Everton sign Lennon on loan

I would like to see at least one player come in to add some excitement, if nothing else.

Mirallas is also the only goal threat we genuinely possess from midfield.

Disappointed in Martinez really, or Kenwright, whoever has made the decision to finish the season with this pile of rabble, I'm not being fooled that we picked up a win on Saturday, the performance level all season has been rank shite and all of this so-called great attacking football we are meant to play?

It is the most tepid, boring sluggish Everton team I have seen for year's, sadly no due to not freshening up the squad this month, it's fair to say entertainment value may perhaps be better found doing weekend shopping than being at Goodison.

The money men won't be happy because next season your not going to have 30,000 season holder's coming back to watch something that does not give value for money.

If there is no money there this month, don't expect too much in the summer without the sale of a prized asset.

Does the final day of the window have to be on a Monday so that the 'media' can try and drum up some excitement for the final day without the dullness of a real match day to get in the way?

Eto'o gone, Osman out for the rest of the season, no sign of Pienaar coming back anytime soon... we have to sign someone. Especially an attacking midfielder. I'll be happy if we at least get Januzai on loan.

Come on, Bobby – time to start winning some fans back. Where the fook's that Spanish connection??

We probably all had a go at Deulofeu at times last season for being a greedy little swine but he is the type of player we have missed so much this term, I could never have imagined that we would have missed him but it's obvious now, frustrating he was, he could win you a match and opponents were fearful of his pace.

This season team's can push us back and commit more men safe in the knowledge that we have nothing in our attack in which can truly hurt them on the counter attack.

I'd have happily took Lennon on loan until May, at least he offers some speed.

But it looks like we will drag on with what we now have.

If you look at all of the other sides in the top half of the table they all have either a player who can excite the fan's or someone who can add a different dimension to his team in terms of attack.

We have, as far as I can see, only Mirallas capable at present of doing something a bit special.

It's been dismal this past three months just watching us ambling forward at a snail pace and just seeing the ball endlessly bouncing off an isolated Lukaku. Regardless of his goal Saturday, Lukaku is not the perfect target man/lone striker, his control and inability to hold the ball makes for uncomfortable viewing.

And with people bringing it up all the time, I keep thinking that he may just.

You're all messing with my mind. And stop it, I say. My mind is messed up enough.

That said, if we do anything then I'd guess it will be loans. There's no way Martinez is being given any money to spend - understandable as he's a lame duck. That could cost us though. If it does, BK has huge questions to answer about why Martinez was allowed to stay in place through this January.

In defence of Martinez it's definitely second-season syndrome and he really does need to rebuild. I do feel we are going to lose some big name players this summer, KM will go and I think we could lose another. I think old stalwarts such as Hibbert Osman and Pienaar have run their course. Distin and Howard – time's up. As this season is a major write-off... well, all I can say is "Roll on next season".

Outside of his ex-Wigan players and veterans, what inspiring signings has he made? McGeady???

Evening is dinner time. I assume that you mean lunch time

Yes they want it moved from 5:45 kick off to 12:45.

Apparently the old bill are taking it to court.

Much of a muchness isn't it?

That could be illuminating for both of them.

KM: "What's it like at Spurs?"

AL: "Shit, they don't see that I'm dead good and should play every game and should be on twice the money I'm on and should be playing Champions League... what's it like here?"

KM: "Shit, they don't see that I'm dead good and should play every game and should be on twice the money I'm on and should be playing Champions League"

Long pause, followed by quizzical looks from both of them, then their eyes widen as the realisation hits them both.

You must be nearly climbing onto the pitch with anticipation every time we pass the ball around at the back...

That's a strange one, I'd normally say yes let him go but we are already very lightweight centre half wise?

Luckily, I am privy to the talks between Distin and West Ham -

Allardyce: Sylvain, I've heard you've been accused of having a big head?

Distin: Sacre bleu!

Supper should consist of toast, with best butter on it and a big pot of tea in this cold weather.

If we could bring in a replacement then fine otherwise Hibbo will be playing CB if anything happened to Jags or Stones given Alcaraz is a near permanent establishment in the treatment room.

hang on, that sounds like some portugese defender.

Breaking news......"Everton line up Lisbon defender 'Bigblue Dildo'"..........

Let's face it, Osman, Pienaar and the never plays Gibson are probably done at the club after this season. Go get him, Roberto.

What we need is a wide player with pace and trickery, and an attacking midfielder with genuine creativity. Someone like Banega.

It's a shame we seem to have no cash. I heard today that Southampton were eyeing Tonny Vilhena from Feyenoord for just £5M, which would be criminal if true. Exactly the sort of young upcoming, creative player we should be aiming to get.

For those criticising Martinez's transfer record, I think other than overpaying for Lukaku by about £5M, the rest of his signings have generally been good quality players.

McGeady and Alcaraz are probably his worst signings. Both cost a combined £1.5M and neither are as horrible as some of the signings we've had in the past for a lot bigger fee's.

Lukaku, Barry, McCarthy, Besic, Robles and Kone(assuming he can stay fit), all look good players to me who were a lot better than what we had.

We've got a lot of average or ageing players in the side left over from Moyes time Osman, Pienaar, Hibbert, Distin, Howard, Gibson. All of those need replacing on top of the players we've already got rid of like Anichebe and Jelavic.

Quite why Martinez decided to give some of those oldies new contracts is beyond me. I want to see Browning and some of the other youngsters given chances, and some new blood brought in.

That said, he can't replace the entire squad in such a short time on limited funds. It will take time for him to cut out the deadwood.

He also made a comment that he found out about how certain players have reacted in adversity, which says to me that he can see certain players have reacted badly when the chips are down. The side needs more leaders like Besic, Stones and Lukaku. Not players who hide when things aren't going well.

I reckon we'll see some movement tonight. Maybe a winger on loan.

We might just get a goalie in and some trading around the Distin situation.

Budget will be adjusted to allow for a twelthish finish.

Would anyone hear like to have him till the end of the season? part of me thinks he could still do a job.

Don't think he'd offer much in returning to be honest

Yes got to be worth a crack bringing in Cahill on a free.

And why on earth would we want Cahill? He is not a passer, and we have Naismith and Barkley vying for the role behind the striker, both of whom are better players.

Personally, I'd have like to seen us look at Rosicky, now that Arsenal's top players have returned. We need somebody to play a pass, and not somebody who runs at defenders with a poor end product.

Atsu is not premier league standard, quick or not. Barkley plays through the centre which is too often congested(because we have no width). Kone and Lukaku are centre forwards and by virtue don't play wide.

We need someone like Lennon who is quick, but also is happy to play on the wing and stay wide, get crosses in. We need someone to complement Mirallas so that we have 2 genuinely quick wide players.

My main concern with Lennon is that we already have a short squad and another short-arse isn't going to help us defend set pieces.

The reason you think we need clever players, is because the side is not balanced. We have all our players are more comfortable centrally leaving no options wide. We're easy to mark and don't have any decent passes on.

Lennon will probably have a similar impact that Donovan had, when he came and gave us a 2nd threat to complement baines/Pienaar.

Mitallas, Atsu and Oviedo are enough. I hope Pienaar comes back at some point.

We don't need Lennon, and we don't need McGeady (who is the worst player to wear a blue shirt (not just an Everton one!) in recent times).

I personally think that getting Pienaar or Osman will fit will help us as much as Lennon. We are playing square pegs in round holes too often this season, but balance is not just about playing players where they are use to playing, it's about playing the right balance of players. City get their creativity from Nasri and Silva, Chelski get theirs from Hazard and Fab, United have Di Maria, Mata, Carrick and Rooney, Arsenal have Ozil, Cazorla, Sanchez and Rosicky, Spurs have Eriksen, Southampton have Tadic, Liverpool have Coutinho and Lallana. Our starting 11 lacks a truly creative midfielder, and for a team wanting to play a short passing style that is the equivalent of footballing suicide.

Happy enough with Lennon, especially as I had resigned myself to nobody new arriving and we certainly need more players with pace.

Would have loved if the Reid/Distin swap with money was true.

Lennon has a lot to prove and I think he will be a breath of fresh air.
Play him in the derby and see what happens!

Anyone know if he is eligible for the Europa?

Would love to see Winston Reid arrive, although unlikely.

Like others can't see us signing Reid, he'll go for a big money contract to somewhere else in the capital at the end of his contract.

For me Olssen from Norwich apparently the baggies are moving in for him, wouldn't be a bad replacement reported fee of 4mill, however we probably haven't got 4 pounds!!

Don't see it as an argument for playing Mirallas down the middle, though. Surely it just gives us the balance of having speed and trickery on both wings by playing both Mirallas and Lennon wide, with Lukaku down the middle.

I'd take Timmy back on a short term deal, too. Not as a regular starter, but maybe as a Lampard type impact player and definitely someone to be a great dressing room motivator and generally positive influence.

We don't 'need' Lennon. We need better team selection.

None of our team have Lennon’s pace or directness, and I personally think, that if we would have had someone so direct in our last home match, we would have beaten West Brom quite easily.

Don’t disagree with you about needing more creativity but with the addition of Lennon, I don’t think we will have to play to many players out of position anymore. Which should definitely help with the balance!

As a loan, that'll do.
Extra supply rote for RL.

My only little sigh is for Oviedo. I don't know what we're going to do with the lad. He should be playing regular football for us. This season is pretty much a write off. I'd like to see us at least developing Oviedo and Garbutt rather than McGeady who has no real long term future at the club. And I'm one of the few people who actually thinks McGeady is a decent player!

Roll the dice, fingers crossed and hope that it works out.

For me the wings have been our problem position all season and its had a knock on effect on the whole team. At the start of the season it looked like we had both flanks covered but....

McGeady had a proper pre-season behind him, he's been given chances but hasn't been good enough, nowhere near good enough.

Atsu, most were happy when we got him but he's looked shite the games he's played in and then with his injury followed by AFCON he's been unavailable for months.

Pienaar, legs have gone, has hardly played and when he has he's never really looked fit.

Osman, wing not his preferred position but Bobby could have used him as an alternative to Pienaar on the left. He's out for ages now too.

Mirallas, made of glass but when fit is the only attacking wide player who can hold his head up this season.

Conclusion, looked like we were set at the start of the season but the way things have panned out we need a big clear out in the summer, send Atsu back, see if we can give McGeady away and throw Stevie P in with him and Ossie will have to have a long think about hanging up his boots. Mirallas' future will be out of our hands and don't expect him to want to sign a new deal so chances are he'll be sold leaving us to sign/loan 3/4 new wide players.

I think Bobby's well aware of our failings on the wings this season hence he's willing to take Lennon until the summer, we're desperate. Hopefully whoever we sign in the summer will be more Del Boy than Atsu or McGeady. Thing is with our budget we're always going to be taking a punt...

"Lennon will be a good signing for Everton, his first match will be the derby. I'd love the chance to tackle him like the way I got Pienaar!"

Oh for a victory over his past team mates, and ram it down his throat!

What happened to the Barça connection, can someone please tell me? Me, myself, I would've taken a gamble with Adebayor. He destroyed us last year... powerful.

Call me cynical but presume this 'loan' means Mirallas is off to Spurs in the summer.

We needed another midfielder and one that would play wide and had pace - we got one so lets see what he can do. He's got a point to prove and even if he doesn't want to stay with us long term, he'll be giving it everything being in the shop window.

Mathew Kennedy, hope he does well for himself at Cardiff, he will hopefully make a good living out of the game, don’t think he was ever going to be a premiership player, lots of skill but a typical Scottish "tanner ball player".

Not a bad transfer window, could have been better could have been a lot worse. Strangely Moyes wanted Lennon when he was leaving Leeds, would have cost less than £1,000,000 at the time.

It's the 89th minute on Saturday. It's nil nil.

Lennon drives into the box with incredible pace and trickery, brought down by a flailing Gerrard leg as the RS skipper slips on the greasy surface in his final derby appearance...

Penalty to Everton!!!

Mirallas grabs the ball.

Naismith chases him around the pitch for five minutes screaming "give Leighton the f'ing ball!"

Ref gets bored and blows for full time.

I take from his comments he is basically telling Liverpool to kick us all over the park because they will get away with it.

I hope somebody, anybody with a blue shirt, hits Gerrard so hard in the first minute he has to go off.

I predict he'll score 20 with his head in his first full season.

We do more business than any other club in the Premier League during the transfer window.

Link [Doesn't work, James – Ed]

His end product hasn't always been fantastic, but I put a lot of that down to him being in the WHL madhouse. How can anybody develop a lasting understanding with team mates when they change every three weeks?

On his day this guy can be unplayable. Get him in there straight away against the shite, give him it to feet and just listen to the noise. I think Goodison will love him

Eto'o out, is probably a good move, also. On the live thread, it was mentioned that he's already had a bit of a hissy fit at Sampdoria,( something about a extra training session) and it's doubtful he'll play for them at all. What a tool!!

We're crying out for someone prepared to run at defences and Lennon's right up there for that, the crowd will love him just for going at other teams and boy do we need something to lift the crowd.

His woeful final ball is well documented but then Dellboy rarely got as far as delivering a final ball at all, constantly running down blind alleys and running the ball out, but many of the faithful loved him.

At last we have a true out and out right winger, I think the last was Kanchelskis 20 years ago - not only will this bring Mirallas down to earth a bit but also give RM the option to play him elsewhere. Personally I'd like to see Oviedo on the left with Baines and see if Lukaku and Mirallas can work together up front.

Our only problem then is the complete lack of creativity from midfield......

Moving on, I think Lennon is a great loan. We all know about his shortcomings but Deulofeu was mostly headless and everyone loved him. Lennon will definitely inject pace and excitement into our pedestrian team.

There are no further terms to the deal by the way. End of the season, no option to buy or anything. Lennon apparently will make his decision in the summer so I guess if he enjoyed life here and it goes well we'll probably sign him.

Window could have been better... could have been worse.

Lennon lacks goals and a final ball, but is quick which is something we have been crying out for.

Mike, hasn't Martinez been trying Baines in midfield during training? He's got a good brain on him, maybe he'd be worth a punt there, giving Garbutt and Oviedo a chance down the left.

As usual, let's see what he does on the pitch. This could be interesting; pace to burn, knows the league and can go straight into the team.

How about a four-man midfield of Oviedo, Lennon and two from Barry, Besic and McCarthy (always one injured or suspended) with Lukaku and Kone up front? A balanced midfield with pace and energy on both flanks. All four playing where they should be. Two strikers playing where they should be. There would be goals in that team, surely? We may even be good to watch again.

Now Martinez needs to show some 'character' and resist the urge to play his favourites and keep a balanced team. Robles, Baines, Coleman, Jags and Stones are a lock. If McCarthy is fit he has to drop Barry. Besic has earned his spot.

On the left its either Mirallas or Oviedo. I know I would always pick Oviedo because Mirallas isn't there mentally. Lennon is a lock on the right with McGeady backing up. Then it's Naismith or Barkley in the hole and Kone or Lukaku up top. RM has the square pegs now let's see if he has evolved and learned from his mistakes.

"Australia's leading goalscorer Tim Cahill joined Shanghai Shenhua in China's Super League on Tuesday, shortly after the New York Red Bulls announced he had left the club by mutual consent."

Pity we are poor with our attacking headers, Lukaku is built to be a monster when the ball is crossed into the box in the air, presumably Roberto want's the ball on the ground most of the time.

I'm still with Martinez but the box is an area that were not exploiting enough, get the ball into the area and anything can and does happen.

Lennon will be a threat in attack I've no doubt, whether he is active in defence I've not a clue!

I think people remember Deulofeu as being better than he was. There was some great moments from him (Arsenal away) but he frustrated the hell out of me. I remember the League Cup game away at Fulham. He was superb in the first half and then couldn't make 2 yard passes in the second half.

Cahill chose China for several reasons not the least of which would be enormous scope for his coaching schools.

1. Terrific pedigree,
2. Terrific experience
3. Real good understanding of the league
4. Still at a very good age.
5. Experienced two World Cups with England
6. Brings something really important to our squad straight away (?)
7. Already reached huge landmarks in the Premier League
8. Ability to adapt to different ways of playing (!! lol)
9. Had a very interesting experience (?)
10. Can play on both wings with a lot of power and a lot of pace.
11. Has incredible ball control,
12. Has high speed
13. Can take people on
14. Can be really exciting

What a load of fucking nonsense! And why the fuck would Spuds be selling him? Just say he's a good addition and look forward to seeing what he can add. FFS

You bet it is and with Mirallas going the other way.
Deal already agreed methinks!

Martinez has probably agreed to this so that we have the manpower to beat the drop – then it's sell-up time – car boot sort of thing.

He's a World face in the game now, having played here, the US, a star for the Aussies in the World Cup. It makes sense for him to go to China. He's an ambassador.

Most of the season we've been playing a certain way where we sit deep and allow teams to do one to us and then look to take the ball and break but we haven't had the pace in the side to execute such a plan like the season before when we had Deulofeu with Mirallas; now we have Lennon and that should make us more dangerous.

I would've liked to've seen the keeper Nyland signed but it wasn't to be, and if it was even possible, a swap deal involving Distin and money for Reid would've been good but by all accounts Reid wanted to see the season out at West Ham and it never ended up a goer.

And according to Cahill himself, he got an offer from Kenwright to re-sign! Sentimentally, it would've been nice for fans but Cahill knows that he and us have moved on now and it wouldn't've been right for him to come back. Moyesy was even in his ear about going to Sociedad but he's chose to go to China and good luck to him, he deserves his big, final pay day!

I think we could generally agree that whenever we have players against us using their pace either through the middle or on the wings, it's worrying times (thinking Suarez, Coutinho, Sterling, Sturridge, Bolasie and many more) . We have seen what pace can do to opposing teams when we have had some fast wingers/forwards (thinking Deulofeu), so hopefully Lennon can inject some fast forward thinking etc. It has to benefit the team in being able to relieve the pressure.

Hope the rest of the team can catch up with him.

You didn't expect us to be lashing money around did you? If the player we all wanted isn't available you look around. Lennon fitted the bill for what Martinez wanted. We needed another winger, he was the best available at the time yesterday, so we got him.

He gives us another option and strengthens the squad. We didn't lose Mirallas, which is what a lot were fearing heading into the deadline day. I think it's a decent signing.

And at the end of the day, if he fails we can send him back. Simple. It's not like we'll be stuck with him like we are with McGeady.

Lennon and Mc Carthy - Give Pace A Chance

He seems to have been around forever.

He's here now. He wasn't our first choice but neither were McCarthy or Stones when they arrived. Look how invaluable they are now.

On the flip-side, looks like this deal is a prelude to Mirallas leaving for that shithouse outfit. And that'll be the end of his career. Their greedy little fucking prick of a chairman has probably agreed some derisory fee given he has £12M left on his contract (whatever the fuck that really means) and was happy to wait 'til summer. I fucking hate them almost as much as the other lot.

Garbutt's looks very promising and, contract or no contract, he won't want to hang around and be our 2nd/3rd choice left back when he could be regular № 1 choice somewhere else.

Well he is here now and, although I don't really rate him, he is adding to squad numbers. But he cannot play in the Europa. Lennon has to be better than nothing doesn't he?

He didn't even get money for a goalie which shows how much his stock has fallen and he'll need more than one or two jammy victories to save his neck. So be it.

I personally DON'T think this means that Mirallas is off to Spurs in the summer. If he plays on Saturday and sets up Lukaku, and scores himself he'll be a fucking Everton legend. :-)

The thing about Lennon is that there is a maximum 14 games he can play (I assume he is cup tied for EL and can't play against Spurs). He will need 3-4 games to adjust so we are talking maybe a max 10 games where he will be in a position to have an impact.

Very similar number of games to another RW, Landon Donovan, in each of his individual loan spells. If he has half the impact of Donovan it could give us a lift and might result in something being salvaged from this wreckage of a season.

I'll get my coat....

It's a shame the rumours about Winston Reid didn't come to fruition as I think we will struggle to get him in a straight contract fight in the summer.

Reality is we are 12 points adrift of 7th with 15 games to go, I need some of Phil Wallings enthusiasm and say we are about to go on this amazing winning run. Starting with Saturday!!

A lot of people on Twitter and other fan sites wanted Deulofeu, some suggested Bolasie and Milner among others.

Delboy has assumed legend status in these columns although, in reality, he was a show pony who occasionally turned it on. Bit like Mirallas if truth be told!

Palace won't sell Bolasie mid season either. I think people lack realistic expectation.

This season, even when he has been fit, Pienaar hasn't shown the creative threat that he has in previous seasons, so based on that and the age difference between the two players, right now I would rate Lennon above Pienaar.

This kid isn't a winger though, he's far too direct. A good coach could turn him into the next Thierry Henry

We will get who the manager wants and within Bill's monetory constraints.

I'd love to see how many of Baines' assists were set up by Pienaar. I don't think the 'Goals and assists' stats really do him justice. He's been vital to us for a number of years.

And the reason people are comparing him to McGeady is because they are both direct, pacey wingers. I'd have thought that was pretty obvious.

Phil Walling - re Milner

He actually wants to leave City, and has done for at least 8 months. I'm surprised we've not even shown interest in a loan move.

Jeez, cheer up.

I want Ferenc Puskas, Maradona, and Franz Beckenbauer to play for us but it's unlikely to ever happen.

I guess you can't please everyone but he looked good when we lost at Tottenham this season.Give him a chance he has a lot to prove and then maybe we can forget about that player from Barcca that we were not going to get anyway.

Maradona.....Hmmmm, can't be any worse than McGeady.

Aaron Lennon Is Picture Of Joy While Posing For His First Photos As An Everton Player

If he's garbage then its only a loan so not much lost. If he's good then will be a decent replacement for Mirallas.

Yes you're right, I have got no argument with losing most of the players you suggest.

What I was saying about Mathew Kennedy was based on the fact he is 20 years of age and he is no way ready to play for the first team at the moment. He maybe a late developer and in time become a much better player than he looks at the moment, so good luck to the lad if he does.

Jason, is that one word and two expletives?!

Seems most on here seem to think he is better than McGeady, I am not so sure... Lennon is bit of a chicken with no head and doesn’t score too many, so let’s wait and see.

My personal opinion is that McGeady is low on confidence and is trying too hard but there is a good player in there somewhere.

How could we have possibly gone for players we couldn't afford? Honestly, some fans think we're some kind of mega rich club with bottomless pockets.

There is not. McGeady has spent his entire career at a very low level, where his schoolboy stepovers and idiotic shuffles would work occasionally against opponents of equal mediocrity.

Now that he is in with the big boys he has been exposed for what he is.

Lennon is not great but he is way above the standard of McGeady. That is the only consolation I can extract from this signing.

I think we will spend a decent sum again this summer, but no single huge amount like we did last summer.

Yes, we agreed to spend a lot last summer but we haven't paid nearly half of it yet, that's just more debt for the future.

The real trouble will start when we have to replace quite a few of the older players very soon... you will find we just do not have any money to replace them.

Certainly an improvement on what we already have, so hats off. New faces can also give a boost to our squad, which has been sapped of confidence by bizarre decisions and tactics. Hopefully this will mean the end of seeing central midfielders and strikers out wide.

We used to be a side where the changing room had a totally professional team ethic. My worry is how quickly that disappeared (last week's gritty performance notwithstanding). Come on Aaron, understand what it is to play for Everton. We can't afford sulkers.

Put him right in and let's see what he can do. Let the RS do the worrying.

On the Lennon & McCarthy kick, it has to be "All we need is goals"...

If he plays this will be the last time we'll see The Devil SG!! I wonder if he will still have the ref in his pocket???

We are bottom in 4 divisions for crosses into the box. You can't get away from that.

If there is one team suspect on crosses, it's the Redshite. I hope he has had a change of heart; if not, they will be bossing the middle over us.

If he makes us smile by what he does on the pitch is all that matters, and that is all I'm looking for.

The fact he hasn't logged any real match minutes for some time, let alone work his way onto the Spuds bench, should temper expectations.

From an individual perspective, he has much to play for so that can only be to our advantage (not unlike Barry getting a lifeline on his career last year when he joined us).

What I find worrisome with this business is that I see this as a precursor to negotiations for Mirallas moving to the Spuds in the off-season. I hope that is not the case but Levy's history in transfers would indicate there is more to this than meets the eye. I hope that is not the case.

Roll on Blues

Latest whipping boy, I give you McGeady.
First it was Naismith, then Robles, then Kone, of which none have turned out to be 1/2 as bad as painted.

I said earlier that I thought that Lennon was a good signing, after looking at those photo's I'm not so sure!

What I am hoping to see on Saturday is Besic and Macca making life difficult for Coutinho and Pickle Butt and nullifying their ability to freely move the ball through the middle.

What I am expecting to see is Barry getting his walking papers following a vain and clumsy attempt trying to take the ball off one of them. If so, I hope he manages to put one of them out of the match in the process.

I'm a silver-lining kind of guy

As to the reason why we are not putting balls into area from wide positions, I see it more as a by-product of overall tactics. Both of our fullbacks are capable of putting in crosses (though admittedly Baines has really struggled with crosses of any kind this season) but do not when the opportunity arises. Whether that is a conscious choice or dictated by RM's larger possession-first tactics/strategy, I can't say say (but would be inclinded to believe so). However, even if either player did want to cross it, there is never anyone available on the receiving end!

I don't necessarily believe we HAVE to start crossing the ball more IF our fullbacks pressed forward. This opens up more space and opportunities through the middle for the folks who are supposed to score. Problem is, for whatever reason, our FB are not pressing forward this season (certainly not with the marauding frequency they were last season). The explanation for that is likely due to a number of factors.

Chris, we are nothing to do with any of the West Ham ineligible player thing. We were done and dusted before any offence was commited.

While I recall Mirallas playing on the right last season, I also recall Delboy out there for a fair amount as well. Let's face it, neither of them offer much defensive cover to an attacking fullback. No doubt the squad was making the most of a renewed sense of confidence and freedom under RM last season which I'm sure spurred the backs to take more chances going forward regardless of who they were partnered with.

I think Mirallas prefers playing on the left as it allows him to cut into the middle with the ball on his stronger foot. But I do agree, and to your point, that the unnecessary personnel rotation that was happening in the first part of the season coupled with injuries (not an excuse, mind you) has undermined our effectiveness to attack (and defend!) the flanks.

The "square peg / round hole" analogy has been thrown around enough times this season. However, it's still a valid and accurate characterization of where a big source of our problem lie.

Martinez has 12 games to earn the right to at least try and put things right next season.

Martinez has 12 games to earn the right to at least try and put things right next season.

He is NOT a headless chicken. He is probably the quickest player in our squad, he is technically gifted (all the trickier with the speed he plays the game) and his final ball is NOT always cack.

His success or failure with us will be determined by how the manager plays him. Keep him wide, get the ball to him, running at and turning the opposition defence and he will get people out of their seats and Lukaku will be licking his lips at what Lennon can deliver.

Restraining him to playing from the half way line, passing it side ways in a narrow midfield will neuter both Lennon and the contribution he can make to the team.

He will switch wings, but I imagine principally he will dovetail with Seamus. If they click, Lennon’s arrival could help give Seamus his Mojo back too.

His arrival also calls into question not so much Mirallas’ future as some speculate, but rather IMO more that of McGeady and most certainly Atsu.

Oh! And the Spurs fans I know have been pissed off all season he has not been playing more regularly and are not happy he has joined us.

The absence of McCarthy this season cannot be understated. So much of what we do well (and not) seems predicated on whether he's in the line-up. For me, he cannot come back soon enough.

Barry has his moments and games, no doubt. However, when playing against opposition that attacks with pace and movement, he is often left exposed and by extension, the half or fullback that he is covering. He is by no means the only one having a tough season and I am not trying to deliberately single him out. But often times, many of the players appear to be of two-minds when attacking this season. Whether that is due to confusing strategy or tactics or whether there is some doubt and fear of being caught out of position on the counter, who can really say?

Back to the original point of the thread - if Lennon can take the ball and keep it in the opposition's end and ideally cause them some trouble and create some space for other, then we are better off than before. I sincerely hope that he can.

He declined though, much bigger money in China on offer.

As for Lennon, let us give the lad a chance despite his miserable demeanour. Maybe he is just a guy who doesn't do good photos.

We will all be pleased if she shows the promise he had several years back. But I am not sure we will see him in action against the RS unless he comes on as a late sub.

Do we know how fit he really is? What makes me think that we don't!

Out of interest, anyone know what the agreed purchase price is, or infact whether we got anything for Kennedy?

I don't read too much into the photos either. I seem to remember big Dunc not looking best pleased when we signed him on his initial loan.

Phil love the comparison of Mirallas and Delboy as "show ponies" that is the truth. What difference does it really make if it's a precursor to Kev going the other way? He's going to go somewhere this summer unless BK wants to put him on £100k-a-week salary.