ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Banega - It's all gone very quiet

Following, the Work Permit appeal a week ago now, have we any reason to wonder just what is going on with Banega?

I'd like to think he will be rolled out very soon, but I have a feeling this is another Valencia mugging for us after the Sissoko and Fernandes episodes of the past.

If he doesn't turn up by Tuesday we are going to look silly....and not for the first time! Surely not another 'phantom bid' although I don't see how you can apply for a work permit without the player's knowledge or consent, so that part must have happened... surely?
Karl Masters, M2 Posted 28/08/2009 at 15:22:04

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Steve Jones
1 Posted 29/08/2009 at 00:33:58

Valencia have changed their mind Karl — they couldn't get a replacement and played him in Europe. They are after de Guzman — maybe if they get him, we get Banega.

I know Fernandes is injured at the moment but surely he's a safer bet and we still need creativity in midfield.

Nick Xenos
2 Posted 29/08/2009 at 01:35:39

At least it looks like we’re finally addressing our problematic right side with Johnny Heitinga (possibly) on his way. If we can agree personal terms, we will have another good player in our ranks.

Alan Bond
3 Posted 29/08/2009 at 02:06:55

I know this is me just being naive as I don’t have a clue how true the reports are surrounding the player but I really hope we do sign Johnny Heitinga. He is the type of player we should be signing to compete for major honours. When everybody is fit it would be exciting to see a starting line-up like this:

Howard, Heitinga, Baines, Distin, Jagielka, Arteta, Cahill, Fellaini, Peinaar, Bilyaletdinov, Yakubu.

Hopefully Moyes can get another centre half in before tuesday and possibly another midfielder or two. I know this is me being very hopeful but if Moyes could pull it off things would certainly be looking up for us.

Aidy Dews
4 Posted 29/08/2009 at 02:22:22

If Valencia can get in a midfielder themselves, possibly de Guzman, then that will pave the way for us to sign Banega, I do hope they can get someone in so we can sign this lad, he is quality! Also I'd like these stories about Heitinga to be true as well as he would definitely be a great addition to our team and I've seen rumours, persistent rumours regarding Bentley and a loan move, that would be another good signing on loan.

And I’d be happy for us to broker a deal with either Newcastle or Stoke regarding Vaughan, let one of 'em take him on loan or permanently as part of a deal for either Taylor or Shawcross, and if we concluded all of the above deals then I’d be well happy with are buisness these last 2 weeks of the transfer window, Bilyaletdinov, Distin, Heitinga, Bentley, Banega and either Taylor or Shawcross in swap deal would be great dealings by Everton! If we could pull all that off it would be nice wouldn't it aye!! COYB!!.

Vijay Nair
5 Posted 29/08/2009 at 04:33:36

I like the starting lineup you mentioned Alan... I would have have the same, except for one change. I would have Rodwell in there instead of Fellaini. Unforfunately, I think Fellaini is a waste of space in that midfield. He can’t pass, can’t hold the ball, can’t tackle and doesn’t put in any effort to close down opponents!

Unfortunately Alan, I doubt Moyes would drop his darling captain Pip. As much as l love his commitment and influence on the rest of the team, his skill is clearly limited.

Arun Puri
6 Posted 29/08/2009 at 06:39:53

I wonder why Pip keeps getting slagged off. He has done admirabely at every position he has been thrust into, mid-field, right-back and now centre-back.

Ross Keeley
7 Posted 29/08/2009 at 06:53:37

I think Fellaini needs a bit of time as the OS did state he had been struggling with a virus through the summer and was a bit behind the rest of the squad in regards to fitness. I agree he does look a bit lethargic at times but not worth writing off yet.

Dave Wilson
8 Posted 29/08/2009 at 07:37:15

Arun, I’m not sure Neville is getting slagged off, as you say he has performed admirably. I think he is appreciated, but if we are going to make the next step, he needs to become the man filling in for injuries and suspensions rather than an automatic starter.

Unfortunately, like most utility players — and I happen to think he’s one of the better ones — he isn't quite top draw in any position.

Gerry Western
9 Posted 29/08/2009 at 08:32:27

I think the club have done all in their power to secure Banega. Its becoming increasingly clear that Valencia have been dragging their heals. Heitinga, if signed, would be a great addition. Though I’d have real concerns regarding our line up in the middle of the park as a result. Moyes would almost certainly look to find a place for Neville there and much as think he can do a job at right back he’s truly awful in midfield.

Fellaini needs to be restored to his natural position there were he proved himself highly effective last term. Cahill is one of the best in the business just behind the striker why on earth he’s being played so deep I’ll never know.

Dave Williams
10 Posted 29/08/2009 at 10:01:34

Reading the papers ref the Heitinga deal, the stumbling block could be the wages..... Apparantly he is on close to double what are top earners are on. Maybe its time for us to release those wage strings slighty, and get these class players in that would really allow us to compete for honours,and the holy grail - the top four.

Dave Roberts
11 Posted 29/08/2009 at 12:20:51

Firstly I’m not so sure the Heitinga deal is as far advanced as the papers are saying. EFC are not usually reticent in plastering ’agreed’ deals or ’accepted’ offers on the OS even when they don’t actually come to fruition. There is nothing on there about Heitinga and an offer being accepted by his current club as there was when Portsmouth accepted the offer for Distin, a move which still could have gone tits up over personal terms etc. EFC announced offers being accepted for Naughton and Ramsey remember and neither actually arrived.

Secondly, I don’t think Everton can afford to significantly release the purse strings in respect to wages. It would be very dodgy to do so for one player unless they could do it for them all because nothing would destroy the much vaunted team spirit more quickly than bringing in a player and paying him wages that couldn’t be proportionately matched for all the others.

If Everton offer him about £40k, say, and he was on double that at Atletico, he would be the direct antithesis of Lescott if he signed up!

Alan Clarke
12 Posted 29/08/2009 at 13:10:19

I know our club are shit at transfers but do you not think they’d check out Heitinga’s wages before making the offer? For us to bid for him, someone at Everton would sound him out through his agent to see if he was interested. If his agent said pay him 80k then that would be the end of it, no deal.

I doubt Heitinger is on 80K. I doubt many of Athletico’s players are on much more than ours. When the RS signed Torres they gave him a 70k a week contract so he must have been paid less than that at Athletico.

I think things are probably at a very advanced stage for the press to be reporting this as a done deal rather than just ’interested in signing’.

Dave Roberts
13 Posted 29/08/2009 at 14:07:30

I doubt he is on £80k too, or anything like it. I was merely answering Dave Williams’ point about loosening the purse strings and explaining why I don’t think we can.

I am sure an offer has been made for Heitinger but the problem with the press is if the first to report information gets it a bit wrong then they all do as they all copy each other. That makes it sound like a dead cert...just like the other Russian winger last week

Dave Roberts
14 Posted 29/08/2009 at 14:14:53

Sorry I meant to add that we need to remember the Parker transfer. Done deal all over the press for more than a week as I recall but it all fell down because of wages. Did Everton check whether he was prepared to accept what we could pay him then? It certainly didn’t look like it from where I was sitting!

Dave Williams
15 Posted 29/08/2009 at 14:32:44

Dave and Alan, I agree with your points that you have made, but I feel the wage structure in place and the players on board we will comfortably finish anything from 5th to 10th with a cup run..... To take the next step I feel we require more internationals within the squard, which do I’m afraid cost more. But admit taking this approach doesn’t guarantee sucess. They is 75 hours left in this transfer window, not long now to find out if the aim is atempt to achieve the next level or mark time at the level we are already at.........

Lionel Luthor
16 Posted 29/08/2009 at 16:15:33

Has anyone got any further "inside" info on any prospective signings?

Peter? Alan?

I’m happy enough with Distin, but we do need to address the right back position so if the rumours about Heitinger are true, and we can sign him, then our back four will suddenly look a lot stronger.

The whole Banega thing is strange. I would hope Moyes has other targets in case this deal doesn’t come to fruition.

Also, are the David Bentley rumours bullshit or are we genuinely in the running to get him in on loan? (can’t imagine us being willing or able to afford to buy him)

Rupert Leighton
17 Posted 29/08/2009 at 01:14:11

Guardian reports a £5.7m fee agreed for Heitinga last night. Looks fast and fiesty — not dissimilar to Tim Cahill. Here's hoping...

Iain Smith
18 Posted 29/08/2009 at 16:47:07

Erm...Rupert? Heitinga’s a right back. I know Hibbert is bad but Cahill at right back?!

Jagatraj Satyal
19 Posted 29/08/2009 at 01:30:25

We need one world Class Striker like Thery Henry, Shevachenko, H Crespo, Forlan... etc. if you can buy, then buy the best central defender and one attacking midfielder. We also need 3 players more... central defender, striker, midfielder

David Moyes... Hurry, hurry, hurry. Think... Make the decision.

Peter Kirkegaard
20 Posted 29/08/2009 at 17:00:53

I also think that the Heitinga-rumour is true. And I actually think that if this deal is going through then Moyes will change his focus to only be looking for options to strengthen the midfield.

This, I think, is primarily due to the fact that Neville is captain and Moyes probably thinks he is best at right back (and I think he’s right). I think that he is a clever right back and like to come forward and join the build-up play far more often and better than Hibbert and many ohter right backs which doesn’t cost a fortune.

So if it was me (which some of you might thank God that I’m not) then we should only look into getting additions to our midfield if Heitinga is coming to our club.

Alan Clarke
21 Posted 29/08/2009 at 20:26:23

I know as much as you Lionel. All I can find out is when a medical might be booked in. The medical staff aren’t even told who it is until they get to Finch farm most of the time. I won’t be speaking with my source though until after the deadline now because she’s gone on holiday. As I said, she’s useless!

I am wondering with all these links surfacing whether Moyes has got his fingers in a few different pies so to speak. He seems to have bid for about 4 defenders all at the same time to see which ones come off. In a short period of time we’ve apparently bid for Distin, Heitinga, Luisao and Ignasevic. So far only Distin and hopefully this Dutch right back have come off. It seemed to be the same in January. After the deadline passed about 3 different strikers came out and said Everton were in for them.

I just hope Moyes has other options if this Banega deal doesn’t happen. I am becoming more and more anxious as each day passes. Although signing Distin and that Russian fella is encouraging we’re still short of players and still 3 short of Moyes’ promise of ’4 maybe more’ signings.

Alan Attwood
22 Posted 29/08/2009 at 20:51:25

I've just been on the Athletico Madrid website... Heitinga is in the squad for tomorrow's game at Malaga???? So he won't be taking part in any negotiations.

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