ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Rubbish Rumours

Surely the fact that we are on the verge of signing Baines from Wigan will put to bed the ridiculous rumour that David Moyes has walked out on Everton?

The BBC has reported that the reason for Moyes absence is due to the illness of his mother, and any rumours suggesting he has walked out due to frustration caused by lack of transfer activity, is at best distasteful.

I am as concerned as most, at the thin nature of the squad but i find it hard to believe that nothing is being done to strengthen and improve the team. the key word in that is to improve!! there is very little point in us shopping for journeyman or average premiership quality players as they would not improve the quality of the squad by spending 20 games on the subs bench and the rest making up the numbers in carling cup games. Does anyone really believe that Jason Koumas, Alan Smith and David Nugent are really any better than Cahill, Arteta, Johnson and Vaughan? Surely all players added should be an attempt to strengthen our first 11 - Adding width and attacking verve to our defence (Baines), width and creative options in our midfield (Piennar), and versatility and commitment to our defence or midfield (Jagielka). with a limited budget we have to be choosy - not just pick up players because they are on the market and the usual suspect of premiership predators want another signing - pick any one of Portsmouth, Sunderland, Newcastle, Boro and Bolton.

My view is that yes we have left it late, but we should continue to focus on adding quality and take our time - ensuring the players we pick, fit in with the work ethic of the squad rather than dive in for the type of players that might disrupt that.

Thats it. Rant over!!
Steve de Polo, Birmingham Posted 06/08/2007 at 11:34:53

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Comments

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Chris Dwyer
1 Posted 06/08/2007 at 12:06:08

Steve, I couldnt agree more, people constantly talk about strength in depth, and players ready to come in, using Beattie as an example, a £6 m striker on the bench, with England caps on £30 K a week, being completly overshaddowed by two 18 year old home grown tallent.The quality MUST be in the 1st eleven, and subsequently suitable cover must be within the squad, but at the right price. Do you honestly think Man City will be world beaters this year having splashed out a large amount on players that no body has heard of and that no body rivaled their bid for. The answer is no. I think Moyes is on the right track, and with a little more investment and ijurys going our way, we are certainly a match for anyone. The only thing that worries me the most is our lack of goals, other than Johnsons 10 - 15 i really dont know where the rest are going to come from.... Any body any views??

Graham Holliday
2 Posted 06/08/2007 at 12:26:45

The days of 30-odd goals a season are almost over (with the exception of Drogba and maybe Berbatov).

What we need to look at is 3-4 players to be getting between 10 and 20 and 3-4 others chipping in with healthy amounts (roughly 7 or 8). I would suggest that Johnson, Cahill and Vaughan (when fit) are all highly likely to get in the top bracket and Arteta, Anichebe, maybe Osman, Pienaar and even McFadden are all capable of getting a decent amount - even if all of them do not.

My confidence in our strikers is fairly reflected in our strike rate last season - 6th top scorers in the division (if my memory serves me correctly), despite Cahill and Vaughan both being out for large parts of last season.

I think it is a widespread fallacy we do not have much strike-power.

Gareth Jackson
3 Posted 06/08/2007 at 12:29:15

Glad to see some local talent being brought in to the sqaud, better than some overpriced & overated foreigner who will love the Wednesday night games in the freezing rain in the north-east.

Another postive is the good dealings with Sheff Utd, we?ve effectively done a player swap (Jagielka) with Beattie now joining them plus thier taking of Naysmith for £1.5M.

We could with another flair midfielder I feel, don?t think we need a striker to cover for Vaughan as we have cover up front with McFadden/Anichibe plus Cahill (when fit) can be pushed up if need be.

Dave Flinton
4 Posted 06/08/2007 at 12:41:44

Great post steve, I agree wholeheartedly. What we need now is a midfield general, a box to box type player and another striker for back up and were sorted.

Brian Waring
5 Posted 06/08/2007 at 12:59:07

Do you know what,I would love to know what percentage of the goals we scored last season,where from open play?

Graham Holliday
6 Posted 06/08/2007 at 13:11:04

http://premiersoccerstats.com/TeamGoals.cfm?TEAMNAME=Everton

Allan
7 Posted 06/08/2007 at 13:35:24

Paul Ince

Andy Morden
8 Posted 06/08/2007 at 13:35:22

I was just thinking to myself that the rumpus sparked by the "Moyes to resign" rumour may have had positive outcomes - 1) I think it made a hell of a lot of Evertonians realise just how much up shit creek we would be without him at the moment. Yes he has his faults, but without him? Well, we'd have a difficult season ahead. Let's get behind him and the team.

2) It might just help people realise that rumours are not worth listening to. Wait until things are confirmed.

Also, Condolences to the Moyes family.

Brian Waring
9 Posted 06/08/2007 at 19:56:36

Cheers Graham.