CSKA in talks over Vlasic transfer

Having said that when he has been given a run out he hasn't pulled any trees up, but that could be because of the different styles of non-football, he was asked to participate in.

However he seems to have been a major success in Russia, and allegedly wants to stay there, while I have always advocated that keeping a player against his wishes, will rarely work out, as Fran says let's hope we don't regret letting him move, but if he does, let's get top dollar for him.

In his first 10 games or so he looked skilful, scored a couple of goals, was exciting but of course, as the whole team, became less influential as the season developed and then got cast aside by Big Sam - but seriously 29 year old Walcott for 20+ million and 110k a week, or 21 year old Vlasic for 8 million and 30-40k a week - who deserves more chances, who is worth a punt and who got more chances?

He was also played on the left wing, when he is clearly a central attacking midfielder.

Skill, eye for a goal, great ball control and just 21 years old, croatia international, CL experience - sounds like the type we should be aiming to keep, imho.

If we do sell let's be smart about it. I want double money min £15 M+.
Also follow what Barca do.
Exclusive buy back clauses years 1-3. £20M after 1 year, £23M, £26M. Plus 25% of any future sell on fee. Etc.

It's about time we got tough and smart about our outgoings. Other clubs get multiple millions for kids that have never played for their parent club. We give them away.

We need to learn to say no. Offer players to other clubs etc. I'm happy to loan out our under 25s if selling them isn't needed and valuations not met.

Can we not partnership with Tranmere, Southport or some such club to reduce their cost's whilst giving game time to our youngsters?

We've been begging for a playmaker in the middle of the pitch. He may well be one. Give him the summer to show it.

Plenty of time to sell later if necessary.

Vlasic will be coming back to Everton and will be expected to have improved and put a lot of work in trying to get himself up to speed to be able to play for the first team.

Both Brands and Silva are hard-nosed about these things. . . ask Lookman and his agents. Leipzig would give you a similar conclusion.

It’s difficult to ignore his performance against Real Madrid though so I think we should hero through at least pre-season and make s decision before the summer transfer window closes. There are most certainly plenty of others we should ship out before this lad though.

Another Walsh blunder we are still paying for. Get him off the wage bill along with Sandro and the others we are paying £750k a week to offer nothing .

Also let him have a career where he is effective and happy if that's what he wants. Suits everyone.

I am hopefull that Brands and Silva have plans for every twist n turn of the crazy world of footie...

On the few occasions he has got a game for us, I've noticed several times that he came away with the ball and looked up almost wondering where the hell everyone else was and then lost or played a difficult ball looking for support. I suppose he too will be sacrificed in the name of running the wrong way that is known as "back-tracking" as seems to be the case with Lookman and was with Deulofeu.

Similarly, it might depend on who Silva and possibly Brands see amongst our own youngsters who will be a part of the first team squad next year so that we don't end up with 4 or 5 players all vying for the one position without being able to competently play another position. Whatever, it is about time that English clubs insist on transfer fees that continental clubs seem to expect so that the underwriting of wage bills is shared around.

His personality can best be described as 'Mirallas' which will split opinions on TW and elsewhere no doubt.

Let Brands and Silva have a good look at him this Summer and if not right then sell or loan him to Italy or Spain.

I reckon that’s a big reason why we’ve been a lot better in the last few games, because Bernard and Richarlison have been “running the wrong way” when we haven’t got the ball, therefore limiting the gaps in midfield.

I would hazard a guess that any wide player who isn’t prepared to “run the wrong way” would now struggle to get into the team and would upset the balance we have.

Marcel and Marco will have to convince the lad that he will get game time at Everton and have a plan,however if the player wants the move then no use keeping him.

Deulofeu has found his level. He has done well for Watford but doesn't get a start every week. Amokachi netted a brace off the bench for us in the 95 semi. Still never made him a world beater. It happens and good for him but it doesn't mean we have made the mother of all mistakes because we let him go.

For me today's football suffers from possession priority, you've got to keep your stats up, and rather than try something exciting, speculative and risky a lot would rather forsake a forward position by something that ends up with your own keeper. Yes, "luxury players", it is no coincidence that they bring in the crowds but then I also believe that midfield players are known as the engine room as they do have to both start and support the attack and cover back when not in possession. It is noticeable that the better teams seem to get so many players forward when on the attack and without playing three across the back which seems to fail more times than it succeeds.

On which basis do you think Vlasic first attracted Everton's interest?

Successful teams throughout history all defend from the front. The modern top teams press the opposition and win the ball back quickly and use pace to get forward in numbers . That is how we have played for the last three games and hopefully it will continue .

If the likes of Lookman and Vlasic want to be successful premier league players they will need to put a shift in. Not be allowed to roam around doing what they like because we are worried they may go to a second tier European team to 'express themselves.'

Get out your DVD of the Bayern game, when they went 0-1 up, theres a guy in a blue kit sliding in despairing attempt to keep it out, Stevens? Mountfield? PvdH? No, no and no. It was Kevin Sheedy.

Google the Aug 1967 EFC Vs Untd on vimeo, see Alex Young by our own corner flag, both on the right and Left covering Wright and Wilson, making tackes, winning the ball, then setting off up the wing to start off the counter.

I can still see Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, one on each post, defending their goal during a Real Madrid
corner.

But that was 50 years ago, so old fashioned this defending as a team lark...it'll never catch on...even if it does help you beat current League Champions and the soon to be European Cup Winners. Or help you win the 2 premier European Competitions of the day...Or for that matter was Alan Ball running the 'wrong way' in the World Cup final.

Derek(#51), Charlton and Law on the post at corners vs Real was probably in the days when losing by no more than 2-0 away from home in the European Cup was considered the norm hence the introduction of the away goals rule. I remember Utd beating Benfica 5-1 in Lisbon after, I think, winning 1-0 at Old Trafford. George Best scored four including one on a run from nearly the edge of his own penalty area and after I think it was Bobby Charlton who said that they came for a 0-0 draw but somebody must have forgotten to tell George.

Which brings me back to the criteria used in assessing players from a buying point of view. Wenger's teams were never the best defensively and his first requirement was that they had more than their fair share of pace. Should we be buying players who "back track" well or have other facets to their game. Stand back and wait for the answer that it is, "all of that". I wonder what part it played with those managers who have signed Ronaldo and how it might have affected Brazil 1970. Give me flair and flamboyance any day.

If it works out great and if were still unsure give him another season for a decent loan fee and his wages covered.

If we have someone better lined up then sell but put in the buy back option as mentioned earlier.

Why does he have to be a better option than Davies ?

For me we should look at keeping all talented youngsters at the club.

As for Davies the lad is still only 20 years old, just 6 months out of his teens and has played at the top level in English football comfortably for over 70 games, that's some going for a centre midfielder.

Davies position is one of the most difficult positions to play in our league, if your out wide or up top you can sneak away with being a bit small, but in the centre of the park, that is where the big lads play and there ain't nowhere to hide.

Tom doesn't hide, not ever, he's always willing to take responsibility, he's always willing to take the ball even when marked, go into any challenge, and he will continue to improve as a footballer, and grow as a person within his own body.

I've said it for a while, we as a club are lucky to have the youngsters we have, some of them can go on to be anything they want to be, they will also save us hundreds of millions in both first team regulars and squad players, allowing our manager to spend his transfer kitty on big players who will lead our team on.

Holgate, Davies, DCL, JJ Kenny, Vlasic, Benigeme and Lookman have already shown there not out of place in the prem.

Onyekuru, Dowell, Connerlly, Williams, Holby, Virginia, Robinson, Feeney, Sambou, could also show over the next season or two that they could become an answer.

Then we have Simms, Anthony Gordon, and Gibson getting rave reviews not far behind the others.

We need to get behind these lads as they could create a dynasty at the blues, I know it's a big jump but we have a core group of players that have won a world cup at there level, something no other group have done before, so what's to say they won't do what Ferguson's lot done up at United and bring Everton back as a major force in the country !!!