ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Ar(you)shavin a laff?

Sat here watching Russia steam past Sweden and seeing our last lingering hopes of landing Arshavin evaporate in a cloud of smoking agents with pound signs in their eyes and thoughts of 'my clients looking for Champions League football' forming in their greedy little pea-sized brains.

Although I never expected us to make any in roads into the market till late June/early July I have to say that I think we've missed out on a brilliant opportunity here. We fans (and we're led to believe Moyes too) have had our eye on this lad since our UEFA group game and had we acted earlier we might have had a genuine chance of landing him ? although not a certainty.

Now he's a Russian hero though, we'll have all the Premier league suspects (doubtless including a prominent countryman) wearing a path to his door, he'll be £10mill+ with wages to match and the chance of us signing him are about as good as Liverpool sharing their new stadium...

Ah well, onwards and sideways... at least we won't face any additional competition when persuing those Polish, Swiss, Greek, Austrian and Romanian starlets. We might be able to pick up some cut-price aging French and Czechs too!
Chris James, Dispair Posted 18/06/2008 at 20:52:25

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Mark Griffiths
1 Posted 18/06/2008 at 21:16:06

I will keep this simple, if there is any truth in the Arshavin to Everton stories, SIGN HIM, he is quality!

Anyone disagree?

Alisdair Denny
2 Posted 19/06/2008 at 05:53:27

We didn’t have any competition from the big guns when we were signing Arteta, Cahill, Lescott or Pienaar either, and they haven’t turned out too bad.
And let’s face it, if you were an international player with great belief in your abilities and were about to play in one of the most important tournaments in world football - would you sign for a good club on a good wage beforehand, or wait until you have played (and hopefully starred) in the tournament with the intention of getting a more lucrative contract with an even better club?

Graham Tansey
3 Posted 19/06/2008 at 07:43:22

Over priced! Over paid!

Tony Part
4 Posted 19/06/2008 at 07:47:40

If we could sign one player this summer it would have to be Arshavin..
The sad thing is I think we will be behind a cue of the likes of Italy's best clubs, Spain's best clubs and if Liverpool or Man Utd come in for him behind them too and also at this moment unless he?s desperate for Premier League football why leave Zenit?
Arshavin is great quality SIGN HIM

Nick Xenos
5 Posted 19/06/2008 at 08:05:08

If we are going to sign ’The Man’, we may as well sign his team mate Jerkoff...I mean Zhirkov as well.
Arshavin was a different class yesterday. It will be interesting to see how he does against better opposition in the Q/F.

Michael McDonald
6 Posted 19/06/2008 at 08:18:45

£10M+ is a lot of money, especially for Everton. However, I believe he is worth it and think Moyes should buy him. I think he is just what we need (along with Engelaar) to break into that illustrious top 4!

Patty Beesley
7 Posted 19/06/2008 at 08:34:09

They are asking £15 million for him and he is on £50,000 a week now - enough said!!!

Michael Brien
8 Posted 19/06/2008 at 08:33:16

Chris - those countries who have been eliminated from Euro 2008 have still got good players within their teams and shouldn’t be dismissed, after all how did England do at Euro 2008 ?

Not all the best signings are the ones that get all the publicity e.g. Jagielka last summer - seen by some Evertonians to be a waste; the fact that he was from a relegated club was mentioned a few times.Any doubters now ? Very few I think. Steven Pienaar - not having the best of times at Borussia Dortmund- now would you say he has proved a good signing. I think I detect a chorus of Yes.

I would like us to sign Arshavin - but if we don’t let’s move on. Let’s show some faith in Moyes, he has a good record in his transfer dealings.And le’ts not forget it’s not always the headline making deals that are the most successful - I doubt whether there were too many columns in the national papers about either the Jagielka or the Pienaar deal.

Terry Smith
9 Posted 19/06/2008 at 08:46:57

I was saying to my mates if we had any chance of signing Arshavin it will have to be before the euros. Now that he has caught the eye of everyone his value will go up and there is talks of Arsenal prepared to put a bid in. Now let's be honest Arsenal or Everton?????

Only Evertonians will say Everton and the rest will say Arsenal. This will be one player who would of made a huge huge impact on the Everton squad. There is also talks of Everton putting a bid in for the Dutch lad who I think will improve the defensive midfield.

Paul Lenehan
10 Posted 19/06/2008 at 09:21:31

It's all very well saying sign him. If only it was that simple. I would say its reasonable to assume Arshavin will not be agreeing to any transfer until after the tournament. Did he not say it would be a dream to play for Barca?

Carl Warriner
11 Posted 19/06/2008 at 09:23:14

Can?t see Arsenal being interested now as they?ve just agreed a deal to sign Samir Nasri from Marseille a very similar player to Arshavin. I?d definitely consider Zhirkov as well for left midfield he?s got a fantastic left foot on him and puts in some real quality crosses.

El-ray Jackson
12 Posted 19/06/2008 at 09:29:07

The chance to sign has long gone my friends. If we wanted him them Moyes should have signed him after our encounter with Zenith when his price tag was around £8mil and he was on lower wages, but since then his wages have rocketed to £50k a wk and hes valued at around £12mil-£15mil. The ship has long gone.

Rupert Coghlan
13 Posted 19/06/2008 at 09:40:39

I can’t help but feel we’ve missed out big time here - should have signed the lad in January when we sold McFadden.

Whilst our stature has improved significantly over the last 2-3 years, we simply can’t compete with the Champions League Teams in Italy, Germany, Spain and of course, the Sky 4.

Nelly Blythe
14 Posted 19/06/2008 at 10:11:01

Pure Quality.....and quality costs !!

£15 mil Bentley...£10 mil Arshavin... NO CONTEST in my eyes

Jason Lam
15 Posted 19/06/2008 at 10:11:00

AA was not going to move to us in January having been UEFA-cup tied and a chance to win it with Zenit anyway. The rest is history and so is our dream playmaker. It’s all Wyness’ fault again.

Tony Waverleas
16 Posted 19/06/2008 at 10:24:58

Why do people insist on saying nonsense like we should have signed this or that player last January/August/whenever?
Let’s suppose we did try to sign Arshavin during the last window (and I’m as much in posession of the facts as anyone else on here, ie. I don’t have a clue as to what they are) but he told us he was happy where he was - a statement borne I’m out by his side winning the Uefa Cup, their own domestic league, qualifying for next year’s Champions’ League and playing for a club owned by the mega-rich company, Gazprom.
So, why do fans come on here and blithely state we should have signed him as if they’re talking about some lad they’ve spotted having a few decent games in the Zingari league?

Tony Marsh
17 Posted 19/06/2008 at 11:19:46

Acting quickly and being desicive, these are qualities that David Moyes does not possess. Surely even the most ardent DM followers should now this by now?

Neil Scott
18 Posted 19/06/2008 at 11:28:07

Just read on some websites that Arsenal are in for Arshavin. That?s it - GAME OVER! Let?s forgot this guy is ever going to sign for us now!!!!
Shame!

Nick Xenos
19 Posted 19/06/2008 at 11:34:43

If ever Arshavin was going to sign for a team in the Premier League, it will be for one team and one team only...Chelski. Lets forget about him and move on.

Tony Waverleas
20 Posted 19/06/2008 at 11:42:29

Tony Marsh

a) David Moyes wins substantial damages from Wayne Rooney, Hunter Davies and HarperCollins and donates all monies to a former Everton players charitable foundation to widespread appreciation on here and elsewhere. Not a peep from Mr Marsh.

b) David Moyes "fails" to sign a player no-one can prove he is actually interested in. Mr Marsh seizes opportunity to get a dig in about David’s character.
Sad.

Michael Brien
21 Posted 19/06/2008 at 12:03:38

Tony Marsh - I have to agree with Tony Waverleas’ comments and add some of my own. You criticise DM saying that he doesn’t act quicky,he is not decisive - have you been on another planet these last 2 seasons - the planet miserable moaning git by any chance ? Moyes has quite a decent record in the transfer market - he has far more sucesses than failures. And even Fergie over at OT signed Djemba-Djemba and that Italian goalkeeper to replace Scmeichel.

Perhaps I was harsh in my remarks - but given your constant criticism of Moyes and the fact that you seem reluctant to give him any credit at all - I think that you deserve them. If you want guaranteed sucess why don’t you follow Celtic or Rangers. Or buy yourself a Championship Manager game and cheat - leave the real world to the grown ups.

Tony Marsh
22 Posted 19/06/2008 at 12:14:40

OK Tony Waverleas David Moyes is out of the traps like a Greyhound when it comes to making signings if thats what you want to hear. Then again not so long ago a lot of our fans used the term Dithering Dave ? why was that Tony? WTF has Rooney's payout got to do with Moyes being slow on transfers?

Carl Rimmer
23 Posted 19/06/2008 at 12:17:06

Watching Arshavin last night who by the way was absolute quality reminded me of a former blue hero by the name of Peter Beardsley. Anyone else think he plays in a similar way? His control and vision were a joy to watch and if there is any chance of signing him we should do it quickly.

Andrew Fletcher
24 Posted 19/06/2008 at 12:27:53

Perhaps we can swap him for AVDM

Stuart Mitchell
25 Posted 19/06/2008 at 12:29:11

Tony Marsh the transfer window is not even open yet, the Euros are still running as well, so players not available to discuss contracts.

Give Moyes a chance, he has been pretty damn hot in the transfer market for us in the past.

I am sure he will pull some great signings out of the bag this summer

Liam Young
26 Posted 19/06/2008 at 12:31:14

Arshavin is quality, a commited player. hard working, good creativity, and he can get in the box and score goals. Yes he costs a lot, yes his wages are big, but if we realistically want the Sky 4 broken down, this is what we must go for, not Championship bargains. The players we have signed like Lescott, Cahill have been great signings, but now we must aim for top players like Arshavin, Joaquin. The problem is have we got the money?

What's happening at Goodison? As far as we are aware, Moyes still has no indication of what he has to spend, he still hasn?t signed a new contract... Is everton in the process of being taken over? Who knows?

But if we don?t start pulling our finger out we will be left behind, because we won't finish 4th or higher without making some top signings. David Moyes has worked hard and brought Everton back up the league, the least he deserves is the financial backing.

Lee Spargo
27 Posted 19/06/2008 at 12:43:40

What makes you think that he would have signed before, or that he will not sign now anyway?

Let the club deal with the transfers withour moaning. As Stuart says, DM is quite good in that respect.

Anthony Osullivan
28 Posted 19/06/2008 at 13:04:38

I said we needed to get him in Jan, but yet again the waiting game has blown up in our face.

Reg Height
29 Posted 19/06/2008 at 13:11:32

Stuart Mitchell

According to the FA site the window opened 1st June

Colin Smith
30 Posted 19/06/2008 at 12:58:22

Arshavin looks a quality player & much better value for money than the 15 mil sums being touted for Bentley. None of us have any idea who Moyes is looking to buy & why should we. Maybe he has already made offer an offer and been turned down, maybe Arshavin wants to go to Spain. Its also possible he wants to stay at Zenit, a good team, playing in the Champions League next season. He is after all a local lad & a Zenit fan, there are some strange players who are content to play out there dreams for their local team.

Dave Wilson
31 Posted 19/06/2008 at 13:28:04

Arshavin ? yippee ! ! !

Why dont we sign Ronaldo, Kaka and Messi as well ?

Tony Williams
32 Posted 19/06/2008 at 13:48:25

Anthony, we are not dealing with a PC simulation here. What has blown up in our face?

Do you honestly think a player in a good side who were closing in on the league title (or just won it) and were plodding along nicely in the Wafer Cup would just drop it all and come to us?

Skirtle went to the redshite because they were in the Champions League, what could we offer Shaved Arse in Jan? At best a fight for 4th place.

We should have bought him Jan....give me strength!!

Andrew Preece
33 Posted 19/06/2008 at 13:40:07

Well said Colin. Who’s to say we didn’t approach him in January and he turned us down? How would that be dithering or playing the waiting game?

Mike Grundy
34 Posted 19/06/2008 at 11:39:10

Just read Phil Mcnulty's article on the BBC Sport website about Arshavin, and how he will never in a million years come to Everton. Aparantly he would prefer a much more illustrious club than us! Harsh But Fair?? Does anyone else find this extremely disrespectful?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/euro2008/2008/06/arshavin_looks_premier_league.html

Michael Ward
35 Posted 19/06/2008 at 16:48:31

I was under the impression that Arshavin had said in the past that he would like to play for us.

We will see, lets see what happens when Russia’s Euro 2008 is finished.

I read Phil McNulty too, a more illustrious club like city who are in Europe because they are nice boys and all the nicer ones are better than them already

MIke Dayton
36 Posted 19/06/2008 at 19:03:09

Sadly McNulty’s perception is one that most people that are not Evertonians agree with at the moment. I feel with the Yak signing it shocked many more people than most realise. I think the ambition is there it’s just we can’t make many mistakes when the stakes are high. I think Arshavin is a must and would fit in quite nicely. I also think Moyes will get his man if he doesn’t and doesn’t get the backing he may himself forget to sign a contract. Bare that in mind.

Tony Waverleas
37 Posted 19/06/2008 at 20:19:19

Tony Marsh

You are the same Tony Marsh who labelled David Moyes a coward on here last season aren’t you? And you are the same Tony Marsh who accused David of lacking class, leadership and bottle? Or is that another Tony Marsh? Because if it is you (and it is you) then expecting to have a sane discussion with you about David Moyes is probably going to be a waste of both our times.
But here goes.
David Moyes will never win with fans like you. Why? Because if he doesn’t sign the players you want, at the exact time you want them and at the price you think they are worth then you moan he isn’t doing his job properly.
Personally, I think the only thing that matters is David signs players when he wants them. And given his record in the transfer market (Joleon, the two Tims, The Yak, Mikel, etc) you’d have to say he’s doing pretty fine.
Actually, doubtless Tony you wouldn’t say he’s doing fine and will inevitably trot out the names Beattie and Kroldrup and point the finger. Undoubtedly, these two were duds but rather than say the experience has taught David to take extra caution with his signings for fear of repeating past mistakes you prefer to acuse him of being slow off the mark.

Where fans like you are concerned sadly David’s damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.

Dave Gerrard
38 Posted 19/06/2008 at 22:13:08

Tony Marsh, I?m not going to slate you like some others on here because you are obviously a Blue and are entitled to your opinion as much as anyone ele.

I would like to point out, however, that we do not have unlimited funds like some clubs seem to at the minute, and spending money on any player (particularly one from outside the Prem), is a calculated risk. I think overall Moyes has done us proud with some astute signings in his tenure, and given that our financial situation means that we need to spend our money extremely wisely, I say take all the time you need Mr Moyes. I would rather see us get the players we need on the last day of the transfer window than us blow our budget in some misguided rush to sign players immediately.

Roy Coyne
39 Posted 19/06/2008 at 22:59:04

To be honest, when it comes to transfers, I thought Moyes gives his targets to Kenwright who then makes stupid bids and when offered reasonable fees (by today?s standards) he backs off or takes that long we lose out.

Michael Brien
40 Posted 20/06/2008 at 07:24:33

Dave Gerrard - yes Tony Marsh is entitled to his opinion - but he slags off Moyes at every opportunity and slates anyone who disagrees with his views.If it’s respect and consideration for his views and opinions he wants then perhaps he should give that to those who don’t agree with him

Perhaps he should consider that we are not the only club to miss out on "transfer targets". Man Utd were also linked with Ramsay - so in moving to Arsenal it wasn’t just us he turned down.We are not the only club interersted in Arashavin.You win some you lose some - that’s how it’s always been.

I think Tony Waverleas summed up Tony Marsh’s attitude - whatever Moyes does - he will find fault with.
I remember my Dad used to have a season ticket in Upper Bullens Road and the guy next to him never really liked Bob Latchford. Well in Oct ’77 I think it was ;Bob scored 4 down at Loftus Road in a 5-1 win over QPR. This bloke went to that game - the following week at the game at Goodison he was telling my Dad about the QPR game. My old man couldn’t resist saying " Latchford did well then scoring 4 goals" To which the bloke replied - " Yeah but he should have scored 10" !!!!!!!! The moral of the story being you can never please some people.If Moyes signs Arashavin and he has a brilliant season for us - no doubt the Tony Marshs of this world will only moan - we should have signed him in January 2008!!!!!!!

Michael Brien
41 Posted 20/06/2008 at 07:40:59

Tony Waverleas - totally agree with your comments, good reminder of Moyes record in the transfer market which as you point out is pretty fine.

Dave Gerrard - only disgreed with you on the point of being nice to Mr Marsh !!! Agree with your point about the timings - as you say - does it matter whether we get the right blokes now or in the last few days of the transfer window. I think we signed Nigel Martin on deadline day - he was pretty good.

Patty Beesley
42 Posted 20/06/2008 at 10:22:29

I?d do for Podoski [ is thsat the right spelling?] of the German team on his performances in the competition so far and, in particular, last night. Reckon he would look good in an Everton strip!!

Terry Maddock
43 Posted 20/06/2008 at 11:10:10

I think Arshavin is the closest I have seen to Bergakamp anywhere, worth £20 mill of anyone's cash.. if we have it..