The Mail Bag
Farewell Joleon?
Comments (53)
It seems to me to be inevitable that Joleon Lescott will be departing for Eastlands this summer. I expect him to become unsettled by all the talk of a move to City and talk of the rich rewards that will come his way by such a move. The media/agent circus is in overdrive. Perhaps this may play out as follows:
- City make £15M bid;
- Bid rejected out of hand by Everton;
- City bid £15M plus offer Everton Jo on a 'free' season long loan;
- Everton reject bid out of hand;
- Lescott hands in a transfer request;
- Everton issue statement that the player wishes to leave and hence have no option but to get the best deal for the Club;
- A deal is done for £17M unconditional cash and Jo comes to Everton for a year with an option to buy at the end of the season for pre-determined fee (£5M).
They quite simply can blow anyone out of the water. They can give Lescott a five-year deal, perhaps earning double what Everton can afford. Also, big things surely will happen at City ? they will get better and better with the financial muscle that they have at their disposal ? so Lescott?s motivation may also involve the quest for Champions League football? some may say more realistic at Eastlands than at Goodison (another debate for another day perhaps..).
The worry for me is that other players such as Arteta and Cahill could also have their heads turned. No matter what Moyes says, agent, money and player power will win the debate surrounding whether he sells or not.
The summer will indeed be interesting for us and, I fear, there will be inevitable outgoings? but I also expect some decent incomings with cash generated from said outgoings.
It will be a shame to lose Lescott ? I cannot honestly see him resisting the City ?project? ? but I fear there is little we can do to prevent his inevitable departure. Hopefully, others will not follow. Perhaps we will see Rodwell starting at centre-half alongside Yobo next season (until Jags is fit) ? with a little more steel in midfield to protect the back four in the form of M?bia?. who knows?.?
Steve Callaghan, Posted 12/06/2009 at 09:01:31
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Put yourself in Lescott?s position; if someone came in and offered you double your current salary to perform the same job, with arguably equal, or better support, would you not take it? He is not a born and bred Evertonian, and has only been here a couple of years, so has no real loyalty as far as I can see.
If we received a very good offer (for me it would have to be £18+ million) and the player himself put pressure on Moyes by asking to leave, who would you shortlist as possible replacements? I think we could only ever sell if we already had a replacement lined up!
Im' surprised at Barry going to City but I honestly think he held it against O?Neill that he wouldn't let him leave last year and jumped at the first chance. He could struggle at an inconsistent city to keep his place in the squad.
I?d be more concerned if Utd or Arsenal come in for Joleon but I cant see him going to City if he wants a World Cup place.
Why bother speculating ? nobody knows what the player or club are thinking ? or whether City even want Lescott. It?s all just rumour and speculation. How many times are players linked with clubs to then sign a new "improved" contract with their existing club.
As numerous people always state on here, when the player physically signs for another club (or someone actually signs for us) then let's worry about it.
Until then ? go and have a lie down as it?s obvious that you need a break.
We are not in a position to turn this type of money away, and we can really buy some class for midfield and right back.
As far as the player is concerned, he wouldn?t even have to move house, so I can see this one actually happening. Let?s take the oil money!!
Also, I read this:
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11671_5375719,00.html
He has had a chance to distance himself from these rumours but he never took it. Instead he says, "Until I hear otherwise Im an Everton player".
I think Joleon has got pound signs in his eyes, and before anyone says, "Can you blame him for going for that much wages?" ? well, yes I can. Does anyone really think he wouldn't be set for life if he stays at Everton? I don't know how much he is on but I'm sure he?s not skint!
Gareth Barry is another one, so much for wanting Champions League football.
The majority of them are fucking mercenaries. It seems there is zero loyalty in the game nowadays; ever since Barmby shat on us, I vowed never to get a name on the back of a shirt again, and nothing has happened to change that.
We have Moyes ... City don?t
We have a terrific team spirit ... City don?t
We finished 5th ... where were City?
We were in the final ... where were City?
We are in Europe next year ... City?
Pus we have Everton 2 (in) Liverpool 1 (I still think that?s bloody brilliant!!)
My point being that, despite all their money and no doubt good players coming, we are the better club and we are in Europe next year and, as somebody pointed out, if Lescott wants to play for England in the World Cup then wouldn?t he be better off staying exactly where he is?
Speculation is all well and good (both leaving and arriving) but I really, really hope Lescott stays... a few players could leave that it wouldn?t bother me as much but Lescott, including the odd mistake admittedly, is a fantastic player... and goalscorer too!
I don?t see him to be the sort of guy who is motivated by money alone. He was even saying the other week Moyes has improved him as a defender. He was patently unhappy at left back and I?m hoping that he sees that he?d improve his chances of making the World Cup squad if he stayed in a settled Everton side next season.
My fear is Everton will blink first in any stand off with City. The crucial factor will be Moyes?s view at this point. I believe he has put Everton on notice with his desire not to lose any of his key players.
Do not underestimate the implications of any transfer not suiting all parties. You let one go and you open the door for others to consider their options. Things would have been a lot easier if we?d managed to hang on in the final.
All these theories, or stories... can anyone tell me what FACTS they are based on?? ? oh I know, there aren?t any....
Until it appears on the OS and he is sat there in a City shirt or some other potential suiter, he is an Everton player. I understand everyone is getting bored with no football, but this rumour mongering and stuff makes no sense whatsoever. Moyes has already said no first team player is leaving the club, get over yourselves and stop winding yourselves up....
For the record, I think Lescott is an excellent centre-back, he isn?t the best in the world, but he is certainly in my opinion in the top five centre-backs in this country, he is most certainly better than your ?average Premier League defender'.
I hope that Lescott will not be swayed with the promise of pounds and hope he realises that he is part of something special happening at our club.
As for Barry, what a cock, "I want Champions League Footy"....... actually, no I don?t ? I want a massive wedge in my arse pocket.
Instead of talking about it being a done deal and who?ll be next, let?s plan for next season WITH our best players in mind and leave this shite to lazy journo?s.
Going by his statement "I am an Everton player until I am told otherwise", It sounds like he really does not have and does not want any control of the situation and will let the club sort matters out.
Also, if Moyes doesn?t want to sell him he doesn?t have to. Suppose
A) City bid £15 million, and we refuse.
B) They then bid a larger amount and Lescott hands in a request.
C) Moyes says no.
What happens then? I really don?t see what Lescott can do about it. He is on a long-term contract. Once the season starts he just has to get on with things (or sit on the bench if he starts being disruptive). Plus, he doesn?t seem like the type to kick up a fuss.
Anyway, if he does go, we will get 3 times the amount we paid for him and have had 2 great seasons out of him. Great business, and that's football!
For me, it depends on how much we need the money, if we do need it then I expect Everton to get at least £20m for him. We could then improve the midfield.
If we don?t need it, then keep him and improve the midfield anyway.
There is plenty of reason for trying to keep him. We don?t know if Jags is going to be the same player when he gets back; he?s an integral part of our defence; his link play with Baines and Peanuts is one of the big reasons for our latter season success.
But if Bill wants to cash in, there is nothing we can do about it ? I suspect Moyes will be livid though.
Thankfully, we have the dependable OS to keep us in the real news through the summer. So, will Ozzie head out go-karting this year or will we be treated to the breaking news that 'Fellaini flies his kite'? Let the speculation begin.
There will always be food chains, with some clubs bigger than others, but one can live with such harsh realities when they result from natural growth.
This is now Lescott?s fault. It?s the fault of the current system and the greed that stems from it. Platini is trying to make the playing field more level with clubs limited to living within their natural income stream. Therein it becomes more fair, more competitive, more interesting and more real.
It would be tragic for us if Lescott goes, especially as Jags is out until end of the year and Yobo is prone to occasional gaffs. But if he goes he goes and there?s nothing we can do about it. What should make everyone sit up is that, like Barry, this is about money, money and money. All talk of "the City project" is what it sounds, complete bollocks.
I suggest all fans take time to understand what Uefa is trying to accomplish for the good of the game. The little Englanders (led by ex Times & now Daily Mail knob Martin Samuels) harp on about Uefa trying to curb our natural English superiority and we should be left alone. Like most things where the Premier League is concerned, it?s heads up arses time.
It?s nothing to do with the players really. It?s the EPL and the greedy clubs & individuals who have sold out. There is a feeding frenzy and it?s one that the fans are missing out on.
As with many things in life, the wrong questions are being asked and the answers aren?t worth much.
This need not harm us.
If he stays, great we keep an £18 million international, if he goes we will be stronger in all departments.
Would a Lescott ? Toure partnership work better than a Lescott ? Jagielka one. I think not. Injured or not Jagielka is our best defender.
As long as we keep Jagielka we will still be a better defensive outfit than Manchester City. I am sure Moyes will find a suitable and affordable alternative to the big man.
There was life before Lescott and there will be life after he leaves.
Michael Mancienne would be a great long-term signing for around £9 Million. Very young, hungry, powerful, fast and a good passer of the ball... If he is good enough for Capello and Chelsea then we should consider having another look.
Matthew Upson, Steven Taylor, another Championship find, a temporary loan or free? who knows. My point is selling Lescott for an extortionate amount is good business if we can replace him for a like-for-like player at budget price.
At a bid of £18 Million plus a year long loan for Jô whether he stays or whether he goes, we win.
Bring on M?Bia, Delph, Niang and Mancienne? and bring on Arsenal!
The good news about Man City for us is that so far there is no sign that they are building anything like a team rather than a bunch of dysfunctional greedy egos (er, Gareth Barry wanted to leave his beloved Villa for European football at Liverpool, so a year later abandons the prospect of European football to join... City.)
Even Chelsea had a ?spine? to the team in terms of Cech, Terry and Lampard. Man City have nothing to build on.
I totally understand if Lescott goes to City (he and his family will be super rich for the rest of their lives). Moyes can do a hell of a lot with £20M odd, so I won?t be too unhappy about it. We don?t know but if Lescott is like Barry in following the money, then we were never going to be able to hold onto him for that long anyway. Might as well cash out at near the top of the market (this summer looks like being the top of the market).
Alan K is of course right: this just shows how absurd things have become when a manager like Hughes is throwing around tens of millions of pounds in the hope that it may just produce a football team. Hopefully Platini can do something about it.
For what?s it worth, my bet is that Man City will still not break into the top 4 next year. And Real Madrid won?t finish higher than Barcelona either. Money is critical (and we really need more); but it is not yet everything.
For me the most telling sign is Lescott?s reluctance to kill it stone dead when asked. He was ambiguous and at best we can hope he would like to engineer a new contract from us with improved terms (even after signing such a deal last summer) ? the alternative is a ?show me the money? come-on to City.
Whatever transpires, I believe that long term this is a win-win. He stays, we are strong; he goes, we will replace with perhaps two or three new players. The dilemma is that any new players have a lot to live up to.
Real and City however want instant success and know that they will loose money on all transfers.
So in this respect, Lescott and Arteta are "due" to be sold now; Cahill too ? but he?s too loyal!
Lescott didn’t start the rumours. But how nice of Mark Hughes (or more likely his total prick of a CEO Garry Cook) to feed the media this story (for they surely did not make it up).
I think that, for the sole reason that their CEO is an unmitigated prince of pricks, we should stick a tag on Lescott of no less than £25m. If they really really want him (and he wants to go) then they can dish out some of their ridiculous booty to us.
And before people start talking about how much City are going to dominate etc, let's remember that Hughes is still at the helm. His total inability to manage big players (witness the Brazilian revolt last season) guarantees that they will finish around 8th again.
If Lescott wants to be a richer player playing in a mediocre team of mercenaries, that's his decision. If he wants to challenge the top 4 and get in the World Cup squad, he should stay where he is.
He actually says he can’t control the speculation and until told otherwise he is an Everton player.
Now I’m not a dreamer, I’m a realist and accept he might go. He knows this too. In fact I have dreaded this moment since Cahill said after the final that he hopes we keep hold of everyone.
I’m sure Prentice wrote that Everton have been a selling club since they sold Lineker. I agree with him, but then again we have been weak until now with no prospects of anything.
I also actually think City have all this money at the right time. Fergies nearly at the end. So is Wenger and Chelsea can’t be that far away from the end of their cycle. Liverpool always flatter to deceive so money might actually do something.
If only we could get a fraction of their money.....
He is an Everton player. He will stay an Everton player. End off. Shut up.
OK, there?s yer Real Madrids and yer Chelskis, but there?s also yer West Hams, Spuds and Newcastles... the latter of which have now decended into the cut and thrust of the "fizzy pop league" .
It annoys me that loads of people on this site are discussing the departure of Joleon Lescott as if it is real news, and not just speculative lazy newspaper reporters bullshit. What next? Bellamy, Jo, Richards and Hughes?s pet tortoise, Alan, for Arteta? (you heard it here first "Sun Star Mirror etc exclusive!!!).
There is a price on every player's head as we saw this week with Ronaldo but we need to start sending messages to other clubs that we are serious in our plans for success and so get fucked with your offers. Time for BK to do the same and back DM all the way...
Now, if Lescott goes, we are dead. If he does go, we will still have Moyes + £20m = continued success.
Be afraid of City, don?t be so blind; maybe not next year but for sure the year after, especially if they get a big big named manager who can attract big big named players.
1/ It appears I like where I am;
2/ I am under no pressure to go;
3/ I have progressed massively under this manager;
4/ I am financially good;
5/ I am still young enough to wait a year or so;
6/ I have a great partnership with Jags;
7/ I?m playing in Europe next season;
8/ My ex-teamate Jo "fuckin hated it at City" and didn?t get a decent run or looked after at all... would I?
9/ I wouldn?t have a clue about who I would be playing with next season.
10/ I wouldn?t have a clue about who will be manager next season;
11/ It?s not guaranteed to be successful.
against
1/ Shed loads of money...
Thats the way I would look at it, if i fancied a move and more money (unless it?s a top 4 side), I would wait another year and see.
And also he will be up against some of the best attackers in Europe next year in the Europa Cup, which will give him the spotlight to do well and catch Cappello's eye.
He's staying ? well, that's if he's half a brain. This is his big window for him to miss, next time round he will be 31 and a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
To agree with so many others on this quite frankly ridiculous thread, if he goes, it's for the money only, same as Barry. But for me, they?d have to offer £30m plus Jo plus Richards plus Hart ? fuck the bastards over proper time if they wanna ?flash the cash?!
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1 Posted 12/06/2009 at 12:44:40
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I see what you?re saying and I?m starting to resign myself to losing Lescott. However, I think if he goes it will be Moyes?s decision rather than Lescott?s for 2 reasons.
The first reason being that I couldn?t see Lescott being the type of character to start causing trouble in engineering a transfer. I think if he was asked to stay he would go along with it, at least for another year.
The second reason is that I think Moyes would see a bid in the region of £15-20 million irrestible. Whilst Lescott has been excellent for us, he?s not a regular England international and whilst solid at the back, his distribution is decidedly clumsy at times and he?s been caught out on a number of occasions (eg the Cup final).
If Moyes could get a good fee to help strengthen the squad, perhaps along with Micah Richards or Jo, it would be a good deal.