ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Sidwell on loan?

The speculation this morning is that Steve Sidwell of Chelsea would snub a loan move to Sunderland in favour of Everton.

Personally I think he'd be an excellent acquisition and a perfect successor to Carsley in the holding midfield slot. He was one of the best players in a good Reading side that took the league by storm last season to finish 8th.

I was surprised when he went to Chelsea and so far his transfer has mirrored that of Scott Parker's as both played second fiddle to arguably better players.

If we could nab him on loan until the end of the season with an option to buy I think that would be great business.

What do fellow Blues feel about this?
Ben Howard, London Posted 16/01/2008 at 12:24:23

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Comments

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Erik Dols
1 Posted 16/01/2008 at 13:47:49

Do we need Sidwell? Portsmouth are the biggest contenders, but Pompey just bought Diarra if Sky is not mistaken. Although I would have loved to see Diarra here, this more or less means that Pompey will lose interest in Sidwell as I think these are two comparable players. Are we the sole contender to sign him then? And do we need/want him? I don't expect him to get into the starting squad on a regular base. Arteta, Cahill, Fernandes, Osman and Pienaar when he gets back are all better players with the ball. Moyes likes to play with only one holding midfielder this season, and Carsley is having a great season in that position.

Now don't get me wrong, Sidwell can go forward with the ball, he's more than just a tough tackler. But he lacks the skill and technique of Pienaar and Manny and even Osman, and he's nowhere as good as Cahill or Arteta.

If we get him I expect him to play only when injuries and suspensions have depleted our midfield or in games when Cars gets some rest, maybe the euro-games. Am I the only one who thinks we don't really need him? It's only added squad depth that he provides, and I personally would like to see a skillful wingman rather than a central workhorse.

Alex Baker
2 Posted 16/01/2008 at 17:57:40

I actually live in Reading and he was one of the Royal’s better players last season. He is really more similar to Cahill than Carsley, though and I don’t think he would be 1st team.

Chris Dottie
3 Posted 16/01/2008 at 18:02:48

I really went off him after a nasty Lee Bowyer-type stunt when he came on against us in the first leg. It doesn’t seem to have been mentioned because Cars is properly hard and doesn’t make a fuss but Cars was on the ground and Sidewell stood on his ankle, grinding his studs in with his full body weight. Cowardly stuff.
Cars will rightly play every game, any suspensions or injuries can be covered by a Philip, don’t see why we’d want a holding midfielder. I wouldn’t turn Albelda away mind.

Stefan Tosev
4 Posted 16/01/2008 at 18:01:37

If it happens it would be a good deal for the club with so many games we need bodies and Sidwell is proven Premiership quality.

Although I dont think he would be better than what we have here he can provide cover for Carsley, Osman and to some extent for Cahill and is someone in DM mood - hardworking warhose.

Jason Broome
5 Posted 16/01/2008 at 18:45:43

I would loan him & nothing else. When I scrutinise his ability, he doesn’t leave me droolng into a cup!

Our next CDM should be better than Carsley period, and we should only be chasing CL top 4 quality players who can take us forward.

Quite simply I’d rather have Diarra!!!

Dan McKie
6 Posted 16/01/2008 at 19:08:15

Dont know why everyone is going on about Diarra, he couldnt get into Chelsea’s team so whinged and moved to Arsenal where he couldnt get into there team so whinged again and is now at Portsmouth on a reported 60k a week which I believe would make him the top earner here! He sounds like a right knob!

Glenn Clark
7 Posted 16/01/2008 at 19:16:12

Totally agree with your point on diarra dan, sounds a right knob, must be a good player but why pay 5million for someone that cant even get in arsenals 2nd team (carling cup team) diaby and denilison or even gilberto, all behind fabregas + famini so for 5 milloion thats poor business, best business would be sidwell on loan to cover for carsley in case he got injured. both pienaar and fernardes will need paying for come the summer!!!!!!!!!!

Lee Spargo
8 Posted 16/01/2008 at 20:17:23

He?s not good enough for Everton

James Elworthy
9 Posted 16/01/2008 at 20:43:15

Anyone clever enough to earn 60K a week cant be too big of a knob.

Ben Dyson
10 Posted 16/01/2008 at 21:15:19

Reading the comments above, I feel my fellow Evertonians are seriously underestimating Sidwell. Don’t judge him from the few appearances he’s made for Chelsea. He has so much more to offer than hard tackling. Sidwell is the sort of player who would flourish at Everton and could be a key element in us getting back to where we belong.

Nick Veitch
11 Posted 16/01/2008 at 21:59:53

Sidwell played as an attacking midfielder (similar to Cahill) if i’m not mistaken?
The only reason i would see to bring him in would be cover if we sell both McFadden and Gravesen.

Chris Cook
12 Posted 16/01/2008 at 22:33:40

Which would be even more impressive since Gravesen isn?t ours to sell :P

But as said, i don?t think Sidwell is that great, sure he?s a good premiership player, but at the same time just a another of Chelsea?s "buy him incase he does do good and poses a threat to us" purchases

Mark Pendleton
13 Posted 16/01/2008 at 22:50:33

Horrendously overrated in my opinion.

Peter Pridgeon
14 Posted 17/01/2008 at 00:05:15

I wonder if Sidwell would be employed as enforcer by Moyes, when Arteta, Osman and Cahill are getting kicked all over the park he would be the person to bring on and have a go back. Everton have lost a little aggression this season, this has been replaced with flair and confidence on the ball. Teams like Arsenal and Chelsea are aggressive and this has given them the edge in tight games, this is what we are lacking this season.
I too saw that nasty piece of work he did on Carsley
and really he is a dirty player but sometimes great sides have these players, Bracewell, Tommy Smith and Graeme Souness for the shite
Roy Keane for Man U and if your old enough Norman Hunter for Leeds

Keith Harrison
15 Posted 17/01/2008 at 00:41:07

Has anyone stopped to consider that Cars may not need ’replacing’ If we had two powerful Central Midfielders instead of midgets whom we need a sweeper behind.
Sidwell and Manny would fit the bill here, and I think he is class enough to deffo be in our 1st team squad anyway.

I wanted him to come to us in the summer, but the roubles swayed him like Parker.

£5m for Jimmy Mac, get Sidwell, Manny and Peanuts signed in the Summer, and CL places next year - if not this.

Laurie Hartley
16 Posted 17/01/2008 at 09:29:22

Peter Pridgeon - I am old enough to remember Norman "has only got one leg" Hunter so I thought I’d throw in Nobby Styles, Dave McKay (I saw and still remember what he did to Jimmy Husband) and Ron "Chopper΅ Harris just for good measure. Now there’s a recipe for blood and snot everywhere :)

I don’t think Moyes would risk Sidwell (I hope not anyway) after what he did to Cars. Cute that was - especially as Cars was already booked. The wheel is turning.

Keith Harrison - while I’m showing my age - "good things come in small parcel" (especially in midfield) - Bobby Collins, Alan Ball, Billy Bremner etc etc.

If we want one of them types can we have Essien please? :)

Come on the Blues!!!!!

Mike Blackburn
17 Posted 17/01/2008 at 11:41:32

I personally wouldn’t mind Sidwell on a loan deal for the rest of the season, ok he went to chelski thinking he’s the big man after a good season with reading, but I think he’s been humbled enough to realise he’s not...I think he’d get played for either cahill (when he’s knackered after travelling with Australia games), or carsley (he due a rest sooner or later).

He’s adaptable/skillfull enough to run all over the pitch and break things up (ankles included if needs be) and he has a good shot on him...I’d like to be a fly on the wall to see the 1st 50-50 challenge with him and Carsley in training tho.

To see him play alongside Manny, Arteta, Pienaar would be a treat..albeit for half the season.

Dan Barton
18 Posted 17/01/2008 at 12:53:13

Sidwell would be great addition to our squad. I live in the south and our company has season tickets for Reading so I’ve watched him alot over the last two years. He’s a true box to box midfielder with a great engine. He can pass well, keep possession and break into the box when required. Also, as Carsley found out Tuesday, he’s not afraid to put his foot in either!!

I still think we haven’t got the right mix to put out a strong 4-4-2 midfield. Cahill and Carsley play better in a 4-5-1 system, Neville is better at right back and Osman is great cover accross the whole midfield. I reckon Arteta, Fernandes, Sidwell and Peanut would give most Premiership teams a run for there money.

A good pacy left winger such as Pederson or Petrov would really finish of the midfield!!

Joe McMahon
19 Posted 17/01/2008 at 13:06:09

Grant won’t let him go to til end of Jan, why aren’t we doing the same with the Scottish Rooney?

Allan Hobbs
20 Posted 17/01/2008 at 13:30:07

Steve Sidwell is massively over-hyped. He looks really out of place at Chelsea; little boy lost springs to mind. Couple that with the fact that he comes across as a bit of a tosser and I’d say non.

Kevin Mitchell
21 Posted 19/01/2008 at 09:26:36

Steve Sidwell was excellent for Reading and is the type of player we should be looking to bring in.
As for looking lost in the Chelsea set up, well he is not on his own there, Wright Philips, Scott Parker.
The only stumblling block would be his wages.
With him and Fernandes in the squad, a top five place would look more likely.