ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

Jon James
1 Posted 09/08/2007 at 01:18:41

benfica have announced they want £12m NOT 12m euros

we wont pay that much, although id like us to !!

Nick Harrison
2 Posted 09/08/2007 at 02:42:34

When did Benfica ’announce’ that? The stories on a fee have been so vague it’s untrue.

Dave Bicknell
3 Posted 09/08/2007 at 04:55:18

yeh its 6m to benfica and 6m to the third party and according to sky sports new its pounds NOT euros, i really cant see moyes spending 12 million pounds on manele !

Sheeds
4 Posted 09/08/2007 at 05:26:20

It may be paying a bit over the top but get it done. We did well in the deals to get Baines and Jagielka. Fernandes is a class act who brings a lot to the table.

I can understand the club being shrewd in their purchases, but 2 days before the season starts and a European campaign, cannot afford to be stuffing around now.

John Holmes
5 Posted 09/08/2007 at 07:58:34

If you read the Daily Mail article they reckon the £12m is the buyout clause in his contract. He may be available for less.

Mick Stanley
6 Posted 09/08/2007 at 08:41:26

While I applaud the fact that EFC are now apparently willing to pay this kind of money, why have we left it so late? Take Yakubu...Middlesbrough have apparently said that he is not for sale. Not surprising given that the big KO is only 3 days away. Even if they say yes, we will have given them virtually no chance of finding a replacement. Put the shoe on the other foot. If another club made a significant bid for AJ just 3 days before the start of the season, I dare say that our reaction would have been exactly the same - NO WAY. The same probably applies to Manny. We have had all summer to try and hammer out a deal and have, I believe been talking to Benfica, on and off, throughout. Yet we have left it the the very last minute...why? Is this another smokescreen? Could be. Did we think that prices would drop? On the contrary, I suspect that because of the timing any selling club would try to push the price up not down. I truly hope that at least one of these deals can be achieved, preferably Manny, but I fear that we will fail on both counts. Let’s hope that I am wrong!!

Thommo
7 Posted 09/08/2007 at 08:49:12

While it would be good to see both these players at Everton does it not strike you as at least odd that such bids are left until such time that neither of these players would be available for the first and probably a couple of games. I can understand that Yakubu may be the result of Vaughan’s injury but are we really only looking at Fernandes now because the Gonzales bid failed? I hope that these are the reasons for the timing but it does seem a little odd. It would be nice if the Leader would offer some clarification if neither deal goes through and even nicer if we believed it but unfortunately, it is not the rapport that has been built up between Club and supporters.

Stan Mullin
8 Posted 09/08/2007 at 09:13:11

Yes I think we should sign Manny, I think £6 million is about right, Benfica keep putting him out on loan with a view to sell so I’m sure there is room for negotiation.
As for £10 million for Yakubu, your avin a larf, he only plays well against us, lets not spend everything we can borrow just yet.

Ray
9 Posted 09/08/2007 at 09:31:01

Stan Mullin..I didnt realise Yakubu scored 16 goals against us last season?. And 15 the season before?. I must check the record books

jon- west sussex
10 Posted 09/08/2007 at 09:31:26

yeh - we need another forward ! noticed on telly text 508 "big dun" ia still a squad player this season ? whats the big man up to !!!!!

Matt Brown
11 Posted 09/08/2007 at 10:11:23

Stan, Fernandes for 6m... Thats a larf! We won’t get him for a penny less than 8.

As for your opinion on Yakubu, if you check the stats he’s only 2nd to Henry for total goals scored in the Premiership for the last 4 seasons. Enough said.

PL PL
12 Posted 09/08/2007 at 10:25:36

Jaysus lads, arteta is on sky sports news saying we have to buy another striker?

SURELY we have to??

He’s sure we will??

Ross Trotter
13 Posted 09/08/2007 at 10:31:27

This is what the club needs, a kick up the arse from one of its prize assets:

Mikel Arteta is hoping Everton boss David Moyes will add another striker to the squad before the close of the transfer window.

The Toffees are currently light in the attacking department after selling James Beattie to Sheffield United and losing James Vaughan to a serious injury.

That leaves Andy Johnson and Victor Anichebe to carry the goalscoring burden, with James McFadden working his way back to full fitness.

Middlesbrough hit-man Yakubu Aiyegbeni is rumoured to be a target for Everton, who have been linked with a string of big-money signings.

Arteta is keen for Moyes to dip into the transfer market again to ensure the club are not left short up front.

"To be at the top level you need three or four quality strikers," Arteta told Sky Sports News.

"At the moment, we’ve two, although we’ve got Faddy fighting back from injury as well.

"I’m sure they’re going to do something about it.

"If they don’t we know everyone is going to have to lift his game again and try to become better and don’t put up any excuses."

Ian A
14 Posted 09/08/2007 at 10:34:53

Yakubu would be an exceptional buy for us. Him and AJ would be a great little partenership. 10 million is about right I would say! Hes only 24 remember and will continue to improve. I’d also like to think we are a better club than Middlesbrough and we could enhance his abilities further. As for Fernandez. Yes I’d like him, but I wouldn’t go any higer than 6m. 7m tops. Whilst he showed signs of what he can do last season, we also have to rmember that he did drift out of games on a regular basis also. Again, he’s young and looks a promising prospect, but some of the silly figures that have been quoted for him i’d say are a big no no!
From a sceptical point of view, I’m not sure of the intentions behind these bids. They seem to me as if they may be again useless and empty gestures, another "well we offered big money, which shows we have the ambition. Unfortunetly we didn’t pull it off". Also concerned by the fact that the big money offers are hitting the headlines to coincide with the ballot!

John Charles
15 Posted 09/08/2007 at 11:02:40

Manny would be ’worth’ 8m in my opinion, but 10m -although a rip off- i would still do it despite the high price.

Consider, Yakubu is a good player, but we are tried tested and proven at 4-5-1. We have lost Nace and Bt but added Pienaar and Jag’s - so adding Manny to that really gives us depth for 5 in the middle. Although not ideal we will have AJ and Victor capible of playnig upfront alone and faddy as a 4-4-2 option.. at 10m+ for yakubu i’d say we dont spend, pay a bit extra to fix manny up and then spend money on a striker properly in january or next summer.

Allan
16 Posted 09/08/2007 at 11:09:54

The reason its been ’left so late’ is that we presumably didnt have the money until now. Robert Earls name has appeared on the list of board members, where before he was a sleeping partner. It makes me (and others) believe that funds have only recently been released, hence the late movement in the transfer market. If we’d had it before, we’d have used it. Paranoia isn’t helping, and there usually a sensible answer to most questions. Try and have some faith and act like decent supporters eh.

Ray
17 Posted 09/08/2007 at 11:05:12

I am curious as to what will happen regarding the Yakubu situation now he has ’reportedly’ handed in a transfer request..Can Boro afford to keep an unhappy player on their wage bill?. Can They really afford to lose him on the other hand?. Yakubu is said to be close friends with Joseph Yobo so maybe that can help swing a move also..Its all going to come down to finances and how much Everton want Yakubu, whether it was merely a smokescreen or a real interest in the player..Roy Keane was on SKy Sports talking about the Mido deal..According to Keane there are ’one or two other clubs interested in Mido’.One of them is thought to be Everton..At least one thing looks certain though and that is that Moyes has identified the real need for a striker to be brought in before this window closes..After making the mistake two years ago maybe now the lesson has been learnt..If something happened to AJ like a hamstring/ankle problem again then we would really really be up shites creek without a paddle and we are all knowing it.

Jon Berry
18 Posted 09/08/2007 at 11:11:41

The whole Fernandes thing is incredibly fishy. Why has it taken so long to put a bid in? Negotiations could have started on this months ago when it was probably more likely we would get him. But no, the bid goes in 3 days before the start of the season! Doesn’t add up.

Allan
19 Posted 09/08/2007 at 11:16:11

Why is it so hard for everyone to believe that DM has only recently been given the money to spend!?!? Why is everything so bloody negative?? Why does it al have to be conspiratorial!?

FFS!!!

Ray
20 Posted 09/08/2007 at 11:17:41

Joe Berry... Maybe the answer is simple..The recent arrival of Robert Earle

Allan
21 Posted 09/08/2007 at 11:21:11

Ever get the feeling you’re being ignored??!

Paul
22 Posted 09/08/2007 at 11:39:27

I doubt Fernandes AT THIS TIME is worth 12 Million, however give the boy two or three years and he will be worth more than that.

Moyes can get the best out of players and to make Fernandes a consistent performer instead of a big game player then his value will rocket. Lets face it the boy just smoked Arsenals entire team last season in that famous game.

I say buy him even at 12 million!

Jim P
23 Posted 09/08/2007 at 11:49:55

I read in a Daily Mirror web page that we are awash with new money from all Blue Bill’s wealthy mates. Apart from Robert Earl - does anyone know who else may be stumping up the cash? And is this a gift - or do the club then owe these "benefactors"? Fernandes and Yakubu? - Yes please!

John
24 Posted 09/08/2007 at 11:58:02

Let´s not forget that if we sign Yakubu we will only have him for half a season this season as he will be away with Nigeria for the African Nations Cup.

Allan
25 Posted 09/08/2007 at 12:03:28

John, thats not good enough a reason not to sign the 2nd top scorer in the Premier league for the last 2 seasons though is it? We’ll lose Yobo & Pienaar as well so should we sell them as a result? Non.

Jim - Robert Earl is a shareholder, he has plenty of money and is clearly now happy to spend it. Why do Evertonians on here demand so much financial information? It drives me nuts. You’re not going to find out that much info, its none of our business.

Manny & The Yak, we need both of em, I just hope Benfica dont hold out too long and that Yakubu’s transfer request is a reality.

John
26 Posted 09/08/2007 at 12:13:08

Since when was Yakubu the 2nd top goalscorer in the Premier League?

Allan
27 Posted 09/08/2007 at 12:17:19

He has been for the last 2 years, PREMIER LEAGUE goals, not overall goals.

Anyway, Keith Lamb has just been on Sky and said there has been no bid received from us anyway!!

John
28 Posted 09/08/2007 at 12:19:01

I beg to differ, here is the chart from last season

PLAYER TEAM GOALS
Didier Drogba Chelsea 20 FREE BET
Bennedict McCarthy Blackburn 18 FREE BET
Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United 17 FREE BET
Mark Viduka Middlesbrough 14 FREE BET
Wayne Rooney Manchester United 14 FREE BET
Kevin Doyle Reading 13 FREE BET
Darren Bent Charlton 13 FREE BET
Dirk Kuyt Liverpool 12 FREE BET
Aiyegbeni Yakubu Middlesbrough 12 FREE BET
Dimitar Berbatov Tottenham 12 FREE BET
Andrew Johnson Everton 11 FREE BET
Robin van Persie Arsenal 11 FREE BET
Obafemi Martins Newcastle 11 FREE BET
Bobby Zamora West Ham 11 FREE BET
Robbie Keane Tottenham 11 FREE BET
Frank Lampard Chelsea 11 FREE BET
Nicolas Anelka Bolton 11 FREE BET
Gilberto Silva Arsenal 10 FREE BET
Thierry Henry Arsenal 10 FREE BET
Jermain Defoe Tottenham 10 FREE BET
Nwankwo Kanu Portsmouth 10 FREE BET
Mikel Arteta Everton 9

Please get your facts right next time

Allan
29 Posted 09/08/2007 at 12:19:02

Actually John, you’re right about Yakubu. Oops!

He scores alots of goals anyway!

Allan
30 Posted 09/08/2007 at 12:22:47

You beat me by 1 second!

Connor Rohrer
31 Posted 09/08/2007 at 12:10:21

Im sorry but It makes me mad when I hear people saying Manuel Fernandes isn’t a consistent performer. He is a 21 year old boy in a foreign country and from what I seen played well in every match. He was the best player on the park against Arsenal and Spurs and was one of the best performers in the rest of the games he played. Moyes comments after the Man utd game were forced on him. He knew we wouldnt be able to afford the boy. If anyone remembers he actually play left wing for most of the game against Man utd and that is not his position.

I really think we need to buy Manny. 12 million will be nothing in a few years as he has massive potential. Aswell as being young he would offer us a lot of experience. He has played in two top leagues, won the portugues league twice aswell as the portuguese cup, has caps for the full national team and has competed in the champions league against the likes of Barcelona, Liverpool and Man utd. That for me is world class pedigree. Who else has more than that maybe Valente, Neville, Van der Meyde and Pienaar but no one else in our squad come close.

I dont know how we have all of a sudden got all this money but we obviously had. And the intrest is real because David Prentice published the article so it must have some truth. Lets hope something gets sorted out and we can bring him back.

bill green
32 Posted 09/08/2007 at 12:25:52

worries about yakubu yobo,and anichibe both being away for africa cup! plus yakubu is nothing like a Moyes player, but we do need a target man to compliment Johnson, but please no more utility men, specialist from now on!

Brian Waring
33 Posted 09/08/2007 at 12:37:07

Thing is John.Yakubu’s goal tally for the last four seasons,is second only to Henry.If you look at them stats,£10m seems a reasonable fee to play.

Ed
34 Posted 09/08/2007 at 12:41:45

we wont be signing either of these players, Manny happy where he is and Borough wont be selling the Yak cos they wont be able to replace him in time - I dont do the conspiracy theory, just think they club has made a couple of chance bids, which wont be accepted ,bit like the last one.

Ross Trotter
35 Posted 09/08/2007 at 12:50:05

I completely agree with everything you just said about Manu Fernandes, Connor, nice work

Dan Mckie
36 Posted 09/08/2007 at 12:51:35

John,the African nations cup lasts for a month (if they go all the way) how is that half a season?

Allan
37 Posted 09/08/2007 at 13:07:18

Benfica dont want to sell apparently, Manny is bound to say he’s happy, otherwise he could get frozen out - doesnt mean he actually IS happy there. I mean, they have tried to farm him out at every opportunity and now theres a real chance of a decent bid for him, they’re attempting to shut up shop - smacks of a club trying to get more money to me.

The Yak looks like he’s staying at Boro, even if we do actually make a bid, Keith Lamb was on Sky Sports earlier and he says we havent even made a bid yet.

Art Greeth
38 Posted 09/08/2007 at 12:53:28

http://www.record.pt/capa.asp?id=754174

This link should get your juices running?

This is the FRONT COVER of today?s Record newspaper in Portugal. It reads:

?Manuel Fernandes and Léo could leave Benfica?

MORE NIGHTMARES

Everton and Man City prepared to pay the 9 million clause for the midfielder.

(NOTE: 9 million would be EUROS? not sure if the clause refers to a release figure and whether that is just the part Benfica would receive, given the third party ownership).

And here?s another link from today?s Jogo paper giving more detail about the story. If I find time, I?ll work on a translation of this one, if people fancy it:

http://www.ojogo.pt/

On a personal note, I live in Portugal and last night I had dinner with friends. Amongst the company were three Porto supporters and a Benfica fan. They all believed Lucho Gonzales, if he leaves, will only go to Real Madrid, but the word on the street ? contrary to the quote from a Benfica spokesperson yesterday ? is that Manny could well be leaving the club.

Enjoy the speculation!

Brian Waring
39 Posted 09/08/2007 at 13:24:41

What has got me a little worried.Is that twice now Arteta has voiced his concerns in interviews.Even though he has just signed a new contract,could these interviews be the first signs that all is not happy with him?

Manuel
40 Posted 09/08/2007 at 13:16:10

eet is soo true... i am of the detesting of the benfeecar. I love the everton. I vill be there soon my friends....

Allan
41 Posted 09/08/2007 at 13:33:42

Or you could look at it another way Brian, in that Arteta voices his opinions in an attempt to get things moving in the right direction. He did say that he thought they (the club) would buy a striker.

Perhaps its just me concentrating on the positives. My shrink says its good for me.

terry.hayes
42 Posted 09/08/2007 at 14:25:34

can,t understand all the fuss,moye,s said before the end of last season that he wouldn,t be doing any early business in the transfer market,he knows what he,s doing so lets leave him to it.

Adam
43 Posted 09/08/2007 at 15:32:09

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=51225

"Everton have been given encouragement to bid again for Benfica midfielder Manuel Fernandes.
The Sun says Benfica demanded £12m for the Portuguese Under-21 star - who was an instant hero in an eight-game spell at the end of last season.

But they are now willing to drop the asking price to £8m and Everton are confident Fernandes, 21, will be keen to return."

Promising.

Ray
44 Posted 09/08/2007 at 15:44:54

The Middlesbrough chairmans recent statment ’the truth is there has been no bid from Everton’. That says it all again..Where exactlt did this rumour come from?. Or was it another fantastically timed publicity stunt so we can hear BK come out with the same ’we are always backing the manager for top signings’ bullshit.

David Mills
45 Posted 09/08/2007 at 16:00:51

Talking of Blue-Blood, I found an interview with Phil Neville on the Mail website.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=473898&in_page_id=1779

His attitude for playing for his country, his desire for being part of something special even as a bit part player is far more Evertonian than the whinging of that supposed Evertonian Jamie Carragher.

So he can’t shoot and he can’t cross too well, but he’s got big blue balls has our Phil, and as Labone said, he’s worth 20 tattoed Jamie Carraghers!

John Charles
46 Posted 09/08/2007 at 16:26:50

John/Alan , re: yakubu goals... apparently thats a combined total. so he’s scored more than anyone in the last two years put together?

I know sky sports said only thierry henry has more prem goals in the last 4 years than Yakubu. Interesting... still sooner have Manny though

Allan
47 Posted 09/08/2007 at 16:30:57

I’m not sure John, slightly confused by the whole thing now! Either way, he scores lots of goals and he has great presence, he’s a big strong fella and just what we need alongside AJ, who although quality and quick etc, he is very lightweight so Yakubu would be a great partner I reckon.

David - I feel a bit sorry for Carragher myself, he has a valid point about being overlooked when he should’ve been in the England team. McClown treated him like shit and so did Eriksson.

Oliver McAdam
48 Posted 09/08/2007 at 16:28:18

The club has said nothing about these so-called deals so there is not much to debate on this corner. Would both players cost alot of money? Of course. Would they improve our team? Of course.

What I want to mention is all this worry over Artetas comments. Firstly, it is not as if he has came out and said this with no reason. He will have been asked a question, Do you want to see new signings? Then, do you feel the current team will cope if injuries mount up?...he responds accordingly however is reported with just his comments and editied in such a way it sounds like a speech from Arteta when it is actually a few hand-picked answers to numerous questions. I also imagine the latest ’we need a striker’ is the exact same interview sky sports had with him a few days ago, however altered and edited, with some alternate answers chosen from questions such as ’with JB sold and JV injured, would another striker be needed?’. This news is also coincidently at same time as Yakubu roumers, so add weight to its importance. So no need to worry, Arteta isnt becoming dissilusioned Sky sports just want to make a story.

Shaka
49 Posted 09/08/2007 at 16:40:34

Just heard on the radio Everton have made another 10m bid for the Yak. This time with better payment options. He would be a great addition. His record speaks for itself. The Yak scored a fantastic goal against us last season. Knocking Yobo for 6 in the process and Yobo is a very strong defender.

Franny Porter
50 Posted 09/08/2007 at 16:41:54

Allan / John,

I dont feel sorry for Carragher as should nobody else.

He should realise how lucky he is to be getting a game for England.

I feel sorry for players like Howard Kendall who never got the chance to prove their worth.

If Carragher played for anyone apart from that shower of shite he wouldnt get a fcuking look in at all!

I feel much better now, think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts......

Mark Griffiths
51 Posted 09/08/2007 at 16:39:58

I just think these bids are smoke screens, i hope i am wrong but it has happened before and it will happen again, lets be honest about that!

Earl new we needed to kick on from last season, so why has he only just moved intyo this position now with all this money,nit makes no sense.

As i say i hope i am proved wrong but, look at the facts!

1. Yakubu - We make a bid that we pretty much know borough will turn down now viduka?s gone and he is heir only decent striker and 2 days left to the opener.

2. Fernandes - We were told of his price a year ago, that has not changed, so wht do we suddenly offer way below what Benfica wanted??? Again with 2 days to go.

3. Lucho Gonzalez - Porto captain, with CL exp, star of copa america, argentinian international, why would he come to us when r madrid, lyon and juventus want him???

It just stinks of bullshit to me, especially with the ballot papers just released!!