 21/01/2011 at 22:50:32   Comments (19)

Sell Jack Rodwell?

It is no secret that our club has not got a pot to piss in; with us having to offload players just so we can afford loan fees, things are not going to change any time soon unless our billionaire saviour turns up... which isn't going to happen either because you actually have to be up for sale for that to happen!

So I'd like to ask Evertonians, would you sell Jack Rodwell?

My answer is Yes and my reason is simple: we wouldn't miss him because at the minute he contributes nothing to the team but he could contribute £20 million to our transfer funds.

Yes, he has big POTENTIAL... and yes, he has been tipped to be the future of England, never mind Everton... but could the sacrifice of a player who has become a star before a player and who would fetch big money from the likes of Man Utd or Chelsea be the answer to our much needed transfer funds?

At the end of the day, he will probably want out soon anyway; if we don't attract quality players soon it's only a matter of time before Fellaini, Jagielka, Baines, Heitinga and Arteta look for European football somewhere else.
Lewis Morrison     Posted 21/01/2011 at 13:51:21   Comments (0)

Gueye

As an expat living down under I wonder what's happening at my beloved club. Tactics and formation have been found wanting (cheers for that, Davey), and Bullshit Billy has been doing his best role in years as a concerned chairman, but now that Peanuts has left, surely the young French lad Magaye Gueye deserves a go?

Now it may of been a few pre season friendly matches down this neck of the woods, but this lad when he was brought on showed passion and a workrate that in my opinion Bily just does not possess.

FFs surely now is the time to give the lad a chance. But come this weekend and every weekend to come it's COYB's & FTRS. Sorry about the rant from a drunken expat but this club means everything to me!
Gary Lawler     Posted 21/01/2011 at 12:30:28   Comments (23)

Pienaar comment

I just thought I?d bring up a very telling comment from Steven Pienaar that caught my eye today:

"The style of football is really important. I played with Rafa [van der Vaart] at Ajax and we played attacking football and I want to be in a team that plays attacking football that is exciting for the supporters to watch.?

It sounds like a player that was pretty fed up with Moyes? shall we say, less than cavalier approach to football. Another £15k+ a week doesn?t hurt too much either!

Paul Baxter     Posted 21/01/2011 at 08:59:41   Comments (28)

Sacrifice for the future

Reading a lot of views on here combined with transfer rumors has got me thinking about the future of the club. As it stands right now we are 12th in the league while teams like Man City, Spurs and even Bolton/Sunderland are doing well. We have no money to spend and are now letting are assets leave one by one.

With this in mind there is one solution that would not only safeguard our future but also potentially push us on further than we are now, youth. The money we are getting now could be spent on young players rather than short term solutions.

We may have not moved for Hammil but there are others out there. Now, if we spent our money on them, threw them into the reserves and left them for a season to 'develop' ? or in some eyes do nothing ? you would think I have gone mad. But look at this way, we sacrifice next season to a debt paying year, get by on what we have, then start fresh in 2012, the potential could be;

Gueye
Silva
Coleman
Rodwell
Fellaini
Baxter
Barkley
Duffy
Mustafi
player a
player b
player c
player d

This list could be all the players in 2012 who would be breaking into the squad/team as the likes of Neville, Cahill, Arteta, Saha, Hibbert, Osman and Disitn to name a few would be winding down and/or finishing their career. The potential therefore is a younger, hungrier, better Everton team than we have now, but developed with enough experience to give them a running start.
Chris Ashton     Posted 20/01/2011 at 23:39:05   Comments (12)

Eric Dier

So we finally have a signing in this window! He's a 17 year old centre half. On loan...

Although I'm sure the lad is a great prospect I fail to see any point behind this move. There's currently no mention of an option to buy and he's unlikely to challenge for a first team slot. Can anybody shed any light on this one?
Mark Burton     Posted 20/01/2011 at 19:28:26   Comments (40)

I know we are broke...

But this is ridiculous! Everything we have done this January has been about money and in Premier League terms pitiful amounts of money.

The Yak goes, probably for a small loan fee and Leicester pay (some? all?) of his wages, saves us maybe 750k until summer. Pienaar gone for 3 million plus 750k in wages and Vaughan (possibly) to Celtic for 250k loan fee. S

o in the grand scheme of things we might have just made/saved 5m (being generous), I am sure a sizeable amount we just blew on Anichebe's wages?? (Of course I don't consider Coleman's contract a waste).

The Victor thing just highlights how the squad all of a sudden looks weaker, his signing looks all the more needed as we have virtually no quality or fit strikers available, hence why Chamionship (at best, was that to showcase him to clubs?) Vaughan got a run in the derby and now Chamiponship (at best) Victor gets a new deal.

Now I hope we are all surprised and we make a big splash in the transfer market but I do not see it coming. At best that 4 million will be used on some dodgy African striker we have never heard of, who has been plying his trade in France/Belgium for a goal return of 7 in 32.

Meanwhile Blackburn Rovers pick up Santa Cruz (why weren't we in for him?), Wheater to Bolton (I am sure we pulled out as we could not afford it), Hamill to Wolves (500k, surely worth a gamble?) and now I see Blackburn interested in Seb Larsson, out of contract in the summer from Brum (another player worth a look to bolster the squad?)....I could go on! In the meantime and our squad continues to deplete.

Unfortunately we seem to be stumbling through a period where a bunch of average teams are bypassing us in terms of position in the league and financial strength (Sunderland/Bolton/Blackburn) and we are accepting mid-lower half mediocrity (we hope!) for the foreseeable future. Depressing stuff I know, but true. If it continues I envision the loss of Baines, Fellaini, Rodwell and Arteta very soon.

Oh and I can't wait to see the rebirth of Leon Osman on the left now Pienaar has gone......(give Baxter or Bily a go please)!
Dick Bill     Posted 20/01/2011 at 16:16:00   Comments (19)

Kris Commons

As the transfer rumour merry-go-round gathers pace, I'm surprised that David Moyes has not made an effort to sign Derby's winger Kris Commons.

Commons is an attacking midfielder / winger, 27 years old who is also out of contract this summer. Therefore available on a free in the summer or cheap now as the trend seems to be.

Everton are being linked with wingers in the media, so hopefully there is some truth that Moyes wants to sign wingers, albeit Championship ones. Eagles apparently is not going anywhere, Hammill has gone to Wolves, but Commons is as good if not better.

Rangers and Celtic are apparently interested in the Scotland international who has an eye for goal and seems to excel in the big matches.

Maybe the media speculation is all wrong and Moyes still refuses to sign wingers!
Matthew Lovekin     Posted 20/01/2011 at 14:59:39   Comments (10)

Mbark Boussoufa

Finally a decent rumour and one transfer that may be possible for Everton. This guy looks very good, won the Belgian player of the season a couple of times and is apparently very creative. Earmarked as the Pienaar replacement.

Yeah, people can say it is only the Belgian league, but this guy proves with all the awards he has won, he was one of the best in that league, hopefully on par with Defour and Co.

We've been linked with the other winger Legear from Anderlecht as well, so it is obvious there must have been scouts there.

Also I see Blackburn offering £500k for Seb Larsson? God squad player to say the least. We need to get in there!!

Ben Jones     Posted 20/01/2011 at 12:52:49   Comments (52)

Cahill's injury

Hopefully I am not wrong but after viewing several repeats and slo-mos it seemed to me that Tim only picked up a soft tissue injury to the inside of his right leg above the knee. In the dying minutes while challenging for a high ball Tim was hit by his opponent's knee. It was not a foul by either player.
Dick Fearon     Posted 20/01/2011 at 00:10:31   Comments (8)

Rodwell

I predicted a couple of years back Rodwell would be a great player and I mean great ? I mean a Neville Southall, a Beckenbauer.

I'm becoming increasingly pessimistic; don't get me wrong I haven't written him off, but I'm failing to see the potential as I did when we knocked Villa out the cup etc a couple seasons back.

I'm a great believer that you need 10 games in a run to find form and now Pienaar is gone, I would stick Rodwell in the middle with Arteta out wide. If Arteta finds form, I'd immediately put him back in the middle (and I was going crazy for ages that it took Moyes years to put him there) but enough is enough, he hasn't produced all season so let's see if our wonder kid is up for the job and can turn into a Gerrard, which I previously believed he could...
Peter Warren     Posted 19/01/2011 at 21:42:22   Comments (45)

The signs are ominous

For me, the sale of Lucas Neill signalled a turning point at Everton. A reasonable squad player went and we are in trouble should Baines get injured. Yes, we made a quick profit and saved his wages but it was less than £1 million. An ambitious club that wasn't totally skint just wouldn't have done it.

The Yak has gone without a replacement, same with Pienaar, same with Yobbo. Vaughan might be away too. This is desperate cost-cutting and what was in the view of many, our best squad for years is being dismantled. Bily was the last throw of the dice in our gamble for Champions League football.

One can argue that we failed for tactical and football reasons but the hard fact is we are now on the slide. It used to be amusing to see us linked with big names but that particular novelty has well and truly worn off. To give David Moyes the Pienaar money and ask him to make a wonder buy is like going to the bookies with your last tenner, hoping to win your mortgage arrears. It ain't going to happen.
Andy Crooks     Posted 19/01/2011 at 08:43:44   Comments (97)

Aloyalty: Pienaar et alia

I'd like to introduce a footballing concept: Aloyalty. Just as one can talk of something being moral, immoral or amoral, I think we need to have this idea in football.

Players (Pienaar, Bent, Keane, Lescott and the rest) don't feel loyalty to their clubs, they don't feel that a club helped them to develop, paid them handsomely when they were injured, offered them a stage in which to make their name, and above all the fans often gave them adoration.

What they do feel is I want more money and glory, to them it's not being disloyal, it's simply the way of the world and the concepts of loyalty and disloyalty is irrelevant and alien. They have what I am now calling an aloyal attitude, an attitude which in their minds, is simply the way things are and they can't understand the silly saps who help to pay their wages and who support one team through their whole life.

So next time a player, like Darren Bent, twitters that Spurs must let him go to Sunderland and two years later decides that he must go to Aston Villa, don't accuse him of disloyalty, just remember loyalty and disloyalty are not the issue, he's just being aloyal.
Richard Tarleton     Posted 18/01/2011 at 16:41:39   Comments (107)

Give them a hammering

Next up it's the Hammers and with Pienaar seemingly "gone" I thought the following setup would give us something we've been craving all season... a goalfest:

             Howard
Coleman Jagielka Heitinga  Baines
      Anichebe   Neville   Fellaini   Arteta
           Saha     Beckford

With Rodwell coming on for Neville second half and Bily on for Saha.

Jay Harris     Posted 18/01/2011 at 13:47:14   Comments (53)

Everton agree fee with Tottenham for Pienaar

I have seen on Ceefax a headline that flashed up at 8:15 pm that Everton accept Spurs Pienaar bid. Ceefax states that Everton have agreed a fee with Tottenham and Pienaar faces a straight choice between Tottenham and Chelsea.

Nicholas Randall     Posted 17/01/2011 at 20:49:43   Comments (52)

Yesterday's squad

I've been thinking about yesterday's squad and the fact that there were a lot of young or younger players in it. We had Anichebe, Vaughan and Rodwell all getting game time as well as Baxter and Gueye on the bench. I know that Jags and Saha are out injured at the moment but off the top of my head I can't think of any other senior players who are injured at present.

Maybe I'm wrong but for me the profile of yesterday's squad could mean one of two things:

Firstly, Moyes is getting ready to ship a load of senior players to balance the books.

Secondly he could feel that the season is already over in terms of a high league placing and he is going to give the youngsters a lot more game time than he normally would at this stage of the season. He may just play a full squad for the FA Cup and see how we go.

It could be just finances forcing the club's hand, but for me, a mid-table finish and a number of decent young players ready for next season would be a decent end to what has been a very disappointing season to date.

Kieran Fitzgerald     Posted 17/01/2011 at 17:43:55   Comments (31)

Eat my goal

Here's some good strikers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZhysyhUL9k

Anyway, my point is, if we want to play 4-4-2 (which we do), we need 3 decent strikers to choose from.

We've got probably one and a half decent strikers.

Let's see the board back Moyes and get Darren Bent in. He wants out, he's got 20 goals in him, I think he'd do well.

It's not going to happen is it?

Most likely, if there is another striker coming in, it will have to be one of Moyes's shrewd puchases from the lower leagues.

How about that powerful striker who scored on his debut for Leicester at the weekend?

Dan Kemp     Posted 17/01/2011 at 16:37:01   Comments (35)

Afraid To Be Bitter Blues

Why do we do it to ourselves? Are we so obsessed with losing the tag 'Bitter Blues' that we ignore injustices in order to be perceived as being fair? Anyone who still has a recording of the match please have a look at the following.

(95 mins into recording but matchplay times stated)

65:25 "Torres looking to get the edge on Johnny Heittinga controlled by the hand it seems." followed by the co-commentator saying "It was a clear handball, I'm amazed the whistle didn't go." Bizarrely after this point there is no reference to the handball whatsoever by commentators, pundits or any area of the media. I have scoured this site and not a single reference to it from our own fans.

65:50 whistle blows for Osman's foul that led to the free kick, the cross from which immediately brought about the penalty decision.

Blues fans seem to be at odds as to the validity of this call but, for my two penn'erth, I think the ball had been played away by Maxi Rodriguez and there was no goal threat, plus no malicious intent from Howard going for the ball, ergo no penalty. The worst case scenario I believe would have been an indirect free kick as it was not preventing a goalscoring opportunity but who gives them nowadays? Alan Smith disagrees and believes it to be nailed-on in his commentary but what else do we expect of him where Everton are concerned? That said, I am no expert on these fineries so am willing to stand corrected if I am wrong in my assessment.

None of this changes my assertion that Torres should have walked for a second bookable offence due to the deliberate handball warranting a yellow card. Even if it were a mere free-kick, the ensuing play would not have led to the immediate aftermath of the penalty would it?

On balance a point each may have been a reasonable outcome on the basis of play but that is irrelevant to me. How many times have we played well enough to come away with more than we have done? Balance of play means nothing. It is goals and decisions that lead to or do not lead to goals that are all that matter. In this I believe we lost out.

Before anyone mentions it, I know our corner should have been a goal kick but later in the game the opposite happened at least once and we lost out in other decisions too. All-in-all I thought it was well refereed, allowing for reasonable errors on either side, with the glaring exception of the handball and penalty. Do I have my blue-tinted specs on or do I have a right to be an ever-so-slightly Bitter Blue?

Lee Mandaracas     Posted 17/01/2011 at 10:54:38   Comments (48)

Upon Reflection...

Last week i posted on here about my relationship with Everton falling apart ? I was having a dire week, was unwell, and things at home were getting me down ? I have to admit I'm big enough to say that in hindsight I should have stayed quiet. I also probably deserved to be strung up and hung outside Goodison for all to mock.

Unfortunately I let my feelings for the way things were going at the club get me down to such a degree that I was lost.

The result yesterday has no basis upon this response today, even though i was elated when Beckford scored ? the lad deserves a break lets get behind him!

I wish I could turn back the clock; hindsight's a wonderful thing and to those that know me, I am sorry for the nonsense. To the game Saturday, I will be there, and 100% focussed on losing my voice and celebrating 3 points. "Once a Blue, Always a Blue".

As for supporting Shitteh ? not even if you paid me a million a day

Chris Keightley     Posted 17/01/2011 at 12:13:51   Comments (18)

2-2 v The Dark Side - Tactical Analysis

Below are a couple of links to some interesting interpretations of yesterday's encounter - and my thoughts on how the game panned out:

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/01/16/liverpool-2-2-everton-tactics/#comment-30048

http://theexecutionersbong.wordpress.com/

The set-up at the start of the match from Moyes was wrong. In our last two games, we?ve played a 4-4-1-1 with Saha behind Beckford. Beckford?s pace and pressure has stretched the gap between opposition?s midfield and defence, allowing Saha (a clearly gifted player) space to create and score goals. Instead, against Liverpool ? that space was afforded to Anichebe ? a clearly limited player!

Fair play to Moyes though, as at the start of the second half he switched Victor out left and shuffled Osman infield a little more ? and both goals came as a result of the switch. The first goal came from a corner that was won by hitting a long ball to Anichebe and competing for the second ball (though clearly it should have been a goal kick). The second was yet another long ball to Anichebe that Osman picked up on from his more infield position and managed to squeeze through to Beckford to finish well.

The frustrating thing is that if we?d been more positive in our pressure play, then this game was there for the taking. The main difference in the first half was Liverpool putting Everton under pressure when their defenders/deep midfielders were in possession. When Liverpool had the ball in deep positions, Everton sat off and thus created pressure on their defence.

This approach changed at the start of the second half, and we were the better for it. But then, we began to sit off again instead of taking the game to them. Difficult to know if this was psychological or a result of negative instructions from Moyes. History suggests it may be the latter, as the Scotsman appears ill at ease setting his team up to take the game to opponents.

A final point ? Neville really must close his man down quicker. The first goal came from him backing off and letting Johnson walk into the box with the ball. He repeated this a number of times during the match, and it?s not a rarity to see either.

Graham Holliday     Posted 17/01/2011 at 09:58:32   Comments (8)

Howard's comments

Tim was interviewed on Fox Soccer Channel via phone after the match today.

Warren Barton tried to lure him into a 'what if Man U can back looking for you with Van der Sar getting on etc etc....'. Tim cut it short... 'I'm an Evertonian' and stated his wish to stay at Goodison for the rest of his career.

Regardless of some mixed form, it was great to hear such vocal loyalty. If only we could afford to grab Landon.

Paul Columb     Posted 17/01/2011 at 02:55:33   Comments (24)

Pienaar

Love to know WTF is going on over the transfer of Pienaar. We supposedly accepted a bid off Chelsea, then Ancelotti comes on tele, saying it's a load of crap that they made any bid.

We then have Redknapp in an interview, saying that they had a bid of £2m turned down, and were told it was because Chelsea had made a higher bid, even though Ancelotti denied it. Redknapp then goes on to say, that he thought there was something not right, and he knows what's going on, but wouldn't comment any further, because what he had to say would land him in big trouble.

Then Moyes says Pienaar will be at training with the club on Monday, if Moyes expects him at training, then why wasn't he playing today? I mean, WTF is going on???

Brian Waring     Posted 16/01/2011 at 20:24:07   Comments (55)

Trouble at the game?

There are rumours of a stabbing incident at today's Merseyside derby but as yet nothing on the news confirmed.

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Jamie Carroll     Posted 16/01/2011 at 20:08:59   Comments (18)

Why???

Just seen the team for the Derby! Not excited one bit.Anichebe in for Saha,who hasn't even made the bench.If this is a straight swap due to injury then fair enough.But why do i get the feeling that "Big" Vic will be playing from the left with Leon Osman tucking in to make a 5 man midfield?

I am submitting this now so i don't come across as trying to be wise after the event.I cannot fuckin' believe this!!! I hope i am wrong but it looks like safety first from Moyes AGAIN!

After the last 2 games i would have respected Moyes more if he had brought in James Vaughan to partner Beckford! I don't rate Victor and i think we should attack from the very first minute.

Right, match about to start, let's see how we do... I've got to say that this season i am starting to run out of patience with Moyes! I hope i am wrong.COYB.
Lee Courtliff     Posted 16/01/2011 at 13:55:34   Comments (20)

Moyes ? ?Ours Draws At Anfield Are Unbelievable?

The day before the Merseyside Derby and Moyes is at it again. Got this from the Daily Mail today (link = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1347305/Ghostbuster-Dalglish-Forget-emotion-points-says-Liverpool-boss.html). I quote from it

?In 35 away games against Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal since March 2002, Everton have not won one. Evertonians have often criticised Moyes for failing to take the initiative at Anfield - his team suffered defeats last season (1-0) and in 2006 (3-1) after playing for more than an hour against 10 men - but he bristles when it is suggested Everton should have done better.

'Maybe you should be turning around and saying the four draws Everton have got at Anfield were unbelievable, rather than we haven't won there,' he said. 'To have drawn so many games at Anfield over that period is incredible when you look at the difference in spending between the clubs?

This to me sums up his mentality against The Sky Beloved 4 and it drives me mad with frustration. Sorry but that?s not what I wanted to hear from our manager, Davey you?re paid £65k a week to play for draws!

This after the Pienaar transfer, The Yak?s departure, Phil Neville being targeted by Spurs in the build up week to the game at Anfield. We never do this the easy way do we, always has to be a drama that makes us look small time.

I remember the days of going 8/9 consecutive games unbeaten in the Derby, from Big Joe?s first game onwards, that involved going to Anfield and winning, for heaven?s sake even Walter managed it in 1999 against a far superior Liverpool team than they have now.

So Davey, in my opinion, going to Anfield and winning by 3 or more clear goals or is unbelievable, anything less is achievable and well within our ambitions, but not unbelievable. So please cut this inferiority complex loose, because I don?t think there?s an Evertonian going into this Derby who feels that we are inferior to Liverpool. If you think a draw there is unbelievable I suspect you?re very much on your own within the Everton fraternity. We go there to win, our supporters go there to see us win, bottom line.

Football is a game, 11v11, every team can be beaten on any day so long as the opposition are well drilled, know and concentrate on what they?re doing, and do it well with every player in the mindset of winning their own personal battle?s on the pitch.

So please stop the talking down of our chances, it shows a lack of ambition, just tell our boys that Liverpool are there for the taking and to get into them from the kick off and rattle every one of their cages for 90 minutes.

Sadly I?m working tomorrow, more through choice rather than obligation. When I heard Davey?s comments it made me sort of glad I?m not going to watch the prolonged torture of my beloved Blues playing for an unbelievable draw against our hated rivals who have never been weaker. Won?t make work in anyway enjoyable, it will be hell, but at least I?m getting paid for it. If that?s Davey?s attitude, then I hope the players themselves rebel and show that they believe they can win this even if our highly paid manager doesn?t.

Please don?t let us down again. Break the habit of a lifetime Davey and please break the hearts of the Kopites on so called King Kenny?s so called big day?

Declan Brown     Posted 15/01/2011 at 12:50:24   Comments (63)

Judgement Decision for Moyes

For the last 18 months, I have been saying that this is the season that defines Moyes's tenure as Everton manager. He has been manager for 9 years and this is his team that he has built. Although he has only had a net spend of £4M per season, he has still spent £90M in nine years. In my book, that is a lot of money and enough to assemble a decent squad which he has.

Moyes has only arguably lost two players that he didn't want to; Lescott and Rooney but received £50M from those two sales to spend. He may have kept Gravesen and Pienaar but I don't see those as real Champions League quality players, and that has to be the target that Everton Football Club are aiming for, and ultimately, failing under Moyes.

Back to this season, and even Moyes built it up as the season to deliver. His squad assembled and star players reaching their peak and real optimism before the season started that Everton could achieve something big...

As we now know, it has been one big disappointment and Moyes tactics, choices and decisions have come under intense scrutiny. The one glimmer of fading hope for the season is the renewed confidence from the last two games due to the enforced change in formation to 4-4-2 due to Cahill's absence. I don't believe for one minute that Moyes would have played that formation against Spurs if Cahill had been available. However, Sunday is the real test. An away match against our biggest rivals.

I believe the way Moyes sends the team out will determine this season, and therefore Moyes's tenure as manager. Will Moyes revert to his favoured 4-5-1 or stick to the currently successful 4-4-2? It's not just the formation but the way we start the game. If Moyes sends out the players to get behind the ball, defend, and try to nick a goal, even in a 4-4-2, his reign as manager will be looked upon as disappointment, as what might have been. If Everton go and attack from the first minute in a 4-4-2 and take the game to their opponents, Moyes might finally have grown some balls and his reign might still be in tact.

This game is certainly winnable if approached in the right manner. That manner is confident, assertive, positive and having the will to win.

Stand up and be counted, David Moyes, Sunday is your last chance saloon.
Matthew Lovekin     Posted 14/01/2011 at 17:23:00   Comments (23)

Relationship falling apart

As we approach a massive game Sunday, I wanted to express my thoughts and feelings at the moment. As an Everton supporter for 30 years, I have seen the ups and downs, good times and bad, and have continued supporting with the same passion that I had the first time I watched Everton.

However, over the last six months I have become disilussioned, as though the relationship I have with Everton is falling apart. It feels like a relationship with a girl partner or wife, that you once loved dearly... but now, for a number of reasons, you know there are no legs with it anymore.

This transfer window, we let Yak go, Pienaar is in talks with anyone who will listen, players are calling for fresh blood, fire power etc etc. Links to Hammil, Eagles, Mbokani... where are they? The club has no money, cannot afford a loan player; the relationship is coming to an end.

It's hard for me to turn my back on this great club; it's hard to end a long relationship: "Once a Blue, Always a Blue"... but this relationship is coming to an end. The club's lack of communication, and love toward me the fan and fellow fans ? they owe me nothing nor you! And vise versa. It's time to part; I do this with a heavy heart.
Chris Keightley     Posted 14/01/2011 at 15:28:39   Comments (64)

Pienaar bid accepted

The Independent is reporting that Everton has accepted a bid for Pienaar. Will that mean no game for him this weekend. Harsh timing.

But it feels that wheeler-dealing is on its way. I will miss Pienaar, but it was more a question of when than if he would go. And £2-3 million is not something we should turn down. To me it makes sense for him to go now, and for new blood to come in.

First question is: Bily or Gueye for the rest of the season. If it's not Bily, how long has he got?

Roberto Birquet     Posted 14/01/2011 at 15:31:11   Comments (59)

Eastern promise

Though in Qatar for the Asian Cup, Tim Cahill continues to be a marvelous ambassador for Everton. In multiple media interviews aired throughout Asia he comes across as a compassionate mature bloke fully in tune with world affairs. With not a hint of grandiose posturing, Tim exudes the kind of pride in our club that only true blues would have.

With Asia fast becoming a world power house having two thirds of the world population and soaring economies, it is a magnet that attracts western businesses on the look out for profit. Having Chang's business contacts on board and now wonderful publicity generated by Cahill, there could be an opening for our club.

Has Everton the financial expertise to take advantage of the situation?

Dick Fearon     Posted 14/01/2011 at 11:04:06   Comments (25)

Rumours (not Fleetwood Mac)

Jus heard a couple of what I will call rumours that Chris Eagles is having a medical at Finch Farm and that (thankfully IMO) Mbokani has failed to get a work permit. I don't know how true the Eagles leak is because it didn't come from my normal source and I believe we are also in strongly for Adam Hamill. My reason for posting is to ask other TWers what they think of these players.

Personally, I think Eagles has been inconsistent and haven't seen enough of Hamill or Mbokani to offer a reasonable opinion except to say it looks like we're scraping the barrel again letting Yobo, Yak and Pienaar (all experienced Premier League players) go for nowt and getting untried players in.

Not a recipe for greatness I'm afraid.

Jay Harris     Posted 13/01/2011 at 15:49:32   Comments (75)

Time to go for it

David Moyes has been Everton manager for 9 years now. In that time we have visited Anfield on 9 occasions, 8 times in the league and once in the FA Cup. His record is thus - Drew 4, lost 5??. won 0.

If you disagree, then please do, but for me, on every single occasion David Moyes has sent an Everton side out at Anfield he has had only one concern. Don?t get beat. It?s never worked.

The prime examples being two of those defeats have come against ten men. Last season, when Sotirios Kyrgiakos was sent off for the foul that resulted in Marouane Fellaini having to be substituted, be brought on a half fit Mikel Arteta. For me, it was crying out for a forward to be brought on and take the game to the ten men. We lost. Meekly.

Time for new tactics it seems, but due to ?King Kenny?s? return, many Evertonains have had some trepidation. We know the ?Famous Kop? (trademark: mass media) will now be in full voice. Their players will have a new sense of purpose, and they?ll come flying out the blocks on a crest of a new wave. Therefore, some fellow blues have stated we should revert back to the one striker and make sure we?re solid, don?t concede early, and then take it from there.

However, having watched them on a dodgy stream last night, they are shite. And I mean seriously shite. Nearly every pass going astray and showing no imagination by just lumping balls in the box, hoping for a defensive mistake. A midfield that looked all at see as Charlie Adam ran the game and a defence that look terrified every time Blackpool went forward.

Surely, surely, now is the time to go at them. Let them worry about us. For once send a team out at Anfield full of attacking intent and make them crumble. Time for us to get the early goal and put them on the rack. Watch on as Fellaini and Arteta destroy Lucas and Meriales, as Coleman takes the piss out of whatever crap left back they decide to play, and as Saha and Beckford take Agger and Skrtel to the cleaners.

Come on Moyesie ? let's fucking have them, these are shite!

It's time to go for it.
Adam Bennett     Posted 13/01/2011 at 10:10:38   Comments (50)

Mbokani

Just wondered if anybody knows anything at all about this Mbokani bloke we are being linked with? Any one seem him playing? Does he look a worthwhile addition?

You may have seen this already, but this was on the Sky website:

Dieumerci Mbokani is reportedly set for a January move to Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim although the striker has not ruled out a move to Everton.

The German club are currently leading the chase for the Congo international despite firm interest in the player from Everton.

Toffees boss David Moyes is set to offload striker Yakubu to Championship side Leicester, allowing him to move for the Monaco forward.

Moyes is aware that a new striker would help take the weight of goals off of Tim Cahill with Everton scoring just 10 goals in nine home games so far this season.

Although the agent of Mbokani recently intimated that his client will not be moving to the Premier League, the 25-year-old has stated otherwise.

Mbokani, who has only found the net on one occasion this season, told skysports.com: "I am relaxed about everything and waiting to see what will happen.

"I want to play in a team who want me and there are clubs out there who are interested in me.

"Everton are an attractive team and the Premier League is a very good league, if not, the best league in the world, but let's wait and see what happens."

Sean Smythe     Posted 12/01/2011 at 13:14:44   Comments (48)

Let's 'ave it!!

This Sunday sees the Blues take on Liverpool at Anfield. We have a chance of doing a league double over them, with the last one coming in the 84-85 season, it is long overdue.

Moyes has never won at Anfield, and I only hope he shows the same attacking intent as we did against Spurs. They will be missing the two biggest cheats in football, Gerrard & Carragher. It is a pity Tim is missing for us, as he loves these games.

Come on Moysie, make Dogleash regret ever coming back to manage this collection of expensive flops. In the words of one of their ex-players, "I will love it if we beat them, love it."

Kevin Tully     Posted 12/01/2011 at 10:48:58   Comments (45)

Yakubu out on Loan

Well, it looks like he's on his way. I'm quite disappointed because, fit and at his best, he's a top player.

What went wrong? Against Liverpool I thought he was excellent and a couple of games away from full fitness. Then, he's dropped.

One can only hope that this is part of a cunning plan that will lead to a stronger squad. I fear, however, that it is a sign of the crisis management that is the Everton way.
Andy Crooks     Posted 12/01/2011 at 10:08:52   Comments (2)

KEIOC Questions

Follow this link to some questions being posed, to the board, by KEIOC.

Some interesting stuff here, but the one that intrigues me is question 5 regarding Finch Farm. How on earth does us paying over the odds (if we did) for FF then line the pockets of Sir Alex Ferguson and "other" Premier League players?

Anyone got a clue what this is about??

Howard Don     Posted 12/01/2011 at 07:59:20   Comments (13)

Goodbye Pienaar...

So it appears Pienaar has finally decided to leave.

Personally I think it's the correct decision to not offer the £70k per week he will be getting at Spurs. Skillful player but final ball and shot usually always lets him down. Can easily be replaced as he flatters to deceive most of the time. Fondest memory was the goal against Arsenal.

James Stewart     Posted 11/01/2011 at 20:50:42   Comments (112)

Captain Phil off to Spurs?

The Daily Mail reckons that Captain Phil is leaving for Spurs and "talks between the two clubs are at an advanced stage" Blue Kipper also have it on their website.

It will be a sad day for Everton if he leaves. What do my fellow Everton supporters think, will DM allow him to go?
Machiel Barnard     Posted 11/01/2011 at 06:09:07   Comments (90)

Money

I have made it clear over time that I support the Club and the Manager. I want them to do well and don't agree that any other view is right.

The last few weeks have been thinking about two things:

1) Money
2) Tactics/Plan B

I have supported 4-5-1 even 4-6-0 as they have a place. But, as has been well documented on here, while they work at Citeh away, the plan B aspect seems to be devoid of dealing with well set-up teams at GP.

So, money... Seems there is none, why oh why? But more particularly, what about dealing in the market?

I just read elsewhere (where is there?) that Spurs want Pip... Chelsea want Pienaar... The Arse want Jags. This has got me thinking... Suppose we sell a load of players and buy in some new bods, carefully chosen by DM and the crew ? where would we be?

"A load of players" you say? Well, Jags to Arse £10m, Johnny to ... £at least 6m, ex-King Louis (don't get carried away by two goals) to France £anything; Pienaar, £anything; throw in Vaughan and Victor (£30k pw... sorry, that is per week!). Add in Pip (anything) the Yak (who sadly is either not interested or finished) and suddenly there is a few quids to play with. Remember that JYs deal with the Turks is money due in.

So it's not quite the doom and gloom, aside from the CB cover, and Wheater seems to be the chosen one, I have no idea how good he is, then from the above, at no real expense to the squad, a real few quid can be raised.

So, my conclusion is that while i support the club and the Manager, i feel that with tinkering with the squad there is plenty of scope to improve performance and style of playing at little cost (net) and I look forward to you all agreeing with me.

Ian Smitham     Posted 10/01/2011 at 23:39:53   Comments (23)

Stargazing

I watched a fantastic series last week on BBC TV call "Stargazing Live", based on astronomy and everything connected with it.

In the last programme of the three-part series Lisa Bonin (BBC presenter) interviewed a Canadian Professor called Gary Davis on top of a 4,000 foot mountain in Hawaii. He is the director of the Joint Astronomy Centre in Hilo, Hawaii.

What made my jump out of my seat was that when he was being interviewed he was wearing an old blue Umbro wooly hat and on closer inspection I noticed it was an Everton hat, complete with badge. After the show finished, I began to wonder what this Canadian professor was doing wearing an Everton hat, thousands of miles away from Goodison Park, running a multi-million dollar Infra-Red Telescope in Hawaii.

I decided to look him up on the web and he is world famous in his field, luckily his email was available and I dropped him a line to ask him about his connections to Everton, but not expecting a reply, he must be busy, right? Anyway, he replied thus.

---

Hello Larry

I've been an Everton supporter since 1984. At that time I had recently moved to England from my native Canada, and I adopted Everton as my team. I've supported them ever since, attend matches whenever I can, and am now a shareholder.

I thought they would ask me to remove the hat before the filming, but they didn't, so you are one of many Evertonians who noticed me!

Glad you enjoyed the programme.

Best regards,
Gary Davis

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It is amazing the Everton supporters all over the world, in all walks of live, don't let anyone ever tell you we dont have world wide appeal. Its a little pastime of mine when watching sporting events like the Ashes, The Masters, etc to look out for Everton shirts, flags.

I am about to write back to him and ask him if he knows of ToffeeWeb...
Larry Boner     Posted 10/01/2011 at 23:03:32   Comments (24)

Tim Cahill & 4-5-1, or without & 4-4-2?

There have been many discussions on here as to whether we should be adopting a 4-4-2, or 4-5-1. I think the main reasoning behind deciding the formation has to do with Tim Cahill.

Moyes obviously wants Cahill in our team. As much as I love Cahill for his efforts (he really would run through a brick wall for our [&his] club) he is not good enough to play in a 4-man midfield. Therefore to have Cahill in his side, Moyes plays a 4-5-1 with Cahill as a 2nd striker. He's the target man & gets into the box when going forward, but when we lose the ball he's the 5th man in the middle.

If playing 4-4-2 there is obviously no place for Cahill in the middle. The goal threat he offers is generally from late runs into the box or from set pieces, and his movement when playing as a stiker is non-existent. This means that he doesn't perform as effectively when playing up front so this rules him out from playing as part of a front 2. So, with this formation, Tim Cahill doesn't fit into the team.

So what does Moyes do? 4-5-1 with Cahill in the side, or 4-4-2 with him on the bench? If we carry on performing like we are currently, this is the decision Moyes will have to make when Tim returns from the Asia Cup.

Take into account that only 4 people (Drogba (22), Tevez (26) & Bent (18)) scored more goals in the Premier League than Tim Cahill (15) in 2010. Do you leave out your top goalscorer (by some margin)?
Kevin Lucas     Posted 10/01/2011 at 12:59:19   Comments (51)

Whatcha gonna do about it?

1) No Pienaar on the bench vs Scunthorpe, fair enough if we are going to sell him.

2) Chelsea in the cup, at home, which is as much as you can ask for all things considered. Forget the 24-year rule (goodbye tenner), The Europa League looks to be a bit iffy at best. So it's us for the Cup of last resort.

3) Chelsea in for Pienaar?? ...back up the bus. IF this is true, where does that leave our last chance of glory, even our last chance of a few bob from the cup run?

If we play our best team and attitude a la Spurs we can do them over, onward and upward.

Or... Do we roll over and have our tummy tickled and sod the cup run?

Well BK? DM? Whatcha gonna do about it?

Pass Go, Collect £200 (in old money = 30 pieces of silver) or take a chance???

Derek Thomas     Posted 10/01/2011 at 08:55:21   Comments (22)

Ok, time to get back to 4-5-1

I think that Moyes' flirtation with 4-4-2 should be jettisoned for the Derby next week. It's one think having two strikers in the team at home to Spurs and away to Scunthorpe, it's another entirely in an away game of this magnitude.

These games are generally won and lost in the midfield battle (battle being the operative word) and we can't risk being overrun in this area. Saha and Beckford could easily be spectators if Liverpool have five in there (as they probably will).

I reckon Moyes will go for a 4-3-2-1 (a fancy way of describing 4-5-1) with these personnel:

Howard

Neville Baines Distin Jagielka

Fellaini Arteta Osman/Rodwell

Pienaar Coleman

Saha

I'd go for Rodwell over Osman to replace Beckford. No doubt there will be plenty saying we should stick with 4-4-2, but you've got to be flexible and pick the right team for each occasion. We can get back to 4-4-2 for the West Ham game.
Colin O'Keeffe     Posted 09/01/2011 at 20:31:12   Comments (54)

FA Cup 4th Round

It's Chelsea at home in the cup and with the 4-4-2 formation going well, Chelsea's woes piling up, this is a game Everton can win... perhaps revenge for the Cup Final defeat. Bring it on!

Jamie Carroll     Posted 09/01/2011 at 15:43:11   Comments (13)

The Derby

I might be getting ahead by a game here, but Liverpool have just replaced Roy Hodgson with Kenny Dalglish.

In the short term I see this as bad news, as they were going nowhere under Hodgson, and a change could be as good as a rest for them, especially if the fans get a momentum behind Dalglish.

We could all do with being Man United fans for 90 mins tomorrow (Sunday) and hope they're prevented from getting any wind in their sales, as I can't remember a derby double in my lifetime, and I was starting to sneakily look forward to one in my own quiet way.
Mike Allison     Posted 08/01/2011 at 12:44:44   Comments (78)

Bill Kenwright and Kings Dock?

I know this probably sounds a stupid question but was Bill Kenwright Everton chairman for the promotion, pursuit and ultimate collapse of the Kings Dock stadium project?

If not, who was? And also, if he wasn't, why do people always name it as one of his wrong doings?

Just to clear it up, I am not a Kenwright fan ? I just want to know the facts on this.

Paul Heaton     Posted 07/01/2011 at 23:22:09   Comments (38)

Where Exactly Are We Now?

The transfer window has opened and Everton ? despite an obvious need for a striker or two ? are not exactly involved in any activity. We haven't the money to buy anyone, we're told... and, more importantly, we don't seem to be able to afford the wages of anyone who may be available on loan.

Season after season goes by and we continue to struggle financially. Our manager can set teams up in order to get us draws in 50% of matches, but as for ambition and the desire to win, which requires a striker who can score 15-20 goals a season, well we can't do it.

We need to sort out the stadium situation, so that we can have a much larger income coming in week by week. Clubs that have 50,000+ stadia, are able to buy players and resource their wages. Since the end of the Kirkby fiasco, little has been said by "Dear Old Bill" about what we are going to do: Rebuild Goodison; find a new site; share the Stanley Park stadium with that other team of frustrated dreams; or what?

If we stay as we are, the long-term scenario is bleak; our financial resources will continue to dwindle and we will return to days when we were praying to reach 40 points so that we could stay up for another year.

Unless this issue is faced for both the clubs bordering Stanley Park, our great football city will languish far behind the big London clubs and more painfully, the Manchester clubs.
Rick Tarleton     Posted 07/01/2011 at 11:18:11   Comments (40)

Silly season speculations

Ok fellow toffees, silly season is a week old now and there have been some surprising rumours that have fell flat, Blackburn trying to finance a Brazilian for £20 million being the best example.

I read many posts on here from fans claiming to be in the know. You know the type, best friends with Davie Moyes's dog's girlfriend's pool cleaner, etc but as an experiment to see who really has the inside track or who truly knows the situation at the club, let's hear your January transfer predictions for the blues.

I will start it off. I would like to see Robbie Keane brought in, Niko Kranjcar if Pienaar has to go. Or, if not, what about Park at Man Utd? I would also like to see a bid for Stephen Ireland before Villa ruin a decent player.

Going out, I would like to see Anichebe go rather than Vaughan as the latter still scores more goals despite his injuries, Yak can go as long as he is replaced with Keane and I would like to see the Yobo transfer tied up so we get the cash in. I would also like to see some of the youth players loaned out to get some experience.
Lee Jamieson     Posted 07/01/2011 at 09:12:32   Comments (26)

Cahill dilema

I'm one of Cahill's biggest fans... but, barring any injuries, if Moyes persists with the starting 11 that lined up against Spurs, and it does well, when Cahill returns ? Does he go straight back into the side? ? as mentioned by one of the lads on here.

I've mentioned a few times on here how slow we have looked getting forward, and that seemed to be the pattern most games: no pace, sideways passing, no urgency ? all games Cahill has been involved in.

The other night, though, when we broke away, it was done with blinding pace, the movement off the ball was excellent, at times it looked like we had more than 11 on the pitch.

I know some will point to the fact that Spurs allow you to play like that, because they are so open, but I think it's more than that, the other night, there was a fluidity to our play, and the team looked balanced.

So... does Cahill walk back into the starting 11, just because he is our leading goalscorer???
Brian Waring     Posted 07/01/2011 at 08:33:28   Comments (24)

Weakened team for Scunthorpe?

It is my view, that we should use the FA Cup to give our players a chance to rest after a great win against Spurs and to prepare for the derby game.

I believe that we should stick with the same team for the derby, meaning that ? as we are not gonna win the FA Cup (We are not!) ? we should give some of our fringe players a go.

My team would be;

Mucha; Hibbert, Duffy, Distin, Baines; Bilyaletdinov, Osman, Rodwell, Gueye; Anichebe, Yakubu.
Anthony Jaras     Posted 07/01/2011 at 00:09:44   Comments (49)

Coleman, the new Kanchelskis

Watching Seamus Coleman last night flying up and down the wing, leaving defenders in his wake reminded me of someone... that's right ? a certain Andrei Kanchelskis.

I know Coleman is far from the finished article at this stage, but he is probably our most exciting player at the moment. Every time he gets the ball at pace he causes problems for defenders. Last night against Spurs, he was the best wide player on the pitch, that includes the so-called world class Gareth Bale.

As far as I am concerned, Coleman is no longer a good prospect at Everton ? he is now a worthy 1st team regular. If he keeps playing to the current standard and pitching in with the odd goal, I believe he could be our Player of the Season. Another great buy from Moyes!

Coleman proves that if you're good enough, then your old enough, and if you have the talent, then you should be given the chance.

Well Done, Seamus Coleman ? future Everton legend. (Man City, keep your hands off!)
Paul Davey     Posted 06/01/2011 at 13:02:06   Comments (45)

Disgusting Match of the Day

We've seen it time and time again on MotD, credit not being given to us, but I thought they surpassed themselves tonight.

The coverage of the game was a joke, I can think of at least 4 good chances they didn't show, two in particular from Beckford and then Yak late on. They were unlucky not to be 3 or 4 down at the break.

No mention either of how Neville completely nullified the pundits' new 'wonderkid' Gareth Bale, for the second time this season I might add, Bale was as quiet as I've seen him.

The only thing the arse wipes at the BBC could think was that obviously Spurs must have been at fault for us to win so they decided to focus on Assou-Ekotto and how his poor defending let Coleman in. Rubbish. Why not give Coleman the credit he deserves, he took the guy to school.

Final nail was that kopite Hansen saying Spurs had the better of the first half... I was bubbling with rage. Watching the highlights does not constitute knowing how the game went, Hansen.

To watch that, you'd think Spurs should have won when in reality we gave them probably the toughest game they've had this season and for the most part played them off the park.

To finish on a positive note I'm delighted we won, great performance and some key players put a solid shift in i.e. Saha, Arteta and Heitinga (although, judging by his long farewell after the game, could it be his last?)

Keep it up boys.
Ben Hunt     Posted 06/01/2011 at 00:41:15   Comments (59)

Post-win adrenaline-fuelled mega-nuclear ballistic post

Absolutely fantastic what a win can do. Great performance tonight which immediately lifted my depression. My nerves were at snapping point for last 20 mins but the results went brilliantly for us tonight. Think I've now developed OCD and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Coleman Man of the Match. Arteta did well second half as did Fellaini, Neville and the lot of them really.

I'm now listening to the kopites whining on the Merseyside phone-in. Heaven!

Congratulations, Everton.... Well done, Blackburn.

We must nail the red filth into their coffins in 10 days time. Take 6 points off them this season and they're in big trouble. Imagine their faces if they go down. Just imagine it !!

I know I'm getting carried away but just want to sing, "The City's All Ours" at them.
Mike Hughes     Posted 05/01/2011 at 22:03:17   Comments (22)

Tonight's team... 4-4-2!!!

Breaking news, Davey Moyes must have been sick of reading the debates about the 4-5-1 & 4-6-0 formation has now going for a 4-4-2 formation.

Howard
Neville Distin Heitinga Baines
Coleman Felliani Arteta Piennar
Beckford Saha

Come you blue boys!
Tommy Royle     Posted 05/01/2011 at 19:23:19   Comments (17)

Financial Premier League

After Moyes's admission that Stoke (a properly run football club) now have more financial muscle than Everton, where does that leave Everton in a Financial Premier League table?

We are now probably financially worse off than not only the big clubs but also Stoke, Sunderland, Newcastle (can afford Ben Arfa), Blackburn (new owners), Fulham (Al Fayed still has money if wants to invest), Birmingham, Aston Villa, West Ham (new owners) and Wolves (another well run club).

That leaves us fighting 'relegation' with Bolton, Blackpool, West Brom and Wigan. Ironically all teams that try and play attacking football to move them up the table into a 'false' position.
Matthew Lovekin     Posted 05/01/2011 at 17:10:18   Comments (19)

Our Squad is too good!

At the start of this season, I and many Evertonians thought that we had our strongest squad in recent memory. There was talk of qualifying for the Champions League and maybe even pushing the big 4 teams for the top spot. Crazy talk now... but it got me thinking that maybe the strength of the squad is part of the problem!!

Moyes has been brought up on getting the best from threadbare squads and has done an admirable job at it. However, he has had very little experience of handling more talented squads where players are competing (expecting) to play. In fact, one of his main selling points to attract players has been to tell them that we have small hardworking squad and they have a much better chance of playing at Everton than sitting on the bench at other clubs. The two main problems with a better squad are keeping people not playing happy and having a consistent balanced team; I think that Moyes has struggled in these areas.

One of the issues that I see, is that he is trying to squeeze in the "best players". This is exactly the trap that England fell into in the World Cup with Gerrard and Lampard etc. But the best players do not necessarily make the best team. First, you need team structure/balance and THEN you pick the best players for each role. So, playing Tim Cahill (absolute legend) up front on his own makes no sense. Similarly, recently playing Arteta alongside Fellaini and Rodwell made no sense to me. Arteta should have sat on the bench and bided his time.

Secondly, you need some consistency in the team and give people a chance to play/prove themselves. The forwards are good example. I think Moyes has too many options and, especially with a 4-5-1 formation, is struggling to give each forward 15 minutes to prove themselves. Maybe Yakubu is pissed off because of this.

In my opinion, we need to pick a forward and give him a fair go (my choice would be the Yak who can hold the ball up, is a handful for defenders and can score). If he fails after a number of games or is injured then the next in line comes in.

Ciaran Duff     Posted 05/01/2011 at 08:07:49   Comments (14)

It's not just the strikers' fault

Any half-decent striker will tell you he needs to be given the ball in the box to score. He can't be expected to pick the ball up on the half-way line and bang in a screamer. We have played around 20 games this season and our strikers have been feeding on scraps as there is no-one in the team to play a killer pass or through-ball.

I can't recall any of our strikers missing that many sitters so far this season (except for Beckford in one game) because they have barely touched the ball. If Yakubu or Saha have the ball in the box, chances are there is only one outcome.

It looks like Moyes doesn't even practice through-balls in training as we look clueless in the last third. Get the ball out wide and let Coleman and Pienaar whip balls in to Saha/Yak/Beckford and Cahill and I guarantee these guys will score if given a couple of decent crosses. PS. When Cahill leaves Moyes should persist with starting Bily as I do believe he will be a quality player for us one day and he need confidence.
Tom Campbell     Posted 05/01/2011 at 00:32:48   Comments (30)

Back to Basics

There is one thing that Evertonians can certainly agree on at the moment: that something is not right at the Club. However, what my fellow Evertonians can't seem to agree on is who's fault is it. I think it is a number of things that are currently wrong at the Club and therefore difficult to pinpoint. Therefore it is surely time to go back to basics, starting with the most important, the football team.

There seems to be a number of players who don't want to play for either Everton or Moyes anymore. If this is the case, don't play them. Sell them or let them sit in the stands, I'd rather have youth, at least they put the effort in and work hard. Stand up or ship out; Yakubu, Saha, Heitinga, Anichebe, Pienaar, Arteta, Bily.

I'd have a strong word with Arteta and Bily but believe they are confidence players and keep them but on a last warning, the rest can fuck off for all I care.

That should leave a young/committed group of players that want to play. Committed Everton players are Howard, Baines, Jagielka, Distin, Hibbert, Neville, Osman, Cahill, Fellaini (?), add to this the enthusiasm of the youngsters Rodwell, Coleman, Vaughan, Gueye, Duffy, Baxter, Barkley (when fit) and probably about £10m from player sales (assuming keeping hold of Arteta and Bily) could hopefully buy another striker.

Everton need to get back to what has made Everton a better side over the last few years and not these mercenaries. Deal with the team first and then the other problems (finances, stadium, etc) afterwards.
Matthew Lovekin     Posted 04/01/2011 at 10:32:53   Comments (22)

Shane Duffy

It seems that an unfit Jagielka is better than Shane Duffy.

I sung the praises of Seamus Coleman long and hard on this site. Not because he's Irish but because I saw him play and knew he was quality.

I've done the same with Shane. Believe me, this lad will be a star. It is beyond belief to me that he sits on the bench while Moyes picks unfit players. I haven't seen lads like Baxter etc, so I don't know what they are like.

However, in my view, Moyes would rather play anyone out of position (fucking Hibbert at centre-back) than give youth a chance. Shane Duffy is the best centre-back at Goodison Park. Believe.

Andy Crooks     Posted 03/01/2011 at 23:47:44   Comments (46)

Fellaini up top = Moyes wasted money

As the Spurs game nears and team selection is on the agenda for our misfiring troops, one change which is inevitable with Cahill absent is the inclusion of Fellaini in his role. I believe that If David Moyes does play Fellaini, who is the best defensive midfielder at the club by a country mile (in my humble opinion), in Cahill's role from the off then I am afraid nobody who supports Everton (yes, Everton) can stick up for this man anymore.

This eases the harder decisions of dropping either or both Neville or Arteta (both shocking of late) as one will almost certainly be playing in the middle of midfield while I would be astonished if both don't start.

Moyes has previous with this tactic, when we had a glut of injuries... what is the excuse now? Pienaar can play behind a striker, Osman can to an extent, and so can Bily but yet none will get a look in as they can't offer the aerial threat that our ridiculous punts from defence need to prosper.

If Moyes plays Fellaini there then it is an admission that he has wasted the best part of £9 million on Bily. This I'm afraid is frankly criminal given the fact we are in desperate need of a striker and funds.

It is also an admission that he has wasted another £15 million on Fellaini. If we can afford to play our most expensive player away from his best position, then surely we can cope withoout him at all.

Over to you David Moyes.... (How long can I hold my breath for??)
Andrew Laird     Posted 03/01/2011 at 19:26:42   Comments (44)

New Chairman

We have got to stop being nice fans... Kenwrght has got to go.

When are people going to wake up and realise this man is the main cause of our demise? Look at his record:

1. Kings Dock
2. Fortress Sports Fund
3. Kirkby Fiasco
4. Totally Bankrupt Football Club.

OK, I hear he is a true Blue and all that crap. As supporters, we have got to force him out. Believe me, if he stays as chairman, we WILL GET RELEGATED ? IF NOT THIS SEASON, THEN NEXT.

PLEASE, ALL EVERTON FANS, WAKE UP AT THE NEXT GAME. START THE "KENWRIGHT OUT" CHANT AND DON'T STOP.

HE IS KILLING OUR CLUB!

Steve Sweeney     Posted 03/01/2011 at 11:39:23   Comments (104)

Should we sell Vaughan?

Many of us wanted or hoped Jimmy Vaughan would be our next great striker. When he scored against Palace in the spring of 2005 making Evertonians not only happy with what we had but very optimistic about the future as well, things were looking good.

For young James, his footballing career was to stall before it even started. One lengthy injury after another meant he wasn't back until 18 months later, once again scoring from the bench against West Ham. Oh how he might have given us options in the disappointing 05-06 season when we ended up playing Osman and McFadden up front due to injuries!

He seemed to be over the worst when he make a sustained return in the Spring of 07, gaining rave reviews and scoring a well taken goal against Mourinho's Chelsea amongst others. However, within weeks he was on his back with blood spurting from a vein his leg and the injury couch beckoned once again.

Without dissecting or detailing his other injuries, he has always returned to show his potential and make us wonder what if? He came on against Alkmaar (perhaps the most comical game I've ever seen) and got the winner. He scored an important penalty in the Semi Final in 09 and came back in last season to score a couple before, yes you guessed it, getting injured.

But what remains impressive about him is his ability to keep coming in and bagging a goal. He really wants it. Look how he got on for his debut at Palace. A fit James Vaughan banged in a hat trick. I know it's a side in the bottom half of the second tier but to go in and score 5 goals in a dozen or so appearances after barely playing for the last 2 years shows he should not be given up on.

That's why I think selling him now would be an error. He's fallen behind one time youth team striking partner Victor Anichebe in the pecking order which seems bizarre in itself. He's quicker, more industrious, shows a better attitude and I am sure has a better goal-to-game ratio. And the injury argument goes out the window because Big Vic seems to struggle as well.

In summary, I think there are two big reasons why we should keep him and play him. Firstly, the amount he would be sold for is meagre and it seems silly to let him go for a pittance when our total spending last summer was £1 million and our most famous acquisition was a striker from a division below the one Vaughan is being linked to.

Secondly, Vaughan does seem to have self belief and confidence in abundance, probably bred from spending hours alone on the treatment table. He wouldn't keep coming back if he wasn't mentally tough. Virtually every time he's come back he's got a goal or two within a few matches. He doesn't care who he's playing and would seize the opportunity if given it. He would be getting on the end of stuff and roughing up the opposition so that other players can benefit.

Bring back Jimmy V!

Andrew James     Posted 02/01/2011 at 20:16:12   Comments (39)

The Earliest Days

Editor's Note: Below is a response to some of the points discussed in the comments posted to Kevin's article last month, Everton History Part 1: John Houlding.

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Dear Editor, .... and Frank, Paul and Denis, and all the other respondents. Firstly, though, hope things get better, and soon.....

Now on to the contributions. Yes, I have been kindly sent a copy of Mr Murphy's article by the nice people in the Lord Mayor's Office. The trouble is that which I indicated, i.e. webs have been woven with weft which cannot bear the weight placed upon them. Without getting too boring here are just a few points.

1. S R Graves died suddenly in 1873; he was only 55 and on the brink of a stellar political career. As a historian I place great weight on the first draft of history as it emerges at the time; to wit, in this case, the obituaries of the day. The Mercury carried myriad column inches in the weeks following the event replete with eulogies, tributes, etc. The motto "De mortuis nil bonum" which as we all know counsels not speaking ill of the dead, was observed meticulously in all quarters. However not ONE ? as far as I could detect ? mentioned the ground-breaking initiative relating to the football field.

2. S R Graves was in Liverpool well before 1860, because in 1857 he was elected as Tory councillor (probably unopposed) for Pitt Street Ward. Which leads neatly to the last point I'll make.

3. He did not have a 'popularity' to soar in 1860, as it has been put, when he was elected as Mayor. In fact the most visible, and probably the most weighty, written comment on SRG was made by an obviously pained, and outflanked, supporter of the defeated candidate. That person went on at length about SRG's lack of experience and being too 'new' to be burdened with the great responsibilities of the role. The 'dig' about his Irish origins was quite constrained because, of course, SRG was not only a Protestant, but an Orangeman, a Conservative and a Shipowner ? so luckily evading having the biggest bricks being hurled at him.

I'll leave it there for now. Perhaps these, if slight, quibbles underline my need to delay making definitive statements.

As for what is happening on the field: I fear, (putting on my left-tilting hat) the quite imminent collapse of big-time football ? in which Liverpool, as a city, has played a glorious role for many years ? in the relatively 'isolated' areas of this country. By 'isolated' I don't mean geographically: I refer to certain areas being marginalised financially in 'globalised' terms. It just looks so like a rehearsal for the kind of 'franchising' reorganisation so clearly established ? and absolutely 'unbudgeable' (to coin a phrase) ? in major sport in the USA. So coming to us all soon: no problem in watching top class football. Problem is it will be limited to maybe six or seven really huge metropolitan sites. And it will all be available...... on television.

Slight difference though; it will all be hung on a European League. Sorry, but there are a growing number of warning signs for us to heed. Perhaps the speculation about BK's possible sharedealing initiative is another straw in the wind?

I leave you there, with thanks for your patience. I will most certainly link up with Paul Wharton.

Again, best wishes to all in the fair city of Liverpool. Thanks.
Kevin McCarthy     Posted 02/01/2011 at 18:03:57   Comments (0)

Who has sold 290 shares to Bill?

Even though it's all doom and gloom at Goodison, I was thinking about buying a share in Everton and was looking on the official website of how to do it. I was under the impression that there were 35,000 shares available in EFC. Can anyone confirm this?

Can anyone spot the difference here http://www.evertonfc.com/assets/_files/documents/feb_10/efc__1265113120_Everton_Annual_Report_and_Acco.pdf (PAGE 9 - No. of Shares that BK owns was 8,754). Compare with http://www.evertonfc.com/club/everton-shareholders.html which now means that there are 35,290 shares in Everton FC with Bill owning 9044.

Can any shareholders confirm if they have sold 290 shares to Bill, or were these new shares created? Or is it just a mistake on the website and sack the web designer?
Tony IAnson     Posted 02/01/2011 at 11:34:49   Comments (16)

Moyes Striker Mistakes

I am a David Moyes fan. I think over the past 7 years he has done a great job and turned the club around. Regularly finishing in the Top 5. Bringing regular UEFA football. The FA Cup final. And even qualifying for the Champions League.

All great stuff from Mr Moyes who has an uncany ability to get the best out of his squad. But I have no sympathy for him over this striker problem. There are two specific dates which need replaying:

1) August 2009 ? An unnamed club (rumored to be Besiktas) lodged an official bid for Louis Saha. David Moyes himself confirmed the bid in an interview claiming "Louis is someone we had a big bid for. But he didn't want to go and we didn't want to sell." In the 16 months since turning down the bid Saha has scored just 12 goals. And only 4 in the last calendar year.

2) August 2010 ? West Ham lodge an official bid for Yakubu. rumored to be £8 million. Moyes turns down the bid. Since turning down that bid Yakubu has scored just one single goal.

Over the past 16 months Moyes has had opportunity to offload both Saha and Yakubu and in the process rid the squad of two ageing strikers well past their best. If Moyes had taken the money and sold Saha and Yakubu, he would have made the best part of £15 million. With that sort of money, Moyes could find one if not two decent younger strikers and maybe this goal scoring problem would not be ruining our season.

In a way, I respect Moyes because he stuck by his players and turned down the money. But unfortunately its come back to bite him on the ass as both Saha and Yakubu seem to have given up trying to score a goal. I can understand why Moyes turned down the Saha bid. At the time Louis was scoring goals and looked a decent player. But Yakubu has never been the same player since his injury and frankly Moyes should have biten off West Ham's arm and taken their offer.

Just imagine if Moyes had sold Yakubu to West Ham for £8 million. Think what that money alone could have done. Rafael van der Vart cost Spurs £8 million. I'm sorry Mr Moyes you made the decisions to stick with Saha and Yakubu and now you have to accept responsibility for them both failing to deliver the goals. One thing is for sure. No club is going to bid big money for either player again.

Moyes made mistakes there and its costing Everton the season, Moyes his reputation and at this rate possibly our beloved club its Premier League status.
Dick Anderson     Posted 01/01/2011 at 20:15:45   Comments (27)

Yak gone?

Yakubu didn't even make the bench today. Is he being punished for a half time chat with Avram Grant the cameras caught on the touch line versus West Ham or for saying he'd rather be playing than on the bench?

Bottom line is that that he was dropped after scoring the winner against Stoke in October just as he was getting a run together and showing a good understanding with Cahill. Since Moyes decided to change the team that had done well in October for the Bolton game then we've taken 8 points from 30.

I feel sorry for the Yak to be honest because Saha always gets the nod and has been shocking since he scored the 2 against Chelsea last Febuary.
Steve Jones     Posted 01/01/2011 at 18:42:53   Comments (32)

Same shit, different day/year

One win in ten! You do the maths. RELEGATION is the only outcome on current form, and for me I can't see were the next goals or wins are going to come from.

I am sick of hearing how this player and that player are going to hit form, and players mouthing off in the media on what they intend to do going into 2011. FFS, just get your shit together on the field and let the football do the talking as the way things stand we are on the slippery slope towards the bottom three.

I have lost all trust in Moyes and all his backroom staff and I think if he doesn't get the correct players in in January and gets the Artetas of the world performing NOW ? not next week or next month ? then we can look forward to visiting Middlesborough etc next season.

I for one don't hold out too much hope that Moyes will get any of what I've said correct with incoming faces or getting the under-performing stars playing the way they SHOULD be, so I see only one of two outcomes.

1. There being 3 worst team's than us come the end of the season (which I very much doubt)
2. Relegation.

IMWT, my arse!

Craig  Bellew     Posted 01/01/2011 at 18:17:44   Comments (24)

It's a New Year

For better or worse folks its a New Year, I wish you and yours all the best.

Our time will come!

COYB.

Mike Green     Posted 01/01/2011 at 02:26:46   Comments (17)