ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

Colm

So much for his dream of playing in Kirkby, eh?

Adam Doyle
1 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:00:02

I’m a little pessimistic about selling a squad player when we already have a thread-bare size squad as it is. I hope we get a last minute, Deadline Day loan signing.

Graham Nolan
2 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:00:58

So if Jags or Joleon get injured we are screwed. I presume Stubbs wanted to play first team football, best of luck to him. He will be kept busy with derby.

mark-chester
3 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:02:55

So now we have 3 centre backs, shit, lets hope they don’t get injured or suspended!

andy brittenden
4 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:02:16

This really is BAD business for the club if we dont replace him. This would mean that we only have two fit senior central defenders at the club for the next couple of weeks. I acknowledge that Jags and Lescott are playing very well at the moment but what happens if one of them gets injured? Lescott hasnt missed a game but i’m sure he’s not bomb proof even if he is god!!! The only option I could see would be for neville to play at CB but it wouldn’t be my first choice with his lack of pace, plus i’m sure his confidence will have taken a knock by being left out of the England squad.

Stefan Tosev
5 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:06:22

I agree its a bad timing and it leaves us exposed at the back with so many games coming

Dan McKie
6 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:08:38

Im hoping Moyes pulls 1 or 2 out of the bag this evening! I know Stubbs has been good to the club but the club still must come first and to leave us so vulnerable is a really strange move!

Louis
7 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:09:05

Can’t believe it! I know he wasn’t getting games, but I was under the impression that he was making the transition to coaching, getting involved in the Reserve team set up and other coaching roles. Good luck Stubbsy - when the summer comes around and Derby go down despite your best efforts, please come back and get back on track with becoming an Everton coach!

Andrew Humphrey
8 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:09:45

Is this a sign that Moyes has real faith in Rodwell and Gosling? Or just that things are so tight we need squad players like Stubbs and Mcfadden off the wages?

robert aspinall
9 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:09:17

i can’t believe moyes could be that stupid as to not already have someone lined up to step into the thin squad we have, especially as it means it is one less player for europe, so i just hope to god he has someone already in place otherwise can we send our centre backs out in bubble wrap please

patty blue
10 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:13:10

Oh ye of ltitle faith!!

Michael Hunt
11 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:14:23

I though Stubbs would stay and preserve some defensive depth in our quest for top 4 finish, which could be a turning point in our becoming a truly top side for years to come. Ah well, I guess cash is king and minutes on the pitch for Derby County in a doomed relegation scrap is more important to the player.

Oliver McAdam
12 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:14:36

This is a great shame, what he can do on the pitch is not up to the standard or 2-3 years ago, and he is far too slow, however his influence on the rest of the team is massive.

Lescott or Yobo would not be anyway near as good as they are if he was not around.

I hope he has a better time at Deby than he did at Sunderland and hope he returns in a coaching position in 18 months.

Hopefully it means there is something in the pipeline, even if it is a loan because god help us if Lescott or Jags get injured in next couple of weeks.

The main dissapointment was that it was not announced yesterday, he could have made a 1 minute cameo appearance or at least a half time parade, so everton fans could show him the respect he deserves.

Allan Hobbs
13 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:22:12

Fabio Cannavaro has just been seen going into Goodison wearing a blue scarf.

terry.smith
14 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:26:27

This is Everton for god sake. We never do things easy.And there is no way im staying up this time to see if we sign someone.
Why on earth has he sold 2 major squad players & vice captain in Stubbs & McFadden with fixture pile ups and europe plus 4th spot without replacing them.

Paul Smith
15 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:37:55

IMWT!!

I’m sure we will have something in the pipeline but if we get to 00:00:00 tonight with no signing even the most ardent Moyes fan (such as myself) will have to question how this season will end.

NSNO

Ps Requelme anyone?!?!?!?!

Darren Manning
16 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:35:31

So much for Gosling being one for the future ay? If Jags or Joleon got sent off/injured at Blackburn wouldn’t Gosling have to start against Reading? I’d agree that Stubbs was never going to be worth a new contract- although I’m not sure what his wages were? but thought he may have continued in his coaching role after the summer. Shame he couldn’t have got to 200 games for us as well, think he was on around 190?

chris keightley
17 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:38:32

I would say fingers crossed he has a replacement coming tonight on loan, otherwise this will seem a very silly thing to do, or maybe hes ready to throw rodwell into the first team if he does then lets hope its gradually.

mark-chester
18 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:36:17

Lets face facts, we ain’t gonna sign anybody.

I do trust moyes but losing 2 players and not adding to an already small squad is madness.

I think the ANC finishes in a week anyway so we will have players back soonish.

Dawson Boyle
19 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:41:26

Has to be Daniel Van Buyten.

He’s still looking to go out on loan somewhere.

Really sad to see Stubbs go.

Stefan Tosev
20 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:32:51

Or maybe Andrew is right and Joe Beardwood prediction of the need of balacing the books is true.

However I doubt that Stubbs will be much missed. We have 3 central defenders plus PN, who can cover this position as well.

Darren Manning
21 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:43:21

The final is on the 10th of Feb Mark, think the 3rd place play off is the 9th, so if nigeria win 1 more game then we would be without Yobo for Reading and would have to rush him back for Brann. Yakubu still being out there bothers me more, but we’re 1 injury/suspension from a bit of a crisis at centre half- for a week or so anyway!

Darren Manning
22 Posted 31/01/2008 at 16:43:21

The final is on the 10th of Feb Mark, think the 3rd place play off is the 9th, so if nigeria win 1 more game then we would be without Yobo for Reading and would have to rush him back for Brann. Yakubu still being out there bothers me more, but we’re 1 injury/suspension from a bit of a crisis at centre half- for a week or so anyway!

Chris Briddon
23 Posted 31/01/2008 at 17:03:45

Why is everybody getting so upset about us selling a 36 year old 4th choice central defender, who has only played once since November, and that in a cup match to rest Lescott.

Surely we have some back up reserve (Rodwell?) who can cover as 4th choice defender if required.

What this move does say is how well Jagielka has done this season, as in August no-one would have considered this a possibility. However, jags performances this season (particularly since ACON) have shown that Stubbs is unlikely to play baring a major injury crisis, and given he’s in the last few months of his contract and has been offered an 18 month deal, it is unfair of us to stand in his way.

chrisr
24 Posted 31/01/2008 at 17:04:55

book balancing bollocks....

Maybe it is just a good manager allowing a valued (but aging) player to get one last big contract and part of Moyes’ fundamentally open approach to management and dealing with players.

We’ve seen this before, not standing in the way of player’s leaving even whemn we needed them, and I think it’s symtomatic of his style of management which creates a good atmosphere in the squad.

*waits for chorus of abuse based, erroniously, around my being paid by the club to write these things*

Ed Casey
25 Posted 31/01/2008 at 17:08:14

I didn’t see that one coming! But hes gone to Derby on a free and lets be honest if he made it to the end of the season it was most likely going to be his last in a blue jersey! They’ve come in for him, Moyes and Stubbs have had a word the upshot of which was:
Moyes: ’Al, you can go to Derby and get well stuck into a fighting dogs of war relegation campaign and play for 18 months or you can stay here, warm the bench unless we are forced to play you cos of injury/suspension until the end of the season and then thats it!’
Stubbs: ’Ok, bye then!’
Stubbs was a relatively good servant of Everton (apart from when he was going to sue us over ballgate) and was on his day a very decent centre back. But on his off day he was fucking god awful!
Hes gone! No biggy! Lets get rid of Grav too - it was a mistake bringing him back in the first place (smacked of desparation). Lets build for the future - something Moyes is doing a good job of. We can hold out until the end of the season, we might fall short of Champions League qualification but I’d be surprised if we collapsed so badly we fall out of a UEFA place. We’ve been doing OK since the AFCON players have gone (in the league at least) and it’ll be a real boon when they get back. Especially when we’ve got soemoen who can score in front of the goal!
See ya Stubbsy! Nothing but the best!

Jonathan Fletcher
26 Posted 31/01/2008 at 17:26:43

This is madness if Moysey hasn’t got someone lined up.

In Moyes we trust.

Ed Casey
27 Posted 31/01/2008 at 17:24:57

ps terry smith - Fixture pile-up? Including Brann we’ve got 16 matches before the last game of the season which is 14 weeks and three days away (average of 1 game per week)! If we progress all the way to the UEFA final we have a max of 23 in the same period (lowering average to game every four and a half days) - I reckon thats managebale on the current squad!

Paul Kellett
28 Posted 31/01/2008 at 15:34:12

Just seen we've let Stubbsy go to Derby. I know he has only been a fringe player this season but as we are down to the bones wouldn't it have been more sensible to keep his experience at the club?

It only takes a knock or suspension to hit Yobo/Lescott/Jags and we would be struggling for cover. Let lone the impact he can have in the dressing room as a motivational part of the team. Surely players look up to him ?

I think we need as bigger squad as we can get and letting him go might be a mistake......you watch he'll hit one of his thunderbolt free kicks for Derby at our place on 6th April !!!! Am I panicking too much !!! I just want 4th SO much !

Yusuf Bobat
29 Posted 31/01/2008 at 15:39:20

Why has DM let Stubbs go to Derby while Yobo is still away we will be seriously short in centre defence if Lescott or Jags pick up a injury.

Sorry to see Stubbsy go he was a great servant and I wish him well.

Paul OHanlon
30 Posted 31/01/2008 at 15:37:46

Is anyone else surprised we've allowed Stubbs to leave mid season for no fee?

We already know from last night just how small our squad is and with 4th place and UEFA Cup glory to play for in the 2nd half of the season I'd of thought we'd need all the players and experience we can get.

Jags is now the only cover we have at centre half (presuming Yobo and Lescott are first choice) and if Moyes decides to play Lescott at left back, as he's done so often this season, this leaves no central cover. Seems a strange decision to me, just hope it doesn't end up costing us.

Steve Ferns
31 Posted 31/01/2008 at 17:31:03

"It’s madness!" Not it is not.

Last season we had Stubbs, Lescott, and Yobo and Neville was the fourth choice centre half if needed. Now Jagielka has pushed Stubbs down to fourth choice. Yes its a shame to see a big blue leave and yes he was a good and loyal servant (we’ll forget the Sunderland saga), but he is 36 and the last time he played in the league was the derby where he really was poor.

Its best to get rid of the big man. He’ll be missed, but he needs to play and we should respect that. What I hope now is that we see Rodwell make the step up required. Not so much in that he starts playing week in week out, but rather he takes Stubb’s place in the first team squad and warms the bench till Yobo comes back.

If there are injuries, then Hibbert will play right back and Neville will cover the centre with one of Jagielka or Lescott. Touch wood, our younger centre halves don’t seem to be injured much.

Good Luck Stubbs and thanks for the memories.

Michael Hunt
32 Posted 31/01/2008 at 17:37:16

Stubbs is gone so one down, but Peanuts is flying back tomorrow! He is only on the bench tonight in AFCoN resting a minor knock on his ankle. They are winning, but should still be out as they’d need a 5 goal swing in their favour including the other game (which is 0-0 at the minute)...not half time yet though...come back soon Peanut and hope your not dry roasted from the Ghanain heat!!

Paul
33 Posted 31/01/2008 at 17:01:13

best of luck stubbsy, been a good servant for the blues, a true leader but most of all a true blue. we’ll miss ya! looking forward jack rodwell has been impressive for the reserves and has already made a senior app so maybe moyes feels he can call upon him? who knows but lets trust moyes to run the team his way, 4th in the league, above the shite, got to 1 game from wemberley, going strong in europe with the best crop of players we’ve had in years! COYB

Steve Ferns
34 Posted 31/01/2008 at 17:43:36

Further to above comments about Lescott playing left back, I know he can do a job there, but I would rather see him at centre half where he belongs and Baines playing there. Baines did well against Spurs and hopefully between now and hte end of the season we will see Baines or Valante there. If both get injured then Neville can play there and Hibbert can come in at right back.

No one will be brought in, what’s the point? Yes we may be thin in numbers but there is still a strong team once the pack is shuffled. Furthermore, why spend £2-5m on a new centre half, aged presumably 22-27 when he’ll be 3rd or 4th choice? That would be a waste of money. We are better off just watching and waiting to see how Rodwell developes and then make a move in the summer if it looks like we are short.

Remember, we’ve only lost a sub, someone who usually does not even get on the bench when everyone is fit. Anyone of us can do that!

Stefan Tosev
35 Posted 31/01/2008 at 17:59:34

Another blow - Pienaar is injured and out out of SA squad,Tim is also out for the next 2 games and Osman is doubt as well - it leaves us with only 3 fit midfielders for the games against Reading and Rovers

John Martin
36 Posted 31/01/2008 at 18:35:49

I’d like to wish Alan Stubbs all the best for the future at Derby and look forward to his return to Goodison.
He’s been a good servant to the club but i think some people are panicing a bit too much. He is our 4th choice and people are saying what IF we get injuries but thats the same as most clubs aside from the Sky 4, Does anybody know Man city’s 4th choice centre half or Aston villa’s ?
We have a squad better than most still despite his leaving and what if these other teams get injuries can they cope.
They wont as well as us

Tom McGillicuddy
37 Posted 31/01/2008 at 19:25:52

A theory: part of the "transfer" of Stubbs to Derby was the provision of first option on Giles Barnes, who will move in the Summer window. We’ve had our Downing interest spurned; Moyes seems to be after a left-sided midfielder... Just A Theory. I haven’t heard it from Bill Kenwright’s Gardener’s Dog’s Vet’s Wife or anything.

Kiern Moran
38 Posted 31/01/2008 at 19:54:25

I think Andrew Humphrey was spot on, Rodwell and Gosling are the future? And within a winning top four side now is the ideal time to blood them. Long live the Moyes revolution. Stubbs has earned the right to move on to another club for first team action.

Sally wilson
39 Posted 31/01/2008 at 20:07:53

yes stubbs wasnt black but surely he needs to change aftershave maybe even smoke some drugs?

Stan Sheppard
40 Posted 31/01/2008 at 20:22:00

According to SSPN we are trying to do a few loan deals before the window closes. We definately need depth in the squad to maintain the push for 4th.

Maybe now is the time for the kids, da Silva and VDM. Doubt it though

DAvid Moore
41 Posted 31/01/2008 at 20:39:41

BBC are saying that we are in talks with Riquelme and Ameobi. I question the Ameobi link as i don’t think we need any more strikers. THey also say that AJ is going to Bolton. LEts hope we get the ones in. I wouldn’t mind a decent right back though!!

Mike C
42 Posted 31/01/2008 at 22:12:38

I am sad to see him go. I always loved him. He was one of the first players I met, as an 11 year old, and he was a really nice guy. I will always remember when he gave me his shirt after a match because I asked him. I was made up.

Good Luck Stubbsy

Conor Feeney
43 Posted 31/01/2008 at 22:31:31

Anthony Gardner !!!!

That’s a surprise !

Steve Templeton
44 Posted 31/01/2008 at 22:30:07

Well it looks like Mr Moyes had brought in some cover in the shape of Anthony Gardner from Spurs. That’s if he stays fit enough to play!

Still, 6’5 is exactly what we need at the moment as we look like a team of midgets.

Coyb.

matt bone
45 Posted 31/01/2008 at 23:42:37

Anthony Gardner FFS!!! he cant even get in the spurs side when they only have 3 other fit defenders. he must be a great player. How many times have we seen Stubbs ’win’ a game or a point for us in recent years? I bet AG is not held in the same esteem by spurs fans as stubbs was/is by toffee fans.
How small is our current squad now? - who is available for Saturday? I might take my boots along just in case.
And now Pienaar is crocked too. it just gets better.
What price on yobo getting crocked over the weekend?????

Michael Brien
46 Posted 01/02/2008 at 07:28:10

I don’t want to be seen as being one of the "Let’s have a go at Moyes" brigade - I think that he is doing a brilliant job.I am just VERY CONCERNED as to our lack of numbers as we move into the final stages of the season - and we battle on 2 fronts.
We have signed 3 players ( but 2 are loan signings) and trasnferred out 3 players.So we haven’t added to our numbers really. Stubbs - a veteran yes - but we certainly missed him when he went to Sunderland. What he was lacking in pace he more than made up for in his reading of the game.I hoped that he was going to be " groomed" for a coaching position, Reserve Team coach with Andy Holden being promoted to Assitant Manager. Maybe that could still be a possibility - after all Stubbsy has left before and come back !!
I hope that in the summer transfer window, we can make the Pienaar and Fernandes deals permanent and Gardner too if he does well enough.
Good luck to Alan Stubbs - a great shame we didn’t sign you sooner in your career and curses to the person who told you when you were a trainee at Everton that you had no future in professional football.

Marty B
47 Posted 01/02/2008 at 09:43:33

Just a short note to say thank you and good luck Stubbsy lad!!!
I will be amongst the 40,000 blues who will raise the roof in an ovation to you when you return with Derby.
Moysey you have been put on notice!!
If you fuck in a year or 2 Stubbsy will be back as boss!!
The blue dream ticket Stubbsy,Rhino & Big Dunc!!
Pity the overpriced nancy boy who tries to cross them!!