Lennon 'delighted' with Goodison switch

Just how many Everton games has he watched this season?

Joke aside, heÂ’s fresh blood in the dressing room and I hope his loan turns out well before Mirallas inevitably goes off to WHL in the summer.

It’s a win-win for Spurs – if Lennon plays well, they have a better bargaining for Kev; if it goes tits up and Lennon has a stinker, Mirallas will be entering the last year of his contract... again, Spurs or other clubs will be able to offer much less for him.

I think we have more chance of spanking the RS 5-nil, playing Barcelona type football and Stevie G missing a penalty, before getting sent off, than we have of Mirallas signing a new contract.

On the flip side, it shows that Tottenham are not that bothered about us this season. I doubt this would have happened during last JanuaryÂ’s window when we were competing with them for Europe.

Not on his photos, heÂ’s not!

IÂ’ll say it again, EFC supporters have been short-changed again by the board. IÂ’d have preferred a change of manager, that would have cost BK a pretty penny. So RM is left at the helm, with a sporting chance of finishing in the top 10, and an outside chance of getting through to the quarterfinals of the Europa League.

Anything less and he should be sacked. That though will not happen... .unless we only get 1 in in the next 7, that would mean bottom 5, and out of the Europa. LetÂ’s see.

IÂ’m sick of mediocrity and I know lots of others are too. Until there is a change of Board, Kenwright and Roberto will be here for the long haul overseeing shite teams and performances on an all-too-regular basis! We will always tread water and will never make the promised land of a top 4 finish, nor give it a real go in the group stages whilst we have this board!

Fed up to the back teeth right now and just hope one day we have a new board with new fresh ideas but, until then, we have what we have now to look forward to!

The new stadium I have a feeling will see the back of Kenwright once he and his string-pullers have made a nice little profit on their relevant investments. Enjoy, lads!

No BK make do and mend, the fans will still be there even if they canÂ’t sit down through being sodomized that much.

Any prudent discussion would have already set the price now on the option to buy. We always did that before when Moyes did this type of deal that he favoured. It should really be bread and butter given the amount of deals like this the Club has done before.

Then again...

£15M is not an irrelevance or a bit of prize money. That’s the difference between 7th and 17th for this year, so dropping places down the Prem year on year is not a palatable message.

That will increase substantially with the new deal. We budget I think for 10th, any placement below that will have direct impact on the transfer policy.

Everton need someone who can get into the box and cause something to happen and as the deadly duo of Baines and Coleman have been somewhat muted this season perhaps Lennon can produce the goods whilst allowing the other two to add better cover at the back by not leaving big gaps whilst foraying forward.

I see Lennon being a much busier midfield winger than Mirallas who sometimes looks lost playing deep but always improves Lukaku when playing alongside him further up the park.

Where did I disagree with you about our need for new blood? I completely agree with you for what itÂ’s worth.

The point I was making was we shouldnÂ’t be held over a barrel if we decide to make Lennon permanent.

Joel has far exceeded expectations the last several matches, and HowardÂ’s on his way back and has been enough of a servant to the club, and a big performer in the World Cup, to be given a chance by the supporters and the manager to win back his place. Why bring in cover for either one when our own players have shown a lot of improvement??

The wide areas are the biggest cause for concern with Mirallas off-and-on, McGeady mostly crap, Pienaar perpetually injured, Oviedo unproven in midfield, and Atsu the biggest question mark of all. The lack of width crushes the space in the middle of the park and makes us totally predictable in attack – probably the single largest complaint of Evertonians throughout the season.

I can’t understand all the negativity – you can think he’s shite, but I’ll wager he’ll go straight into the side for the derby and for good reason.

Temporary or not, Aaron Lennon is on big money to do a job; if he fails, he will be sent back, to no doubt be at QPR next year. If he does well, I hope we look at a bigger picture, ie the rest of the squad.

IÂ’m in the main stand Saturday, if it goes tits up in the derby, BK will most definitely hear from me, as to his short arms and deep pockets.

And Ant, how the hell do you know Lennon is out of form? Are you going off the fact he hasnÂ’t played much as if thatÂ’s the reasoning then you need to look at the amount of players Spurs have, plenty of their team who are not bad players arenÂ’t getting a look-in either! Unless you have been following his career!!

IÂ’ll get my tin hat now.....

HeÂ’s not kicked a ball for us yet and heÂ’s written off by some, letÂ’s make judgement when heÂ’s had more minutes for us and see what he can do. He has my full support when wearing the shirt as long as he puts a shift in.

And I use the word Â’blowÂ’ carefully because thatÂ’s exactly what they would be doing by entrusting our present manager with funds.

The comic on here who suggests that the difference between our natural seventh and seventeenth is purely academic would willingly forego the thick end of £15M Everton would lose by such a drop. More ignorance because budgets have to be adjusted – so less money for those beloved players!

Our club will not be relegated but neither will we see much movement up the table. But just for once I trust this Board to do what they have to do come seasonÂ’s end.

I suspect Martinez will be backed or sacked in the summer. If itÂ’s the latter, I hope the board look forwards rather than backwards.

We badly need to widen our play, keep Lukaku central and moving through the channels and speed the fuck up in transition. In this respect I think Lennon will offer instant impact if RM backs off from his failing current strategy.

I hope he instantly replaces McGeady and not be introduced at 78 mins at the shite in an attempt to respond and have a go when pedestrian play has already condemned us to the usual.

Not feeling good about this month. Not feeling good about the club at large during what I anticipated was going to be a pivotal and positive season.

I agree with everything you say. I get the impression Kenwright has given up trying to progress and is merely hanging on to power. 16 years is long enough.

I fear I will never see EFC win another trophy under this board, never mind the league, as I head in the mid Autumn of my life.

Never a mention for months but you can be sure that the sins of the manager will be visited upon him. Just saying, like.

John Moores, for all he was, never ever shied away from supporters. Uncle Bill as you put him thinks we should kiss his big fat arse because he went in the Boys Penn. The buck always stops at him.

I think a lot us supporters realise under Kenwright we will never seriously threaten to win the Premier League and we will continue to sell our best players. I for one am resigned to this.

What makes me sad is my grand kids and my great grandson are doomed to the same fate.

Chairman Bill no doubt loves his toy but his pathological refusal to try and sell the club will always see us struggle to get to nirvana.

Is it any good in there like?

HeÂ’s clearly come to us to put himself in the shop window & Spurs know heÂ’s likely to play games based on the competition for wing places at the club.

Would I have liked a goalkeeper? Definitely. Howard costs us at least 10 points a season & while Robles appears to be getting better; we need a solid keeper. Marshall for me, or Vorm are proven & IÂ’d like to think they could be bought, not sure whether the young Norwegian lad theyÂ’ve been looking at is who RM is going for. If we can sell Howard to an MLS club in the summer, then itÂ’s a no-brainer for me.

We definitely need two new centre halves, Distin is going in the summer, he very nearly went last night and he has been woeful all season in my opinion.

Jags for me, while he looks better alongside Stones, has been poor as well this season, but for me Alcaraz has to go. IÂ’d like to see Mings and (if Hull go down) Davies coming in. My main defensive concern is weÂ’re going to lose Garbutt on a free in the summer.

For me, get to the summer & start the clear out, Gibson, Alcaraz, McGeady, Pienaar, Howard, with Distin going on a free & IÂ’d start pushing Hibbert & Osman to do their coaching badges. Why on earth they were given contract extensions is ridiculous.

One or two of the big spenders may come unstuck and buy a few failures, granted... but the top 4 is occupied each season by 4 of perm any 4 from 6 of the usual suspects, and it will be again this season.

The records are there in black and white, since the the Premier League began, we have really been the only team that spent relatively small that have challenged the status quo. It's something we can be proud of but we have still not won anything!

Hope springs eternal, but it's depressingly obvious that, unless we attract a very rich sugar daddy, nothing will change.

True, but IÂ’ve given up on all that.

Having seen (and read) the general response from (seemingly) the majority of Evertonians a couple of years back, to those prepared to get off their arses to attempt to challenge him/our board, my view now is that Â’weÂ’ deserve all we get (or rather..donÂ’t).

30,000 people protesting after every home game might (nb: only said might) have some effect, but instead fat-head is applauded and the small group of people who do protest become the target.

To be honest, it seems to be an odd British thing - there are stories being Â’investigatedÂ’ right now about some of Â’ourÂ’ (former) politicians being allegedly present while children were murdered and sexually abused.

There have allegedly been cover ups, there HAVE been documents Â’lostÂ’ and allegedly royals involved and whatÂ’s our response?

Mobs on the streets?

Talk of revolution?

Not a bit of it – more like ’Yeah but that Russell Brand lives in a big house’ and ’Get Perez out!"

I repeat, we deserve them.

Who predicted McGeady and Atsu would turn out to be as diabolical as they have been this season, their performances and form effectively forced right wing to the top of our priorities and Lennon was the best available for a nowt...

Surely Lennon canÂ’t be any worse!

Long term however, I donÂ’t feel he is the answer. Ultimately, he has always been a bit one dimensional & not quite good enough. Decent though. Has a good level of experience and knows the drill. Used to terrify Evra as well, bizarrely.

He’s 27 already though, and if he does well you can imagine Martinez taking him on 4-year deal for £8 million!!

It maybe be hard for a lot of posters, but a more positive outlook could help and give Aron Lennon a chance.

What is amusing to me is that, out of the thousands of football fantasy posts these last 6 to 8 weeks, did anyone finger Aaron Lennon as prospective incoming? Nevermind the solution to all our nightmares.

I think that is reflected in the mixed ratings he's getting. Yes, he can be an exciting player. But will he be?

Meanwhile, as Eugene intimates, the figure of the Blue Union and it's vendetta against BK lurks just under the surface, understandably agitated when yet another transfer window fails to come anywhere near meeting those fantasy football dreams...

Whatever you think of Kenwright, he fucked off Man Utd in the summer, tied up a few players on long contracts after the stick he got for players lost and gave Martinez the money for Lukaku.

Where did that get him? His manager's dragged us to mid-table. It would be churlish to give him stick for Martinez's mistakes this season.

We badly need a link from back to front, a top quality playmaker in the middle. We've plenty of midfielders but none of them really fit the bill, problem is we are going to have to replace all the ageing players very shortly so there's little chance of spare cash for another midfielder.

I can see Barkley getting sold, but his value has probably dropped given his form this season.

We need balance. Shoving Barkley out wide just doesn't work, and it throws the entire chemistry off. We have a real winger with blinding pace now and it's going to help us find that balance in the side we've so desperately lacked.

He's going to lay that proverbial fart more than once a game. But his width and pace will help open space for others – and I think that positive may outweigh the negatives of his game.

Here's hoping. At a bare minimum we have a different look and a new face in the squad to hopefully lift the team a bit.

Within those very modest parameters, I think Lennon is worth a punt. Once, he was a very decent player and looked set for a long England career. I notice he's had more than his fair share of injuries recently and has barely played, but if he was good once, there is a chance he might be again, which is more than you can say for some of our other secondary acquisitions.

I also think we did need a wide player. It is absurd trying to play Barkley in a wide role, not his strength at all and the back-up (McGeady, Atsu, Pienaar) are either past their best-before date... or never had one in the first place.

I read nothing into other than he looks like he's going for the no-smile-mug-shot-tough-guy look.

So he didn't show his pearly whites and wanted to look a bit "tough". Could care less.

I have checked Aston Villa. Lerner’s pulled the plug and stopped putting any money in.

Just the same as ours have done for the entirety of the 15 years they’ve been here. They run it on the TV money.

We made progress on Moyes’s transfer market savvy.

The sales of Rodwell and Fellaini purchased our last buys. And, naturally, covered any holes in the accounts. Barkley or McCarthy next. It’s the business plan.

Oh for the days of cushions on the pitch! Demos in the Winslow (Gerry on piano, me on kazoo); Mr John must be turning etc...

Not sure that I read Eugene's post that way – but more of his reaction to the apathy of our kind!

Anyway I am saddened to see Ruane in such despondent mood, I do so miss the humour of old.

I do hope that he has not lost all hope!!!

Roberto should have told him to fuck off until he had won us something. Hope he did, but his Boss told him, he'd won him plenty of money, Which was much more important than any trophy! It's the most barren spell in the clubs history and yet they are amongst the twenty richest clubs in the world. Fuck the glory boys because it's all about the money!!!

"Welcome to Everton FC, Aaron Lennon, I just hope your saving your smile until Saturday Night".

Glad we got back on thread after a brief, ideological discussion on the British establishment and the lack of class action protest (Just taking the piss the Eugene#56 - I am with you 100%).

Lennon can't be worse than McGeady and I seem to remember many times he has caused constination in our defence.

RM's track record on signings may be quite patchy but I have a feeling this lad can give us a much needed lift and a return to square pegs.

The Reds must look at us in stunned disbelief at the way we walk round with our beggars bowl outstretched season after fuckin season. And as we all know, they wouldn't take the bloody shyster for one season let alone 15.

Rant over till the season's early bird/new stadium/new sheikh investor/Delboy's comin time.

DonÂ’t let me down, the long and winding road, accross the universe, to your old brown shoe.

Bizarre stuff re Lennon on here. I'd have had him in last year let alone this. The loan deal makes sense, his pace and crossing ability alone make it worth our while. As for all the speculation re Mirallas what's the point? He will go anyway regardless of the Lennon deal and I think to a club abroad not Spurs.

As for this transfer window, the manager has taken a truly huge gamble with our clubs future and BK has let him. It may turn round but all that's behind that is hope... there's no evidence whatsoever that we won't be fighting for our lives come April and no, getting that lucky win at Palace isn't evidence enough to wipe out Hull or West Brom etc. There honestly cannot be anyone in football who doesn't think we needed to add quality to the squad this week. But we've blown all the TV money on one player and paid ten mill over the odds for him, instead of seeking three decent players down the spine of the team in our dreadful close season.

A surprise win on Saturday will not actually change things too much but boy will it raise the spirits and that we really need.

(we all know - we don’t like it, but please stop bleating about it, its dull - actually the Black Death could make for an interesting discussion but maybe not on this board)

Secondly who knows what RM wanted to do in January? Whether you think he was allowed to spend or not is one thing, but last season, and at least twice under Moyes, we were in with a realistic shout of top 4 by the end of the January window, and the club did nothing. Why do you think that is? Because they budget for 17th? Or because the money isn't actually there?

I am pretty sure that the club still budget on 17th spot which is the conservative and correct thing to do. If we place above that then it would go into the following year's kitty.

As regards this transfer window, I think that Lennon is a reasonable acquisition in an area where we probably do need extra quality. Being a loan it is also low risk. IMHO, the most critical area that we need strengthening is a creative MF.

However, the January window is a notoriously difficult one to get any quality at a decent price. Seems like RM is taking the long term view and waiting til the summer. In an age of instant gratification this can be hard for some people to accept.

I'm sorry the rumour/link concerning a swap deal for Distin and Winston Reid didn't come true. I would hope the club has the sense to tie Reid down to a pre-contract now if he is a free agent in the summer.

On your point about accruals though, there was a period for 3 or even 4 windows where we didn't sign a player for cash - there was even an "Everton Transfer Timer" clock website at one point. Again, pre RM there was a figure of less than £3m annual net transfer spend.

None of this tallies with the concept of prudent financial policy at the club. If they are still budgeting for 17th then that shows how out of depth they are. No business should be budgeting for failure and hoping for better.

And I stand by my original point. If they budget for 17th, why isn't that reflected in the wage bill?

We just have to accept that we will be better off buying in the summer, especially as Mr Manager won't be at the World Cup, and hopefully will put in some research and development, as well as a pre-season. Wouldn't that be something?

I'm still waiting for this passionate manager who plays attacking football with young, pacy players. In Stones, McCarthy, Coleman, Barkley, Besic, Lukaku and possibly even Robles we have the nucleus of a young dynamic football team and Baines, Jagielka and Mirallas (if he stays) are excellent Premier League players. Just need to shift out a few of the older guard and replace them with more Besic like signings; young, athletic, technically gifted and bursting with hunger for it (the sort of players Martinez brought more into Wigan than he has to us like Moses, Valencia, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, Diame etc).

My main memory of Lennon in live action was when he mullered us for pace attacking the Gwladys Street in a Spurs shirt and knocked in a great cross for Berbatov who casually rifled home. It occurred to me at the time that this was the sort of pace we had lacked at our club for a long long time.

I say let's give the kid a chance; also, let's hope young Atsu can return from ACON rejuvenated for the last few months in an Everton shirt. I feel that if all our defenders stay fit, the (collective) form will improve. To me, the key is to get the ball out to wide positions at pace so that Lukaku can begin to get some decent service without continually having to show his arse to the goal in forward play. Then you might see the big man do the business.

There's no merit in RM persisting with too much lateral play, the gloves need to come off, and hopefully the Aaron Lennon signing is a nod towards RM accepting the need for more incision and width. COYB

I think that episode was a cracker – went off with a bang as I recall.

The lad has served us really well over the past seasons and has put in some blinding displays at the back. It's not his fault time has caught up with him, it catches up with us all.

A down to the RS with 15 minutes left to go, Lennon comes on and with his first run down the wing, sets up Lukaku for the equalizer.

In the final minute another Lennon run into the box, he is brought down by Stevie G who is shown a straight red card in his last merseyside Derby.

As Gerard walks down the tunnell to a "warm" reception by the Everton fans, Mirallas picks up the ball to take the pen.

Big Dunc sprints from the dugout, catches the terrified Belgian by the corner flag before laying him out flat with a single punch, Dunc places the ball on the spot for Baines who slots the ball into the net sending the Toffee fans crazy before the final whistle sounds.

If only...

For what it's worth though, I can't see us suddenly going on a run and catching the Barcodes or Stoke. I've got a feeling 11th or 12th is where we are at this season.

You're talking about human beings, contracts, lives. This isn't your Playstation.

With all due respect, an awful lot of people on here need to learn the difference between fantasy and reality.

Tactically I think this is a good signing, I believe the football we saw last year isnÂ’t far off returning as itÂ’ll give the central mids more time on the ball due to opposition defence sitting deeper to avoid the threat of a counter attack with pace.

More at Colins statement of. "I can't wait till summer to get rid of him".

Like I said, a bit of humility and a look back at what he has offered and done for the club since being here, his good eprformances have far outweighed his poor ones.

We all realise that we have players who are considered deadwood, at the end of their careers or just not good enough for the premier. The reality is that we do not have the financial backing to do a wholesale clear out of these players and it has to be done gradually. This raises the problem of as you are gradually getting rid of your deadwood over the seasons your other players are aging and reaching the same stage.

Unless we start encouraging and developing our youth team players, monies that become available for transfers should be used for players at 24 or under to allow for the build up of the team. You will allways have to have 2-3 more experienced players to keep the team balanced.

The problem as I see it is, that not having a lot of trophy's or a shot of a league title in years we are expecting or demanding more than what we are going to get with the Chairman and Board we presently have.

Your right Colin, what is with the glum collective mood? ItÂ’s not like Liverpool, Man Utd, West Ham or numerous other clubs have done any business in this window. As pointed out on the live feed on the end of the transfer window, it highlighted how little activity was going on when Skysports were making such a huge deal of Huth leaving Stoke!

I think we have a very good player desperate to prove several people wrong, just approaching his peak with plenty of experience of the PL and all on a loan with little risk to ourselves. I think he will be great for us.

Please donÂ’t write Lennon off before heÂ’s even pulled on the shirt, give the guy a chance to show his wares!

My other point is: I read and hear so many Blue fans moaning that we should be top 4, that we didnÂ’t invest when we were close to top 4 and we should not be a mid table team. Now from my perspective we ARE a mid-table team who have slightly overachieved in recent seasons. We CANNOT even begin to compete with the current top 4 because we have not the multi multi billionaire needed to buy the assets to attain said top 4. If and when we manage to unearth a young talent capable of playing in a top 4 team, he will be sold; we are a selling club, thatÂ’s what we do.

I love this club, I really do, I believe weÂ’re being run incredibly well considering the monies involved, I also believe a LOT of fans canÂ’t see this. They think we have a divine right to be at the upper eschelons of the EPL, competing with Arab states and oligarchs....

As to this season, my belief is our failings on the pitch are 90% due to the damned Europa League and it’s cumulative effect it has on the rhythm of the playing staff week in-week out. I tend to believe the people who’ve "been there and done that" ie managers past and present, regarding the EL, I hear them saying what a curse it is and how it affects the players energy levels and routine, sure there are clubs who can manage this tournament with their huge squads of decent players. But financially it is a pointless exercise as winning the EL will net roughly £15m and almost certainly sacrifice 10 league placings...again the equivalent of £15m....but with tired players and players wanting out due to the future looking bleak etc.

The sooner we get beaten and are out of the EL the better IMO, (hopefully this round) and we can focus our attentions and energy on the league.

I love you Everton I really do. NSNO. COYB

Our outgoings are quite substantial, we pay players well, but cannot compete with the top six or seven right now. We also royally fucked up on the deal with KitBag and make nothing like the money on merchandise sales that the "Sky 4" elite make.

Our stadium is also crumbling and, unlike LIverpool FC, we don't have a go-ahead set-up like Fenway Sports to fund and deliver new improved stadium facilities. You will know Fenway have a track record of revamping old stadia from what they did with the Red Sox?

Our board have, sadly, failed in each attempt so far to find a workable site in Liverpool for our new ground and satisfy investors, politicians and planners of the efficacy of the projects (eg, King's Dock and Destination Kirkby). The club income from our home and away attendances count for little actually when you look at the Sky money.

Still, we do have Finch Farm... well, sort of – we don't own it! Apart from that, the club is in rude health!