He didn’t sign for Everton for love, but he did renew his contract until the summer of 2012 on improved terms only last year. And that is the same kind of two way binding contract from which he benefited whilst recuperating at Wolves with a broken leg. Perhaps he should remember that during his injury laden season, despite facing Premier League relegation, Wolves did not try to renege on their contract with him although they were paying a player that they probably needed as much as any other player in their squad.

And whilst Lescott is a professional, like any footballer, he will still give 100% on the pitch. It is simply not correct to say that Everton should let him go because he will no longer be committed. True, he will be a challenge to Moyes in the season ahead, but that is simply an opportunity for Moyes to exercise his much vaunted management skills.

But give Lescott some credit, he has left the talking to Moyes and Hughes and should City end their interest, he is likely to knuckle down and pick up where he left off last season, albeit thinking of what might have been every now and then — just like every other human being on this planet does.

And what of Mark Hughes in all this? He is sounding more and more frustrated, finding it hard to believe that money can’t buy him every player that he wants. Is he already preparing his excuses for Manchester City’s failure to achieve this season? If the quote in ’Times Online’ today (14 August) is correct, it sounds as through he doesn’t know what it is to exert true independent management power – “we’re still trying to speak to the people that will ultimately make the decision”.

Moyes’s riposte quoted in that same publication clearly shows the gulf between the wannabe and the confident, accomplished, professional manager - "I hear that City think they are talking to people who make the decisions here, well that's me. I make the decisions, they have not talked to me and the player has been consistently told he is not for sale. He should get his head around that and get on with his career”. His last comment could be equally aimed at Lescott or Hughes and probably the latter!

"He (Hughes) said that he was looking to speak to the people who make the decisions. Well he knows who makes the decisions at Everton: it's me. Lescott has had his head twisted in all of this. I hear that City think they are talking to people who make the decisions here, well that's me.

"I make the decisions, they have not talked to me and the player has been consistently told he is not for sale. He should get his head around that and get on with his career."

I think its fairly clear that Lescott is not leaving. Why? Because David Moyes has a plan for our club. It may never come to fruition but he will not let anything get in the way of trying to achieve it. Lescott is central to that plan, a centre back, a left back, a goalscorer. He just can't be readily replaced. We'll all forgive him through time especially if he maintains his form to earn a world cup place. Lescott won't want to be known as spoilt brat either, he will undoubtedly maintain his professionalism and through time become settled again. But make no mistake.... HE'S GOING NOWHERE!!

Can't wait for tomorrow's game, can't wait for the season starting, can't wait to see who we inevitably sign before the deadline. All you naysayers out there should just "get your head round it". COME ON YOU BLUES!!

Also, it sticks two fingers up to the arrogant Hughes, the gutter press and Man City. We can win tomorrow only if we have 100% support for the team.

Reports suggest that we are after Stephen Taylor from Geordie land. If true (I know probably not), is he coming instead of JL or is he an extra defender or is he coming to play RB?

Good luck against the Arse, Moysey — it's about time somone stood up the money teams.

From this website recently (the absolute lack of discussion of the coming season (actual football) without the obvious, where are our new players and whose fault is it... if I read one more article on Elm (what now, he was seen buying blue underwear and this is a show of allegiance that seems to prove my gut feeling which has never been wrong is right that he will sign sometime in the next week, maybe in the week after that...), or the latest Roumer Mill bloke... Sessegwhateverhis name is. Never heard of him, no-one on this site has EVER mentioned him before, but now all of sudden everyone is saying, iI think we should sign him. Arghhh, I know iI've started rambling, but hey.

My best mate's a Red. MY second best mate's a red Manc. They both covet Moyes. One of them might get him...... eventually. But they both accept that they haven't got him already, for one reason only: he doesn't want to leave Everton until he has brought us GLORY! He may never be able to do this, but it doesn't stop him trying everything he has learnt in his managerial life, to bring it to us! Including trying to keep Joleon Lescott at Everton.

We don't have the most grandiose ground in the EPL. We don't have the biggest budget in the EPL. We don't have the biggest squad in the EPL. But we do have the best supporters. We do have the greatest history. And we have the manager with the most manifest integrity in the world of football management. If Joleon leaves, he will be making a huge sacifice!

Go fuck yourselves you arrogant gang of Manc wankers. Last week I was under the opinion that we should let JL go but today I will cheer his every touch and hope DM keeps to his word just to fuck them off. Mark Hughes looks like a scared child he knows his days are numbered and that's before a ball has been kicked in anger.

Let's get behind JL and all the boys and hope Citeeh get relegated. God I feel so much better after that rant.

When David Moyes came round my house:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi2Mjxppw18

Despite today's abysmal capitulation, I still want Lescott to stay. Moreover, even if they're playing the RS, I hope City get stuffed by each team they face this season just to see Sparkeh's face.