ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Don't Panic Mr Manwairing!

Like any other Evertonian I am watching the transfer market with interest and have arrived at the following conclusions:

1. We don't have enough players for the season yet 2. BK,once again,let the romantic in him talk up Everton in the transfer market during the season without any real substance to back him up. Heart ruling head again. (How's that for diplomacy? Not once did I say he lied...)

When I look at the players who have gone and for the prices they've gone for I'm not overly worried that we're missing the boat as some people suggest.

Nobody stands out and makes me think, damn we should've had him in the bag (except possibly Earnshaw; his goalscoring record is remarkable and at £3.5M could be a very shrewd signing). Maybe if they had been lower priced it would've been worth it. Recently Ljungberg and Petrov are two names mentioned but Petrov is an unknown quantity so far and who's to say that Pienaar (also very highly rated not that long ago) won't rediscover his form and be bargain of the season when we get him for £2.5M? Ljungberg is a 30-year-old midfielder whose goalscoring feats have all but dried up over the past two years.

There is absolutely no point in bringing players in for the sake of it because what happens if we bomb out of europe early and are left with a big wage bill? Then we go back to asset stripping in order to ease the debt and Arteta / Cahill / AJ / Lescott are arguably our most saleable assets...

So who's left? Hopefully Baines will come and I'm a big Smith fan. I don't think theres any real need to panic just yet and so what if we are being overly prudent? All these big clubs with big foreign owners WILL come a cropper one day. Simply because you don't get rich by giving money away and at some point they will be looking for a return. All these overpriced players this summer could well become bargains next year. Just look at the way Duffs valuation fell when he went from Chelski to Newcastle.

Anyway thats me off on a tangent so basically guys, its not all bad and no need to panic just yet!
Ben Houghton, Reading Posted 27/07/2007 at 07:28:03

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Michael Kenrick

Which is less painful? Endless Ground Move discussions that are no cycling through the same issues for teh thrid or the umpteenth time, or the return of the dreaded FM experts??? I really should have gone on my hols this summer...

Stefan Tosev
1 Posted 27/07/2007 at 16:57:51

I reckon Petrov will set Premier League on fire this year. He is pacey, skillful, direct, full of aression and scores goals as well. He would have the same impact as Berbatov at Spurs, its pity that we didnt sign him for 4.7m. He can play as a left footed forward, although he is winger and would have added much needed width to our attack

Peter Samuels
2 Posted 27/07/2007 at 12:52:11

I really, really, really, really, really ? and I'll just reiterate that: really could not give a flying fuck in force 10 gale about this vote for Kirkby, plans of the new stadium, blah blah blah blah blah. Yawn.

It'll probably all fall through anyway like Kings Dock, like Fortress, like all the other bollox we've been told in the last 10 years. It wouldn't surprise me if it was just a very large smokescreen, a piece of Campbell-esque spin to distract supporters from the fact that WE AINT REALLY SIGNING ANYONE OF ANY RELEVANCE.

OK. I'm not stupid. I know Kirkby is a great busineess for the club if the figures are correct. But really ? shouldn't we be investing in the team?!? Shouldn't we be trying to put together a squad of players who can challenge for domestic trophies and Europe on a regular basis?

LFC CAN glorify in the plans for their new stadium firstly because I believe it to be bloody impressive but secondly ? THEY HAVE A GREAT TEAM NOW!! Which means they can think about new stadiums and all that.

Please Dave, Please... sign Alan Smith, sign Leighton Baines... just... sign some players!

Dan
3 Posted 27/07/2007 at 17:00:26

To michael: Im sick of people saying: If you know something about football players its because you play Football Manager. I work for a danish (international) sports channel called Viasat and I spent many hours everyday to try and keep my self updated on players all over europe. I watch games, I read previews and reviews, I search for information, talk to people etc.
Yes I used to play FM or actually the former version 5-6 years ago but its nothing to do with my knowledge of football players or possible transfer targets. Everytime someone mentions a signing someone says: This is not FM! No its NOT I think we all sort of know that!

Andy Birch
4 Posted 27/07/2007 at 13:20:04

Great news for the club. This seasons season ticket sales have already beaten the figures quoted prior to last season. However, with the lack of transfer activity and the very small squad we have, together with the potential for additional games (Uefa cup etc), are we as supporters going to be left disapointed!

On the back of last season I am certainly expecting bigger and better things this season! Thank god Arteta and the wizard signed extensions! However, they will also have expectations and have no doubt been promised bigger and better things by Mr Moyes and the Board. Just hope Moyes and Co haven't underestimated the expectations of the fans and the players!!

My Wyness... Is a better league position and a successful cup cometition run deliverable?!?

Michael Kenrick
5 Posted 27/07/2007 at 17:08:48

The point, Dan, is not to decry anyone’s football knowledge. The point is there are hundreds of footballers out there, most of whom could do a job for Everton. The point is that the only ones who will do a job for Everton are the ones we actually sign. Discussion of a player who "could be a very shrewd signing" is just FM Bollucks, I’m sorry.

Steve Claringbold
6 Posted 27/07/2007 at 17:17:38

Michael is right,

We could go on talking about who we should sign forever, the fact is we don’t make the signings.

The team is what the team is.

Connor Rohrer
7 Posted 27/07/2007 at 17:13:24

I really dont see what anyone sees in Alan Smith. What is his main strength? His is not quick, good in the air or a natural goalscorer. I really do not know why people rate him.

We have Johnson, Vaughan and Anichebe for pace. We have Anichebe, Vaughan and occasionally Beattie for aerial ability. We have skill in Mcfadden aswell as unpredictability. We do not need strikers.

Fullback and midfield are where we need to streghten. Baines would be a good addition to the squad and would give Valente a run for his money. But really I want to see players coming in who are guarateed football. Ferandes for example. Vaughan is better than Smith as is Valente better than Baines.

Dan
8 Posted 27/07/2007 at 17:27:15

Michael and Steve. I get your point aswell, but thats football. People discuss players, final league positions, starting formations, transfers, who will win and so on. It is part of the game and part of what I love about it. We are all managers to be true, I mean everybody has their opinion on above matters and this is a forum where people share this. I dont know many football fans you just sit back and say: Well I cant do anything about it so im just going to sit down and enjoy the match. People here care for Everton and so make their feelings heard. I cant see anything wrong with that. I agree that there a hundreds of players who could do with and sometimes it is rather stupid to try and figure out whos coming in but then again there is a reason why we are all here. If you only want to know about the signings we have made then go to the official site! hmm the side that posted Riquelme and Vogel done deals!
Anyway agree with Conner, why Smith?

Steve Hopkins
9 Posted 27/07/2007 at 17:54:44

Yawn.....

paull
10 Posted 27/07/2007 at 17:51:54

I would like to see Baines & Smith purchased. Beattie & Van Der Meyde sold to finance it. McFadden retained. Vogel eventually on a Bosman though as usual with Everton it is dragging its heels. Fernandes coming back on loan. On top of that a further centre back to give us depth in that position. If any other money available one or two of the younger players mentioned in the press who may be available cheaply. I also think we will have at least two of our youngsters break into the squad this season, Boyle, Agard, Kissock, Harpur, Vidarsson, Justiewicz and Rodwell being the notable candidates. Finally a more experienced backup for Howard would be a useful acquistion. All the deadwood would be gone Wright, Pistone, Naysmith, Beattie & Van Der Meyde. 5 out and at least 7 Jagielka, Pienaar, Fernandes, Vogel, Smith, Baines,and a centre back, with the hope 3 more squad players could be obtained, plus as earlier mentioned the possible emerging youngsters. I also would

Brian Waring
11 Posted 27/07/2007 at 18:22:30

Ben,you seem to think that europe is our only goal this season.I get this impression because you say"There is no point in bringing players in just for the sake of it,what happens if we bomb out of europe early and are left with a big wage bill"What about the league,FA cup,league cup?The main reason we need to bring more players in is because of our small squad,or to be more prescise,no quality in depth.Like everything in life, it’s a gamble we have to take.

Gavin Ramejkis
12 Posted 27/07/2007 at 18:39:13

Well said Brian, it sticks like a bad taste when so many people say they are happy with mid table mediocrity etc, I want my Everton to kick arse, take the game to the big boys, play every game like it’s a cup final, earn the shirt and win, be a team that all teams are scared shitless of. I love to think that every team that turns up to fortress Goodison knows they have a game on their hands and when they host us they get more of the same.

clare
13 Posted 27/07/2007 at 19:14:02

HI, if we got the players paul mentions which are all good we would have at least 24 in the squad which is enough for the season and all the crap such as Beattie & Van Der Lager gone