Incidentally if memory serves me correctly the first premier leage manager to show an interest in a certain Comrade Arshavin was David Moyes, but then he wouldn’t know a classy player when he saw one would he? That apart Ciaran I concur that we have urgent needs in defence — as well as most other parts of the side.

He's listed as a winger / attacking mid, but knowing Moyes he'll probably be converted to a left back or left centerback before Christmas. So who need's Lescott?

COYB!

As for our new recruit, I can't say a lot about him other than the quick bit of internet scouting that accompanies the slightest whiff of any potential transfer, but some early points:

1) Left-winger, who can also play through the middle, and judging by YouTube (!) on the right. Where would he fit in? Perhaps moving Peanuts to the centre or the right?

2) He's a big lad for a winger, 6ft.1, so at least offers us something else from set-pieces.

3) Good age, playing for a quality international side, captain for a major Russian side... all sounds promising.

4) Seems like he will give us someone who will actually run at people, and the early references to Kanchelskis take me back!

5) Also seems like I'm not going to see his debut on Sunday, as he's not going to join up 'til mid September!

6) The fact it's taken this long means we can't register him for the Europa League yet.

Just a few points, don't know what anyone else thinks but at least it could open the floodgates a bit in terms of new arrivals.

What do you think?

He's a left sided player so where will he play? Will Moyes dare to put Pienaar on the right and DROP Osman !?

A 5 man midfield could look like this : Bilyaletdinov, Fellaini, Rodwell, Arteta, Pienaar.

Very attack-minded but I doubt an option Moyes would rarely go for. Still, a good line-up all the same.

Now we have a new left winger, could we slot Pienaar in the middle to give us more vreativity? Or will he be slotted to the right wing? Imagine a central midfield of Arteta & Pienaar backed up by Rodwell....... my mouth's watering already.

It will be amazing having 2 quality wide players who can both cross a ball and both hit a shot!!! Hopefully we’ll sign a right-back now a central defender and anouther midfielder so that Nev can drop back to right back and we’ll have a quality right and left side instead of a quality left side with a weak right side!!

He’s a tall athletic player with good pace who’s good on the ball, got an eye for a pass, score’s a few goals and is good from set pieces. He is a bit on the slight, skinny side but don't be fooled, he isn't no lightweight, he’s got a bit of strength to him and he is going to make a difference to our midfield now and in the years to come.

He’s a very technically gifted player who will work well with the likes of Pienaar, Arteta, Fellaini, Cahill, Jo, Saha, Yakubu and maybe Banega if we sign him. With the likes of Arteta, Pienaar, Bilyaletdinov, Fellaini and maybe Banega in are midfield, there is no need to bypass it and play hoofball!.

It's important we make the right signings with regards to centre-backs and I'd be happy with one of either Gary Cahill, Wheater, Huth, Taylor or Shawcross at the right price and then possible Distin as he would provide cover at left back too.

Give us a B (B)
give us an I (I)
give us an L (L)
give us a Y (Y)
etc, etc

Take your time singing it, don't be Russian it like a locomotive.

Moscow, all the best. COYB

Lescott... who was he then!!!

(1) He is not as dedicated as we think in the way he plans his transfer list... e.g. "right, we've got £22M in the bank now, let's see who we can buy with it... hmm, we need a winger. OK Mr Lokomotiv Moscow, how much for your international winger? £10M? Fine, we'll take him..."

or...

(2) He's a cunning fox who has a REAL transfer list of targets which none of the local papers/rumour mills really pick up. And he keeps it so secret that others don't beat us to the punch ala Naughton...

What I see is that Everton Football Club CAN complete transfers within a relatively short frame of time considering when the media actually pick up a sniff of these deals... but is this an indication of Moyes's clever ability to keep his REAL transfer targets under wraps? Or is it just a desperation signing stemming from the fact that we now have money.

One other thing to consider is that Bilyaletdinov is a winger. Were there any other wingers that we were being linked with in the past? How about Elm? If he really did come to Goodison for a tour and he himself apparently expressed some positivity towards our club, why didn't we sign him with the £22M from the Lescott deal? For those who say we will do so in the next few days, then I'd raise the question why Bilyaletdinov could be signed in two weeks (on top of that, requiring a work permit!) but we can't do the same for a young Swede who seems to have less problems in signing for us.

What I see is that all the potential transfer targets being bandied about earlier in the season... rarely if ever come true! (I concede Naughton as an exception, but consider the cases of Cana, Elm, Moutinho, Defour, Delph, Downing etc). I mentioned before that Moyes' transfers are usually "unexpected" or "out of the blue"...

So, is Moyes a genius or a duff on the transfer market?