Martinez may open search for a goalkeeper

, 30 December, 70comments  |  Jump to most recent

Tim Howard has been ruled out until February leaving Roberto Martinez short on experienced options in goal
Roberto Martinez says that he will assess the need to draft in another goalkeeping option when the transfer window opens after Tim Howard was ruled out for up to six weeks with a calf injury.

The American tore a muscle kicking the ball away in the Boxing Day defeat against Stoke and will likely miss all of the January programme, leaving Martinez with just Joel Robles with first-team experience.

Academy duo Jindrich Stanek and Russell Griffiths have yet to play at senior level and the manager says that a decision over whether or not to bring in reinforcements will be made "in the next few days."

We are a little bit weak in that area," Martinez said. "Tim will be out for between five and six weeks. He picked up a calf injury in his left calf which is really unusual in a goalkeeper. He did it just kicking the ball against Stoke.

Although he disagreed that "this is a window we have to use," the Catalan said that, "[bringing in another 'keeper] is something we will assess. Obviously Joel had his first start in the League and I thought he was really calm in the second half against Stoke while Newcastle was a great introduction for him.

We only have Russell Griffiths and Jindrich Stanek as two young goalkeepers who have been working with the first team.

Howard joins a run of injuries that refuses to abate for any length of time and Martinez provided updates on a number of his walking wounded, including James McCarthy who was taken off against Newcastle on Sunday as a precaution after he felt his hamstring tighten up in the first half at St James' Park.

He said that Phil Jagielka and John Stones, who both picked up ankle knocks against Stoke, will be assessed before the trip to Hull City on New Year's Day but confirmed that Darron Gibson, Steven Pienaar, Leon Osman, and Tony Hibbert are all ruled out.

Gibson continues to struggle with pain behind the knee that required surgery to repair a ruptured tendon last year and Pienaar has suffered a recurrence of his frustrating knee problems that have severely restricted his playing time in 2014. Hibbert will be out for "a couple of weeks" according to his manager.

Meanwhile, Martinez described Osman's split tendon in his foot as "a real worry" and explained that the veteran midfielder "will be out for a while."

 

Reader Comments (70)

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Louis Parr
1 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:01:10
Good. Tim’s getting old and Robles is crap.
Ian Glassey
2 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:01:16
I think who ever it is will only be cover for Joel, don’t expect someone who will step in to the first team.
Patrick Murphy
3 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:25:48
According to a tweet I read on the Echo website Stanek is unavailable for another couple of weeks - it is a must that somebody is drafted in as back-up, even if it’s a temporary loan, because knowing Everton’s luck Robles will probably get injured or sent-off in the next game.
Tony Byrne
4 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:28:26
Regardless of Howard being out injured, we should be looking for a decent goalie anyway, the two of them are shite.

Begovic’s contract expires in the summer.....

Andy McLawrence
5 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:11:11
Myself and my youngest lad will be travelling over from Northern Ireland on 19 January for the West Brom game. Fair to say things aren’t great at the minute and results need to start coming pretty quickly.

We were also over for the Palace match earlier in the season and I hate to say it but I sensed the demise even back then. I was taken aback by the lack of intensity (only improved when chasing an equaliser in last 5 minutes).

Also it has become evident that the sideways, sideways, sideways, get caught in possession, concede theory needs to be jacked. We’re not good enough at minute to not concede so outscoring opponents is probably the only way a result can be achieved.

I think the keeper issue needs resolves quickly, a flapping keeper behind a shaky defence will guarantee a relegation battle. But more than anything the team needs solid support, no cries for a new manager, and for fans to pull together.

I fully expect that West Brom and Crystal Palace will still both struggle for the rest of season. Major regroup during summer needed for sure but let’s be doing that as a Premier League team.

Colin Grierson
6 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:30:10
In the long term we need to replace Howard. I don’t think it’ll happen however as he is one of Martinez’s biggest advocates and there does seem to be some favouritism rather than the meritocracy it should be. I hope Robles proves us all wrong but from the little I’ve seen of him he looks way out of his league.
I’d like to see someone brought in to cover for Robles to at least give him the chance to prove us wrong and then in the summer I’d go for Marshall as I’ve never seen him have a bad game and his distribution is quick and accurate ( an essential attribute for a keeper playing Bobby’s style of football).
Jim Bennings
7 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:35:12
More concerning news on the injury front again.

Osman "out for a while"

Disappointing news because he’s still the odd goal getter now and then.

Pienaar and Gibson?
It’s a but like a broken record with those two isn’t it?

Can’t see either man ever really contributing anything remotely noteworthy again in a Everton shirt.

Harold Matthews
8 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:32:38
The situation is actually a disgrace. We’re being run like a non-league outfit.
Kieran Riding
9 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:43:15
Harold #8
Indeed. Im expecting us to announce that we have ’gentlemans agreements’ in place for new contracts next.
Chris Fisher
10 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:44:36
Hopefully we can get someone who will genuinely challenge Howard for the number 1 shirt. On another note,
’Even Pep Guardiola doesn’t want to be associated with tiki-taka any more. “I loathe all that passing for the sake of it, all that tiki-taka,” he said to Martí Perarnau in Pep Confidential, published in October. “It’s so much rubbish and has no purpose. You have to pass the ball with a clear intention, with the aim of making it into the opposition’s goal. It’s not about passing for the sake of it.’
Take note Roberto passing for passing sake is shit!
Steve Brown
11 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:47:27
Agree Marshall, plus Curtis Davis. NOT Shawcross!
Colin Grierson
12 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:41:12
We’ve missed Osman’s link up play. Apart from Barkley , who looks completely devoid of confidence, he is the only player at the club who can competently play in the CAM position.
For me this is worse news than Howard’s injury although I’m sure many will disagree.
Kieran Riding
13 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:52:23
Marshall and Micah Richards would be solid business.
Steve Brown
14 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:54:04
Colin. I agree. We’ve badly missed Ossie’s experience and calming influence on the pitch.
Paul Andrews
15 Posted 30/12/2014 at 18:02:25
Colin,Steve.

Agree 100%
Ossie is missed when we are devoid of players willing to accept the ball in any area of the pitch.

John Audsley
16 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:55:06
The Osman news is really grim

We are lacking a creative midfielder the most and while Ossie was never Zidane he was a real goal threat.

Pienaar is pretty much finished, Gibson just isn’t fit enough and certain players seem to be constantly 70% fit

We have to stop the rot at Hull and take the season forward

We need men on Thursday, not shirking twats.

Martin O\Sullivan
17 Posted 30/12/2014 at 17:59:50
Getting really worried now.
Injury after injury
Loss after loss. We are are in such bad form and to loose Howard and ossie for however long is just gonna make us worse, add in the likes of Alcaraz and sorry to say distin ( I think age has finally got him) and mcgeady shouldn’t really still be at the club as they are not good enough. plus poor form to several players, that pretty much covers our whole squad,
We need new faces in January even if it means selling a few because we need to freshen things up quite a bit. I see a few years of rebuild again unfortunately!!!!
Ant Summers
18 Posted 30/12/2014 at 18:43:05
The players that are fit, just have to step up and give their all. RM got this squad together, his squad, the buck stops with him. Its no use complaining, get on with it. IMO Its more than injuries that is the problem, look at the bigger picture, I.e since pre season.
Phil Walling
19 Posted 30/12/2014 at 18:41:46
Hey, Chris @10. I posted that piece from Guardiola two weeks ago and got dog’s abuse ! Martinez was still very much the hero before the recent run of results and I was told how improved was our style over Moyes’ fare.
Funny how opinions have changed, eh ?
Mark Frere
20 Posted 30/12/2014 at 18:43:45
I think Robles should’ve been sent out on loan to a Championship club (with the option to recall him of course) a long time ago... we would at least have a clear idea now if he’s good enough. Joel is inexperienced and would’ve benefited from playing competitive football in the lower leagues. The goalkeeping position is like no other... Robles would still have to make great saves, come out and catch the ball and do everything else that is required from a goalie at any level. It would have been the perfect opportunity to access whether he’s capable of having a future here.

We now find ourselves in a situation where we are replacing a ’calamity keeper’ with probably an even worse calamity keeper. It beggers belief really.

I really hope Martinez addresses the situation as soon as the transfer window opens...

Lindegaard or Marshall would be my choices. Both are realistic options, good keepers and wouldn’t cost a fortune. Sort it out, pronto Bobby!

James Stewart
21 Posted 30/12/2014 at 19:00:28
Once again Martinez logic is simply bizarre. Everybody knew we would be up shit creek if Howard got injured yet only now he thinks we might be light in that area. Sherlock, eat your heart out!
Jim Bennings
22 Posted 30/12/2014 at 19:03:21
David Marshall is a good keeper but I can’t see us forking out for one, you just know it’s going to be a Sander Westerveld-esque short term job until our number 1 clown returns, it will be our number 2 clown deputising at Hull and for the foreseeable.

Shawcross or Davies would make me quite happy.

I’m not as fussed on Curtis Davies as I once was, he’s not the rock Shawcross is but we would probably have more chance of getting him from Hull than Shawcross, from Stoke.

If we signed a quality keeper, a proper keeper I mean not just a two game wonder, and one from the two mentioned central defenders plus Gerard Deulofeu, then I’d be very very pleased with our months work.

Sadly I think we all know the best we will manage is another reserve kid goalkeeper (ignoring the fact we do have an academy of our own) and it will just be a understudy to Robles.

I think it would be truly criminal to allow yet another transfer window pass without trying to bring in a centre half,cwasvbad enough in the summer when every man and his dog knew we were crying out for one, especially with departures of squad members like Heitinga and Duffy.

Mick Wrende
23 Posted 30/12/2014 at 19:21:30
Once again players are more valuable when injured than when playing. Osman has been rubbiosh all season yet now he is injured he would be our saviour. Also any 2nd division or conference goalie would be better than Robles.
Mike Barrett
24 Posted 30/12/2014 at 19:18:32
Phil Walling, you’re so right about opinions changing. Ossie gets dogs on here, suddenly a lot are disappointed and worried that he could be out for a while and how much we’ll miss him!! Hypocrites
Colin Glassar
25 Posted 30/12/2014 at 19:29:31
Mick, Ossie has been a miss. He’s been our motm a few times this season and he brings a bit of calmness to the MF. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea but Ossie, for 45 mins, still has a role to play.
As for the goalie, well I mentioned Lindegaard a few weeks ago. If united get Valdes this lad will be available at least on loan.
Steve Pugh
28 Posted 30/12/2014 at 19:56:45
I think there is a case for bringing Hibbo back in to tighten up the defence a bit (don’t shoot yet). In the nine games he’s played in we have kept 4 clean sheets and conceded just 6 goals.

That’s 4 out of a total of 6 clean sheets, and of the 6 goals conceded one was the ridiculous penalty against Man City. I’m not claiming that he is a better player than Seamus (because he’s not) but right now I think he will bring us a bit more steel at the back and other defenders seem to play better with him on the pitch. As confidence starts to return to the team then Seamus can come back in.

Tony has also won us that penalty against Man U and put in a successful cross (yes one) so he even gives us something going forward.

Clive Rogers
29 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:04:38
Jim, #7,

Osman is a 4 goal a season man. He’s now got 45 PL goals in this his 12th season. A poor return for an attacking mid. He’s got 1 this season.

Phil Roberts
30 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:13:18
We have 13 points from the 6 games Osman has started and 8 from the 13 he hasn’t.

But I am sure the regular ToffeeWebbers/Osman haters (they are usually the same people) will suggest no coincidence should be drawn.

Colin Glassar
31 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:12:15
I’ve been saying for a while now (albeit a bit tongue in cheek) we miss Ossie and Hibbo.

Ossie, because he can pick out a killer pass something which our current MF seem incapable of. And Hibbo, as he can actually defend and tackle. This is Coleman’s biggest weakness. He shadows players but he doesn’t stop them from getting in crosses (same as Baines). All this sticking out a leg shit isn’t defending. Coleman is/was great going forward but average defending.

Phil Walling
32 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:13:22
Steve, I think there is a good chance of seeing Hibbo in a ’back three’ line-up at Hull. Roberto is making noises about a better focus on defence and that was his tactic when trouble set in at Wigan. It didn’t save them...
Kieran Riding
33 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:17:49
Colin, you mean defenders actually defending instead of fannying about with trying to pass?

This will never catch on.

Paul Andrews
34 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:19:14
Isn’t Hibbert out injured?
Clive Rogers
35 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:19:08
One of my observations from the last few games is that we are just not competing in terms of pace and distance covered. This is especially true of Barry and Eto’o. For these reasons, to bring back Ossie and Hibbert would be disastrous, unless we want to be the oldest team to be relegated. In their cases, their bodies are telling them they have had enough. Hibbert has struggled badly for fitness since just before the Chelsea FA Cup final.

The big worry is that RM has given them all contracts for next season and beyond. Unbelievable. It’s a young man’s game.

Jim Bennings
36 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:28:20
Clive

Ossie may well only be a four goal a season man but that’s more than your going to get from Barry, McCarthy and Besic and probably even Pienaar put together.

He’s limited yes but at least he getshhimself in positions to score, hardly played this season yet scored against Lille, the winner versus West Ham at a stage of the game where we went second favourites.

Osman was at least busting a gut to get in the box, something that the younger lads like Barkley or McCarthy could do more often.

Clive Rogers
37 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:39:48
Jim,

He’s finished IMO.

Jim Bennings
38 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:42:00
True Clive but he’s not on his own.

He’s finished but so is Distin, Howard, Gibson, Pienaar and maybe even Barry’s better days are gone.

At least Osman gets the odd goal, when he does play.

Neil Pickering
39 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:44:33
Kasper Schmeichel fits the bill for me. Only a matter of time before he gets a big move. He’s young enough and, from what I’ve seen, good enough to replace Howard. He would probably be affordable too.

Go get him, Bobby!

Peter Laing
40 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:54:28
Rumours surfacing about El Habsi, please let this not be true - another Wigan player with previous for relegation.
Paul Tran
41 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:46:41
Chris Fisher. You have joined the club of selectively quoting Guardiola and linking it to your view of how Martinez wants us to play.

I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you show us the quote where Martinez says ’I love tiki taka. There’s nothing I like more than my team aimlessly passing the ball for no reason. Much better than scoring goals’.

Just show us the quote.

Martinez is doing enough wrong without people resorting to rubbish like this. He can’t organise or motivate the players right now. That doesn’t mean he wants to bore us witness, creating no chances and scoring no goals.

Let’s focus on the issues rather than the fantasy.

Sean Kelly
42 Posted 30/12/2014 at 21:09:00
El Habsi can’t even get in the Wigan team he’s a certainty for us then. God help us.
Clive Rogers
43 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:59:32
Jim,

I agree with your list, but add Hibbert and Gibson.
Osman’s 4 goals a season were during his best years. It’s probably down from that now. But we are so lacking in pace and legs it would be a bad move to bring him back. In the last few games we have been getting overrun by younger teams with stamina. RM’s big mistake was bringing in Barry and Eto into an ageing squad and it will ultimately cost him his job, if not this season then next. He has compounded it by doling out ridiculous contract extensions so that we are already committed to a very old squad next season. Terrible management. Kenwright should have known better after Ginola, Gazza and Hughes.

Colin Williams
44 Posted 30/12/2014 at 21:05:03
Neil#39..totally agree! That would be a major signing for now...and also the long term future!
Tony Abrahams
45 Posted 30/12/2014 at 21:21:35
Sean, he’s a much better keeper than this Robles. I think Georgie Wood might be a bit too old now but I would sooner play Big Nev in goal than this fella!

We have got to sign a keeper, it’s a must.

Howard Parr
46 Posted 30/12/2014 at 20:59:19
Can’t see us getting Schmeichel from (gulp) a relegation rival. Marshall or Ruddy please.
Ossie and Hibbo debate interesting.... though neither are fit for what feels like biggest game in years.

Providing they’re fit I’d go 4 4 2:

Joel,Shay,Garb,Jags,Stones - Nais, Bainesy, Mo, Jimmy - Ice cream and Kev.

Andy Crooks
47 Posted 30/12/2014 at 21:43:50
A new goalkeeper is not our number one priority. Any money available should be used to pay off the coast and hire a replacement.
Paul Andrews
48 Posted 30/12/2014 at 21:51:06
Andy,

Who would be your choice?

John Audsley
49 Posted 30/12/2014 at 21:55:13
RM is going knowhere.

BK wont sack him and can’t afford to pay him off. How much do you reckon it would cost him before he can even think about a replacement?

Mick, Osman isn’t your cup of tea but he is a great player to bring on with 30 minutes to go.

He would have made a massive difference away at Newcastle in that situation when we were crying out for calm heads.

Unless we sell someone, nobody of any use is coming in, it’s the way Everton operate under Kenwright, Woods and the bloke who hasn’t been seen since 2007.

Frank Wade
50 Posted 30/12/2014 at 22:39:03
"We’ve been conceding too many goals, for one reason or another, and that’s quite easy to rectify".

Believe it or not, the above quote is from Roberto on Sky Sports News just now 10:21pm. So, we can all relax in our beds. It’s easy to rectify.

Denis Richardson
51 Posted 30/12/2014 at 22:29:33
In an ideal situation we’d be looking for a top keeper and not a stop gap. Robles is not good enough and we shouldn’t waste money on another Hannemann. If there are any decent ’keepers not getting a game then we should make a move for them (obviously Cech is not an option).

Only issue is that Everton being Everton, any negotiation will take 2-3 weeks at least to get sorted, by which time Howard won’t be far off being over his injury.

Have just looked it up and was gobsmacked to read that Howard’s current contract runs to 2018! He’ll be 36 in March so his current contract will take him to the age of 39 - I know ’keepers last longer than outfield players but 39?? Did we really have to give him such a long contract in his mid 30s?

Even though he’s with the RS I’d take Mignolet if offered - he was a class ’keeper not long ago so can’t have turned shite overnight.

Tom Loughrey
52 Posted 30/12/2014 at 22:32:58
Curtis Davies? Really? Our current predicament really has affected our state of mind if he’s considered to be the answer to our defensive woes.
Anthony Lamb
53 Posted 30/12/2014 at 22:40:05
Jim (7) have to agree with you especially your reference to Pienaar and Gibson. While I too would like to see some strengthening in the forthcoming Window I think I would get as much pleasure from hearing that somehow we had managed to offload people like Gibson who is simply unfit for purpose but who keeps hovering around any discussions about availability/injured players.

The sooner we have a clear out of unfit-for-purpose players be it through not being talented enough, not able to cope with the physical demands, too old etc the better. Now that possibly leaves us with Garbutt..........who else have we got left?!!!

Harold Matthews
54 Posted 30/12/2014 at 23:12:32
Who was responsible for giving these ridiculous, long contracts to the older players? Was it the board or the manager? The thought of Howard being here till he is 39 and Barry struggling to go the pace for another two and a half years, does not fill me with joy.
Peter Laing
55 Posted 30/12/2014 at 23:43:23
It’s almost gone full circle Harold, remember when Moyes took over from Smith and he inherited a geriatric team. Eto’o could be the equivalent of David Ginola, we need to bring young, hungry and fresh players into the squad and I’ve been disappointed by Martinez over reliance on the old guard this season.
Gavin Ramejkis
56 Posted 30/12/2014 at 22:59:39
Some odd contract offers already been made this season together with as discussed ad nauseum the perseveration symptom (and FFS don’t give me a lecture on is that a real world look it up) of repeating mistakes in the hope they’ll come good.

Imagine if you would we had gone ruthless a la Alex Ferguson instead of Clinton’s Card sentimental and saved a few bob on wasted wages and released some of our finished/fringe/permanent injury players like Hibbert, Gibson and Pienaar, we could have potentially invested in new players with that money or brought players through, Garbutt only just getting look in yet takes a better corner than Baines has in years.

Elijah Constantinou
57 Posted 31/12/2014 at 00:17:58

The man I see as perfect, although lacking match practice and almost certainly available, is Shay Given. The ultimate pro, great communicator, shot-stopper, agile even given his age....

Having said this, I simply cannot see Roberto signing another keeper. He rates Robles, trusted him in the Cup run for Wigan, and paid £3m for him.

Gavin Ramejkis
58 Posted 31/12/2014 at 00:10:50
Peter Laing #40 the Ali AlHabsi rumour is newspaper bollocks, he’s the Captain of Oman and will be playing in the AFC Asian Cup in Australia in January.
Tahir Abdullah
59 Posted 31/12/2014 at 03:56:13
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/mar/08/jose-mourinho-Roberto-Martinez-chelsea-Everton
Lewis Barclay
60 Posted 31/12/2014 at 04:08:15
We should have bought Butland when we had the chance.
Does Czech still want out? He’d be good for a season and a half. Ruddy is worth a (re)try otherwise.

On the injury front: Where the hell is Oviedo?

Let’s be honest, the Premier League careers for Gibson and Pienaar are probably over, certainly at Everton.

I’m worried every time Mirallas gets tackled and wonder how long it will be before he’s out for at least a month.

Let’s get rid of Atsu and use the loan system to our benefit. 2015 is looking bleak.

Harold Matthews
61 Posted 31/12/2014 at 08:11:42
Lewis. Someone with insider info reckons Oviedo was upset with having to train with the U21s. Could all be tripe.
Brian Wilkinson
62 Posted 31/12/2014 at 09:34:54
Called this before a ball was even kicked at the start of the season, we need to sign a goalkeeper, seems my concern have now happened.

Thankfully it has happened just before the transfer window reopens and Martinez will have to bring a goalkeeper in, this could be a big blessing and force Martinezs hand.

Offer Chelsea the asking price for Petre cech, if they turn it down offer an extra million provided they take Atsu back.

Whoever we get will hopefully be competition for Howard, im sorry but Robles is just not good enough, he cannot catch a ball, never leaves his line for a cross, the guys had more than enough chances, now time to get rid and bring in a keeper that doesnt make me reach for diacalm whenever our opponents get to our final third of the field.

Aidy Dews
64 Posted 31/12/2014 at 13:31:11
Valdes is doing nothing these days last I heard......

Good pointers there, Chris Fisher. You watch any of Guardiola’s sides, whether it was at Barca or Bayern, they hardly ever played tika taka; their play was purposeful, efficient, quick and had an intent to it, it was never passing for the sake of it.

You watch Bayern these days and even when the keeper passes it out from the back, once they start playing you can see already there’s a meaning to each pass. Every pass has the intent of pulling opposition players out of position to create spaces in which Bayern can get into and exploit and then create and it’s a joy to watch. Having class players makes that kind of style easier to implement but with our players, it would take years.

Elijah Constantinou
65 Posted 31/12/2014 at 15:29:44

I hope fans will get behind Joel Robles. Being a goalkeeper from an early age, I don’t think people realise just how much of a specialist area it is, it’s totally driven by confidence and it’s extremely difficult to just come in and perform.

Robles will have been playing under 21 games and it’s nowhere near the Premier League intensity. He is still very young in terms of goalkeeping and has never been the established number one at any of the clubs he has been at.

Having said that he does have potential, a huge frame and a good shot stopped. Yeah he did make a howler in the Krasnador game, but so does every goalkeeper. Decision making in the split second is the goalkeepers biggest strength and he will learn on that. If we don’t sign a replacement, then back Robles; shouting at him from the stands will make his job 100 times harder.

Jim Bennings
66 Posted 31/12/2014 at 15:43:33
Good post Elijah!
Paul Andrews
67 Posted 31/12/2014 at 16:09:38
Elijah,

You only have to look at the way Mignolet’s game has deteriorated to prove your point re confidence being a massive part of a keeper’s game. He has gone from a decent keeper to one that can’t kick a ball 20 yards. He needs to feel the backing of the fans rather than the nervousness.

David Holroyd
69 Posted 31/12/2014 at 16:39:14
God, give me strength. Howard and Robles are shite and anyone who wants Shawcross needs their head examining. Marshall would be my first choice, Begovic not a bad shout. Howard has lost it for me and Robles was never going to be good enough.

Big clear out at the end of season: Howard, Robles, Alcaraz, Distin, McGeady, Gibson (he's never fit).

We need more attacking, pacy players. When is Oviedo going to be ready?

Roberto please stop talking bullshit. We know what we see, stop trying to kid us all. Something like 93 points in 58 games more or less since you came.

Tony Draper
70 Posted 31/12/2014 at 18:15:29
Elijah, your last 2 postings in this thread display a calmness and intelligence of a true Evertonian, allied with relevant personal understanding.

Shay Given could certainly be a very good addition, fulfilling ALL the criteria without the "hysteria" expenditure.

And for those suggesting that we sell Seamus Coleman...
PLEASE, when the festivities are over..........shove the dead xmas trees "up yer hoop", though feel free to do so far earlier..

Brian Swift
71 Posted 02/01/2015 at 20:08:59
I think Hibbo could play in front of the back four, and do a better job than Barry and whoever his partner is.
Kieran Riding
72 Posted 04/01/2015 at 14:56:35
Butland starting for Stoke today. I remember being gutted we didn't sign him.
Tony Foxwell
73 Posted 05/01/2015 at 14:10:09
Only a week late, we need to sign a commanding goalkeeper that organizes his defence, like David Marshall. Plus a new centre-back like Simon Kjaer. That will be the least we need, add a winger or two plus a new Goalkeeping coach and Medical team.
Bill Gall
74 Posted 05/01/2015 at 22:42:30
Do you think he will sign someone 2 days before Howard is due back ? We need a goalkeeper to keep Howard out not as a back up and we need him now.

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