ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

Brian Williams
1 Posted 16/01/2008 at 00:50:00

Sorry I have to disagree. You mention "on his day"...thing is there’s not enough of ’em. He’s undoubtedly got the skill but I for one believe he doesn’t posess the speed, strength or stamina to be a top flight Premiership player. Almost but not quite. Thing is almost is just not good enough at the top, which is where we want to be. I believe he’d never be more than a bit part player for us and if we could get £5m for him (which I doubt) that could be put to use on a different , but more effective for the team, type of player.
I remember seeing the Golden Vision on TV, being just a bit too young to go and watch him, and you’re right McFadden couldn’t lace his boots. No disrespect to the lad, not many could...and his brilliance was recognised because it was absolutely outstanding...Mcfadden’s isn’t.

Ian Tunny
2 Posted 16/01/2008 at 01:31:23

Couldnt agree more mike. McFadden plays the game how it should be played as it was in the passed with imagination flair and skill. Sadly football has changed Managers and fans dont look for footballers now they look for athletes who are strong and can run up and down all day, players like McFadden and Arteta are rare talents that should be treasured for their skill, uniqueness and ability to win a game with a moment of magical brilliance. A team with organisation and good fitness will get you so far and can cause the odd upset but any good team needs match winners that will try something different that can be the difference between winning and losing eg charlton, metalist, Man u have Rooney and Ronaldo we have to settle for Arteta and McFadden at a lower cost.

Roy Coyne
3 Posted 16/01/2008 at 01:54:26

I think it will be a sad day for football when he goes but, with the " Fans"? waiting for his first wrong ball to get on his back, I can understand if he wanted out.

Peter Pridgeon
4 Posted 16/01/2008 at 02:49:06

I don’t get it with some of these comments, McFadden is far from the skilful player that he thinks he is. Someone somewhere in his career has suggested to him that he is as good as Maradona and poor old James has believed them. He goes on mindless runs when he should pass, he takes free kicks that result in nothing, he thinks he can take corners but never finds anyone, however he does score the odd remarkable goal that gives everyone some hope in his ability.
McFadden will slip out of Goodison and we will forget him and the sooner this happens in my opinion the better. Please do not put him in the same category as Arteta Ian, he is a far cry from the skilful Spaniard.
Proof of Moyes decision will be during the next four months when he plays regular first team football for Birmingham City if reports that are coming out are to be believed.
The best thing McFadden did for Everton was score those goals for Scotland against France as it put 2 million quid on his asking price.
Thanks James

Kevin Clarke
5 Posted 16/01/2008 at 03:17:59

I?m a fan of Faddy. As much as I hate to admit this, I hope IF he goes, he is gonna prove what a huge success he is elsewhere.

And one more thing, for all the boo-boys out there, I do hope that IF he goes and he plays against us, that he will score a brilliant goal against us and win that game.

It?s sad, but hey, everyone is entitled to his opinion.

Rupert Sullivan
6 Posted 16/01/2008 at 03:32:42

Brian, I hate to take issue with you but Faddy is superb - although a tad inconsistent, and as for him not having the stamina or the strength - how many people on this site have said that about Ossie and yet he is now being lauded as one of a great midfield of 5 players...

Give Faddy the games and he?ll show his class.

If he does go, I too hope he becomes a success, but I also hope that EFC charge a lot more than £5M, which is paltry for a man of his talent in this age of money.

Ian Tunny
7 Posted 16/01/2008 at 03:34:16

Peter, you seem to forget even Arteta was thrown on the scrap heap and sold for a measily £3M ? what Birmingham are offering now for McFadden. Wouldn't it be ironic if he showed us what were missing at another club as Arteta has to Soceiadad, where he failed to fill Alonso's shoes.

Now Arteta is head and shoulders ahead of Alonso because he has the ability and the support of the club and fans. McFadden has the ability but not the support from the club and fans which is clearly affecting his confidence and more recently his attitude in general. He obviously feels unwanted, which is very sad.

You only have to see the contrast for Scotland games were he is valued and is given the belief he needs. This lad excited me more than Rooney when he first arrived now his spirit is crushed and is a mere shadow of that young promising player.

Ian Tunny
8 Posted 16/01/2008 at 03:54:55

And Peter, you comment on how bad McFaddens corners are what about Arteta's poor corners and set pieces?

Andrew Conroy
9 Posted 16/01/2008 at 04:01:59

The guy gets given too much slack. He’s had long enough to show us what he’s made of, but his (obvious) ball skills are just not enough- he could spend the next 50 years at Everton and he’d still never be able to read the game around him. I can imagine him doing well for the likes of Mcleish, and there’s no doubt that he’s the sort of player to produce the odd ’Hollywood’ moment that’d get him talked about on MotD.

But his antics for Scotland have just confused the issue. I know his goals have got us out of jail a couple of times, but even Gareth Farelly did that.

Come on- he’s just not good enough, even if we all harbour fantasies of him suddenly losing all his clumsy tendencies and becoming The Finished Article.

Mike Coates
10 Posted 16/01/2008 at 04:17:44

All I can say is.. McFadden will be missed if he goes :(

Cameron Hamilton
11 Posted 16/01/2008 at 05:27:05

I’m a bit worried letting McFadden go in January with our squad as thin as it is - even if it is for 5m. With Diabby now looking to be off to Portsmouth, does Moyes have a replacement lined up?

I can’t see how we benefit from the transfer, especially with a still congested fixture list coming up. Why not wait until the end of the season. McLeish seems desperate to land him, as do the Scottish clubs, so I can’t see his value diminishing too much.

Alan Ryder
12 Posted 16/01/2008 at 07:07:30

If Faddy does go it will be for football reasons. This lad can be infuriating but he also gives you some hope when coming off the bench in games where we have tried everything else but failed. You don’t know what you are going to get and therefore you wonder how he will fit in to the team, long term.
I think he tries his hardest but sometimes holds on to the ball too long and he lacks a bit of pace and consistency (he whinges at the ref a bit too much, as well). Against that he is capable of doing incredible things most others can’t. He has attracted a huge amount of interest due to his Scotland performances and I believe he has conducted himself with modesty and represents our famous club well. I don’t think he deserves any barbed comments from us and, on balance, I’ll be sorry to see him go.

Leigh Hyman
13 Posted 16/01/2008 at 07:52:33

Mcfadden is a good player but not a good winger,lacks pace & power which unfortunatly in todays game are vital for good wingers.He has now become 5th choice striker so for £5m we have to sell to buy a quality winger.

Barry Bragg
14 Posted 16/01/2008 at 08:10:50

Mcfadden has plenty of skill but he just doesn’t have the phisique for the prem which is all about pace and power. I think he would have been a world beater if he played in the sixties or early seventies when the league was more pedestrian but sadly he doesn’t. He has been here 3/4 years and is still as unproductive as he was when he arrived. If Mcleish can get him to perform every week good luck to him but I don’t think he will ever make a good consistent prem player. Still he might do better in the championship next year.

Alan Codd
15 Posted 16/01/2008 at 08:22:59

Utter tripe if a bid of 5 million comes in then I say snap there hands off.
Doing a fancy step over or betaing a defender to then try and beat him again and again and eventually lose possesion is not good enough.
I agree the boy HAS got talent but how can you blame the fans for his lack of consistency.
He has been here over 4 years and has failed in all that time to stamp his mark in the team.
This is all due to his erratic and inconsistent performances it is not the fault of the fans who pay good money to watch this overpaid and overated player.
I will be glad to see the back of him especially after his second half display against city where he blatantly couldnt give a shit.

Terence Regan
16 Posted 16/01/2008 at 08:23:02

If McFadden goes I think we are selling the squads most skilful player, and I include Arteta in this. When he first came he was the skilled but greedy schoolboy. I think, with limited chances, he has improved immeasurably since then, and with a decent run in the team I think would have improved further.

£5M may seem a reasonable price for someone who can?t get a regular place. He is however the player on whom you will say, jealously, ?we use to have him?.

Roger Daulby
17 Posted 16/01/2008 at 08:44:04

He has got bags of skill but what is evident is that we cant get the best out of him whilst Alex Mcleish obviously can. You cant have a striker at a club like Everton who has a strike rate as bad as his. Overall his ability is not in question , his decision making is. The difference between players at this level is their decision making, when to pass, move, dribble and shoot. When Giggs and Ronaldo started for the Mancs that was their weakness within a couple of seasons they developed this part of their games. I was hoping that given time that we could improve Faddy?s quality but sadly it hasnt happened. Let him leave and improve the squad with the cash before the end of Jan.

Iain Thomson
18 Posted 16/01/2008 at 09:04:21

A lad of 19 comes to the ?best league in the world? and is immediately put in the team out of position. Ballack and other great players we are told need a season to get used to the premiership, yet straight from Motherwell MacFadden was expected to produce while trying to become a midfielder. This site was full of comments wishing he would get a game up front but he seldom did, Beattie and Bent got game after game while neither was prolific.

Andy Johnson comes in and he doesn?t score enough either. Yet his name rings out around Goodison as he goes through game after game without scoring.

I?m not stat guy but has MacFadden ever had 3 games in a row upfront. I doubt it. You can?t become consistent if you don?t play especially if when you do play your being played in midfield when you have been a striker since you were a kid.

Ossie wasn?t good enough, now we are longing for his return. He was given a chance out on loan which benefited him greatly.MacFadden wasn?t.

He will go to Birmingham for 5 million or less it seems. By seasons end I wonder if he will have scored more than AJ, Vaughn or Anichebe, I suspect he might well do as McLeish seems to bring the best out in him.

Football is full of players who didn?t make an impression at one club then shine at another. I fully expect Macfadden to be such a player , as indeed is Arteta whose slump and reduction in value at Sociedad we have benefited from hugely.

If he does go, what odds on a wonder goal at Goodison on his return..Doesn?t bare thinking about.

Andrew Fletcher
19 Posted 16/01/2008 at 09:01:05

McFadden frustrates the hell out of me but I know if given a regular starting place as a striker at somewhere like Birmingham then he will be a success.

Rob Jones
20 Posted 16/01/2008 at 09:24:05

IMO hes like Beattie and Shandy, we desperately hoped that they?d succeed, but It just hasn?t happened and probably never will with us.

Steve Pugh
21 Posted 16/01/2008 at 09:26:31

Faddy is a serious talent and if he had been played week in week out in his proper position I have no doubt he would be a Everton legend. The problem for Faddy is that his position is just behind a lone striker, not too disimilar to the role a certain Tiny Tim Cahill plays in. Because Faddy has a reasonable left boot he has constantly been shoved out wide, but you are all correct when you say he is not good enough to be a Premiership winger. But then again, neither is Cahill. Not that Cahill will ever be played in that position.

If we do sell Faddy it will be a massive loss for the club and I pray he goes to one of the Scottish clubs and not Birmingham, at least we won’t have to face him.

But when he does come back and haunt us I wonder who will be first in the queue to blame DM for selling him?

Rupert Coghlan
22 Posted 16/01/2008 at 09:31:52

Can’t understand where all this love for McFadden is coming from - 3 or 4 great pieces of skill in 3-4 years isn’t good enough.

His work-rate is terrible, he gives the ball away, he isn’t quick or strong enough and spends half the game chasing the ref or whingeing. I haven’t got time for that at 5-a-side level, let alone a Premiership player being paid 20k a week or whatever.

He has to go, good luck James but you weren’t good enough week in week out.

Jon Sellick
23 Posted 16/01/2008 at 09:42:56

It’s the fella’s arrogance that gets to me, he walks around languidly for ninety minutes with none of the chasing back or care that Arteta, Osman and Pienaar display. I’m undecided whether his aloof disposition is "I’m absolutely brilliant and i know i am" or "i couldn’t give two hoots", either way i’d sell him for anything over 3.5 million because he does not fit in to the team ethos. "World Class"?? Please.

Nelly Blythe
24 Posted 16/01/2008 at 09:43:40

Couldn’t agree more Rupert....Think you’ve summed things up quite nicely !!

Steve Lyth
25 Posted 16/01/2008 at 09:54:16

Faddy has got it all in his locker, we have failed to get the best out of him and he has been inconsistant.
£6 Mil min and lets hope we dont rue the day.
Oh and Kev Clarke, I dont want to see him come back and score a winning wonder goal against us, wheres the logic in that ?

Sean Allinson
26 Posted 16/01/2008 at 10:13:40

He can have all the skill in the world but if he cant bring his head up when he’s on the ball, his decision making will never be up to Premier league standards. I have thought for years that he signed for the wrong club when he came down from Scotland. His inability to come to terms with the standard of defender down here, coupled with joining a club that wasn’t in a position to embrace a luxury player, have eaten away at his confidence to the point where we may never see the player he could have become. Had he stayed north of the border with the ’auld firm, his swashbuckling style may well have brought seasons of joy for adoring fans and made him a legend. I hope he does well if he goes to Brum, but I doubt that he will. Within a month he’ll be 3rd choice striker, left out in favour of a big man with half the talent but twice the consistancy. Go back to Scotland Faddy!

Cliff Zampost
27 Posted 16/01/2008 at 10:32:38

Faddy is a hard player that plays with passion and he clearly displayed it for he?s country, but the lad seems to deserve better elsewhere where he can play regular football week;y, simply everton football club are in such a good position with young promising strikers its put faddy down the pecking order, and this clubs sudden rise is unfortunatley faddys downfall. As sad as it seems he is better elsewhere and wish him the best in his career. Thanks Faddy.

Mark Griffiths
28 Posted 16/01/2008 at 10:30:18

I think £5m is a reasonable price for someone who has potential but certainly has not shown enough of it in 4½ years at Everton.

It looks like he is going and going soon if all the reports ar eright.

But, i am starting to worry about the midfield now when he goes because we really need another 2 midfielders (winger inc).

Just read that arshavin has three top prem clubs in Europe chasing him (arsenal and too being two of them).

Are we the third?????

Slightly miffed at Diabby going to pompey, but fuck him if it is money that drives him!

Having said al this, i do ot think Moyes would sell McFadden if he did not have a replacement for him, i just hope it is a class player to push us on.

Just read that us and Pompey are after Sidwell for loan???

Paul Tran
29 Posted 16/01/2008 at 10:55:31

If we are the ’consecutive top ten finishing’ side of before, its OK to have a player who plays well once in a while, scoring the odd spectacular goal.

If we are the consistent top six side, looking to break into the CL positions, McFadden just ain’t good enough.

Get the £5m and use it to buy someone who will genuinely enhance our team!

Paul Gladwell
30 Posted 16/01/2008 at 11:03:50

You wonder some times if some of these people on this site go the game.
His workrate is shite ( just watch his off the ball movement which I did on saturday)
His decision making is shite as was shown on saturday and against chelsea when he should never have gone for goal when cahill was unmarked.
I think Moyes has had enough of telling us about his decision making problems.
He does possess a great amount of skill but to me he is a great 5 a side player and a great sub to bring on.
To all the jocks he is immortal and that to me is the problem, as his body language at times suggests he believes all that hype the jocks have thrown his way.

Steve Lyth
31 Posted 16/01/2008 at 11:22:22

That'll be Diarra then Mark.
Paul Gladwell, I think his body language on Saturday suggested he was leaving.

Mark Griffiths
32 Posted 16/01/2008 at 11:30:17

Yeah Steve, always get those two mixed up, think it was from Cameron?s earlier post.

Does anyone think we would stand a chance of getting Arshavin if tott and Arsenal are going for him?

There are a number of factors involved, transfer fee, wages, CL vs Uefa...and so on..????

Joe Clitherow
33 Posted 16/01/2008 at 11:46:02

"WORLD CLASS"???

Rubbish. Either because of, or in addition to, his poor attitude, even against lower league opposition the guy hasn’t been able to beat an egg.

"World Class" to me does not include the proviso "on his day" in any way shape or form.

McFadden is slow, inconsistent, has poor attitude, poor work ethic, poor decision making and to paraphrase Joe Royle, is a legend in his own mind before he is a player.

He may have talent but he has not worked to improve, which is probably the real key to being world class.

Snap their hands off, I hope I never see this guy in an Everton shirt again.

Jay Campbell
34 Posted 16/01/2008 at 12:07:58

WORLD CLASS this title get?s branded about far to often and is this title is given to ordinary players.

Zidane, Ronaldinho, Kaka name?s and footballers of that ability are WORLD CLASS not Rivalino MC FADDEN.

This fucking SKY TV has got a lot to answer for tellin ya.

Wayne Smyth
35 Posted 16/01/2008 at 12:05:18

Joe beat me to it. :)

Messi is world class. Ronaldo is world class. McFadden undoubtedly has some talent, but he isn’t in the same league.

His basic problem is that we are short in midfield and we have too many good forwards. So when he does play it is invariably out of position, in midfield.

Cahill is currently playing the role McFadden would like, but is doing a far better job than McFadden ever could. I’d expect that Johnson and Vaughan would also be ahead of him in the pecking order.

We are now buying players of the calibre of the yak and fernandes, with hopefully more to come. Better to get rid now and put the money to the next piece of the jigsaw.

Joe Clitherow
36 Posted 16/01/2008 at 12:12:15

Alan Ball was exactly the player I was thinking of for the World Class moniker.

McFadden is Preki for the 21st Century.

Also, reading the posts above I can’t believe we are talking about the same player. "Hard"? "Passion"? "Commitment"? i think if you watched him on Youtube instead of for 90 mins on a pitch ou might have a different opinion.

I have seen him show a snarling commitment, passion, tons of energy and a smart turn of pace but sadly this is always running after a referee when he has been dispossessed instead of chasing after the opposition to get the ball back.

4 1/2 years is more than enough time to prove whether he is good enough or not, and sadly, whatever his ball skills, the guy wants too much time in the world’s fastest league.

He’s not for us.

Rob Jones
37 Posted 16/01/2008 at 09:24:05

IMO hes like Beattie and Shandy, we desperately hoped that they?d succeed, but It just hasn?t happened and probably never will with us.

Wayne Smyth
38 Posted 16/01/2008 at 12:17:36

In terms of replacing McFadden, does anyone think that Moyes might use baines as a temporary winger until pienaar returns?

Kevin Tonkley
39 Posted 16/01/2008 at 13:17:42

If were were struggling like a couple of seasons ago when we had to put S Watson up front then yes lets keep him !!
But look at the strikers already there at the club..Faddy hasnt got the busrt of speed or crossing ability for the wing ...as noted previously he cant regularly hold down a place and when i have watched him he spends more time chasing the ref?s than the ball!
So in summary given the money spent over the past few seasons then i would accept a 5 m fee ...however given the size of the squad and if the bank arent knocking at the door lets keep Faddy and when he wears the blue give him the best support !!!!

Paul Olsen
40 Posted 16/01/2008 at 13:19:30

Blah, this is crazy. McFadden will never be the next great thing. Although a good ball player and a fairly good set of skills.

He just can’t use his skills with any sort of speed, the trickery is to slow and that makes him easy prey far to often. Without the acceleration to pull of his tricks he’s bound to get found out.

Given space he can shine, but how often does that come along in the modern premier league? Perhaps he would be great in France or Spain, but not in premier league.

Chris Dawson
41 Posted 16/01/2008 at 13:22:59

All this talk of McFadden doing this biz for Scotland in his favoured position is frankly a load of tripe... Correct me if wrong but didnt McCliesh play him out wide when he brought him on against the french and he scored?

Great player, yes! but I think that we have outgrown him and he needs to find his feet again somewhere else

Ray Lupton
42 Posted 16/01/2008 at 13:21:23

For me McFadden shows a lack of footballing intelligence. Time and time again we see him trying a flick or to beat his man, fair enough, we pay to see these types of players, at least he’s trying to beat a man, but he doesn’t have the intelligence to realise that if the games not going for him he has to just keep it simple and play himself back into the game and ultimately play for the team. I appreciate what must be going through his mind, there’s at least 2 strikers ahead of him if not 4 depending upon how high Moyes rates the 2 young lads as well, so he is desperate to do something when he plays.

More often than not he will try to beat a couple of players and lose out, then he starts to lose his rag and ultimately disappears from the game all together because its not going his way. Compare this to Andy Johnson, at least he runs his tripe out irrespective of whether he is getting a sniff or not.

I’d like to keep McFadden in a perfect world, but in the league we are in at the minute he is a luxury player that we can ill afford especially if we are going to get 4-5 mill for him. I feel that we can get much better value to strengthen the team elsewhere.

John Andrews
43 Posted 16/01/2008 at 13:13:09

I have to say that I find some of the comments on McFadden astonishing. He has no pace, limited skill and seems to spend most of his time chasing referees after somebody has taken the ball from him yet again.
In all honesty I have never rated him and could never fathom out why so many folks, Moyes included, gave him chance after chance when he was clearly out of his depth.
He will do very well in Scotland where the pace of the game is not quite so frenetic as down here. If he joins Celtic or Rangers he will probably be idolised. If he joins Birmingham it may well be the beginning of the end for McLeish !

Brian Donnelly
44 Posted 16/01/2008 at 13:36:08

McFadden is such a great player that most of the time he starts on the bench for Scotland. If he?s a great player, what does that make David Healy who scores for fun at international level, but has difficulty getting into Fulham?s starting eleven.

With McFadden I have difficulty even saying he is an average premiership player. Also why do some people think he should be given a run of games up front. Doesn?t that apply more to Anichebe and Vaughn, who are still learning and WILL get better.

Admittedly McFadden is a decent player to have on the bench, but £4m plus and cash in ? we may never get that much again!

Craig Walker
45 Posted 16/01/2008 at 13:51:27

The chance he had in the 1st leg of the semi final last week summed up McFadden for me. By endeavour he got into a good position, fortuitously got past the Chelsea man, hit a wonderful shot which very nearly went in and had us all with our heads in our hands. That to me sums him up. Near brilliance, a bit of luck sometimes but mostly not and ultimately a nearly man. If he’d have taken the simpler option and squared it to Cahill in the box we’d be going into the 2nd leg with 2 away goals.

Dave Lynch
46 Posted 16/01/2008 at 14:03:01

The words Mcfadden and great games do not co-exist.
IMHO he is not very good and bordering on shite.
Sell him.

Guy Wilkinson
47 Posted 16/01/2008 at 14:05:03

McFadden + End product from open play = Arteta.

Not good enough.

Goodbye

Dan Parker
48 Posted 16/01/2008 at 14:41:47

4 million is not enough. Look how much we managed to get from Charlton for Marcus Bent. Faddy’s way better than Bent.

Neil McKinney
49 Posted 16/01/2008 at 14:39:48

I think McFadden could do well in another team, but there’s only so much time you can give the lad.

Saying that McFadden plays the game the way it used to be played (as said above by someone) is irrelevant, he’s not playing back then, he’s playing now. There are great players from by-gone eras that would have been crap in todays game. The difference is that great players will be great in whatever era they emerge in. McFadden is NOT a great player.

I feel his main problem is pace. It’s no good dropping shoulders and lollipops all over the place if you then don’t have the acceleration to take advantage of the indicision you have created in the defender’s mind. Christiano Ronaldo has this pace and therefore when he does a step over and fools the defender, he then has the pace to accelerate past him. Add to that the fact that the Potuguese ponce is comfortable on either foot, let’s face it Jimmy is severely left footed.

I think the only place for Jimmy Mac to play is in the hole behind two strikers. As we generally play one up front, and Cahill is devestating playing just off the lone striker, it is unlikely he will ever be able to play that role at EFC. McFadden needs a free role, that doesn’t exist in our set up.

Saying all that, 3m is a fucking joke! Especially from a manager who got so much from Faddy for Scotland! Try again Alec, get the wallet out, remove the moths and see if you can copper up to 5m. Then you might have a deal. Otherwise, take your derisory offers and fuck off!

COYB!!

Allan McHobbs
50 Posted 16/01/2008 at 15:09:09

£5m is good business, I hope we sell him. I also hope we buy someone else who can play in all competitions, Arshavin looks set for Tottenham and he can’t play in Europe for us or them this season - I still reckon we’ll buy Downing with the Faddy money.

Jay Harris
51 Posted 16/01/2008 at 14:59:08

I wish the lad well at his new club.
He has patiently waited his chance and never gone running to the papers or caused the club any problems.
He?s never done quite enough to justify a long run in the team but has made important contributions along the way.
Good luck Jamie whether it?s Birmingham or Celtic.

John Murphy
52 Posted 16/01/2008 at 15:02:59

Altough I would be sad to see Faddy go, as I really rate the lad, if a good offer comes our way, then it is in the best interests of the club and the player that he goes. However, the price tag of 3 million even 4 million is beyond a joke. We are talking about a proven premiership and international player here. Everton have got to get rid of their reputation of ’giving players away.’ If James Beattie can cost 4 million, Cisse can cost 14 million and Gary Cahill can be linked with other clubs for 4 million, then we must be looking at around 8 million for Faddy.

Dominic Duerden
53 Posted 16/01/2008 at 15:25:43

McFadden is not worth anymore than 3 million, can?t understand how he gets in our team. The only thing I will say in his defence is that he is better on the right wing, but can?t play there because we have Arteta.Sell him ASAP, then Anichebe and Vaughan will get more of a look in.

Jonathan Bradley
54 Posted 16/01/2008 at 16:10:18

If they do get four or five million for him then I think we should bite their hands off - he has had numerous chances to prove himself but hasnt ever looked like doing it, and now we have Yakubu, Johnson, Anichebe and Vaughan, all of which are / appear to be better than him, and arent playing a system that can accomodate him.

One has to also remember that even if we get four million for him its more than double what we paid, and he doesnt have that much left on his contract.

Jason Broome
55 Posted 16/01/2008 at 15:35:49

"Legend in his own mind." You nailed it Clitherow!!!

McFadden in the same class as Deigo Ribas, C Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Torres, Daniel, Henry, Kaka, Messi...

These players command respect from the greatest players & clubs on earth. They are measured scrutinised for their consistency in the hottest of arenas & competitions.

McFadden gets owned by Oldham!!!

Anything that brings us money for Fernandes is excellent news. Sell his arse & lets move forward!

Steve Connor
56 Posted 16/01/2008 at 16:16:11

One brilliant game in eight ! By that reckoning he would have turned in four brilliant performances this season. If he has , i have missed them.

McFadden may well have plenty of ’ability’ or ’skill’ call it what you will. Unfortunately, its the sort of skill the coca - cola kid and that bloke in Amsterdam who does all sorts of keepy uppys in ludicrous positions has. It looks great, lots of fun but ultimately there is no end product.

In terms of footballing intelligence he possesses very little ability because he constantly gives the ball away through poor decision making and a refusal to try and get it back once he has given it to the nearest opposition player.

He would be great to have in your works five a side team down the Pitz, but as a premier league footballer he is simply not good enough.

Five mill. would be an absolute steal - fur us that is. We will never get a better offer for the lad.

Oliver McAdam
57 Posted 16/01/2008 at 16:23:24

Faddy has talent, and I could see him being a good player, but he isnt a talent that everton would miss too much. However, his overall game is lacking and I think people want to keep him ’just in case’. This would be foolish, right now his value is at its highest it will ever be whilst at everton. He has 18months on contract and want to play week in week out, he never will. We have Yak, AJ, Vaguhan and Anichebe, along with Manny, Ossie, Piennar and Arteta who I would all have in the team ahead of faddy.

He will be a good player for Birmingham, Wigan, Celtic etc but we are better than all of them, and need to aim higher. He’s been a good investment and we could earn 3.5mil profit off a player we never really need.

Apparently! Giles Barnes asking price has dropped to 2.5-3.5mil, What a bargain that would be, can play all areas of midfield, young skillfull, quick and a lot of potential. A player Moyes could also mould and get best out of.

We do need a centre mid, as Carsley has looked tired, his tackling has been out of time and could have been sent off in last 2 games. He is doin a great job but we need someone like Huddlestone as an alternative.

Pete Gunby
58 Posted 16/01/2008 at 16:13:39

Clearly, Faddy does not fit in at Everton. We can argue until the cows com home about his ’world class skill’, it makes no difference because he does nothing for us. Why worry about how he plays elsewhere. Lets get what we can, wish him luck and move on. Finally, to the writer who hopes Faddy comes back to beat us, do you feel the same way about all ex blues? Grow up and get behind Everton or get out and start you own Mcfadden fan club.

Oliver McAdam
59 Posted 16/01/2008 at 16:35:23

’WORLD-CLASS’ player

erm......

I think of world class and I think, Zidane, Figo, Rivaldo, Maradona, Litmanen, Kaka, Giggs, Ronaldo, Scholes, Zico, Pele, Cryuff...

McFadden doesn’t really deserve to be mentioned in alongside these names, McFadden fits alongside names such as

O’Connor, McSheffery, Jerome, Parnaby, De Ridder

these all happen to be Birmingham players, it must be fate.

It doesnt take a world class player to score a goal outside the box, or do a stepover and kick-up. A world class player does that without thinking, its not a piece of skill for novelty reasons unlike Jimmy Mc. A world class player plays well 9 times out of 10, commands the ball, intimidates the player infront of him, make the opposition manager change his tactics to try and deal with him, makes the club manager fit his team around him.

A world class player does not have to wait for a African Nations Tournament to get a game, a world class player does not fight it out with18/19 year old academy graduates. Jimmy Mc does.

Eric Holland
60 Posted 16/01/2008 at 16:46:50

If Birmingham are stupid enough to offer 5 million for a lazy inconsistent infuriating so called talent like Mcfadden. Snatch their hands off now.
How can some of you even think it would be good if he scores a winning goal against us?
You're talking utter tripe.

Ian McDowell
61 Posted 16/01/2008 at 17:01:08

I just read on BBC Sport that Birmingham are close to agreeing a fee with Everton likely to be around 5million pounds, I would certainly let him go with the amount of forwards we have and it will help fund the Fernandes deal or Pienaar.

James Elliott
62 Posted 16/01/2008 at 17:23:01

Enigma... he?s weak, lazy and lacks passion. If we can mug Birmingham for £5 million then we should bit their hand off.

Chris Marston
63 Posted 16/01/2008 at 18:00:55

I like Faddy because he?s the type of player who could and has the ability to, conjure up a goal out of pretty much nothing. However, like many people have said before me, it is all to infrequent and getting a good price and spending it wisely on a more consistent ?you know what you?re getting player? would be good business.

Kieran Fitzgerald
64 Posted 16/01/2008 at 18:11:10

If we can get the most of £5m for a player that, regardless of talent, will never get anything near a regular start then take it. It?s the cost of a permenant deal for Piennar, with McFadden?s wages going to him instead. It will also leave a couple of million left over that I?m pretty sure the club can put to good use.

Ian MacHenry
65 Posted 16/01/2008 at 18:18:57

" Because he is, on his day, A WORLD-CLASS player. "

As Ricky Gervais would say " Are you havin a laugh "

Unfortunately his day must happen every leap year, so by my theory he’s due one soon.

For me he’s not good enough, he’s to slow & weak, greedy, lazy, gives endless shit house fouls away by hackin at players heels or pullin their shirts mostly by the oppositions corner flag when they’ve got know where to go, but for me his worst trait is his decision making, often tries to go on his own when there is a player in a better position, finally he doesn’t release the ball, unless he thinks he’ll get it back,unfortunetley it’s somethin you can’t change or coach out of him.

They’re just a few small observations I’ve picked up on after watchin him for 4 1/2 years and as to why I believe he’s no way near world class and why gettin 5m for him is like puttin on a balaclava and robbin an offy.

I certainly won’t be takin a day off work when he goes.

Ian Ankers
66 Posted 16/01/2008 at 19:48:39

McFadden a WORLD CLASS player?????

You are extremely easily pleased then. Or did you mean a infant classroom standard player because that would be more acurate!

He spits his dummy when things aren’t going his way. He thinks he’s better than he is. Although he’s been far from a regular in the side during his spell at Goodison, when he has played I would say 9 times out of ten he’s been poor.

If Mcfadden was anything like a world class player, he’d be playing week in week out for the blues. We’ve been crying out for a skillfull wide man or world class striker at times during his Everton career. If he was either of those, or even just half decent, he’d of notched up many more games.

I really do struggle to pick out of my memory much ammo to suggest he’s even a premiership standard player, let alone world class. Yes he’s had a couple of impressive showings for his country, but this hardly makes him Ronaldo!

Saturday was a prime example of how poor McFadden is. Just look how the game changed when Vaughany came on and faddy went off. Ok his head was probably not right with all the transfer talk, but whats his excuse for the other four years?

Whilst the player wears I blue shirt I will continue to support him from the terraces and wish him well, but as soon as Brum stump up the cash I’ll be saying a firm GOOD RIDDANCE!

James Newcombe
67 Posted 16/01/2008 at 20:19:55

Sell him! There’s a good player in there somewhere; but there comes a time when you have to realise that its not going to happen consistently... (like with Beattie). In terms of strikers we’re still spoilt for choice, even with Yakubu away. Save the money for Pienaar in the summer!

Gary Tudor
68 Posted 16/01/2008 at 21:29:35

All the people slating Mcfadden, who do you think we can replace him with for 5 mil at this point in the season.? We need money to sign Peanut and Fernandes in the summer? I would rather keep him and get him to sign long term contract... His value willl not go down, with regular games whilst players are at the African nations...

James Martin
69 Posted 17/01/2008 at 00:37:55

I have to agree in general with the consensus of opinion. 5 million is as good as it’s gonna get. I do think he’s class (though not world class by any standard). I also think he could turn into a more consistant performer given a run in a team. the comments about him having one good game in eight sound about right to me although a shade ironic. I can’t remember him playing eight games on the trot for us in his time here, which is probably what he needs. having said that, in this game you need to force the manager to give you that run of games. At Brum he may be able to do that, given the limitations of their team. Ihope he does as he comes across as a genuinely sound guy. But at Everton it’s not gonna happen.

Rob Vera
70 Posted 16/01/2008 at 22:33:10

I'm a fan of Faddy's rare moments of brilliance, but certainly not of his inconsistency when given run outs. I do, however, fear our squad numbers at this time, especially if Tommy G leaves. Is something else in the works?

Joey Boye
71 Posted 17/01/2008 at 10:08:55

I for one am sorry at seeing Scotlands best player leave us. For me too many fans have been far too critical at the young lad. Fair point he does make mistakes and doesn't pick the pass, but why o why did we improve him for 4 years just to sell him when he's coming good?

The confidence of the last in undeniable, it sickened me last week when he nearly got a standing ovation for his departure (that doesn't do anyone any good). People are fickle and don't realise you have to take a chance to prosper. McFadden is a risk taker but his ratio of it coming off isn't as high as others. Arteta even when playing appaulingly in people's eyes can do no wrong. If McFadden and Arteta tried the same trick, and if they both got it wrong Arteta would get no stick and McFadden would get hung out to dry.

I wish him all the best and it's obvious that another player with talent will now shop his true colours in his true position at another club (alla Beattie) & we must have another player lined up if were letting him go... Downing??

Alan Hudson
72 Posted 17/01/2008 at 14:36:33

Last monday I saw Faddy recording an episode of Question of Sport. He was announced as Everton and Scotland's .... JMcF. Look out for the continuity error in about 1 - 2 months time.

Sorry to say he wasn't the fastest finger on the button! Well done DM for making almost £4m. Suggestions for further purchase?

Terry Downes
73 Posted 17/01/2008 at 17:43:22

Can anyone explain the advantage in selling McFadden before Wednesday's 2nd leg? Given that were short on players, surely it's better to keep him 'til after Wednesday? Afterall we might need one moment of inspiration [luck] from him and that could clinch a final place... plus it would be a nice way to end his stay here.

Neil Humphrey
74 Posted 18/01/2008 at 12:26:31

Can people please stop using Beattie as an example of someone showig their true worth after leaving us? Beattie is scoring goals in the Championship. All that proves is that he is a good Championship player - which is exactly why he wasn’t good enough for us