ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Who`ll be gone in January?

Whilst recent `red top`speculation has focussed on the possible departures of AJ and Arteta, I cannot see any way that Moyes would allow either to depart in January. Much more likely is that we shall be saying farewell to a number of fringe players whose value will quickly diminish after the next window.

Carsley`s name always comes up as likely to go and whilst I still consider him to be the best defensive midfielder on the books, Moyes, in his wisdom, now seems to prefer both Neville and Jagielka in that role. I understand that Championship clubs, Barnsley and Sheffield Wed, will go all out to sign Da Silva and Turner respectively whilst Nuno Valente is likely to return to Portugal.

Of the others, I can see only the ill-fated Van der Meyde as likely to be dispensible although it may well be thought that youngsters such as Boyle, Vidarsson and Kearney have not shown enough progress and should be capitalised on asap. It`s unlikely that all these non first-teamers will go at once but I shall be surprised if the culling doesn`t start soon.
Harry Meek, Worcester Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:02:09

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Michael Kenrick

I'll be very surprised if anything starts "soon"... considering there are still TWO AND A HALF MONTHS before the January transfer window opens!!! If I had my way, all talk of transfers would be banned from 1 September to 15 December ... or later!

Shaun Brennan
1 Posted 16/10/2007 at 15:25:49

I agree Michael. But the lenght of time it takes Everton to sort out signing a player or portraying the fact. i.e. Fernandes. If the board where trying to be proactive. they’d start negotiaions now that should just about cover us till the end of the transfer window and it’s final minutes.

Shaun Brennan
2 Posted 16/10/2007 at 15:30:46

Sorry forgot.

Juan Pablo Riquelme is not commign either.

Ray
3 Posted 16/10/2007 at 15:55:03

We would be crazy to even think about letting AJ go.. People talk about Jermaine Defoe replacing him in a possible swap deal but Im not convinced by this one..In a team that plays to his strengths Johnson would score just as many goals as Defoe and I couldnt see Defoe being all that prolific in Evertons team. We cant let any strikers leave in January.. As for Arteta well Im becoming concerned if not surprised by the standard of clubs being linked with him. We all know he wouldnt look out of place playing in some of Europes best sides and it does look that sooner or later one of the big boys will make a bid for him and the worrying thing is that Arteta will one day need to be recognised playing at the biggest stage to play for his country and that stage will be the Champions League. Will that be with Everton? I would have to be a realist and say no.

Brian Waring
4 Posted 16/10/2007 at 16:07:22

If Moyes cannot gaurantee McFadden plenty of first team action,I reckon one of the old firm will bag him in Jan.

Michael Newton
5 Posted 16/10/2007 at 16:18:49

Arteta’s agent: "No-one from Real Madrid has come to us. But it is normal that a great club is interested in Arteta because he is doing very well"

Now I might not speak the Queen’s English but to me that sounds like Real Madrid has not even made an enquiry for Arteta.
So how can newspapers spread rumours that they are in for him when the statement clearly says they are not.
It is also 100% certain that Arteta’s agent has made a down payment on a villa in Marbella and needs his commission on the sale of him to complete the purchase as he has been for nearly a year now trying to manufacture interest and a move. Is he related to Stretford.

Andy Mac
6 Posted 16/10/2007 at 17:00:05

Lescott... is a worry, there are bound to be offers on the table for him come January and that worries me more than Arteta right now. He’s a solid, ever improving defender with a goalscoring knack as we all know, if he scores tomorrow for Ingerland as I have a feeling he’s going to, you can bet we won’t hang on to him for long.

Simon Reason
7 Posted 16/10/2007 at 17:08:42

Arteta will be cup-tied for European games this season so it is unlikely a big side will spend big bucks for him in January

Tony Williams
8 Posted 16/10/2007 at 17:12:53

I am with Michael on this one and hope he has the power to delete these transfer window posts.

The season has only be going a month and a bit and we have already started the Football Manager posts already.

Concentrate on the footy of the now and worry about the Jan window at the end of December

Mick Mc
9 Posted 16/10/2007 at 18:23:47

Just been on sky sports Real Madrid want to sign Arteta next season, and its a nap Lescott will be tapped up by all them big time Charlie England players.

Richard Dodd
10 Posted 16/10/2007 at 18:33:58

Like all Evertonians , I shall cry in my beer if Miky goes to Real Madrid but if he does, it will be for big money and what a tribute to David Moyes that yet again he has turned a very ordinary player into a super star!

Trevor Manton
11 Posted 16/10/2007 at 19:11:07

If Real Madrid really do come in for Arteta,there isn’t the slightest doubt we shall lose him.No Evertonian alive wouldn’t change their support to the RS for £90K a week-for Christ’s sake,I don’t earn that over four years!

glen strachan
12 Posted 16/10/2007 at 19:24:08

Interesting comment about Arteta , Mr Dodd.

I suppose you are unaware of the part that Arteta played in Rangers’ Championship win when he was there.

Was his part in the very match that clinched the title ordinary ?...............tripe sir !

Remind me Mr Dodd , exactly what has Mikel won in all of his time with Mr Moyes ?

Cups , Titles.....even Spanish caps ?

Let’s be clear about one thing .........nobody at Everton has won anything under David.............and since his days at Celtic as a youth , David Moyes has never won anything , anywhere !

Peter Pridgeon
13 Posted 16/10/2007 at 18:53:41

Lets suspend reality for a moment and say that Mikeys agent is an honest Joe, with the internationals being played at the moment and the well publicised desire of Mikey to play for Spain. Senior agent is therefore doing his job by putting Mikeys name in the headlines and showing the Spanish manager that Mikey has admirers at the highest level in Spain, as well as England.
I did start by saying suspend reality.

Ray
14 Posted 16/10/2007 at 20:23:17

Come on David Moyes did not make Arteta a great player. Arteta learnt his trade at Barcelona for goodness sake and as soon as he came to Everton you could see he had great talent but just needed time to adjust to the Prem.. Ordinary player? Really some people no very little about the game do they? Moyes did not hand Arteta the talent and creativity that he is blessed with

Keith Glazzard
15 Posted 16/10/2007 at 20:03:24

I spend about half of the year here in Spain - nowhere near the Essex folk, I can assure you - and my Spanish mates here have started talking about Arteta as the next big thing, true. But the clubs here all knew about him many years ago. EFC extended the contract and results/position will decide how he looks at the situation.

In the end, if a player says he wants to go - Wayne’s world is a prime example - a club can’t keep him. Some scoff at the paltry millions the fat boy brought. If Mikel says to David "Me voy" - there’s fuck all we can do about it. But at least the millions will roll in.

And Joleon in the England den. Thank heavens club capt Phil is there with him. He will be ’tapped up’ by many a pro saying come to our club. But at least he will have a wise voice at his side saying, hang on a minute.

And how much is Faddy worth on world markets right now?

God, I wish I was in David Moyes place - or perhaps I’d like to get off to a good night’s sleep instead.

nathan snell
16 Posted 16/10/2007 at 20:42:20

Trevor maybe onto something there...

Ok natural talent is what it is - natural....but if DM didn’t invest a very small % of what he is worth now what would you call that?

Good management, and that in my eyes is good business, so well done DM!

To throw the cat amongst the pigeons I woud welcome a big money move for tiny Tim...think about it? What do we need more than anything at the moment, and how could we afford him with out realsiing future potential?

Barry Lightfoot
17 Posted 16/10/2007 at 21:20:54

I see Doddy’s been on the Mescaline again.

So while Moysey was turning the ordinary Arteta into a superstar he was it seems having the opposite effect on Beattie, AJ and Yakubu. He’s an alchemist in reverse he turns gold into lead.

Roy coyne
18 Posted 16/10/2007 at 22:42:47

Doddy get your head down average player my arse,Arteta has proved his ability despite Moyes not because of him

David Pilling
19 Posted 16/10/2007 at 23:18:43

Personally I’d rather be debating who we should be signing. Please keep it realistic though guys

Peter pridgeon
20 Posted 17/10/2007 at 00:21:33

Some of you are just anti Moyes, what is it with this group of people, Moyes gets no credit for spotting a bargain in, Cahill, Arteta, Lescott and possibly Baines and Mc Fadden.
Failiures will always happen, all mangers have them as all of us do in our lives and jobs. Johnson has not been turned into Beattie and nor has Yakubu. Beatties failure at Everton was the fault of James Beattie not David Moyes or his tactics, Johnson was one of our best players last season and will be again when he returns and also returns to form. How can you judge Yakubu on the handful of games he has played. Yakubu is there to score goals against weak opposition
he is a knock in man as we all know and that is his job. Against the likes of Derby, Sunderland, Wigan and the rest of the lower half of the premiership he will shine wait and see.
In saying this I am aware that we are playing some shite football and Moyes needs to change this but we are in three cups and will challenge for a place in Europe this season so get of his back lads and lets see where we are in January February

Richard Parker
21 Posted 17/10/2007 at 07:13:48

I worked for 2 months in Madrid this summer and the fellas (Real Madrid fans) there were amazed when I said that Arteta was our best player.

They don’t rate him that highly, which is why he isn’t getting into the Spain squad.

Richard Parker
22 Posted 17/10/2007 at 07:19:21

OK - the Spanish in general don’t rate Arteta that highly..... It’s not the opinion of my colleagues that is stopping him being selected for Spain.

Time for another coffee..........

Ray
23 Posted 17/10/2007 at 09:51:17

OK I think it should also be a debate about who we are trying to sign aswell now and I would hope that Moyes would be having the same problem in his January plans.. Right who should we sign?.

Sharon Lord
24 Posted 17/10/2007 at 10:22:09

Have not read any of the above comments thus far but more than likely someone has said moyes out in january. not going to happen really is it. It does not like arteta will be leaving just yet. We will have to look closer next summer at developments. I sincerely hope we can keep hold of him for another few years but thats down to the player himself, the manager and the people upstairs. OK - just been having a glance up the pages in between the monotony of work and somwehere it said that moyes has never won nothing anywhere as a manager. Surely during his time at preston he would have won a manager of the month award at some stage. Does that not count as some sort of accolade?. But yes the fact of the matter is that he has had five years now and not a sniff of glory- even with walter we got to the odd quarter final although that is not saying much.

Amanda
25 Posted 17/10/2007 at 12:51:24

Hopefully the only exit will be Shandy Van. He has had so many comebacks and constantly proved to only be a shadow of his former self.

If DM can get a couple of quid for him and save the wages it will be a bonus.

I dont think Nuno will be allowed to leave- I reckon we will let him go at the end of our busy season. He has not been on form since the world cup. Withhis ageing legs and injury prone knees and ankles he should go to warmer climes to get his last years in!

Sharon Lord
26 Posted 17/10/2007 at 13:05:48

agree with that. van der meyde despite a fanfare of publicity has failed miserably to do anything of note. Sometimes you need to get rid of the dead wood in order to make your "business" better. In this case its the club. players like valente, pistone (is he still there) and hibbert dont really seem to me to serve a purpose rather than weigh the club down. Philip neville also despite all his credentials and united accolades just does not do it for me. i cannot question his commitment but i would lose no sleep if he were to depart anytime soon.

Michael Newton
27 Posted 17/10/2007 at 14:12:13

Pistone left on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Hibbert is the only out and out Right Back at the club, the other right backs are Moyes Jack of all Trades players Jagielka and Neville.
If you get rid of Hibbert you have to replace him with another right back because with the lack of depth and injuries in midfield and Moyes dependency on defensive minded midfield players you are going to be short on options. I havent seen Jagielka play at right back for us, Neville did well there against Sheff Wed but they were substandard opposition. Yobo has played there but is a fish out of water in that position.
Jagielka could be another Ian Snodin who didnt live up to expectation in midfield but was a revelation at right back.

steve jones
28 Posted 17/10/2007 at 15:32:42

When Arteta siged for Everton in Jan 05, he was struggling to get a game in a very poor Real Sociadad team struggling in the lower reaches of La Liga. However, before that, he held his own in a PSG midfield containing Ronaldinho & Jay Jay Okacha before commanding a muti million pound move to Rangers. If you include his youth career at Barcalona that’s 5 clubs for a player in his mid twenties. Could it just be a case that in Everton, Arteta has just found the right club for his career to flourish. A number of players have left to try and ’better’ their careers over the past decade but how many of them have actually reached greater heights once they left, both in terms of personal performance & winning honours? Okay Rooney is one example, Matterazzi is perhaps another. But then there is Hutchison, Barmby, Ball, Jeffers, Radzinski & Graveson. A succesful everton team challenging for honours is the best chance we have of seeing Atreta still pulling on a blue shirt when he he enters his prime in 2-3 years time.

rob jones
29 Posted 18/10/2007 at 13:05:32

so in other words sharon you want to get rid of our full backs! dont know if you noticed but full backs are kind of important