It seems to be Moyes’ policy of giving the older players year by year extensions. I think it makes sense. It avoids the fiasco of nursing the crumpled physiques of players like Ferguson, Pistone and Kevin Campbell as they lounge around the physio room on full pay for up to four years.

I agree that Lee has been a revelation for us, not only this season and hope we get a few more years out of him.

But, I’m also a fan of the policy that older players (over 31) only get a year contract, keeps them on thier toes, ensures we dont keep dead wood. If the player is good enough (and fit) enough then they will sign it.

Win win situation

I saw the interview too, very funny!

I agree that at his age a one-year extension is sufficient......if he wants to stay and Everton want him then another club coming in doesn’t mean that’s a problem...as was the case last year with Wigan/Carsley.

That said, he does put in terrific performances....and he won’t be easily replaced whenever that time comes.

He's my player of the year. Answer me this: Do you think he is as good as Joe Parkinson was for us?
I'd say yes.

Not so long ago I remember some clown on Radio 5 dismissing us for having "people like Lee Carsley". The clever dick was already wrong when he said it and has been getting wronger week in week out.

The Guardian’s Andy Hunter gave him MoM on Sunday - "his influence in both attack and defence enabled Everton to wrest control in the second half ... That tenacious attitude proved key to his side’s victory." Sounds about right.

Policy or not, I would trust Moyes to do everything necessary to keep Cars with us for the next two years at least.

Joe Parkinson was an absolute hero of mine. But I’d have to admit that there does not seem to be much between them.

The case for Carsley is he has proved it for us over 5 years, and like Parky, it shows how important he is when he is injured. Just look at his stats:

? 01/02 8(0) league games at the end of the season ? finished 15th
? 02/03 21(3) league games, scored 3 ? finished 7th
? 03/04 15(6) league games, injuries and in/out of the side ? finished 17th
? 04/05 35(1) league games, scored 4 ? finished 4th with Carsley a key player
? 05/06 3(2) league games, injured and come coincided with a late surge ? finished 11th
? 06/07 38(0) league games, ever present, finished 6th
? 07/08 18(1) league games, currently 4th.

Is it coincidence that every time Carsley has long consistent runs we are right up there, I think not.

The case for Parkinson includes something that Lee will probably not obtain: an FA Cup winners medal (well there?s always next year I suppose). Parky?s stats:

? 94/5 32(2) league games, finished 14th (22 teams), and won the FA Cup
? 95/6 28 league games, scored 3 goals, finished 6th (20 teams)
? 96/7 28 league games, finished 15th

The 96/7 season cemented Parkison?s legend. In 1996, the calendar year, only Man Utd got more points than us. At Christmas we were flying and looking at another top 6 finish. But then, Parkinson, Kanchelskis and Hinchcliffe all got injured and we went into free fall. Parkinson did come back, but we now know he was playing with injections and that explains why he was not the same player. The knee broke down again before the season was out and Big Slow Joe?s career was over at 26.

Both have to some extent been plagued by injuries; in six seasons Carsley has got past 30 games twice and in three seasons Parky did it once. Parky was perhaps stronger in the tackle, bigger and more physically imposing. He also filled in more at the back and rarely crossed the half way line despite having a lethal shot (Norwich in the Cup anyone?) Carsley has done it over a greater period of time and has been the driving force in a team that has surged to 7th, 4th, 6th and once again finds itself back in 4th. He may have the chance tomorrow to get himself to Wembley and get his hands on a winners medal.

Joe Parkinson was a great player, he would have got better, but these type of players who are big, strong, tenacious, ferocious, tireless, and more, rarely retire without being plagued by injures. Hard tackles usually result in picking up many knocks, and they take their toll. These kind of players usually do go the way of Parkinson if they are any good. So in some ways you have to hand it to Carsley and applaud the way he?s dealt with injuries and particularly the way he?s come back from injuries. At the start of last season I really did doubt whether lee would be able to be as good. Surely at the back of his mind is that one stray boot or one mistimed tackled would result in a injury and retirement and as Parkinson knows to well these type of players, key as they may well be, are low down on the list of remuneration. So I have to give it Carsley, who I?d describe as a smaller, leaner, faster more mobile version of Big Joe, but obviously lacks Parkinson?s ability to injure players (Juninho in the four nil demolition anyone). But both are great players in their own right.

WOW, Great answer Steve. I'd even put Lee on par with Roy Keane, Keane had world class players around him, which meant they had the ball more often than their oppenents. That hasn't been the case with Everton.