Alan Smith plays mainly in midfield for utd, and most of those games he was sub or subbed. He?s not utilised as a striker in any sense of the word.

Richardson is a squad player at utd, but again thats of Alex Fergusons making - to say he?s a squad player is churlish. Give him a full-time place I reckon the kid will shine. He has pace, skill, good crosser, can beat people and he can finish. Plus he can play left or right side = good signing.

The posts on here are the same now day after day, is there nothing else worth talking about?

The cricket maybe!?

I'm not convinced about Jagielka altho i havent really seen much of him to really judge him. Smith on the other hand would be a brilliant signing. Not to play in midfield but upfront with AJ. Finally bring a bit of agression to the front line. Playing week in week out I'm sure the goals would come.

Again with Richardson playing week in week out would bring out the best him in. He?s a class above Osman and McFadden (if you class him as a wide man). oth players would add depth in quality to the squad. So far the best players we?ve been linked with.

I’d just like to say that if we sign Richardson, he will just be another Stephen Hughes - Lots of promise, but at the end of the day too inconsistent to make an impact and will eventually be sold in 2 years time for a bag of balls to someone like Southport.

Remeber the story about Archie Knox twating him and Nyarko?

?Im not convinced about Jagielka altho i havent really seen much of him to really judge him?

Unbelievable statement, how can you not be convinced by someone you?ve never seen. He was the captain of his team at 24, is on the verge of being selected in the England squad is 6ft, strong and quick and can play in a number of different positions. Sheffield United fans all speak very highly of him and the club were desperate for him not to leave. I?ll judge him after he?s actually turned out for the team.

Well Jags has signed and for less wages than offered else where proving he was keen to join us which is pleasing I can not understand some fans not wanting him as he fits the basic criteria IE does he improve the squad yes.Like most fans I want the best for the blues but we can not afford the £20odd millions that would cost so lets be realistic Smith or Nuggent Id take both personally if we can sell Biffa.But must admit I’m not keen on Richardson maybe Manny is clouding my judgement any how at last we have started to buy in this window like a lot of others I was getting concerned

Seems to be a lot of negativity towards Richardson, I remember him almost single-handidly keeping WBA in the league. Looked a handful and particually in home matches would be a quality attacking player. Much prefer him to Koumas although I have a feeling Koumas will be the more popular choice. Man Utd fringe players have come good for us...

I honestly cannot understand where all this support for Smith comes from - Never mind the he played mainly in midfield for ManU - he averages no more than a goal per 5 games over his whole career - was crap for England.... what is it exactly that we will profit from him?

I?ve always rated Jagielka as an honest pro, he?s never going to be an Henry or Ronaldo but that?s not his strength, see him as more of a younger Carsley and I think you?ll soon be impressed.

Now if we could only sign a Fernandes or other flair player that would cheer me up.

I know we do need added quality into the first team but we also need new squad depth. I think these players are a good compromise. Whilst I?m not sure whether any of them will go on to become star players (personally I?m dubious about Smith in particular given the pricetag), they are also a cut above the Naysmith, McFadden style squad player. For me they will add quality to the first team without revolutionising it but will also add depth to the squad allowing us to not feel the impact of an injured Cahill, Johnson or, god forbid, Arteta so heavily.

Smith would be a great signing, works hard and when plays up front can score goals. But he isnt a free-scoring striker, but will take away much of the pressure from AJ and also links the midfield and attck. With his experience he could be a great influence, he also has alot to prove and seems determined to do so. It would also be nice for everton for have 2 endland strikers and 1 england u-21 striker.

Richardson I think is an over-rated player and would look average at Everton, but if cheap I wouldnt say no as we need squad and he can also play full back.

One player I would like to see us go in for though would be Thiago Motta. He is a very good defensive mid (look at how poor Barca played when they took him off against the shite), a wealth of Euro experience and still young. With 1 year left on his contract and YaYa Toura going to Barca he is available and wouldn’t be too expensive. His wages would be 30-40 but I think he would be a better signing than barton would have been.

With Baines added to this list I would be very satisfied with our summer signings, maybe throw in Zenden or another experienced player for squad depth with the Euro challenge pushing our squad to the limit.
But;
Gk: Howard, Turner, Ruddey
DC:Lescott, Yobo, Stubbs (Jagielka, Neville)
DR:Hibbert, Jagielka, Neville
DL: Baines, Valente, Boyle (Lescott, Neville)
DFM:Carsley, Motta (Smith, Neville, Jagielka)
MC: Cahill, Osman, Vidarsson
MR: Arteta, Richardson (Osman, JAgielka)
ML: Arteta, Richardson (Osman, McFadden)
SC: Johnson, Anichebe, Vaughan, Smith (McFadden, Cahill)

Not a bad squad to continue building with in my opinion.

I imagine when this is posted Jagielka will be a blue, which I think is great news. At 4mil we have signed a a very good player, who will provide us with quality at right back. In europe, good full backs are essential, also to have an effective 4-4-2 system, and pleasing football on the eye it is essential. Look at Man U and Neville, when he plays the entire team plays better, and Ronaldo plays better. A quality right back will give Arteta the chance to put through balls down the line, with AJ in the box to recieve the cross not pick up the pass. So I see Jagielka as a much more important signing than others seem to think.

Smith would be brilliant, Euro experience, Hard Worker will get 10-15 goals a season but can also link the midfield and attack so could be a wonderful signing, especially in Europe. Ability to play on right and centre mid is invaluable for a sqaud like ours too.

Richardson I don't really rate, seems leagues below the likes of Lennon, would prefer a bid for Knightley but At least Rich is quick and young, so could be a surprise.

Baines, If we got him and Jagielka with Yobo and Linford Lescott we got a great young defence. Would be very impressed if we got him, also same importance on team as with Jag.

Koumas seems a bit expensive for 1 consistant season in div1. He is talented but his commitment to be as good as he could be seems low, I could see him sulking if he didn't play for 2 games or so, and with Cahill he isn't guarenteed a place. Maybe Moyes could control him, but only if the price goes down.

Nugent, I believe everton have offered 4mil and wont budge, which I think is correct. But I still think he isnot essential and a player like Smith would be a better option. However if he signs for Pompey and bangs in 20 goals we will all criticise Moyes for not taking a risk. Matbe if we could reduce the price or give the McFadden or someone it would be worth a punt.

With reference to our transfer speculation I think we would have a much better squad if Moyes did sign Richardson & Smith from Man U. It?s hard I know, but we have to realise we are not the rich club we once were, and we have to get better slowly.

I look at the squad today and see:

• GK: covered ? Howard, Turner, Ruddy
• Right Back ? Neville, Hibbert... we need a youngster, rumour is Gunter from Cardiff ? buy £1M up front, extra on progress
• Left Back: Valente, Boyle, Naysmith - sell for £1M and buy who?
• Centre Back: Yobo, Lescott, Stubbs ? two good players and one cover but we need one in NOW! I recommend Kevin Hofland from Wolfsburg in Germany available at £6M is a player who has kept them in the Bundesliga recently. After that I?d wait till next year to replace Stubbs;
• Right Midfield: with Arteta we only need cover; Van-Der-Meyde should be sold, £1M; Koumas ? buy for £5M< as he plays well on the right side but also across the whole midfield;
• Left Midfield: Osman, Anderson, for me a problem area, plenty of players but no one who can make a difference so I would welcome Richardson at £2M, he plays well when he is a regular. I would also look to sell McFadden, apart from a great goal he has done nothing! Sel for £2M and buy Richardson for £2m
• Centre Midfield: Carsley, Cahill, Vidarsson Jagielka (I hope) ? a long term replacement for Carsley, there is plenty of cover for Arteta can play, so can Neville and if Koumas is signed, he too. Not forgetting Osman can fill in. However this isn?t good enough in such an important position so another is needed ? Who???
• Forwards: Johnson, Vaughan, Anichebe... I'm happy with the progress of the youngsters Vaughan and so if Smith (£6M) did sign I would want Beattie out (£M) so not to hinder their progress. I think Smith would be a good partner to AJ and would prefer him to the overpriced Nugent.

All in all this would give us a far stronger squad I think than we had last season, and would cost only £18M plus additional recourse for the centre-midfielder and left back we would need.

Now we have Jags in the bag progress can be made,

With Jags, Neville, Hibbo we have enough right backs, and probs have enough at center half now also, as well as holding midfielder.

Therefore can expect two attack minded midfeilders to come in the next two weeks, Richardson and Koumas, i would imagine one of, then maybe someone who has not yet been mentioned.

Also surely if will be easy for Nugent to get his ’dream move’, another 1/2 a season at preston and he will be within our price range, that must be going through his head. Even one more year at his age would not be that much to go to everton rather than pompy!

Have any of you seen Jagielka or Smith play much? I worked in and around Yorkshire for 4 years a while ago and used to go to Leeds Utd and Sheff Utd games regularly. I was hugely impressed with Jags strength and versatility. A very good player. Also ... who was jumping through hoops when Carsely signed, maybe we shouldn’t all be quick to judge? Alan Smith is a quality player and I believe would do very well alongside AJ. Remember he was a replacement for Keane at Utd so goals were not really his job. I do remember him an incredibly passionate player at Leeds Utd, scoring a few goals, captaining the side and getting to the semi’s of the champions league along the way. Richardson I’m not so familier with but I do remember that he had a very good season with west brom the other year and got a few England call ups for his troubles. Anyway, John Paul Kissock is going to come through on the left in a couple of years and set the world alight :-)

Aplogies ... I didn’t read the comments and have made myself look like a bit of a tool, it seems people are more warm to Smith and Jags than I had thought. Well batted everyone!

Not mega-signings granted but we seriously need to beef up our paper-thin squad.

Jagielka would be an excellent piece of business. Moyes looks like he will continue to play 2 holding midfielders so this means cover in this position, centre-half and full-back (Neville). Left back has been a serious problem for us for years so Richardson covering defence & midfield would mean less reliance on the injury prone Naysmith.

Smith is the odd one out. I?m not sure if he would be a replacement for Beattie or as cover for Cahill. He was quite a good player before his injury but I?ve not seen a lot of him since so it would be a risk. I still believe he would do a better job up front by himself than Beattie ever would.

Not wishing to sound too negative but there is still a deafening silence from Goodison regarding Jag. I’ll be happy when he signs on the dotted line. As for Smith we are all talking as if it is a done deal but I haven’t heard anything official about that either!

Gavin, I think I’ve just agreed with you. I don’t know who can do this or that, on the training ground, in the matches, or at the highest level - Faddy for goal of the season? You wouldn’t bet on it, or would you?

So - squad players, rock solid defence (v good these last few years), I’d call it catenaccio if it didn’t remind me of an Italian so-called referee. Then the power to go forward through a creative midfield (San Mikel, best since? (Comments please, but he takes me back a long way).

For me, AJ, JV and his like give us an extra player or 2 on the pitch as the opposition spend the match worrying about us, instead of doing what they should do, which is trying to win the game.

Of course we need more numbers if we get the season we hoe we get, and even some old duffers can fill a slot or 2 when they have to get their boots on, but I’m all for the flair players who can get their boots on in the morning.

Did DM catch Fernandes in bed with his wife? because that is the only reason why I wouldn’t sign him.

So yet again we are linked with another (can’t score in a brothel) striker. Yeh he works hard... like Santa, but can we afford to piss away another 6M.

Richardson IS proven at all levels. We need flair, he has it and at £2 million he is a steal.

I say take Fernandes on loan for 6 months, buy him for £4M in January and pay the remaining £4M at the end of next season!