The Mail Bag
A swarm of locust over blue Everton skies
Comments (40)
Speculation is going around, a number of big clubs want Arteta for an estimated £12 million... regardless of the price offered, it's absolutely crucial the club fights tooth and nail to hold on to the best investment they made in a decade. If this team cannot hold on to this player who makes the difference between winning or loosing, they will not only tumble down the ladder dramatically but all that recruiting for years will mean nothing to the team and the fans who have put everything in this club. This would be a total betrayal if it eventuated. I smell rats again, and if speculation is true fancy Valencia being one of those thieves being mentioned to chase Arteta, that faceless club already stole Fernandes from under our wings, now they want the whole cake.
Valencia are simply thieves, spoilt Chelsea are desperate for instant glory, and Real Madrid need someone to sit on the pine and warm it up like they did with Gravesen, I hope Arteta continues to play beautiful football with a club that values him much higher than any of those other clubs mentioned.
Clifford Zammit, Posted 16/10/2007 at 02:00:28
Comments
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
Toffee
2 Posted 16/10/2007 at 08:25:49
2 Posted 16/10/2007 at 08:25:49
Erik,
Your right mate, It may be direspectful to other members of the squad but you only have to look at the games wjehn he is playing to when he is not playing, and you realise that Clifford is right!
He is the difference and our ONLY creative player! The team are shit without him and play ugly boring hoofball!
Davey likes defensive, safe midfielders and no doubt Arteta’s replacement would end up being someone like Neville, Cars, Jagielka......
If we well him, it will be a desaster and its bye bye to cahill etc etc.
What player would want o sign for a club with no ambition? and selling Arteta shows a lack of it!
oh, and £12m....... do me a favour! If Darren Bent is worth £16m, then your looking at atleast £20m!
We dont have to sell and dont want to sell him, he has 5 years on his deal so it will take one hell of an offer and only Barce or Real will do...... In my eyes, the other spanish clubs are no better or bigger than us!
Your right mate, It may be direspectful to other members of the squad but you only have to look at the games wjehn he is playing to when he is not playing, and you realise that Clifford is right!
He is the difference and our ONLY creative player! The team are shit without him and play ugly boring hoofball!
Davey likes defensive, safe midfielders and no doubt Arteta’s replacement would end up being someone like Neville, Cars, Jagielka......
If we well him, it will be a desaster and its bye bye to cahill etc etc.
What player would want o sign for a club with no ambition? and selling Arteta shows a lack of it!
oh, and £12m....... do me a favour! If Darren Bent is worth £16m, then your looking at atleast £20m!
We dont have to sell and dont want to sell him, he has 5 years on his deal so it will take one hell of an offer and only Barce or Real will do...... In my eyes, the other spanish clubs are no better or bigger than us!
Michael Newton
3 Posted 16/10/2007 at 08:44:57
3 Posted 16/10/2007 at 08:44:57
I like most Evertonians do not want Arteta to leave.
If the player wants to leave and a big club puts a big offer on the table then he will go and we will be powerless to stop him.
Contracts are not worth the paper they are written on. The only thing about a contract is the longer it is the higher fee you can negotiate.
If Arteta wants to leave because he cant get in the Spanish team at Everton he will go make no bones about it, no matter how much we as fans want him to stay. Artetas best mate by the way is Gabriel Heinze they were neighbours in the Wilmslow area.
If the player wants to leave and a big club puts a big offer on the table then he will go and we will be powerless to stop him.
Contracts are not worth the paper they are written on. The only thing about a contract is the longer it is the higher fee you can negotiate.
If Arteta wants to leave because he cant get in the Spanish team at Everton he will go make no bones about it, no matter how much we as fans want him to stay. Artetas best mate by the way is Gabriel Heinze they were neighbours in the Wilmslow area.
Harry Meek
4 Posted 16/10/2007 at 09:07:23
4 Posted 16/10/2007 at 09:07:23
Michael Newton is 100% correct.If any player wants to move then it’s fait accomplis these days.The biggest danger with any of our ’star’players is that we fail to maintain a place in Europe for next season or they fail to be impressed by the tactics the manager imposes on them.
If Miky,AJ and/or Lescott move on,I suspect it will be more to do with these factors than a failure to find money to keep them sweet.
If Miky,AJ and/or Lescott move on,I suspect it will be more to do with these factors than a failure to find money to keep them sweet.
Alex May
5 Posted 16/10/2007 at 09:29:18
5 Posted 16/10/2007 at 09:29:18
That would be so Everton wouldn’t it? Spend £11.5m on a workshy forward and recoup the money by selling our star player.
Probably the only way possible of making our football even worse.
Probably the only way possible of making our football even worse.
Stan Sheppard
6 Posted 16/10/2007 at 09:43:34
6 Posted 16/10/2007 at 09:43:34
We need to keep Arteta, end of story. However I wouldn’t read to much into tabloid gossip. We’re building a team at the moment not ripping it up.
What is worse for me, is to see a fellow Evertonian, Erik Dols, write that Mikel ’deserves a transfer to a top Spanish team’. Do you really mean that?
We picked him off the shit heap when no one, not even his beloved Sociedad, wanted to know too much about him. Meanwhile he has improved and flourished and been rewarded with a well paid long term contract. So rather than talking about the best interests of Arteta, perhaps you should consider the best interests of your club.
What is worse for me, is to see a fellow Evertonian, Erik Dols, write that Mikel ’deserves a transfer to a top Spanish team’. Do you really mean that?
We picked him off the shit heap when no one, not even his beloved Sociedad, wanted to know too much about him. Meanwhile he has improved and flourished and been rewarded with a well paid long term contract. So rather than talking about the best interests of Arteta, perhaps you should consider the best interests of your club.
Harry Meek
7 Posted 16/10/2007 at 10:04:50
7 Posted 16/10/2007 at 10:04:50
Amen to that,Stan.But it happened with Barmby,didn’t it?
Winston Zeddmore
8 Posted 16/10/2007 at 10:26:14
8 Posted 16/10/2007 at 10:26:14
If arteta leaves goodison it could well be "curtains" for us i feel. Its good that Real Madrid are interested but during the last three years they seem to be buying anything on two legs that can kick a ball two yards. And with regards to a possible 12 million move to west london surely if they are paying 3 times that for players that seem to do next to nothing then im sure mikel feels a bit under valued. I just hope in the worst case scenario that he dosent end up at anfield or old trafford. that surely cant happen can it. Maybe if the valuation was around 25 million then a sale could be deemed viable. But arteta is only one of two or three genuine stars we have at the club. It was well documented that Rooney was not for sale at any price but lo and behold he quickly departed. No player is safe and if he goes then so be it but it will be two steps backwards.
dave t
9 Posted 16/10/2007 at 10:36:17
9 Posted 16/10/2007 at 10:36:17
arteta has showed loyalty
he signed a contract with us when there was interest from other clubs
if we don’t qualify for europe this season then we don’t deserve to keep him
loyalty can only go so far, then he’ll have to start thinking about his own career.
i think if we don’t qualify and we don’t buy someone who can help him in midfield in jan then he’s off in the summer
he signed a contract with us when there was interest from other clubs
if we don’t qualify for europe this season then we don’t deserve to keep him
loyalty can only go so far, then he’ll have to start thinking about his own career.
i think if we don’t qualify and we don’t buy someone who can help him in midfield in jan then he’s off in the summer
Steve L
10 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:02:42
10 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:02:42
It’s the same as last season. As soon as Everton look like some progress is being made some hack decides to make up stories to try and unsettle players. Suggests to me that they are scared Everton might spool their favourites parties.
No coincidence that this is in the Derby week is it?
No coincidence that this is in the Derby week is it?
Nick Wall
11 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:07:35
11 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:07:35
BBC attributed this story to the People, so I wouldn’t take it very seriously unless there are other sources for it. There’s no evidence that Arteta is interested in moving on.
Michael Newton
12 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:06:04
12 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:06:04
Last season we had speculation about Lescott going to Madrid and Arteta going to Spain.
Now the Arteta stories resurface, we are half way between transfer windows, the hacks now make all sorts of things up between now and January.
AJ rumours are strong perhaps there is some truth to his so called homesickness, I would play in Timbuctoo for the sort of money they get these days.
However we must always remember there is no loyalty in football anymore. Even once a Blue always a Blue Rooney left as soon as a bid came in for him.
Though Moyes always states the January window is not a good time to buy, he must on this occasion IN MY OPINION bring in 2 midfield schemers, one central and one wide(left preferably) and a centre back. The hacks linked us with 2 foreign centre backs on Sunday I wouldn’t be surprised if one comes in for January with the African Cup and impending retirement of Stubbs.
We have got the strikers we will have Vaughan fit by then touch wood, what we now need is players to fire the ammunition, I dont think Tommy G is a long term solution and as it is proved by the injuries we have had, we need to have depth in this area also.
Now the Arteta stories resurface, we are half way between transfer windows, the hacks now make all sorts of things up between now and January.
AJ rumours are strong perhaps there is some truth to his so called homesickness, I would play in Timbuctoo for the sort of money they get these days.
However we must always remember there is no loyalty in football anymore. Even once a Blue always a Blue Rooney left as soon as a bid came in for him.
Though Moyes always states the January window is not a good time to buy, he must on this occasion IN MY OPINION bring in 2 midfield schemers, one central and one wide(left preferably) and a centre back. The hacks linked us with 2 foreign centre backs on Sunday I wouldn’t be surprised if one comes in for January with the African Cup and impending retirement of Stubbs.
We have got the strikers we will have Vaughan fit by then touch wood, what we now need is players to fire the ammunition, I dont think Tommy G is a long term solution and as it is proved by the injuries we have had, we need to have depth in this area also.
Andy Lea
13 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:05:19
13 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:05:19
H Meek - Barmby was an overrated sh*thouse who had half a season of good form before we cashed in on him. Personally saw it as good business as I did with Graveson who again half a season of good form and off he went.
I would hate to see Arteta go - he is loved at Everton and I think he gets that! End of last season on the lap of honour Moyes made a point of raising Artetas arm and the crowd responded - to quote Moyes this is Mikels Everton and so unless the bid is ludicrously large and Mikel says he wants to go (think both of those need to happen) then I can see our Spanish magician staying put! Well I hope so anyways
I would hate to see Arteta go - he is loved at Everton and I think he gets that! End of last season on the lap of honour Moyes made a point of raising Artetas arm and the crowd responded - to quote Moyes this is Mikels Everton and so unless the bid is ludicrously large and Mikel says he wants to go (think both of those need to happen) then I can see our Spanish magician staying put! Well I hope so anyways
Martin Wallace
14 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:12:26
14 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:12:26
The ’evidence’ I think is in the fact that we’re even discussing this.
If Everton don’t start playing more attractive footie and/or returning more consistent results, then he’d have to think ’what am I doing here?’
It’s ok being the ’star man’ but only a total wanker would take solice in such vanity when those around you can hardly pass the ball. Besides it just adds to the pressure on his game - everybody else waiting for him to produce something.
If Everton don’t start playing more attractive footie and/or returning more consistent results, then he’d have to think ’what am I doing here?’
It’s ok being the ’star man’ but only a total wanker would take solice in such vanity when those around you can hardly pass the ball. Besides it just adds to the pressure on his game - everybody else waiting for him to produce something.
jayharris
15 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:35:25
15 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:35:25
The worrying thing is its apparently his agent who is talking it up and we all know what greedy bastards they are.
Add to that he seemed to become very disillusioned over the Fernades affair and I can only see one outcome.Every player wants to play with better players so I personally wouldnt blame him.We had all summer to get the squad sorted and failed yet again to build on what we had.
Add to that he seemed to become very disillusioned over the Fernades affair and I can only see one outcome.Every player wants to play with better players so I personally wouldnt blame him.We had all summer to get the squad sorted and failed yet again to build on what we had.
Karl Masters
16 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:49:18
16 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:49:18
It’’s International week, we’re bored so let’s all get hysterical about our worst nightmares!!
A few facts here: He’s just signed a 5 year deal so EFC can name their price should he suddenly decide he wants to go.
He’s never lived next door to Gabriel Heinze in Wilmslow, Michael Newton. He lives next door to Xabi Alonso near Southport! So you can forget that bit of nonsense.
He may be one of our best players, but so far this season, bar the Spurs game and the assist for Pienaar vs Boro we’ve not seen anything like his best play. I think he’ll be concentrating in improving his form, rather than demanding a move.
If EFC contine to improve, he’ll stay. We haven’t had anything like our best eleven available yet so we’ll have to wait and see what happens and stop worrying about tabloid fantasies.
A few facts here: He’s just signed a 5 year deal so EFC can name their price should he suddenly decide he wants to go.
He’s never lived next door to Gabriel Heinze in Wilmslow, Michael Newton. He lives next door to Xabi Alonso near Southport! So you can forget that bit of nonsense.
He may be one of our best players, but so far this season, bar the Spurs game and the assist for Pienaar vs Boro we’ve not seen anything like his best play. I think he’ll be concentrating in improving his form, rather than demanding a move.
If EFC contine to improve, he’ll stay. We haven’t had anything like our best eleven available yet so we’ll have to wait and see what happens and stop worrying about tabloid fantasies.
Allan Hobbs
17 Posted 16/10/2007 at 12:00:58
17 Posted 16/10/2007 at 12:00:58
Valencia are not thieves, they paid the money, that makes them buyers not thieves. How very blinkered. Football is business and the fact he signed a new contract doesn’t mean shit - he could leave in January, he could leave next summer, we and Everton are powerless to stop him. He’s been here a while and I wouldn’t begrudge the guy a move to a bigger club. He will leave one day, and in the not too distant future I’d say. maybe one more season here would be nice but to slate other clubs purely because they’ve bought players we didn’t is simply childish.
Arteta is our best midfielder, fact, but he has International aspirations and if that means playing in Spain gets him noticed then fair-play to him. Agents have a large part to play these days; they help engineer moves for their clients and earn good money out of it. Thats reality, its not underhand, its just a fact of life, deal with it - everyone else is in the same boat. Freedom of movement has to apply to football as it does any other profession. Are you telling me that if you were headhunted by another company offering better chances of success, career advancement and more money you wouldn’t go purely based on loyalty? No, I thought as much.
Arteta is our best midfielder, fact, but he has International aspirations and if that means playing in Spain gets him noticed then fair-play to him. Agents have a large part to play these days; they help engineer moves for their clients and earn good money out of it. Thats reality, its not underhand, its just a fact of life, deal with it - everyone else is in the same boat. Freedom of movement has to apply to football as it does any other profession. Are you telling me that if you were headhunted by another company offering better chances of success, career advancement and more money you wouldn’t go purely based on loyalty? No, I thought as much.
Nick Entwistle
18 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:55:36
18 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:55:36
The most important player to any club in the Premiership bar none.
Also, the best ball playing midfielder. Though the Arse could argue Fabregas.
£25m player, with a hot missus to boot!
Also, the best ball playing midfielder. Though the Arse could argue Fabregas.
£25m player, with a hot missus to boot!
Peter Venkman
19 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:50:45
19 Posted 16/10/2007 at 11:50:45
Cant somebody come in and make an offer for hibbert, neville and yakubu. Not real madrid maybe, but more like scunthorpe. Why is neville constantly made captain? What does moyes see in him? He is as much a leader for this team as frank spencer was to the green berets. of course davie boy has apparently made a boo-boo with the yakubu purchase but its too late to cry over spilt milk. Its imperative that we can do well this season so mikel may be persauded to stay on . even a league cup final day out at wembley would mean something to the spaniard. lets just hope everything resolves itself for the good of the club.
David Marsden
20 Posted 16/10/2007 at 12:30:45
20 Posted 16/10/2007 at 12:30:45
What a load of tosh!!
anto doran
21 Posted 16/10/2007 at 12:29:20
21 Posted 16/10/2007 at 12:29:20
id be more worried about Arteta moving to another premiership club than back to Spain. Premiership is the league to play in and in order to keep Arteta happy at Everton we simply need more players to compliment him. 11 mil on the Yak was a waste when we clearly needed to add quality in midfield alongside Arteta&Cahill.
Aiyegbeni Yakubu
22 Posted 16/10/2007 at 12:41:02
22 Posted 16/10/2007 at 12:41:02
How dare you! I will score goals!
Michael Newton
23 Posted 16/10/2007 at 13:07:19
23 Posted 16/10/2007 at 13:07:19
I didnt say Karl Masters he lived next door to Heinze i said he lived near him. He no longer lives near Alonso he moved to the Wilmslow area and he can be seen eating in Heddys Restaurant in the main street of Wilmslow at least once a week, with usually Heinze with him till he did a runner.
I was once in there at the same time and they both autographed my bill, unfortunately they never paid it.
Heddy himself the restaurant owner will verify that telephone 01625 526855
I was once in there at the same time and they both autographed my bill, unfortunately they never paid it.
Heddy himself the restaurant owner will verify that telephone 01625 526855
Andy Ellams
24 Posted 16/10/2007 at 13:07:05
24 Posted 16/10/2007 at 13:07:05
Only somebody who knows the player can tell you how near to the mark this is. Some of the clubs mentioned may be paper talk but if he wants to go then sadly it will probablt be adios. And if some of the bigger clubs sense he wants out then that will drive the price down too.
Gavin Harris
25 Posted 16/10/2007 at 13:13:45
25 Posted 16/10/2007 at 13:13:45
Clifford mate, coming to OZ in dec for a year and wondered how easy it to watch efc on tv...
Are we on TV regular or is there a TV programme that shows the goals?
Are we on TV regular or is there a TV programme that shows the goals?
Tony Williams
26 Posted 16/10/2007 at 13:18:06
26 Posted 16/10/2007 at 13:18:06
Just a couple of observations.
Fook me, it only took two posts before Moyes was being semi-slagged off.
This is simply lazt journalism, they are bored so they make up stories and use the old "a close source" shite.
Arteta has been here a while??? He has been here for two and a half seasons.
We are discussing it so there’s the evidence. I would like to discuss that fact that Stevie Me is a no foreheaded paedo, it don’t make it true.
It would be disasterous if we lose him but not the end of the world, as we would get some wedge for him and then be able to try and negotiate a player who is a) as good or perhaps b) even better. I doubt it but you never know.
Why are we slagging of the Yak after about 8 games. He has started, what 5 and scored 2 not that bad a return in my eyes, however we all knew that he is a lazy sod but he knows where the goal is when you pass the ball to him not hoof it up to him with his back facing goal 30 yards out.
Feed the Yak and he will score
Fook me, it only took two posts before Moyes was being semi-slagged off.
This is simply lazt journalism, they are bored so they make up stories and use the old "a close source" shite.
Arteta has been here a while??? He has been here for two and a half seasons.
We are discussing it so there’s the evidence. I would like to discuss that fact that Stevie Me is a no foreheaded paedo, it don’t make it true.
It would be disasterous if we lose him but not the end of the world, as we would get some wedge for him and then be able to try and negotiate a player who is a) as good or perhaps b) even better. I doubt it but you never know.
Why are we slagging of the Yak after about 8 games. He has started, what 5 and scored 2 not that bad a return in my eyes, however we all knew that he is a lazy sod but he knows where the goal is when you pass the ball to him not hoof it up to him with his back facing goal 30 yards out.
Feed the Yak and he will score
Paul Okell
27 Posted 16/10/2007 at 13:36:41
27 Posted 16/10/2007 at 13:36:41
Lets not fool ourselves when the big boys come in for our better players they will leave. More cash, higher standard of football, more fame, Champions League.
No one in their right mind would stay at Everton if Real Madrid or Barcelona came in for you or for that fact Man Utd or Chelsea.
Why should they want to stay when they see the shambolic way the club is run by the Board of Directors and Executive Management and play in a dated stadium with the new ground in one of the 10 worst places in the country according to yesterdays poll.
Blue Bill has no intention of letting anyone buy into the club, he will never let go of the reins. I am not Moyes greatest fan but I do think he has to work within enormous restraints placed on him by the people who own this club.
No one in their right mind would stay at Everton if Real Madrid or Barcelona came in for you or for that fact Man Utd or Chelsea.
Why should they want to stay when they see the shambolic way the club is run by the Board of Directors and Executive Management and play in a dated stadium with the new ground in one of the 10 worst places in the country according to yesterdays poll.
Blue Bill has no intention of letting anyone buy into the club, he will never let go of the reins. I am not Moyes greatest fan but I do think he has to work within enormous restraints placed on him by the people who own this club.
Bob Parrington
28 Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:04:57
28 Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:04:57
It’s interesting this rumour started out of Melbourne. I live in and work around Australia and haven’t heard anything new on this subject. Why would the club consider $12m anywhere near enough for Arteta when we paid about the same for Yakubu. Mikel has to be worth at least double that on current prices. Best keep him, anyway. We’ll get nowhere if we keep letting our special players go!
Andy Mckenzie
29 Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:11:44
29 Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:11:44
Paul your spot on, if real madrid put a bid in for arteta do people actually think he’s gonna stay?no chance, the fact that he’s stated he wants to play for the national side and it does not look like he’s gonna get it playing for us suggests its only a matter of time before he leaves, the only thing that worrys me is the price on arteta’s head, sell him for anything less than £15m would be a joke, but no doubt bk will say we won’t sell him for anything less than £20m and then sell him for £10m, i truly hope these rumours are bullshit but as the saying goes there’s no smoke without fire.
mark-chester
30 Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:06:43
30 Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:06:43
Arteta is a class act and we all love him at everton, but as a few people have pointed out, if we get an offer from a very very big club R madrid, manure or barca then you cannot blame him if he went, he has his career to consider and to be fair if we fail to get far in the uefa or domestic cups and fail to finish in a european spot in the league, which could very well be the case unless we get our act together then i would put a large sum of money on him leaving at the end of the season, it would be very very sad but i would not blame him, after some of the shite we have been playing, hey I do not want to seem negative and i really hope we turn things around (by the way the next 3-5 games are massive to us this season) but if we don’t and it is another yo-yo season then good luck to him.
clifford zammit
31 Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:08:20
31 Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:08:20
hi Gavin Harris, many pubs and casinos televise live games down under, foxtell provides a muliple choice of 4 live games at one time, just make your choice with a remote control or simply ask the staff at our pubs and casino’s, they never give me a problem because theres nothing on pay or free tv at those early ours of the morning or that late in australia since the afl aussie rules season is over, and all the premier league fans bunch up with a few beers.we are looking foward for a boys nightout to watch the derby this saturday night out in the town at 9.30 pm.
Arthur jones
32 Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:20:30
32 Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:20:30
Mikel has only just signed a 5 year contract , I presume that he signed that with the intention of staying at Everton for at least a coulpe of years . I do not know Mikel personaly but he comes across as an honest loyal person , he could have doubled his wages at West Ham last close season but chose to stay with the Blues . There must be something about the club that he likes , Maybe he’s been truly bitten by "the Bug " An Evertonian for life , he certainly comes across that way in his interviews . The only way I can see him leaving us is if Real/Barcelona , make us an unbelievable cash offer for him and a massive wage incentive for him . An offer neither party could refuse . But as far as west ham spurs or even chelski are concerned , no chance , and £12m ha ha , Absolutely no chance
Gavin Harris
33 Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:45:10
33 Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:45:10
Thanks clifford, i am heading to Sydney for the first 3 months or so so I’ll be looking out for some places to go when I arrive.
Typically what time do you guys have to watch the games? Do you get re-runs so you dont have to stay up until the early hours.
Typically what time do you guys have to watch the games? Do you get re-runs so you dont have to stay up until the early hours.
Matt Higgins
34 Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:54:21
34 Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:54:21
If Arteta’s main concern is not getting into the Spanish national team, this could all work itself out quite nicely.
Once Spain does its customary imploding act at Euro 2008, Aragones will (finally) get canned, hopefully being replaced by someone whose head isn’t firmly wedged in his nether regions. Arteta stays at Everton, plays for Spain and there’s one less Screaming Mimi on the international stage ... happiness all around!
Once Spain does its customary imploding act at Euro 2008, Aragones will (finally) get canned, hopefully being replaced by someone whose head isn’t firmly wedged in his nether regions. Arteta stays at Everton, plays for Spain and there’s one less Screaming Mimi on the international stage ... happiness all around!
Clifford Zammit
35 Posted 16/10/2007 at 15:11:43
35 Posted 16/10/2007 at 15:11:43
hi gav, fox 1 or 2 televise live the early games begining at around 9.30pm saturday night, and the majority which become a multiple choice of 4 games begin around 11.55pm which you can pick or swap over this time period, and the late game is around 1.55am, then theres an early game the following day on sunday around 10.45 or 11.45 depending on our daylight saving summer period. Then you can watch all the matches replays and goal highlights plus round ups and news of upcoming games of the weeks football on monday night. Many hotels you may stay at on holidays, suburban households and pubs / taverns suscribe to watch fox sports. Its very popular to get a crowds at night at the local pubs and clubs on a saturday night. Im sure you will still be close to your blue boys even at the lower end of the world.
Ed Casey
36 Posted 16/10/2007 at 15:33:20
36 Posted 16/10/2007 at 15:33:20
Don’t like this story - but you have to think its the press up to their usual mischief! It makes me sick that as soon as a quality player emerges in a team other than RS, MU, Arse or Chelski then he will be constantly linked with ’top’ clubs! My major concern is that Arteta has a well publicised desire to play for Spain and that doesn’t look like it will happen whilst hes at Everton no matter how brilliant he is - very short sighted by Aragones IMO. I think the decision will be made for Arterta in May and will come down to how we finish in the league, cups, etc. He is an ambitious player and will want to move on if we are not challenging for honours, as he has said in the past. Unfortunately, there will be no sentimentality clouding his judgement on what he decides to do - if Wayne ’Once a blue always a blue’ Rooney can leave in the fashion he did then so can anyone else. I sincerely hope that he doesn’t go and hope he at least honours his current contract (if not sign a new one) but if he does go then my only hope is that the board of clowns drive a seriously hard bargain for him and get what he is quite obviously worth. £12m would be an insult to us all and I think a lot of people would follow him out of the door as it would say a lot about our ambition. Finally, if he does leave I’m not sure where he would go to insure his own success - surely he can see that players that leave for Madrid or Chelski can get swallowed up and never truly break into the first teams. I don’t know but I hope he is still a blue this time next year and the year after that - if not anything less than £25m in our bank account will be daylight robbery!
p.s. as this story unfolds don’t rule out speculation linking him with the RS - we all know how Benethus loves a Spaniard!
p.s. as this story unfolds don’t rule out speculation linking him with the RS - we all know how Benethus loves a Spaniard!
Jason Broome
37 Posted 16/10/2007 at 16:25:35
37 Posted 16/10/2007 at 16:25:35
If David Moyes wanted to become the most hated man on Merseyside he would succomb to the sale of Arteta for £12M!
Bar Fabregas and Ronaldo, Arteta is the best midfielder, in possibly the hardest league in the world.
If anything this rumour could be good news for the following reasons...
1. Everton and Arteta must be doing something right to attract this much publicity, so far from the transfer window.
2. David Moyes will be on his toes to strenghen the squad so his top stars remain happy.
3. Again Moyes will be under pressure to ensure the team plays in a way respectful of Arteta’s ambitions.
4. Relunctantly, the more teams that chase Arteta, the higher his value.
In my view Arteta’s going nowhere... but if he does, they are going to have to break the bank to get him!
Bar Fabregas and Ronaldo, Arteta is the best midfielder, in possibly the hardest league in the world.
If anything this rumour could be good news for the following reasons...
1. Everton and Arteta must be doing something right to attract this much publicity, so far from the transfer window.
2. David Moyes will be on his toes to strenghen the squad so his top stars remain happy.
3. Again Moyes will be under pressure to ensure the team plays in a way respectful of Arteta’s ambitions.
4. Relunctantly, the more teams that chase Arteta, the higher his value.
In my view Arteta’s going nowhere... but if he does, they are going to have to break the bank to get him!
Danny Beats
38 Posted 16/10/2007 at 17:01:24
38 Posted 16/10/2007 at 17:01:24
Sorry to change tack back to the Yak but Tony Williams is spot on in saying that we are judging the Yak too early. Plus we are judging him in his workrate, which is not what we (ie david Moyes) bought him for. He’s never been a link-up player, or a hold-up man, he’s a barrel chested striker who needs service in front of him. If he gets that he will score a lot of goals (and miss a load of sitters as well probably). That’s where players like Arteta come in: quality players make the space and provide the service that leads to goals. Its more players like Arteta we need, and especially in the middle. Arteta might even be the answer in the middle but then we need a real winger who can deliver into the box.
Andy Mckenzie
39 Posted 16/10/2007 at 17:19:03
39 Posted 16/10/2007 at 17:19:03
the time to judge yakubu is at the end of the season and what his goal record is at the end of it in my opinion.
Jonathan Bradley
40 Posted 16/10/2007 at 21:25:06
40 Posted 16/10/2007 at 21:25:06
As much as this might sound naive, lets not forget that Arteta was pretty much a journeyman who hadnt fulfilled his early promise when he came to us - we have been the making of him, and he should be grateful for the chance to resurrect his career.
© ToffeeWeb
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
1 Posted 16/10/2007 at 07:14:11
And I know how important Arteta is for us, but to claim Arteta alone is the difference between winning and losing shows big disrespect for the other guys and is a big overstatement.
Hey, we could even swap him for Fernandes ;-).