The Mail Bag
Midfield Maladies
Comments (37)
The usual transfer window twaddle has started up but recent events make this January more critical than ever before.
I think these points have been touched in various different guises before but we now have a 1)suspended Arteta for the semi-final 2) Pienaar off to sunnier climes 3) Osman injured 4) Gravesen injured 5) Cahill injured.
It would seem that at this very critical juncture of the season, we have lost most of our midfielders and by next week will be left with Carsley as our only fit and functioning midfielder (not including Neville purposefully).
I know Davy is not particularly prone to moving fast in the transfer market, but here's hoping he pulls his finger out! But even if we do make a couple of signings, it is virtually impossible to make a midfield gel in a fortnight.
It also strikes me that the names we have been linked with in the press ? for what that is worth ? have not really been the Uefa cCp friendly choices that Davey discussed a few weeks ago. He made a pronouncement that we need more players with Euro experience, so it does seem unlikely that we would settle for those young lads from Plymouth or Barnsley.
This leads me to the conclusion that it is very likely that Manny might be on his way back, purely as he has that Euro experience and knows the team and the way they train... speculation I know, but things are getting desperate! It would be criminal if our great first half of the season were to slip away because of an injury crisis.
John Williams, Posted 02/01/2008 at 17:12:15
Comments
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1 Posted 02/01/2008 at 19:05:29
2 Posted 02/01/2008 at 18:59:50
Having lost the heart of the team, the rest of them carried on like it didn’t really matter. I think we’re in a crisis, but I’ll bet that Davey doesn’t, and that goes for the players too.
So I am looking forward to the next few weeks, on and off the field. I hope we all get something to scatch our heads about as the great Moyes jigsaw moves forward.
3 Posted 02/01/2008 at 19:31:24
4 Posted 02/01/2008 at 20:01:02
Secondly, I think the post by john is well wide of the mark, considering it is only the second day it has been open.
What I really didn’t like about your post is that you say:
"I know Davy is not particularly prone to moving fast in the transfer market, but here’s hoping he pulls his finger out! " and "It also strikes me that the names we have been linked with in the press ? for what that is worth ? have not really been the Uefa cCp friendly choices that Davey discussed a few weeks ago. He made a pronouncement that we need more players with Euro experience, so it does seem unlikely that we would settle for those young lads from Plymouth or Barnsley."
I bet with statements like that you were one of those fans earlier in the season screaming for us to sign the likes of Kieran Richardson, Jason Koumas, Dave Nugent, and our favorite son Mr Joey Barton.
Contrary to what you say, I completely trust Davey in the transfer market and he will make more good signings than bad ones, thats for sure.
Another thing, this Fernandes speculation is doing my head in. I loved him while he was here, and even more so when we went back for him, but he has got a lot of explaining to do should we move in for him. He turned his back on us, and for me that is very hard to forgive, he will have to be in some form for me to be turned back around again.
5 Posted 02/01/2008 at 21:03:52
6 Posted 02/01/2008 at 21:18:40
I hope though that we are doing some business with Valencia to sign Albelda for us with a nominal fee.
7 Posted 02/01/2008 at 21:32:26
8 Posted 02/01/2008 at 21:52:04
9 Posted 02/01/2008 at 22:03:04
10 Posted 02/01/2008 at 22:42:09
11 Posted 02/01/2008 at 22:48:03
We can buy Arshavin and get a interantional player and a player who wont go missing in the big games, plus 5 / 6 mill
12 Posted 02/01/2008 at 23:02:49
Did someone actully post that?
How would you like to be the Spanish Waiter after tonight? Now that?s a full blown crisis....dropping points to Wigan at home...YES!!!
Can somebody please name a Jan transfer that has actually panned out for ANYBODY the last couple of years?
13 Posted 02/01/2008 at 23:13:20
Its not quite as simple as Moyes "needs to get his finger out" despite what some of his more die-hard detractors might wish to portray.
14 Posted 02/01/2008 at 23:32:18
What definitely doesn’t happen is that he consults these pages for the opinions of the great unwashed regarding who he should be bringing in. So why do people write in, touting their own favourite would-be signings? What’s the point? Is anyone really interested in this form of Fantasy Football? It’s unreal!
Even droning on about a linked signing is a waste of time becasue 90% of them will never become Everton players.
No, I’d much rather wait to see who actually signs (if anyone) and then take a good look at who they are and what we think they can or can’t do for our team.
15 Posted 02/01/2008 at 23:56:40
16 Posted 03/01/2008 at 00:00:28
It would be a very dull Toffeeweb!
17 Posted 03/01/2008 at 01:26:50
Team selection discussions relate to a list of available players who are with the club, so that is realism, not fantasy. Same with all the other great discussion topics you list: tactics, substitutions etc ? all relate to the reality of the squad, game to game. Blathering on about players who are not at the club, and who may never come to the club, is pure fantasy.
Let’s Keep it Real!
18 Posted 03/01/2008 at 01:40:49
19 Posted 03/01/2008 at 02:09:08
Dont be surprised if we only get 2 on loan midfielders 'til the end of the season then see who is available,
20 Posted 03/01/2008 at 02:13:01
This kind of signing would make for a refreshing change and Arsenal trained too. Classy, cheap, midfielder which we’re going to be in desperate need of once the ACoN starts.
Thoughts anyone?
21 Posted 03/01/2008 at 02:34:51
Fernandes worked pretty well, now only if we hadn?t have sold him. Michael is right we should trust Moyes, but what isn?t fun about a little speculation?
22 Posted 03/01/2008 at 06:34:38
Are you having a laff?
23 Posted 03/01/2008 at 08:04:48
24 Posted 03/01/2008 at 08:29:22
A great player in the making, he came on loan to us and liked us, we liked him too, he didn?t owe us anything, we delayed the transfer and had no contract for him to sign despite all the spin. This was not Fernandes?s fault, he wanted to come to us we dithered as usual. I feel we missed the boat here.
More than likely we?ll end up with one player probably, Vogel for free. I hope the second half of the season does not dissapoint but, with the ANC comming up, we really will be stretched to our limits. I'm sure Moyes is well aware of this; let?s hope he doesn?t dither for too long as he usually does.
25 Posted 03/01/2008 at 09:25:18
First off to Paul Whitehouse, who the fuck are we....Fulham, Boro?? because its these clubs that sell thier best players we are over that period (thankfully) I cant believe I am reading an Evertonian who supposedly watches our games (in person/via tv or net) who is suggesting selling our best player, ARE YOU BARMY my friend?? Just because we now have more than one creative or attacking threat to relieve some of the burden does not take away from the fact that Mikel is one of the best players we have had at this club in 20 years!!!!
To second Ant Hill - Alan Wintle,
Are you having a laff?
I dont know if that is a comedy post, if so I apologise cos I didnt get it, but if not then fuck me, why not get Gemmill, Pembridge, Nyarko & Alexandersson back and reform the greatest midfield the 90s n-ever seen!!! ha ha
Whats next lads??
26 Posted 03/01/2008 at 11:36:05
Sissoko is quite possibly the worst Liverpool player in the squad. Even my red mates are embarrassed by him and they would love him to sign for us.
We need to go all out for someone proven in the prem of the quality of Bentley, Martin Petrov or Diaby from Arsenal. All top drawer.
27 Posted 03/01/2008 at 12:04:57
28 Posted 03/01/2008 at 12:11:04
29 Posted 03/01/2008 at 12:13:25
I also had a nightmare about Pienaar getting innjured in the AFCON!!
30 Posted 03/01/2008 at 12:27:36
Actually, I don’t even think he is our most saleable asset anymore. Joleon Lescott is. If I was Chelsea or Arsenal (or even the RS) I would be beating down our door to get a player who would then be their best defender. I don’t even want to talk about this possibility!
Sell McFadden, sell Neville, buy Fernandes and get Vogel. Save up our pennies until the end of the season to buy a wide player (Downing if his form merits it by then). Simple.
31 Posted 03/01/2008 at 13:25:44
32 Posted 03/01/2008 at 13:27:40
What i dont understand is why Arteta is so untouchable, he been average this season and its more than evident we dont
have any money to do any serious business in the jan window. Hence Gosling been bought with future season ticket money and apparently he?s a midfielder but Moyes wants to play him at right back!!
Even if we get Vogel its like driving a Skoda when what we need is a midfied ferrai
33 Posted 03/01/2008 at 16:32:31
But you are right, Michael, I am playing Fantasy Football Manager!
34 Posted 03/01/2008 at 17:07:27
It isn’t a question of fantasy versus reality. Its all just a very broad spectrum of fantasy, some of which you may choose to indulge and some you won’t.
35 Posted 03/01/2008 at 20:34:31
Fantasizing about what players we might sign is on a totally different plane and really has no merit because it has no basis in reality. Wait until they sign. Then talk about them. Then ist enters the realm of reality. Keep it Real!
36 Posted 03/01/2008 at 23:36:41
My point is simple. I am a big Everton fan but not so much a big football fan. In other words I don’t know that much (apart from the obvious) about players other than Everton players. But if we have fans who feel they have a knowledge of players in the premiership who could do a job for us, then why not let them debate it, even if it won’t influence Moyes in any shape form, or fashion.
And another thing- awh fuck I’m on a roll here- it’s not as if the posts are totally FM. I mean nobody’s talking about brininging Ronaldo in. Its all about "quality players" with lesser clubs who might be thinking the time is right for a move to a "bigger" club.
37 Posted 04/01/2008 at 00:36:08
ps: Stop with the stupid posts that I am deleting on this and other threads, or you will find none of your posts appearing!

