That has to be the biggest pile of turd I?ve read on any everton forum ever....seriously mate you?re round the twist with logic like that.

Sell AJ because we have two unproven teenagers (one injury-prone) and two kids to rely on.???

And a £15m midfielder??? - we have two already - Arteta and Cahill as well as ozzie and Pienaar to supply.

AJ is still our best striker for pace, movement and workrate.

Right now we have five strikers that are that seemingly close in ability (none yet proper world beaters - although a fit Vaughany *may* turn into one - and none really out of their depth against most Premiership sides). All likely to be valued at £4m+ and a couple of them on massive wages (McFadden’s probably aren’t bad either). In addition with have that boy Lukas in the wings with senior football experience and a few goals for us in friendlies/reserve games.

My guess is that one of the strikers must/should go in January, or at the very latest in Summer (probably depending on whether we are still in the UEFA/League Cup). The risk we run by stalling it until the summer is that one of the guys have their market value plummet dramatically through lack of playing time (likely coupled with something of a goal drought). Still, the Beattie case clearly shows that it’s possible to recoup a decent fee for a forward that has been out of sorts for some time.

The options are:

*McFadden: Because of his exploits for Scotland, coupled with a rising curve with us figures to command a quite nice fee, particularly with likely interest from the Old Firm. Could fetch upto £6-7m, I believe, which is good for a "fringe player", yet at the same time, we don’t really have a similar striker to McFadden and he can also occupy other positions, unlike the others.

*AJ. Broke through with a bang last season, and although his goals dried up somehow pretty early on, it’s widely regarded that his pace and movement gave us another dimension through out the entire season (and still, when he is playing). However, when he arrived, our main alternatives after Ferguson’s retirement were Beattie and McFadden. Shortly put; his mobility upfront what something of a revelation (if we overlook the (slightly similar? - and declining) impact Marcus Bent had for a 15 or 16 months). Now, we have some of that same pace and mobility in Vaughan, and to a lesser extent, Anichebe and Yakubu too. Being an England international and our top scorer last season, could still fetch upto £10m, but his transfer value is in some danger of plummeting badly if he continues to struggle increasingly for goals at Premiership level. Still, made quite an impact last season.

*Yakubu. Has just arrived on a massive fee, and already viewed in many quarters as a huge flop in the making. Still, in his first two months with us, he has scored in three away wins, and have been up against mammoth tasks in a couple of his Goodison starts so far, against the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool (10 v 11 for half the game). We could possibly cut our losses early on him in January at around £8-9m if the right buyer is out there, which is no guarantee at that price (although it seems as though a few wealthy clubs could get dragged into a relegation dogfight this season, but with one of them being Spurs with their gallery of star strikers and another being his former employees Boro that might not create any additional interest). However, he has scored a few goals and should probably be given at least a full season. "A problem" is that he is a similar striker to homegrown Vic who has come on leaps and bounds and has become a very viable option to him, at least until he’s firing on all cylinders.

*James Vaughan. The one I definitely can’t see going in January. We shouldn’t sell, and the buyers at the right price won’t be there in January given his injury record and limited experience/track record at Premier level so far. Is seemingly our complete strikers and could concievably be compared to all the other strikers on which qualities he brings to a strike force. Injury record a concern and perhaps a reason to keep the strike force big in numbers.

*Victor Anichebe. When we signed Yakubu back in late August, I felt that we were getting to many established senior strikers (all with a few PL goals, if not many, to their name) on our books, and my money was on Vic to leave in January to a top Championship/struggling PL side for a fee in the region of £3m. No way! Victor has been a revelation this season, and should not be allowed to leave for anything less than £6m - if that. I’d like to see both our young homegrown strikers around here for some time, to be honest.

The conclusion must be that right now, we have five strikers, all of whom would fetch a £6-12m transfer fee in the January window, in my opinion (or at least, none we should be selling for less than £6m). The question must be how much longer that will be the case.

Spurs have had four "super" strikers for some years now, and had to sell the very capable Kanoute to Spain for £4.5m (?) and was in my opinion lucky to fetch £6m for Mido (who didn’t score a single PL goal for Spurs last year unless I am mistaken).

So in my opinion, unless we both in the semi finals of the League Cup and the knock out stages of the UEFA Cup come January 1st, I think it’s time to be looking to offload one from Yakubu/McFadden/Johnson and invest money into the midfield instead.

Have to agree ,thats peanuts in the market now if we needed to replace AJ it would cost a lot more and besides we are in the process of building a squad not a first eleven

McFadden should go in january in my opinion. He is a bit of a luxury and while he may have a bit more flexibility up front, he dosent really provide the quality we need in those cover positions. Should fetch a tidy sum to supplement midfield purchasing. AJ will come good once he racks up a few goals and i know we havent seen all from the yak.
COYB!

Nobody should leave, more players should come in if anything. We still have some of the fernandez money availeble for a midfielder but its safer just to loan anyway. All our forwards offer somethig different and have thier own indidual qualities and strengths. The way things are vic and vaughn are still only young and silly as it sound vaughn is too committed in the challenge and will probably have an injury plagued career, i hope not, Faddy is versitile and can play in a number of possitions so that leaves AJ and the Yak. Only 3 are available now in 4 compititions so get used to more of 5 in midfield with cahil as second striker,

AJ is overrated garbage, if we can get our money back we should bite anyones hand off!! As the original poster says, strengthening midfield has to be our priority. In attack, when fit, Vaughan is now first choice pick IMO. With Yak, Victor and Faddy all able to provide good support/options, not to mention Cahill, AJ really is surplus to requitements in all honesty. Where we really lack is central midfield and this has to be the priority come January.

If Everton were to consider letting AJ go to West Ham it would have to be for a lot more than 9M. Who would 9M get as a replacement and how much difficulty would we have finding him if West Ham can’t. Ask 18M and maybe settle for 16M at the very least but let’s make sure the replacement is lined up first.

I do think we have enough strikers to let one go in January. My preference would be Mcfadden for £5-6 million, but I wouldnt cry into my cornflakes if AJ went for £9 million either.

IMHO, we already have 4 good strikers to rotate around those roles, anymore and its going to create disharmony and we might lose the ones we really want to keep: Vic and Vaughany.

Any proceeds from a sale shouldnt be used on another striker, but instead on buying pienaar...

Ian Tunny is right. We need more players, not less. And to let one of our best go just because he has had a bad run makes no sense at all. AJ terrifies defenders with his speed and cleverness. He is a match winner, which is just what we need for big matches, especially cup ties. Stay AJ, stay!

Ian Tunny is right. We need more players, not less. And to let one of our best go just because he has had a bad run makes no sense at all. AJ terrifies defenders with his speed and cleverness. He is a match winner, which is just what we need for big matches, especially cup ties. Stay AJ, stay!

I don’t think we should sell any of them. Nobody is a liability and everyone has a vital role to play. McFadden is quite the impact player; Anichebe will give you power and upward strength to hold on to the ball at opportune times; Vaughn is quick, strong and has a great eye for goal, and of course AJ will give everything he’s got. Jury is out on Yak but you can’t be serious about selling him after less than half-a-season; even Moyes is not daft.

you are right on the button,Paul.If the only way we can get in the playmaker we so desperately need is by selling AJ then it’s a no brainer. now he’s been sussed,his impact-and value-will continue to depreciate.

First of all AJ wants to sign a new contract. Therefore the tabloid rumour mongers will be shut up once and for all if he does.
The two rumours I read on Sunday were AJ to West Ham for cash plus Anton Ferdinand. I know we need another centre back to eventually replace Stubbs in the squad but I dont think Anton is consistent enough for me to be the right man. With AJ hopefully staying I cannot see Moyes buying Anton outright, I just hope his eventual signing for this position is not another Kroldrup.
The other rumour was Stewart Downing for 8m. A proven wide player, probably not as good as he thinks he is, but a useful addition to the squad.
I hope for next Saturday Carsley remains in midfield the team is unchanged with the right back either Jagielka or Neville.
I can see Moyes bringing Neville in at right back though I believe as we kept a clean sheet Jags should stay.
As for players leaving in Jan, obviously VDM and Valente will go either then or the end of the season, but I can see either Celtic or Rangers buying Faddy. If we can get 5 to 6 m for him it would be a good sell providing we buy someone with it of quality in midfield.

I would be more than happy for AJ to be sold if the money was going to be spent wisely. We could put that together with a portion of what was meant to for Fernandes and bring in Kevin Nolan and Shaun Wright-Phillips. The two of them in a midfield with Cahill, Arteta and Carsley supporting Yakubu or Vaughan playing as the lone striker would make a huge difference to Everton as an attacking force.

I?d also be happy to see AJ leave for £9m. We perform best playing the 4-4-1-1 formation, so in my opinion Yakubu, Mcfadden, Vic and Vaughan give enough quality and depth to squad up front

Those two penalty misses were woeful. On the opposite hand I really don?t want to see McFadden leave for Celtic or Rangers, at 24 in my opinion he has the potential to be world class.

I don?t really like discussing transfers in October, but I feel we need a CB to cover Stubbs imminent retirement as much as we need an extra midfielder.

wow
some people on this forum don’t watch everton play very often
johnson is irreplaceable. his movement, pace and desire cause havoc with defenders and cause them to make mistakes
with cahill and yakubu in the team that spells goals
he may not be prolific but he’s a very very very good striker
sell macfadden back to scotland and use the 6 mil we saved for fernandes and the 6mil we’d get for him and buy a midfield general to take carsleys place
carsley is excellent in nearly every game he plays but he is getting older and can’t carry on
i’d love a mascherano type defensive midfielder who could keep the ball and spot a pass
we’d be top four potential if we could get that kind of player

How fickle can one set of supporters be? I cant believe i’m reading this kinda shite just as the squad starts showing a bit of form and at a time where we’ll be playing games every weekend and midweek for a while to come, GET BEHIND THE SQUAD. How many goals did the TEAM score last year? How many of these came from having a lad up front who was willing to work his balls off to create space and chances for others with his pace and unselfishness. Sure strikers are rated on their goals and the lads confidence seems to be low but i believe he is more than willing to take one for the team. as such. We need more players to come in to bolster the squad not to be whinging bout who we should be getting rid of. Would i be wrong in suggesting that we still have one of the smallest squads in the league?? Especially with europe to conquer!!!!

Dave t and Rob Murphy, in my opinion you?re both too strong with your opinions and don?t give enough effort in attempting to understand others ? there are always two sides to an argument or opinion!

Dave t, you make good points but in response to some people on this forum don?t watch Everton play very often? you assume that everyone who regularly watches Everton will have the same opinion ? what rubbish!

Rob Murphy, you make many good points but I would like to point out that just as the squad starts to show some form, AJ isn?t fit. On AJ, he may have movement and pace but in my humble opinion I?ve seen little to suggest that he has the technical quality that won us the game so comfortably at Derby - £9m would be a good price for him and cash to use to strengthen the squad where we need it most.

Michael you say "AJ wants to sign a new contract,therefore the tabloid rumour mongers will be shut up once and for all if he does"Thing is Michael, it is these tabloid rumour mongers who are saying AJ wants to sign a new contract,no-one else.Do we just believe their rumours when it suits our arguement?

The real truth is that AJ is pissed offf at no longer being one of the top earners at the Club and has demanded a new contract on the basis that he could double his money at West Ham.
I think you can be pretty confident he’s on his way out at Everton as Moyes reverts to the 4-1-4-1 set up which has always brought him success.
Overall, AJ has been a disappointment here as but for the first few weeks of last season he has not looked like a natural goalscorer.His work-rate is fantastic but opposing managers soon sussed out that if you pushed him out wide, little came of his boundless enthusiasm.Additionally,all the fuss about his ’diving’totally undermined his confience in the box.
Sell at £10M !

Brian I take your point but I understand he gave an interview to the Daily Mail who quoted him. I know the Mail are rumour mongers themselves so maybe I will wait to hear him say it to the local media or the official website.

We should make up our minds on the kind of football we want. Linked up football, a la the Gunners requires the whole team to have a very good first touch. That particular skill is not in AJs repertoire and playing to his strengths really does demand a long ball game.
With or without AJ is the difference between a passing or hoofing game.

All our forwards and specifically AJ will see the benefits of actually having a proper midfield with cahil an grav back to giving propper service. AJ will have the impact of last season when back from injury with grav freeing up arteta and cahil distracting deffences.