ToffeeWeb - Season 2006-07

The Mail Bag

The waiting game

19 days since the transfer window opened and still no news, every day goes buy scanning the newspapers and various internet sites just hoping to see a player sign, still no news. Viduka has been and gone, Fernandes bags are packed and Joey Barton is no longer an option on the roumer mill. However I do feel there is a reason for this lack of activity.

Firstly, I imagine Moyes is keeping an eye on the Euro U21 tournament, and will wait til its over to make a move.

Secondly, as we already know we are just waiting for Jagielka's release fee to be offically activated by Sheff Utd's relegation (sometime in next week).

However, the main reason I see is Moyes attempting to get as much for his money as possible, so currently, less money spent now may mean more players bought later.

With Jagielka, I believe he was offereing Naysmith not expecting them to accept, but just possibly they might and would leave with that little bit of extra cash. Even saving 500k could pay for a free transfers wages for a season.

Same with Fernandes, Moyes could pounce now, but if he bargains and examines all the options first, we may get a better deal, and possibly save enough money for an extra player. It happened with Arteta, It took a month of nail biting but we got him, and got him cheaper.

All the transfers already done are for big prices, big wages. But, not until later in the summer, when aswell as clubs being anxious to buy, others a equally anxious to sell do we begin to see more realistic transfer fee's (e.g. Nugent, 1 year left on contract, come August he will be cheaper than 6mil if still there as they will be desperate not to lose for nowt) I believe between July-September, with International Football ended, all major leagues completed and players back from holiday we will see 6 arrivals on Goodison, 1 of which will be Jagielka.

I dont know whether Moyes waiting game will work, we may lose out on some specific players ala Fernandes, but I think its the only possible way to make a 15mil budget work in todays game.
Ollie McAdam, Liverpool Posted 19/06/2007 at 20:49:02

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Nick Coyne
1 Posted 20/06/2007 at 16:32:57

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Well said Ollie!! You sound like my type of Toffee. Balanced and refreshing.

I agree that we will sign players and that it is thoroughly frustrating waking up every morning and having bugger all of any interest to read. I have faith in Moyes and I think given his previous transfer record, it is more than justified. He has bought a bit of shite (i.e. Kroldrup) but I would say he is unrivalled in the Premiership at the minute for bargains who then develop into very good performers (Wenger obviously has the touch and is a fantastic talent spotter; Fat Gobshite Allardyce buys in the United Nations bargain bin and gets the good out of a mostly average pub team).

Whilst almost all of the lads are still on a beach and with pre-season training still three weeks away, I’m with you pal. We might not like it but we’re going to have to sit and wait. For the limited dealings that have been done so far this pre-season, I don’t feel we’ve particularly missed out anyway. Granted Viduka has got great feet and an eye for goal, but fundamentally he’s always been a fat pie arse. I would have loved Barton as our "poor man’s Gerrard" but after holding out for this loyalty pay bollocks, Newcastle really have been shown up to be the mugs they really are. Tuncay would have been nice, but not on £4.4m a year in wages.

So let’s just bide our time, keep looking at the final day Premiership league table and remember that we’re actually not in too bad a place at present.