ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

Eric Myles
1 Posted 31/08/2007 at 04:17:30

Being an overseas armchair fan I already have enough trouble distinguishing Carley and AJ on the telly screen without having another slaphead in the team!

Jarrod
2 Posted 31/08/2007 at 04:47:50

Easy.

Johnson is the little man running around without the ball.

Carsley is the man kicking Tim Cahill.

Gravesen is the one standing in the middle of the park, waving his fist & yelling at shadows.

titus mccready
3 Posted 31/08/2007 at 06:37:09

Nigel is absolutely right. Gravesen wasn’t taken from us by Real for a laugh. He was and presumably still is a bloody good player. Having Arteta on the pitch alongside him will take off the pressure of being Everton’s ONLY creative player (as he was in his previous stint). I think this is a really clever piece of business.

Rob Sawyer
4 Posted 31/08/2007 at 06:35:42

Gravesen is a bit of a comedown after the anticipation of Fernandes’ arrival.
On the plus side:
He was our best player when he left for Real (remember how we struggled into 4th place after he left).
He knows the set-up and should settle in quickly.
He must prove himself as he only has 12 months - not a cushy 4 year contract to sit on.
Hopefully this will give Moyes time to re-assess his longing term midfield options over the coming months.

One thing I haven’t missed for the past 2 years is his agent (Sivebeck?) mouthing off every week about how Tommy would be off if EFC didn’t not get European football.

Pistol
5 Posted 31/08/2007 at 07:37:35

Well thats it. After being tantalisingly close to Fernandes we end up with Gravesen. Don’t expect any more signings. Thats your lot. No Appiah, no Riquelme or any other midfielder of class we have been linked with.

However like the consensus above I think it is an astutue piece of business. Moyes can hang fire and reassess his squad until January when hopefully he still has the £12m transfer fund. To panic after the Fernandes debacle and just make a panic vanity purchase was foolish. I’m disappointed like everyone else and it is a mighty come down after having raised a pint to Fernandes but Gravesen is a good short term aquisition. He has a contract to fight for and he can hit the ground running & knows most of the squad & management.

He is not the creative wizard we all wanted but we have to forget this weeks acute embarassment and I hope the board and manager learn from this in how to conduct transfer dealings in the future.

Select target, aim & fire. Like the Yak will do against Bolton on Saturday!

John Beesley
6 Posted 31/08/2007 at 07:56:52

Pistol,
’acute embarrassment’ I assume you are referring to that snide Fernandes going to Valencia.
How is shaking hands on a deal and being let down an embarrassment?

Lee Mather
7 Posted 31/08/2007 at 08:03:04

I have to admit I did enjoy having, as one of my friends it "The baldest midfield in the premiership" as for the return of Graveson, well I’d rather judge him when he’s on the pitch the speculate before the fella’s even has a chance to kick a ball, or player or whatever.

No doubt he was great for us before and if he can recapture some goodison form of old, why not have him back?

Pistol
8 Posted 31/08/2007 at 08:06:03

John. I am indeed talking about Fernandes. Remember the player can shake hands all he likes but he has sold his economic rights a long time ago for 30 pieces of silver so is told where to go. How many times did your hear Tevez say last season, "I go where Kia (Joorabchian) tells me". Do you honestly think he wanted to go to West Ham! He was told where to go. Same with Fernandes.

The embarassment was being gazumped at the 11th hour and not having him nailed down months ago or even late last week. Despite the ultimate machiavellian actions of Global Sport Agency & Pini Zahavi & to some extent the player we messed up or at best were complacent.

Therefore I stand by my comments that it was an acute embarassment for us to be gazumped or out manouevred in this way.

I say good riddance to Fernandes and his slave masters. Anyway, and this will sound like sour grapes, if he was such a red hot prospect he would have been targeted by much bigger clubs than Everton & Valencia. He was a £12m punt on the future with no guarantees. He was good in flashes last season but I’d rather have someone a few years older (23-26) who is more established and with a proven pedigree.

Lets move on, welcome back Gravesen and cheer on the big Yak at the Shitty Sneaker Stadium this weekend.

middleastblue
9 Posted 31/08/2007 at 09:16:19

Not sure I agree with most comments here on the return of Gravesen; don’t get me wrong he is pure entertainment but my memories of him last wearing an Everton shirt were of a clown in the middle of the park who consistently couldn’t pass a ball and was for me, one of the most frustrating players I have ever watched.

Don’t be getting too excited about his return!

Sorry for being negative.

James Elworthy
10 Posted 31/08/2007 at 09:30:43

In my opinion Gravesen can only be a stopgap signing. The popeye look a like has seen his better days, he cant even play in the weaker Scottish league and he is lazy and can only function in a 5 man midfield where he doesnt have to track back and Carsley does his tackling for him. I also think he will want to take every corner etc and will cause Arteta to be ineffective. I dont think this is a move forward. I hope I am wrong but I didnt get excited by it.

Ross
11 Posted 31/08/2007 at 09:32:33

Small question for my English friends:

How is it that when Barry Ferguson came to England to play for Blackburn and then returned back to Glasgow, the talk was that he couldn’t hack it in the Premiership, yet Gravesen went to Scotland, now he’s come back to England no-one mentions a sodding thing? He was absolutely fucking shite in Scotland. Every time I saw him playing for Celtic he looked utter shit - like a headless chicken out of his depth trying to run games, losing the ball then chasing everybody about the pitch trying to get it back.

Great signing?!? don’t think so somehow. If he’s going to be sat on the bench as a back up to Jagielka then yeah it’s a great signing.

He’s a sack of shit.

Dave Lynch
12 Posted 31/08/2007 at 09:22:43

Tommy G is a great acquisition.
The people who are not pleased with his signing are deluding themselves about the pulling power of our club.
Wake up! We are not Man U, Madrid or even the unmentionables.
Tommy still has a lot to offer. Pace was never his greatest asset, so no worries there.
He will bring a touch of steel and craft to our mid, thats what’s been missing.
For all you doubters. Remember Richard Gough.

Chris Jones (Wakefield)
13 Posted 31/08/2007 at 09:41:45

"... For all you doubters. Remember Richard Gough."

Yes, and Alan Stubbs too!

Thommo
14 Posted 31/08/2007 at 09:48:05

As I understand it Gravesen wanted out of Celtic because he wasn’t getting a game. So what makes us think he’ll be good enough for Everton every week? Headless Chickens 1, Superior Skill & Knowledge 0 unless he’s learned something during his time at Madrid.

Bootle Blue
15 Posted 31/08/2007 at 09:55:59

frankly he’s a bit of a prat, but certainly has his moments. Usefull addition to a smallish squad as long as he realises where his place in the pecking order is.
Remember he went and we got Arteta - now THAT was good business.

Connor Rohrer
16 Posted 31/08/2007 at 10:02:19

Ross, Barry Ferguson has never played at the highest level whereas Tommy Gravesen has. Ferguson couldnt get in an average Blackburn team so he shit out and went back up north. Gravesen has played in England, Germany, Spain, Denmark and Scotland aswell as many great games for his national team in the european championships.

I dont buy why he wasnt in the Celtic side. He obviosly pissed Gordon Strachan off because Neil Lennon was played above him. I watched both Lennon and Gravesen last season and I know who is by far the better player. Lennon could hardly run but was still picked ahead of him so I think it had something to do with favouritism.

I am happy to see Grav back. Why cant he compete? He has a lot more ability than the likes of Carsley, Neville and Stubbs. He is an excellent passer and can retain possession something we lack. What we have got to remember is the difference between the English and Scottish game. 6 goals in 18 starts isnt to bad and on loan we are not wasting any money. I would say central midfield is the weakest part of our team and Tommy will dfo give us different options.

Ross
17 Posted 31/08/2007 at 10:22:56

Thommo, he couldn’t get a game for Celtic because he was a liability. As I said up there, he kept losing possesion. Did no-one see the Celtic - Man U games in the Champions League? He might aswell have had a red shirt on.

Andy
18 Posted 31/08/2007 at 10:25:11

Connor - its inaccurate to say that Barry Ferguson couldn’t get into the Blackburn team - he got a serious knee injury a month after he signed after he’d played pretty much every game. That put him out for the season, when he returned Souness made him the club captain. Ferguson decided for personnal reasons that he wanted to return to Glasgow

Ross
19 Posted 31/08/2007 at 10:50:21

If Barry Ferguson hasn’t played at the highest level, what do you call captaining your club in the last 16 of the champions league and captaining your national side in any number of tournament qualifier games - namely against Italy, France and Ukraine. I think you’re talking pish Conner mate.

Like Andy says, Ferguson got a serious knee injury, but before that when he played he ran games for Blackburn.

If you take off your bald blue tinted specs for a minute you’d realise Gravesen isn’t half as good as what you think he is.

James Elworthy
20 Posted 31/08/2007 at 10:48:08

As previously stated I cant get excited by Gravesen coming back. He may be one of those guys once he pulls on the blue jersey is transformed a bit like the Dunc I suppose, and lets hope he is for the clubs sake. Riquelme excites me though if it is true. Appiah isnt fit he wouldnt pass the famous medical and we have to many Africans we could end up like Bolton not have a squad in Jan cos the African Cup. I would of prefered Nolan to Tommy G he will get goals from midfield 1 in 5 games TG is 1 in 14.

Andy Lea
21 Posted 31/08/2007 at 11:20:16

Remember reading a quote once about TG "He is capable of being equally the worst and best player in the same game".

For me his best work is in a 5 - put him in a 4 and you will be frustrated with his output.

My recollection of him is that without possession he was always where the ball had just been. In possessionalways seemed comfortable but that was until I had witnessed the man who has had me questioning my sexuality for over a year now - one Mikel Arteta.

Always looking for positives - this time round we woint be reliant on whether Tommy turns up at the game as we were back then.

Thought it was great business back then and think its decent business this time round.

middleastblue
22 Posted 31/08/2007 at 11:48:05

Connor, sorry mate but your comment previously nearly made me piss myself:

"He is an excellent passer and can retain possession something we lack"

I welcome the Danish loony back as a bit part player to our squad, but one thing he never was or has been in his life, is an excellent passer of the ball. I watched him play a great deal when he was with us and used to analyze his game for a laugh between me and our kid; trust me, he is a shite passer of the ball and one of the most frustrating players we have ever had.

Nick Xenos
23 Posted 31/08/2007 at 11:57:04

Honestly speaking, Mad Dog can’t be any worse than Neville and Carsley. Also, we are a much improved team now than what we were a couple of seasons ago. I think this will take the pressure of Gravesen and maybe he won’t feel like he needs to make the killer pass every time he has possession.

chris
24 Posted 31/08/2007 at 12:13:21

were going to ukraine

Emil
25 Posted 31/08/2007 at 12:09:58

well I refrained from comment during reading all the yes/no banter. But can’t hold from saying something now!
Big bad Tommy is back, great stuff. We need a big character like him to add steal, its what we have missed. Watch out Premiership its the return of Slaphead Utd!

ricci green
26 Posted 31/08/2007 at 12:24:21

everton have just drawn metalist in the uefa cup as anyone got an idea what this team is like

Allan Hobbs
27 Posted 31/08/2007 at 12:31:01

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Metalist_Kharkiv

They have a Brazilian player - beware.

Bootle Blue
28 Posted 31/08/2007 at 12:22:05

The Barry Ferguson thing is interesting - he ust got homesick..
Arteta had a rubbish second season at Rangers, but has done rather well down here.
The mentality for Scottish footy is a bit different - you can be playing Champions league on a wednesday and then playing St. Mirren on a Saturday.
It just doesn’t suit some players who find it difficult to cope with the gulf in class from one game to the next.
Mind you - if you playing at Celtic Park doesn’t inspire you, you’re probably brain dead.

Tommy and Strachan didn’t get on and he didn’t get picked Grav used to drive me mad - sometimes excellent and sometimes useless.

John Hughes
29 Posted 31/08/2007 at 12:21:59

What was it that Strachan said about Gravesen recently;something along the lines of "when you’ve told someone six times what to do and they still don’t do it, you begin to lose patience". That’s our Tommy! On a more positive note, Moyes seemed to get the best out of him - let’s hope he can do so this time around.

bootle blue
30 Posted 31/08/2007 at 12:33:50

oh, and no offence to St Mirren or any one else in the SPL - it must be difficult to compete with the old firm (combined ground capacity > 110000) - under the circumstances Motherwell are doing rather well this season

Tony Marsh
31 Posted 31/08/2007 at 12:24:49

Arr NO The Ukeraine.Its a shithole.Why couldnt we get Famagusta from Cyprus that would of been the one.Fucking Ukeraine>what a dump.

Connor Rohrer
32 Posted 31/08/2007 at 12:41:41

Middleeast blue, Gravesen has a lot of faults but he is a good passer of the ball. Have a look at the 04/05 season review and you will see for yourself the service he provided Marcus Bent in the first part of the season. Anyway I have had a season ticket for long enough to know Gravesen’s strengths and weaknesses.

On the Barry Ferguson point. I think if they where both at there best Gravesen is a better player. I was speaking to a Blacburn fan just today and he was telling me how shit Ferguson was before and after his injury. Maybe he did move for personal reasons but at the end of the day he stayed in a league where there is no comopetition and that for me is playing it safe instead of showing others your talent. Lack of ambitition in my view from a player with no talent.

Take of my tinted glasses? When did I ever say Gravesen was a brilliant player? I said he is better than Carsley and Neville which he is without a doubt. I admit he can be erratic but he can also be a match winner.

Im realistic though. I know where not going to buy world class players because we are not as big as some of our fans like to think. Gravesen isnt the best player in the world but he will definatly add good cover.

Connor Rohrer
33 Posted 31/08/2007 at 12:41:41

Middleeast blue, Gravesen has a lot of faults but he is a good passer of the ball. Have a look at the 04/05 season review and you will see for yourself the service he provided Marcus Bent in the first part of the season. Anyway I have had a season ticket for long enough to know Gravesen’s strengths and weaknesses.

On the Barry Ferguson point. I think if they where both at there best Gravesen is a better player. I was speaking to a Blacburn fan just today and he was telling me how shit Ferguson was before and after his injury. Maybe he did move for personal reasons but at the end of the day he stayed in a league where there is no comopetition and that for me is playing it safe instead of showing others your talent. Lack of ambitition in my view from a player with no talent.

Take of my tinted glasses? When did I ever say Gravesen was a brilliant player? I said he is better than Carsley and Neville which he is without a doubt. I admit he can be erratic but he can also be a match winner.

Im realistic though. I know where not going to buy world class players because we are not as big as some of our fans like to think. Gravesen isnt the best player in the world but he will definatly add good cover.

Keith Harrison
34 Posted 31/08/2007 at 07:47:33

As well as, apparently signing Appiah, we are also finally going to get Riquelme (see BBC sport).

One more attainable transfer which I think would be a great bit of business is Glen Johnson, who is rumoured to be going to Pompey for £3m. This lad would definitely improve our side, as he was excellent against us in the last home game last season, is big, strong, quick, and gets forward. In essence, everything that Hibbo is not.

If we got him and a playmaker (which I don't believe Tommy is!!), we could make serious noises in the Premiership, as well as some very decent cup runs when Timmy and Vaughny are back fit.

It is also reported that Boro 'are throwing a shock lifeline to Italian defender Alessandro Pistone'. I would just let the git drown if it were up to me.

Steve Guy
35 Posted 31/08/2007 at 09:04:44

I for one am delighted to get Tommy back. It was his performances up to leaving for Real Madrid that did as much as anything to contribute to our final position that season. I think he will in hindsight have regretted not staying and his remarks on re-joining Everton are very encouraging. If we get another season out of him like the last one he had for us, he could have a significant impact.

One thing I do worry about though :) When Tommy went, we all thought Madrid had taken the wrong player, mistakenly thinking he was Carsley (I still think this was the case !). It's worse now with AJ on the field as well; we haven't got the Bruise Brothers anymore we've got triplets !

Tom Sullivan
36 Posted 31/08/2007 at 10:06:40

With talk of Riquelme possibly coming on loan and Pienaar and Gravesen already here can someone tell me how many players one team is allowed to bring in on loan? I know it used to be only two but maybe it has changed. I hope the Everton officials know or we could be in for one embarrassing cock up.

Keith Harrison
37 Posted 31/08/2007 at 14:07:41

Tony M. Have you ever been to Famagusta in Cyprus mate. It makes the Ukraine look like Las Vegas. It is the old Cypriot capital that was bombed by the Turks, and all the sea front hotels are exactly as they were in 1974, with the bedroom walls blown off, and clothes still hanging in shattered wardrobes.

Now if we had drawn Ayiah Nappa Academicals - a different matter!!!!

Richard Porter
38 Posted 31/08/2007 at 18:07:50

Tom: international loans to Premiership clubs are unlimited, I believe. The two player limit is for domestic loans.