The Mail Bag
Going all FM on us
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No not me... but some other posters out there that are dreaming of the big summer signings and trotting out names of superstars that they would like to see come in the summer.
Now I would also like to see some quality big names come to our great club but (as I?ve posted a couple of times) I think we?ll be struggling to just keep the same numbers that we have now and will be spending anything BK can scrape together just to keep our head above water at the same level as now, as follows:
Goalies
Carlo Nash ? OK he?s signed up to June 2010 but has anyone any confidence that he can fill Howard?s boots if he gets injured? And what of Turner and Ruddy? The ideal sort of replacement for Howard would be a young up and coming keeper like one of these 2 but DM obviously doesn?t think they?ve made the grade yet.
Defenders
Lars Jacobsen ? a defender signed up to June 2009. Who? you might ask. Has anyone seen him play? He?s been injured since he signed and now he?s getting arsey about getting into the team that boasts the best back 6 defenders in the country.
Nuno Valente ? Contract expires June 2009. While he?s been a good servant to the Club and a quality player he?s been suffering from injury lately. Could become the new Alessandro Pistone?
Jack Rodwell ? a teenager that?s been playing in midfield and doing a bloody good job. But Moyes has indicated that he will use him sparingly.
Midfielders
Segundo Castillo ? a midfielder that?s signed up to June 2009. Hands up anyone that thinks he?s the quality we need to move forward and we should be keeping him on for another season? Thought not.
Andy van der Meyde ? Contract expires June 2009. Need I say more?
Dan Gosling ? see Jack Rodwell above
Forwards
Jô ? On loan until June 2009. Besides 2 goals in his first game, he has done nothing. Could become the new AJ / James Beattie if signed up permanently.
Louis Saha ? Definitely a player of the class we need but cannot be relied on to play week in week out. Supersub status awaits Louis I?m afraid.
James Vaughan ? A teenager that has shown he could have what it takes but is more often injured than not.
Victor Anichebe ? A teenager who?s ability has been questioned this season and now his attitude may be questionable also.
The only players we have besides these that are tried and tested in the Premier League are 1 keeper, 5 defenders, 6 midfielders and 1 forward so the team picks itself from those.
So in my view we need another 5 players in the side just to replace the 5 whose contracts are up this season and one of them needs to be a quality forward to work with the Yak and one needs to be a quality midfielder to compliment and take over from Arteta when he?s injured.
And then we're still in no better a position than when we started this season.
So BK needs to be pulling a Harvey size rabbit out of his arse to be able to fund at least 2 quality replacements (but preferably 5 quality ones) AND another 5 or so journeyman squad fillers or expect DM to be able to perform miracles for yet another season.
So how much do you expect BK can conjure up? Judging on past seasons, maybe a maximum of £15 million? Realistically £10 million? Is that going to be enough to get 2 quality players and 5+ squadies?
I for one don?t think so.
Eric Myles, Posted 04/03/2009 at 23:13:36
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I am back in my depressed state again, because we won?t be able to afford suitable replacements for those whose contracts expire in the summer. We are already looking as if the start of next season will be a mare!
I?m not sure but is the African Nations Cup due next January? If it is, scratch another 4 squad members off duty for a four week period. That?s it I?m never going to look forward optimistically about Everton ever again.
Pre Mikel?s injury I thought we were ready to make the great leap forward; now with all this news about contracts ending and Anichebe?s injury, I?m starting to worry about next season and whether we can stay up.
Oh there?s nothing like being an Evertonian. Tony Marsh, send me some of that medication you?ve been taking recently and quickly pleaeeaase.... aaargggh. .
Give it and us a break will yer! For Christ sake lads put another record on.
Just a mention of BK in any context is enough to bring them scuttling onto these pages.
It is so very predictable I can say with a lot of accuracy which posters will join the queue of Bill’s detractors and word for word what they say.
But since you’ve brought it up, just whose responsibility is it to find money / finance / investors to progress the Club?
And who do YOU beleive will be responsible for any failure for that to happen?
What have you been watching
I’ve heard that so far his kitty consists of : A dozen west end theatre tickets
( matinee performances only ), £24.87 in cash, a two for one ’meal deal’ voucher for Mcdonalds, a signed photo of Hazel Blears, two packets of Toffo and a Match Attack sticker book !
I’d love to ’bash’ some more but must Scuttle !
Since then we have risen to 6th and have more than a good chance of reaching the FA Cup Semi Final ?
Two homes games coming up and who knows how moods can change.. ?
Who to bring in??? Lower leagues: Delph (Leeds), Eagles (Burnley). Relegated sides: Morrison (WBA), Gutierezz (Newcastle), Tuncay (Middlesbrough). Others: Manny again, Moutinho finally, Vagner Love please (no relation!).
We’re 6th ( when I feared a relegation battle ) have beaten the shite ( so have wound up their fans every day since at every chance) should get a Europa cup place ( though won’t have a squad for it ) & are still in the FA cup.
HOWEVER - As our injuries pile up on our threadbare squad I do feel a kind of calm resignation over this BIG missed opportunity this seaon has been as we could have properly challenged Arsenal & Villa for 4th, IF we’d pushed on last summer. Now if Villa get it ( Funded by an investor in Randy Learner who wanted to buy our club but Bill wasn’t interested ! ) we will fall further behind as no doubt Man City will regroup & start spending stupid money.
I guess I just feel we’ve missed the boat & our last chance at getting 4th & yes I blame Bill for holding on too long & overplaying his hand.
You can only ’beat the odds’, by ’sweating the system’ for so long & Bill has certainly done that. However now as we again struggle to put out a team
( let alone a balanced one ) the ’Chickens are coming home to roost’ !>
And for all those people who want that massive cash injection, you better bank on a certain decision in June attracting that outside investment you crave so much.
I?m happy to agree with this, but the OP?s point is that some people are talking as though all the players we have are on permanent contracts that will last for years to come and all we have to do is add to the squad.
A lot of our squad players outside the first eleven are about to run out of contract. Any new players will simply replace them, rather than expand the squad.
Everton are still in a postion where every time we roll the dice, we HAVE to get a double six. Althoug what BK can do about that is anyones guess.
IMO if we can keep those two, along with Neville, Ossie will never go anywhere else, Keep Howard and the mainstays of the back 5. We have Gosling and Rodwell gaining experience by the game, Baxter just signed a new deal, this new fella from Southend and any others youngsters. Keep all of these and will be there or there abouts for 4-7 again next year.
Thats the most important bit, keep all of the above, if we can then add anything else then great things could be achieved. There is still things to be optimistic about next season.
Oh and the other person to keep would be a Mr Moyes!
I would definately keep Castillo if only for his shorts! Really quite remarkable.
It just occurred to me that these players might have to be eligible to play for their national team. If olympic wrestler Carragher declares that he will not play for his national team, would that take him out of the quota? Don’t care really.
Secondly, the obvious Moutinho BK has been upfront in his eagerness to sign him and from what I know he does not have long left on his contract and Lisbon may want to cash in on him I believe this will be our 1 high profile signing like every year around the £10-£15m mark and essential if we are without Arteta.
Thirdly, Kevin Kuranyi is heavily linked and would already be an Everton player but for interference from his club, a loan move with a buy option is likely here. Darren Bent won?t be happy as 4th choice striker and is always linked with Everton another loan then buy option here as well. Other than that, expect replacements for Castillo and Jacobsen, most probably in the same mould, and don?t be surprised if someone else goes to fund the big money move, as usual.
Come on lads don’t let me down.
Tom Harries, I’m glad someone understood the point of the post.
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1 Posted 05/03/2009 at 06:22:33
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Ruptured achilles injuries are notoriously hard to return from especially at the top level. Very few have done it.
Fingers crossed he can, but he’s likely to struggle for mobility when he does and will lose some pace.