ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Come and get me

South Africa's Teko Modise has issued a 'come and get me' call to English Premier League clubs.

He told the Daily Mirror: "I'm a fan of English football and I've got a friend who is playing there in Steven Pienaar at Everton. We talk a lot about it and if the opportunity comes for me it would be very important.

"For two years now Steven has been telling me to move on from South Africa. But it's kind of difficult because I'm playing for a big team and the price tag as well - that was an issue."
Bradley Nolan, Ireland Posted 16/06/2009 at 11:00:12

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Michael Kenrick

Don't you think, if the guy was actually any good, someone would be after him already, and he would be linked to all and sundry?

(Two weeks in and I'm exhausted already...)

Joeynkoo Ludden
1 Posted 16/06/2009 at 17:40:49

And the window isn?t even open yet, Michael!... still, it?s better than talking about Kirkby... ah, what have I done???

Neil McKinney
2 Posted 16/06/2009 at 17:58:38

Joeynkoo, I think you?ll find the window is open and has been open since midnight of the last day of the season. That?s why players who are in contract have been moving clubs.

Never heard of this South African lad, but then I?d never really heard of Pienaar either. Just because clubs aren?t making enquiries doesn?t mean that he?s not worth looking at, but I have never seen or heard anything about Modise so I?ll reserve judgment.

What I would say is that a club like ours needs to think outside the box, as anyone who is already established as a top player will carry a price tag that we cannot match. Moyes has a good record of turning promising players into an integral part of a strong team. Whether Modise is promising I don?t know.

I can empathise with Michael and co having to administrate the site and deal with all the rumour mongering, but I see no problem with discussing the merits or otherwise of players we are linked with, however tenuous that link may be. What does bother me is when some people start thinking that a link means solid interest and then if that player doesn?t sign it?s because we dithered or "Black" Bill wouldn?t open the purse, blah blah blah. It is rumour and should be treated as such, but I don?t think that should stop us discussing whether a player is good/bad or whether a player would improve our squad.

I am interested to read that we may, I repeat, may have put in an offer for Naughton. Young, pacey and promising from what I hear, but then I don?t really see the guy play that often and the Premier League can be a step too far for some of these players. We?ll see if it?s more smoke and mirrors over the coming weeks. COYB!!

Rob Wilkinson
3 Posted 16/06/2009 at 18:37:00

Actually the transfer window isn’t open until July 1st. Players and clubs can arrange transfers but the transfers will not become ’official’ in the eyes of the football league until that date passes.

Fergal O'Regan
4 Posted 16/06/2009 at 20:42:43

Sky Sports are reporting that Sheff Utd have rejected our offer for Kyle Naughton, £3.5M up-front rising to £5M....

For fuck's sake, what do they want? I've never heard of the cunt before. Is he on the U21 squad in Sweden cause I didn't see him play the last night... Jesus, if he is worth more than £5M we could get at least £7.5M for Big Vic. But I bet that won't happen!!!!!!

Keith Glazzard
5 Posted 16/06/2009 at 20:57:54

Jagielka cost about £4m from them. If we are saying £3M+ and they are saying £5M, it could be about the same price in the end.

We have 11 keepers and forwards and 16 defenders and midfield (including Mikel, Jags and Lars) in the squad at the moment. Someone, or two, has to be on their way.

Pablo Henshaw
6 Posted 16/06/2009 at 22:07:38

Although famous for rumours and misinformation, according to Wikipedia, we?ve signed Naughton for £6.5M big ones. Probably all bollocks I know but......

Sam Higgins
7 Posted 16/06/2009 at 22:27:02

What pisses me off is that, looking at the BBC website today, all other clubs are being linked to some decent players, some of them are being linked to Everton?s decent players and we are being linked to Steven Hunt at Reading. Fuck's sake!

Chris Pickles
8 Posted 16/06/2009 at 23:01:06

I watched the play-offs this year and was hugely impressed with Naughton, I remember saying to my old man, "He's the sort of right back we need to complete our back four!!!" He's quick, strong and loves to bomb on... very athletic and good on the ball. I hope we get him, he could be another gem from the Championship Moyesy loves to get. Glad we?ve gone in early for him before anyone else comes in for him.

Mark Pierpoint
9 Posted 16/06/2009 at 23:08:42

Is there any real point to the original post? I for one don't care about Pienaar?s mate fancying a Premier League gig. He hasn't been linked to us specifically after all...

Jimmy Crack
10 Posted 17/06/2009 at 02:30:38

Why do we need Naughton anyway? Isn?t Gosling being groomed for the RB position?

David Chait
11 Posted 17/06/2009 at 08:32:32

Modise is actually a very good player. Watched him a few times on the box and once in person against Nigeria in a WC qualifier... He ran rings around a very big and powerful unit that day. He developed late in footie terms but is a real talent.

Saying that he is not what we need in Everton, but would not let the side down if he did come.

Jon Hughes
12 Posted 17/06/2009 at 10:06:35

I am pleased that we are linked to players like Kyle Naughton as he is young, English (all English back four?!) and if he develops his value will increase over time. I would much rather go for him than a certain Mr Owen... I think the Blades are just trying to get as much money as possible. I reckon we should offer another million and see if they bite. Though that said, if we have little money, we really should be spending it on midfield in my opinion. Are there no pacey right wingers out there?

Sam Higgins
13 Posted 17/06/2009 at 10:58:05

Good idea MK - this whole registration thing! Might get rid of the idiots now!

Mike Hunter
14 Posted 17/06/2009 at 12:57:25

I?ve seen very little of Naughton and nothing of Modise. However, I certainly trust Moyes?s judgment on players, especially those priced under 6mill based on his purchases so far. Krøldrup and Beattie were obviously misses rather than hits, but I struggle to think of any current manager with a better transfer ?hit? to transfer ?miss? ratio.

Whether he is genuinely after names linked though is obviously questionable at this stage... good job us footy fans are such a patient lot hey!?

I think it is interesting to consider whether a player is a very good judge of a player e.g. I seem to recall Tim Cahill highly recommending his Aussie team mate Vince Grella, but he has never been linked with a move to the Prem as far as I?m aware. Likewise, Peanut obviously rates Modise, but do the qualities that a player notices feature as highly on Davey Moyes?s wish list?

Personally, I find flair very eye-catching but Moyes?s success with preference for work ethic over flair seems to have some merit. Obviously it is a balance though and flair and work rate are not mutually exclusive... thinking of which, roll on Mikel Arteta?s return!

Colin West
15 Posted 17/06/2009 at 13:40:50

I just want DM to get signings done asap. Before people start to rob the players we are linked with...

David Chait
16 Posted 17/06/2009 at 15:39:43

I’ve watched Modise a few times on the tele (always impresses against local teams) and once live against the Nigerians incl Yakubu.... he waas the player of the match by a mile... ran rings around them. It was actually the first time I ever saw him and have looked out for him since...

Highly talented.... saying all that I feel he is not our priority and I wouldn’t go there... but whoever takes a punt would not be let down.

Richard Porter
17 Posted 17/06/2009 at 19:40:39

Mike Hunter: "Vince Grella, but he has never been linked with a move to the prem as far as I?m aware"

Is that the same Vince Grella who plays for Blackburn Rovers?

Peter Roberts
18 Posted 17/06/2009 at 21:02:56

Is Modise the right back playing tonight?

If so, I would rather play Hibbert - Modise is about as goal-shy as he is.

Iain Love
19 Posted 18/06/2009 at 09:27:22

Watched them last night, only decent player was Peanuts.