ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

Mark Griffiths
1 Posted 29/01/2008 at 15:05:33

I agree, I keep harping on about this, but we only need a few injuries to key players or suspensions and it could be the difference between winning the Uefa Cup, finishing in the top 6 let alone the top 4.

fF we do get anybody, which to be honest I just cannot see this late in the day, then it will be on loan, don?t forget how long our medicals take at Everton and there are only 2 days left in the window!

Gareth Hughes
2 Posted 29/01/2008 at 15:47:48

Osman is out tomorrow night, along with Grav who is a waste of space anyway. That leaves us with ...THREE out and out midfielders!! An incredible state of affairs. Yes we need more players but we won’t see the McFadden money again. It will all have gone to the great overdraft in the sky, which we have been saddled with. Kenwright talks big but acts small. As a club we are’nt serious about challenging the big boys. The shenanigans with the Yanks at Anfield have been manna from Heaven for Kenwright, who can trade off his ’local, lifelong fan’ image for a good while now, at least with the more gullible amongst us. Moyes meanwhile, who still refers to himself as a ’young’ manager(yeah, one with 10 years experience!) is in a lovely comfort zone with a chairman who will never question or push him. How very cosy.
I fear a right hiding tomorrow night from a very talented Spurs side, with a very ambitious board behind them. Perhaps it will be a blessing in disguise if it rams a few home truths down the throats of the Moyes/Kenwright acolytes. It may even force the great prevaricator in the dugout to demand a bit of the Faddy cash before the transfer window closes. Oh hang on a minute, the window closes on Thursday. That leaves plenty of time for that much needed squad strengthening does’ent it?!

Chris Keightley
3 Posted 29/01/2008 at 16:05:11

Gareth, have to agree with what you have said; we have in my opinion surrended fourth place, due to lack of funds, ambition, and in doing so have made a threadbare squad look vulnerable. Let's say Arteta gets a knock tomorow ? what then?? There are no ressies even close to making the step up. January could be the month we look back and say that's why we went out in the last sixteen of the Uefa Cup, and finished eighth...

John Lloyd
4 Posted 29/01/2008 at 16:24:32

Why wont we ever see Gosling......bit random isnt it??

Mark Cassin
5 Posted 29/01/2008 at 16:28:19

Agree with John...Gosling has just arrived and now we may not ever see him--where did that appear from?

As for the investment--we could have signed both Fernandes and Yakubu in the summer and should expect to tie up Pienaar next summer along with another major signing.

Why the tears-- we ARE in the UEFA cup with many reserves beating Alkmar (a team unbeaten for decades at home in Europe) and have only just lost to moneybags chelsea without key players.

Come on man turn that frown upside down :) lol

Jay Wilson
6 Posted 29/01/2008 at 16:28:38

That’s right, we’re going to surrender 4th place playing with the same squad (mcfadden for Fernandes) that did so well in the first half of the season. Look on the bright side, we’ve got 3 fantastic players coming back into the side (hopefully by the weekend) and Gravesen is hardly a loss injury wise his legs have completely gone.

Graham Eaves
7 Posted 29/01/2008 at 16:30:23

Not forgetting Cahill suspended for tomorrow night. Not meaning to sound a prophet of doom but can see a reverse in the WHL score coming...

Gary dos Santos
8 Posted 29/01/2008 at 16:11:51

Like my column few days ago, we are not proactive in creating new talent therefore we must suffer the consecioness of depth in playing resources and let opposition read us like a book.We desparately need a box-to-box midfieder and a qualiy striker to compliment AJ. Let's forget the budget and get with the program. We need quality or become also-rans ? like 60 other English clubs.

Chris Keightley
9 Posted 29/01/2008 at 16:34:16

It's great to see your optimism, but take a reality check, the AFCON lot are not back !! We are limited in midfield and that's baring any injuries of any kind tomorow. And at the weekend versus a physical Blackburn, by the time the AFCON players are back we could have two defeats under our belt, and start slip-sliding out of the top six. We had to buy cover... we didn't.

As for others not building ? Reading: Kebe pacy winger; Tottenham: Woodgate, possibly Hutton; Mancs both bought players, Chelsea not unexpected, Nevland has moved to the Premier League... Us? Gosling and suprise suprise a player short of games in Fernandes; McFadden out, Kissock out (a ressie)... how about Jags or Nev in midfield ffs! So yes, surrender fourth? ? we will... with a wimper!!!

Jay Wilson
10 Posted 29/01/2008 at 16:43:04

What a quality Striker...like Yakubu?

Keith Glazzard
11 Posted 29/01/2008 at 16:23:03

There’s no point in carrying on then, is there? Thrashed by Spurs tomorrow, out of Europe and free-falling down the PL in Feb. Slash your wrist time again?

A small squad isn’t a thread-bare squad. I’m trying to think about how many players have had to ’step up’ so far this season -zero? Africa isn’t too far from over, and injuries and suspensions are a constant threat of course. So has Moyes been trying to buy? Probably, but we don’t know who, and what money has been on offer.

The only thing I would bet on is that DM isn’t going to panic buy any old crap. Our squad may be small, "light" even, but I like to think of it as streamlined. I will be very surprised if we don’t have someone (possibly two) new by Thursday.

Ric Wallace
12 Posted 29/01/2008 at 16:46:08

Just a point- What decent players are available for £9million in the January window?

Everyone at the start of the window says they don’t expect signings..then come the final week and every single club have a set of fans saying it’s worrying we have signed no one!

Look so far at the players who have gone this window we might have been interested in:

1) Woodgate
2) Downing
3) Sissoko
4) Alfonso Alves

Seriously, if you had £9 million to spend would you really go near those players in January?

You would wait until summer and you could get hold of some really exciting talent for the same price.

I, might be in the minority but I’m glad we haven’t splashed money on the likes of Downing now.

It’s the luck of the window whether good players have come up- thankfully Moyes usually gets 1 gem everytime in this window e.g. Arteta and Fernandes.

All the other clubs in the Top 10 have had the same problem.
Villa have bought no one.
Pompey -Diarra a nd Baros (hmm..why did they leave their last clubs?)
Rovers - no one.
City- no one.
Liverpool- no one.

Why are we really that worried? No one strengthens now so if we do get one or two injuries we just have to put up with it!

No point replacing a Cahill if he is injured with an average bought foreigner.

COYB!

Jay Wilson
13 Posted 29/01/2008 at 16:50:48

Our fans make me piss. On the one hand we moan about no signings and throwing 4th away and on the other we moanwhen we here we?ve made a £9M bid for a player. Fickle ...you betcha

Paul OHanlon
14 Posted 29/01/2008 at 16:48:27

Get real! As a business we don’t make any money from season to season (see http://www.evertonfc.com/club/shareholders.html), we borrowed (again) last summer to sign Yakubu and that money needs paying back. On top of that we’ll need the money in the summer to sign Pienaar and Fernandes, which will take up the McFadden trasnfer money, so where exactly do you expect this money to come from?

I’m not Kenwrights biggest fan and I’d love to see a couple more signings, but slagging him and Moyes at this moment in time for not magically producing millions is just being childish.

mark-chester
15 Posted 29/01/2008 at 16:58:27

If osman is out tomorrow then surley moyes has to go 4-4-2 due to the lack of midfielders available?!

I can see it being:-

Howard

Neville Stubbs Lescott Valente

Arteta Jagielka Carsley Fernandes

AJ Anichebe

Subs: Vaughn, Wessels, ???have we got enough subs?

chris keightley
16 Posted 29/01/2008 at 17:14:23

Keith latest thread proves my point what about the subs not threadbare my arse.

Simon Birdsey
17 Posted 29/01/2008 at 17:15:44

Mark, Hibbert’s fit, isn’t he?

So,

Howard

Hibbert Jagielka Lescott Valente
Arteta Neville Carsley Fernandes
AJ Anichebe

Subs, Vaughan, Wessels, Stubbs, Rodwell, De Silva?

You’re right, without Boyle, Baines, Kissock, Yobo, Vidarsson, Yakubu, Pienaar, Osman, Gravesen and Cahill we are looking short and three of them aren’t really even in the first team!

Connor Rohrer
18 Posted 29/01/2008 at 17:12:51

I think the team will most probably be this:

Howard

Neville Jagielka Lescott Valente]

Arteta Fernandes Carsley Baines

Anichebe Johnson

Baines isn’t a 100% fit but he’s in the squad so he’s obviously available to play. I can see him taking injections and just playing in this match until we have the likes of Cahill, Osman and Pienaar back.

I don’t know why people are worrying. We have a able squad. McFadden for Fernandes was a good swap. McFadden was mainly a striker which is a position we are strong in whereas Fernandes is a midfielder and he can cover centre midfield, right wing and left wing. We’ll have Yakubu, Yobo and Pienaar back soon, Stubbs is coming back into fitness, Moyes may not like to play the likes of Van der Meyde and Anderson but they are there and both are capable of doing a job if where severely low on players.

We also have alot of versatile players. The likes of Neville and Jagielka may not be the answer in midfield but they can do a job there as can alot of other players in other positions.

jayharris
19 Posted 29/01/2008 at 17:19:34

Paul Ohanlon.
You sound like Kenwrights mouthpiece.
Does it not hit home that a lack of investment means going backwards.At something like half a million per place and a potential 30milllion bonanza for the CL place we NEED at least 2 other players just to make a half decent squad.
Osman is apparently injured so we have a potential midfield of Arteta Cahill Fernandes and WHO? exactly.
With the form Spurs are currently in this is a potential 6 pointer but much more importantly than that we need a confidence boost instead of more negativity around the place.Even a loan signing of Sean Davis or Sidwell would help but MOyes has already been told nobody is coming in.He has said so himself today.
So all you pro BKites should learn that the future is investment and Bullshit Billy hasnt got any.

jayharris
20 Posted 29/01/2008 at 17:31:50

Sorry I meant to say Carsley not Cahill

Jay Campbell
21 Posted 29/01/2008 at 17:40:53

Hibbert’s suspended. Thank ****

Jay Harris
22 Posted 29/01/2008 at 17:52:23

Connor we may see Aj in midfield with Anichebe and Vaughan up front if Osman isnt fit.
Not ideal against Spurs but what do you do.

Tom Carter
23 Posted 29/01/2008 at 17:32:43

Simon, Hibbert is suspended, so unless Moyes gives vdm or da silva a run out we are short in the mid, do you not read the everton site before you come on here, Paul, on the one hand you say the money from mcfadden will be used to pay back some of the loan and on the other hand you say will be used towards buying fernandes, are you forgetting that MOYES and WYNESS said that no one would be sold in january and that more numbers were needed to kick on, in other words we did’nt have to sell to repay the loan and we would be buying someone or "loaning a few players" was Moyes’s actual words, sorry to say we have been duped again.

Nick Marsh
24 Posted 29/01/2008 at 18:14:25

Tom are you suggesting Moyes and Wyness should of said that they were up for selling players, all club managers say they dont need or want to sell. I would much rather any money to be spent at the end of the season, sure things are tight at the moment but in a weeks time we will have at least three players back, we are not going to undo half a seasons great work in one week.

Joe McMahon
25 Posted 29/01/2008 at 18:30:12

For the Guys having a go at me.

Yes I know we have done well, but we are so thread bare, injuries suspensions are defo going to effect us, becasue the likes of Villa, Spurs (still in Uefa cup) have much more quality AND quantity.

And yes maybe Gosling may be a good signing, but as are older youngters are proving it could take 3 year to make i into the first team regularly AND make an impression, if at all. AVM, Koldrop, Davies, Wright, Beattie - ALL were apparently promising, just like Gosling- do I have to go on.

One day without investment we may lose Moyes to a Newcastle type. Yes I’m a doom-monger I Know!

Jay Harris
26 Posted 29/01/2008 at 18:29:41

Nick Marsh
"we are not going to undo half a seasons great work in one week."
I totally disagree with you.Over the next 7 days we have 2 of our main competitors for a European spot.Those potential 6 points could make the difference between 4th and 10th.At approx. half amiill per place thats 3 million and to totally blow a potential CL place worth c.30 mill with all that goes with that(taking away revenue from others e.g. the RS).
I cannot believe you people.
The lack of investment in our club since Bullshit Billy took over absolutelt reaks.
We have just got rid of Vidarson and Kissock and it looks as if Da Silva is going off the payroll.
This club always fails to kick on to the NEXT LEVEL whenever the time is right.
Mainly because BK wants to retain control and doesnt have the money to invest.And dont give me the RS drill because for every Hicks and Gillette there are 3 good investors and thats what we need not some hobbyist playing with his toy.

Joe McParland
27 Posted 29/01/2008 at 18:51:14

Unfortunately Nigeria have just qualified for next round of AFCON. This means we’ll have to wait a bit longer toget Yobo and the Yak back.

Nick Marsh
28 Posted 29/01/2008 at 19:40:53

Jay Harris, Is your opinion of Everton that low that you see Spurs as a main contender to a place in Europe, they are 15 points behind!!!

"Those potential 6 points...", " totally blow a potential CL place" Yes Jay potentially you have a point, but hey if it was not for shrewd , well thought signings we would have no potential at all. Thanks Moyes and even you Billy Bullshit coz potentially nay, realistically were in with a shout of champions league and progressing in the Uefa Cup.

Neil Pearse
29 Posted 29/01/2008 at 20:20:13

On ’Bullshit Billy’ - perhaps you guys should be careful what you wish for!

Bill is not being ’mean’ or ’unambitious’ in not investing more in Everton. He doesn’t have any more money!!! He has put as much as he’s got in already, and he’s got his friend Robert Earl to put in a chunk more. He is doing what he can.

You want more money = you want Bill out. Simple as. Of course we may just get Lerner (although oddly no new Villa signings this window!), but we may get the RS Muppets or worse. As I say - be careful what you wish for...

Mark Pendleton
30 Posted 29/01/2008 at 20:53:43

I think i’m right in saying that Earl hasn’t put any money in, all he’s done is provided extra security against the loan capital. Either way, i’m not turning against Bill or Moyes. I do think we really need a midfielder in the Essien type mould. If we’re being honest selling Faddy made no negative impact on the squad whatsoever. Tommy G and AvdM will be shifted off the wage bill (and i see this evening that perhaps the closest reserve midfielder we had to the first team, Vidarsson, is on loan to Twente with a view to a permanent deal). Hopefully that’ll free up more wages to get Lescott on a new deal and bring in another midfielder (probably in the summer). Any cash we had from Faddy plus next year’s tv money will hopefully secure Fernandes and Pienaar as well.

We are very short for players tomorrow evening so if Ossie doesn’t make it then we could see a defence of Nev, Stubbs, Jagz and Lescott which would move Valente into midfield with Cars, Arteta and Cahill with AJ and probably big Vic up front.

COYB!

Peter Grealey
31 Posted 29/01/2008 at 20:18:13

To all the people who are frustrated at the lack of transfer activity you all need to take a step back and look at the big picture. I’m sick of people moaning about the size of our squad, we’re still building and you all just have to be patient. You’ve got to let Moyes build a team before he can build a squad. We haven’t got the finances to compete with the top 4 and even the likes of Spurs and Newcastle yet we’re the team who look most likely to break into that top 4 AGAIN. Moyes is doing a great job and we’re improving all the time so stop looking for things to moan about and start enjoying the fact that we’re 4th and playing european football once again.

Jack Calvert
32 Posted 29/01/2008 at 21:23:37

I know that Cahill is suspended for the game Vs Tottenham for 5 yellows but according to the Beeb, EFC Official Site and the official league cup site Cahill was NOT booked. (see below links) Can any light be shed on this as he was not booked against Wigan either.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/live_text/default.stm?refresh

http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/CarlingCupResultsDetail/0,,10794~1210123,00.html

http://www.evertonfc.com/match/report/0708/everton-v-chelsea.html?t=4

Update - on the Offical FAPL webpage they have put up the Tottenham player (Dawson) suspended but list Cahill as in the squad not suspended.

http://www.premierleague.com/page/MatchPreviews/0,,12306~39053,00.html

David Moore
33 Posted 29/01/2008 at 21:32:10

Why don’t we lay shandy andy!!!!!!!!!!!! or how about the side that played against Alkmaar??

Mark Pendleton
34 Posted 29/01/2008 at 21:48:44

I realised straight after my last post that Cahill is indeed suspended.

Stuart Duncan
35 Posted 29/01/2008 at 21:58:33

I’m not sure if we’ve got a fit 16, are you? Looks like Rodwell may be on the bench

Howard
Neville Jagielka Lescott Valente
Osman Arteta Carsley Fernandes
Johnson Anichebe

Wessels, Stubbs, Vaughn, Baines, ??? Rodwell

Paul OHanlon
36 Posted 29/01/2008 at 22:53:45

Jay Harris, I’m no mouth piece of Kenwright. I’m a no voter to the Kirkby move for starters so that tells you something straight away. But what I’m not going to do is blast him in January for not suddenly pulling millions out of a hat. We all know we need extra investment, we also know we don’t have any new investment on the horizon, so my point in response to this article was simple...why are we moaning about this subject now in January when we’ve known about our financial situation all season?

Anyone who thought we’d spend £10+ this transfer window is living with their head in the clouds.

Yes we need extra players (particularly in midfield!) but unless we can do another loan deal or bring someon in for a couple of million I can’t see it happening. Sidwell on loan perhaps on deadline day once Lampard’s fit maybe?

Jay Harris
37 Posted 29/01/2008 at 23:02:54

Paul my point is we have let McFadden go (albeit for a good price)knowing we had players out for Afcon and knowing Grav was crocked and we had other injuries and suspensions looming when the theme of the week since Chelsea has been how do we get to the next level?
If we lose against Spurs and Blackburn we wont even be at THIS level.I just get very frustrated that every time Moyes and the team get us somewhere we fail to invest at the right time.

Jay Harris
38 Posted 29/01/2008 at 23:07:47

Paul
I would happily settle for Sidwell or Sean Davis or any premiership standard midfielder on loan.
But when we talk about Vaughan,AJ or Baines/Valente playing midfield against Spurs I cringe.
If we are to stay at this level we NEED a quality midfielder now!!

Jay Harris
39 Posted 29/01/2008 at 23:11:55

Nick
I have no axe to grind with Moyes at all.
I?m not his greatest fan but I think he?s a good honest hardworking mgr.with the club in his heart.
I just cant stand BK with all the blatant lies and lack of financial support.
If he doesnt have any money why doesnt he move on.
Because he wants his cake and eat it.Any serious investor will see that he hasnt a clue and does not want to surrender his position.So we?re having to eat breadcrumbs while our competitors get stronger.

Chris James
40 Posted 29/01/2008 at 23:08:05

Not sure that Downing would be a bad move (another midfielder who can pass the ball, allowing Pieenaar or Arteta to move inside) but central midfield cover like Sidwell or Vogel would be most useful in immediate future.

Shouts for Bentley are a tad naive...I’m not sure we could encompass his wage expectations or his ego to be honest. If he leaves Blackburn (who surely consider themselves a top 8 club like ourselves) it’ll be to a ’glamour’ club darn souf, most likely up the Arse, Chelski or maybe if he’s particularly misguided even the Spurs.

Judging by some of the comments on here, we should really be looking north of the border and I don’t mean Alan Hutton...I’m thinking more Sergeant Fraser.
Oh Mr Moyes suh, we’re doomed, DOOOOMED I say!

Tom Carter
41 Posted 30/01/2008 at 12:39:19

Spot on Jay totally agree.

Tom Carter
42 Posted 30/01/2008 at 12:48:06

Nick Marsh, no im not saying they should say were selling players but when we are told no one will be leaving and more players need to be brought in then thats what you expect, with Mcfadden going and Fernandes in we are in the same situation, as you will see tonight with kids on the bench.

Ric Wallace
43 Posted 30/01/2008 at 13:21:48

Let’s face it guys.

We don’t have enough money to buy more than 2 or 3 quality players a season. And up until this season we have often let huge numbers of average players go, reducing the playing squad.

What we have now are over 10+ internationals in our first team squad.
But it’s taking time to build.

Would we rather have average squads like Newcastle and West Ham who have a lot a players on their books...but of no real quality.

We knew the ACN and injuries would affect us this season for a short period, so can we shut up and just get on with the task in hand. We’ve managed to move from 6th to 4th without our African players FFS!