The Mail Bag
Dries Mertens
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So we seem to be interested in Dries Mertens. To be precise: Dutch website Elfvoetbal says Everton (and Dutch clubs PSV and FC Twente) told his current club FC Utrecht their interest in the player and have already offered the player a contract. They claim another site as their source: vi.nl (VI is the biggest Dutch football magazine). But on vi.nl I cannot find anything about Mertens and our supposed interest. So probably this is another made-up rumour, although it could be that it was in the paper version of VI, I didn't read last week's edition.
Just for those who are interested in the player: he's an (attacking) midfielder, very skillful, great passing, good finisher. Can use either leg. His best position is a central one, although he has played on the right wing before. He is far more effective centrally as he has a great through ball.
Is he good enough to play for us? He has got the skill and the tactical knowledge/vision. And to me, he seems to have the right mentality. He has a big, big disadvantage though. He's only about 5ft 7in and from time to time gets muscled out by his opponents - in the Dutch league! I think he lacks the physique to really make an impact in the Premier League.
In short he's like an even smaller version of Arteta. I think we shouldn't go after him. If we want to buy a right winger from the Dutch competition, we should go after Bryan Ruiz (Twente) or Ibrahim Afellay (PSV).
Stay tuned for the next scouting report from The Netherlands!
Erik Dols, Posted 18/08/2010 at 08:24:04
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The Marat Izmailov one seems to be gathering strength though, which makes this one more unlikely. Better we sort out the RM position before anything else.
There is also a rumour doing the rounds that "Rodwell is a good player!" Astonishing!
I think the Izmailov rumour could have more than a grain of truth in it. Regarding the cash angle, I would suggest that Moyes will go for a season long loan with a view to buying (hence the current paper-view that they are discussing a fee). Given that he appears to have a recent injury problem (and maybe an attitude problem) I can't see Moyes jumping right in with money we don't have.
Of course, as to its veracity, I couldn't possibly comment (see Disclaimer).
Take a look at NewsNow. I t looks like a lot of web sites are talking it up at the moment.
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/Premier+League/Everton
Not exactly high on our list of priorities..
David Chait 1* - How is Izmailov a poor man's Donovan? Did you see Izmailov rip us a new 'en at Goodison in the Europa League last season? and he was very handy at there place too.
Izmailov looks exactly what we've been crying out for ever since Donovan's loan period ended, full of pace and direct, skillful and got great delivery on him and he's got a dig on him as good as Bily's as well. Fair do's he's had his injury problems but if we could get him for £4m and sort his injuries out and getting him playing like he did versus us on a regular basis, then he's going to be a major threat and asset for us IMO!
A Portuguese newspaper interviewed an Everton scout, Robbie Cooke.They quote him: "He's a well known player among many clubs in Europe. Have we made an offer? As far as I know, no. We may be interested, but that is not the same as making an offer."
http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Sporting/interior.aspx?content_id=457889
And frankly, I wouldn't take anything in the Mail as truth, after that ludicrous 5 or 6 paragraph transfer story with big pic of Rodwell, all coming from Ancelotti saying: 'Rodwell is a good player.' Bloody silly season. And no before you ask, I did not take the rabid, right-wing Tory crapsheet, Daily Mail, seriously before that either.
"Did you see Izmailov rip us a new 'en at Goodison in the Europa League last season?"
I was at the game and I never saw the above. No-one in their team stood out that night. To me, as a team they looked very average that night.
I was referring to Ismailov there, btw.
Have read on other Everton sites that he has a terrible history of injuries, which is why he's so cheap, and also he's fallen out with the manager. Sounds like a Moyes kind of deal (think Saha). Personally I am all for signing good players (like this Izmailov chap) who are on the cheap but a bit of a risk because of their past. Think we've got our money's worth with Saha (the money being the wages in his case).
Realistically I don't expect this rumour to be anything more than just that: a rumour. But if we do sign him, I'll be confident Moyes has good reason.
Sorry for being off topic from the original post, but the conversation seems to have moved to this Izmailov chap.
Everyones eyes were on Moutinho and Izmailov stole the show with his pace and skill, good link up play and deliveries, he even hit the post in the first half, he was a constant threat!.
Here's a few highlights of the night that you obviously missed mate - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQgwAbPrUyk&feature=related
He may very well have been their best player on the night, that does not mean he "ripped us a new 'en". They were a fairly average team on the night that we should have put away well before their penalty and have finished the tie.
From what i saw he showed a few nice touches and had a decent shot on goal. We must have a different opinion on what "rip us a new 'en" means. For example you could say that Di Maria "ripped us a new 'en" in the Benfica game in Lisbon but in my opinion Izmailov certainly didn't.
Why don't we throw him in for a couple of games, loan him to a Championship side, then constantly big him up as ther answer to all our problems? Them we could also use him to slag off, Hibbert, Neville, Osman and Moyes too.
Shite, hang on a minute we already have Coleman to do all of the above.
But Izmailov was good vs us even if Sporting was average, I never said Sporting was good btw, just Izmailov.
You can't deny that the Izmailov that played so well against us at Goodison wouldn't be an asset to us if we got him and got that out of him on a consistent basis.
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1 Posted 18/08/2010 at 14:47:20
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