ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

Christopher Brierley
1 Posted 31/08/2009 at 20:50:38

I read somewhere that Spurs were willing to take £10M over 2 years for him but Bentley has refused to go due to not wanting to take a drop in wages. Personally, I think this deal isn't ever gonna happen due to our current wage structure.

Dick Anderson
2 Posted 31/08/2009 at 20:54:22

Bentley is lucky he didn’t kill anyone while drink driving.

Harry Redknapp is no fool. There’s a reason Harry doesn’t want him.

I say steer well clear of this player. We just got rid of Andy Van Der Meyde.

Jay Harris
3 Posted 31/08/2009 at 21:03:08

It seems to me he is a "Big time Charlie" which doesnt seem to fit the Moyes profile.

However there is no doubting his talent when with Blackburn but as he is a "Londunner" it would take more than our wage structure to tempt him back even if we thought we could turn him around.

Mike Oates
4 Posted 31/08/2009 at 21:04:01

Both Bentley and Heitinga must be on at least £50-60k/wk (and in the case of Heitinga it's tax free for 2(?) years in Spain, and therefore he would want about £90-100k in UK) and would smash our salary structure to bits.

Love to get both, but somehow I can't see it happening.

Nick Entwistle
5 Posted 31/08/2009 at 21:12:31

I don’t want him. The guy is a chav.

Paul O'Hanlon
6 Posted 31/08/2009 at 21:10:46

Forget Bentley, why haven’t we put a bid in for Kranjcar? He’s a quality player who’s in the last year of his contract. At the price he’ll be going for (must be around £5m?), I’m surprised no one bid for him earlier in the summer.

Fran Mitchell
7 Posted 31/08/2009 at 21:02:08

Sign him up.

Ok, he was caught drink-driving. Was he totally pissed or just over the limit? Ok he’s a bit of a tit, but so what? I imagine most players are.

Ok he's arrogant... but as is always said, arrogance is required in good players, and Bentley is a very good player. In two seasons at Blackburn he scored 7 and 8 goals respectively, providing 13 assists in each season...FOR BLACKBURN!!!

Valencia at Wigan scored 3 goals last season, 2 assists.

He plays with his feet, a great crosser, great technique, good a set pieces and can score from outside the area. all he lacks, he lacks blistering pace.

BUT he makes up for that.

He has had a poor season at Spurs, mainly becasue they don't play him. They started the season badly and Harry came in and wanted to mark his territory, so Bentley (a symbol of old regime) was left out... easy to do if you've got Modric and Lennon instead.

It would give us options. Bily, Pienaar, Arteta and Bentley can all play out wide and central. We also have Fellaini and Rodwell as top-class central midfielders (I consider Cahill a striker)

It's World Cup year so he definitely has something to work hard for, and he is a Moyes-type player.

Sign him up.

Brian Murphy
8 Posted 31/08/2009 at 21:17:11

A Chav, ok Nick however his style of clothing or taste in music is probably not the most relevant issue here to be fair. It is a bit of a punt though.

Would just like to add how good Rodwell is beginning to look. He was the stand out midfielder on the park yesterday (before Fellaini coming on). Showing for the ball, composure, passing ability & can the boy strike a ball or what? Has the potential to be an absolute cracker. A Toffee captain of the future perhaps?

Lionel Luthor
9 Posted 31/08/2009 at 21:24:37

There’s a rumour doing the rounds that City want Bentley in exchange for Petrov and cash. Not so far fetched when you consider Hughes would know him from Blackburn, and that if there’s an injury to SWP, then they are short on quality on the right. I think the guy has talent, but doubt we would be able to afford him or his wages. That said, as mentioned in the post above, why on Earth didn’t we make a move for Kranjcar? Frustration...... Peter can you enlighten us?

Lionel Luthor
10 Posted 31/08/2009 at 21:40:49

OK, just to add a few more totally unconfirmed rumours.....

Another EFC fan site is saying Bentley was at Finch Farm yesterday. That, I’m not too sure about.

Another poster said according to radio stations down South, they are talking as if a deal is definitely on the cards.

Could all be total bollocks.

David Holloway
11 Posted 31/08/2009 at 21:40:04

Would love to see Kranjcar at the club and we have just signed his mate from Pompey. First team and European football which would appeal to him a bit more than sitting on the bench waiting for Lennon to get injured at Spurs.

Forget about Bentley. I really hope we get to sort out a deal for Johnny H — a real class act and would give us versatillity as he can play RB CB and DM. Kranjcar and Heitinga and I would be very happy with the quality we have brought in.

Lionel Luthor
12 Posted 31/08/2009 at 21:53:09

David: Surely Spurs are already signing Kranjcar? Don’t think we have any chance of landing him.

Can anyone confirm if there is an International deadline of midnight tonight? I know our transfer window closes 5pm Tuesday, but I’ve heard that any International deals need to be submitted by midnight for clearance?

Hope that isn’t true.

Philip Bell
13 Posted 31/08/2009 at 22:19:42

I’m afraid it is, unless superagent Phil Smith was talking bollocks on talkSPORT a little while ago.

Ray Roche
14 Posted 31/08/2009 at 22:32:33

Does anyone know this for certain? If Spurs decide to sell Bentley without him asking for a move, they are required to pay him for the remainder of his contract? If that’s the case, he may be prepared to take a pay cut with the hope of regular first team games in a World Cup year. I’d still prfer Kranjcar though.

Matt Bone
15 Posted 31/08/2009 at 22:32:48

Doesn't the transfer window close tomorrow at midnight? Where did 5pm come from? Looks like I get an earlier night than I normally do on transfer deadline day. Everton have got a lot of work ahead of them tomorrow to sign Banega, Bentley (prefer Niko Krancjar due to his versatility), Heitinga, Scott Brown, Westward and Van der Vaart before 5pm....

Dave Southon
16 Posted 31/08/2009 at 22:35:34

Once again, Bentley is being touted about. He is arguably one of the most talented players in the Premier League, but has seemed to flatter to deceive. I place the blame with Spurs, of course he must take some responsibility, but I honestly believe if he was managed correctly, you would see him as an England regular. This is where I think Everton could be a beneficial move for both parties.

DM won’t tolerate his behaviour, but at the same time will get the best out of him and keep him on a tight lead. The ball I believe is in Bentley’s court, if he can see his career is stagnant and take a pay cut then Everton offer him the best route to reigniting his floudering career.

Karl Masters
17 Posted 31/08/2009 at 22:46:55

No to Bentley. Suspect personality end of. Krancjar is better and cheaper. A no brainer that one.

Heitinga deal looks dead now as he has supposedly said he wants to stay where he is. So, another last day rush to sign players when we have had months to do it. And then weeks/months to bed in anybody we do get. What a farce. Will they ever learn?

Karl Masters
18 Posted 31/08/2009 at 22:51:23

Spurs only sell us over priced dross. Samways anybody? Or crocks like Anthony Gardner.

If we are gonna spend £8-10m on one of their players, how about Jenas?

Trevor Williams
19 Posted 31/08/2009 at 23:12:19

I guess our scouts were at this game

Monday, 31 August 2009
Benfica

Javi Garcia (16)
Luisao (22)
Cardozo (29, 65, 75)
Aimar (35)
Ramires (37)
Nuno Gomes (85)
8-1
(HT 5-0) Vitoria Setubal

Helder Barbosa (90+2)

Bookings:
Ruben Amorim (55)

Bookings:
Ruben Lima (14)
Almeida (18)
Monteiro (21)
Keita (25)
Fernandez (62)
Varao (88)

Gerry Western
20 Posted 31/08/2009 at 23:13:20

If the Mirror is to be believed, we’ve made a late bid for Kranjcar. They’re also reporting that Heitinga has dropped his wage demands and will sign tomorrow. Yet again, more conflicting last minute news.

Brian Murphy
21 Posted 31/08/2009 at 23:16:02

Gerry, I saw the Mirror story but Marca are now saying that talks have broken down over Heitinga & he is staying in Madrid.

Steve Jones
22 Posted 01/09/2009 at 00:05:32

Just reported on Sky Sports News that the Daily Mail are claiming that Man City are after Bentley, and can afford his wages.

That's that then.

Alan Kirwin
23 Posted 01/09/2009 at 01:16:44

Bentley was excellent at Blackburn and clearly has the talent. But he made the wrong move for the wrong reasons and as a player he has regressed massively. If he’s available on loan (AND wants to come) then worth a punt. But even Moyes would be risking it big time by paying a large fee. Can’t see Moyes buying him without a loan in a million years. He’d need his head testing.

Bentley’s DD offence wasn’t trivial (4-6 pints and couple of spirits) so he clearly doesn’t think like a professional. Top pros just do not do that any more. He’s bought a trendy bar on Ibiza and apparently like sto personally scout for musical talent. That means he’s often out late and, it seems, on the piss.

I’d prefer Krancjar any day. But if Spurs will loan Bentley with a reasonable fee fixed at end of loan (max £10m) then it would be rude not to do it for a season.

I was personally hoping for Gary Cahill and Moutinho or Defour. Ho hum.

Jason Broome
24 Posted 01/09/2009 at 01:24:19

Missed out on a £2.5 Million Niko Krancjar to Harry Redknapp. Spurs have been excellent in the transfer market this summer and their league position merits it.

Not looking forward to the next 22 hours. We have been an absolute joke this summer.

Aidy Dews
25 Posted 01/09/2009 at 01:58:28

I can't believe we've waited all this time to try and sign a player of Kranjcar’s quality, it's obvious he would choose to go to Spurs where Redknapp is and most of his ex-Pompey teammates are, and for a fee believed to be in the region of £3m, what were we fucking about at? Weren't there rumours we were interested in him at the beginning of the summer?

We should've been in for him ages ago instead of wasting our time on Bentley. I know who I'd rather have, and for the money too, it's a no-brainer. I feel we've missed out on a really good player ther. The rumour we have made an 11th hour bid to try and knick him from under their noses has gutted me!

Jason Lam
26 Posted 01/09/2009 at 02:35:35

Is Osman the answer?

Stephen Graham
27 Posted 01/09/2009 at 03:04:27

What’s the question? "Do we want a problem?" EFC, been there done that.

I’m afraid, really afraid, that we will sign no-one else before the deadline, and even though that hasn’t happened yet I will believe either that’s someone’s strategy or just sheer incompetence, both of which are equally awful.

But maybe, just maybe, we’ll pull a rabbit/hamster/gerbil/rat out of the hat/cap/touque/cockscomb by the deadline.

Don’t panic. (Just yet)

Louis Then
28 Posted 01/09/2009 at 03:48:13

Hi guys, I’m new here and I’m a Evertonian from Singapore. Forgive me if my English is not good. Just curious, why DM didn’t enquire about Srna, the croatian captain. I think he would be a good buy. Can operate as right back and right mid and winger. Hardworking, skillful and a proven international. Finally, I don't fancy Bentley as I think he is overrated like most Spurs players... and I hope Naughton rots in Spurs reserves...

Mike Coates
29 Posted 01/09/2009 at 04:27:50

Screw Bentley.. Get Kranjcar! :)

Mark Stone
30 Posted 01/09/2009 at 06:19:18

Gerry,

That’s speculation ... a far cry from ’news’!!!

Gavin Harris
31 Posted 01/09/2009 at 08:52:27

Don’t forget the deadline for foreign tranfsers was last night so if we buy today it will be from the domestic market.

A really shit summer for us. Spurs killed us. Very impressive.

Norman Merrill
32 Posted 01/09/2009 at 08:52:16

Well the big day is here, and we have 7hrs as I speak, to buy.
Bentley is Man City bound, the deal for Heitinga is still not sorted, and we are being linked with Kranjcar, but I think he will go to Spurs.
So it's the countdown, starting here????????

Alan Clarke
33 Posted 01/09/2009 at 09:06:42

Gavin, we can still buy players from abroad. Foreign clubs cannot buy anyone. The problem is if we sign anyone from abroad the selling club won’t be able to sign a replacement.

The only consolation I’ll have if we sign no-one today will be Joey Barton is still at Newcastle.

Vijay Nair
34 Posted 01/09/2009 at 09:21:18

Louis Then — Welcome to ToffeeWeb! I am from Singapore too, but I now live and work in Melbourne Australia... Everton Supporters in Singapore are a rare breed!

Gavin Ramejkis
35 Posted 01/09/2009 at 09:37:40

Can we ask Billy Bullshitter for a late bird next season to coincide with another closed season where we haven’t bothered our arse in the transfer window until the last minute......AGAIN

Season ends May
Window opens June
Season starts mid August
Everton do business virtually September

Alec Laurie
36 Posted 01/09/2009 at 09:45:23

Absolute no to Bentley.

Apparently he’s off to City anyway which will prove that everyone above who said "No" is correct! He’d rather sit on the bench for £80k a week than play reguarly.

Reason England have to look elsewhere for Beckham’s long-term replacement

Alan Clarke
37 Posted 01/09/2009 at 09:48:10

Has anyone seen Riquelme yet?

Anthony Newell
38 Posted 01/09/2009 at 09:48:36

It’s becoming more and more obvious that we had fuck all to spend prior to the Lescott money.

The fact that Spurs will snap up Kranjcar for a paltry sum is sickening and I agree with the above that if we’d been interested in him we should have moved a hell of a lot earlier.

The same old story: no money at start of Summer, poor pre-season preparations, and panic jostling for players at the last minute — the Everton Way!

Lionel Luthor
39 Posted 01/09/2009 at 09:45:54

This is getting beyond ridiculous. I swear, if Moyes wheels out some bullshit that we tried but missed out (Bentley, Heitinga, Banega) and doesn’t sign anyone of note, then serious questions need to be asked of HIM.

We all know what Kenwright is, but regardless of the lack of funds, it’s Moyes’s job to find players. Are you telling me we couldn’t afford the reported £2.5m for Kranjcar? £5m for Tuncay? They may not be top drawer but they would certainly add some quality. Both could have been bought for less than £8m. What the fuck is Moyes doing?

Too much fucking dithering as usual. Let’s hope he pulls something out the bag before 5pm. I really hope I’m proved wrong.

Gavin Ramejkis
40 Posted 01/09/2009 at 09:53:30

Alan did you not hear? He was with Messi at Finch Farm this morning, turns out BB has swindled them both into signing on five-year contracts for free lifetime season tickets to some third rate luvvie show and a bag of magic beans each.

Ciarán McGlone
41 Posted 01/09/2009 at 09:53:40

So, international deadlines are over...

We needed as a matter of urgency...a playmaker, a right winger and two centre halves.....

And we’ve managed an elderly centre half and a left-footed attacking midfielder ..

All I can say is ’wow’...

Top ten will be a struggle this season.

Lee Jamieson
42 Posted 01/09/2009 at 09:46:56

Yeah, it's the final day again. I remember last year flicking through the pages in the early hours trying to work out who Fellaini was.

This time around I can’t see any big transfers for us but maybe a little activity. What has happened to Vaughan going to Stoke or Newcastle? Kranjcar is still not a sealed deal but at £3M what a bargain. I think we missed out on Tuncay as well who was a steal at less than £3M. I wouldn’t touch Bentley until his price drops below £5M as his head just isn’t right.

I am confident that Heitinga will be signed and maybe just one little surprise! It's going to be a long night... COYB!

Anthony Newell
43 Posted 01/09/2009 at 09:57:34

Knowing Everton the ’little surprise’ will be somebody of Carlo Nash’s ilk

Bradley Nolan
44 Posted 01/09/2009 at 09:58:34

Not looking good, any flights in from Belgium at about half-four?

Alec Laurie
45 Posted 01/09/2009 at 10:00:53

Spot on, Anthony — I GUARANTEE we will buy a keeper!

Alan Clarke
46 Posted 01/09/2009 at 10:32:44

Vaughan is injured again! FFS.

Ciaran, you’re right "WOW". And to think Kenwright will have made a £10 million profit as well.

Alex Naylor
47 Posted 01/09/2009 at 10:32:54

Sounds more plausible than Bentley for £15M

http://www.tribalfootball.com/everton-beat-man-utd-chelsea-swindon-kid-henshall-290481

Alex Naylor
48 Posted 01/09/2009 at 10:37:26

Even more plausible than either:

http://www.nsno.co.uk/news.php?item.5143.19

Ciarán McGlone
49 Posted 01/09/2009 at 10:44:30

Moyes talks up Ossie... give me strength.

What a pile of cack... he was rusty for the entire last season... and continued his form this season.

It’s no longer ’form’ — it’s now his level.

Ciarán McGlone
50 Posted 01/09/2009 at 10:57:51

According to Sky Sports, Krancjar has cost Spurs the massive sum of £2.5M.

Holy crap... that actually is ’the deal of the century’.

Karl Masters
51 Posted 01/09/2009 at 11:01:20

Deal of the Century? Heard that somewhere before I’m sure. Something to do with riding a bicycle to the match.......

John Crawley
52 Posted 01/09/2009 at 11:05:49

I’m a fan of Moyes and very critical of the Board for the lack of funds they have supplied him with but in my opinion he hasn’t acted quickly enough on a couple of deals. The main one being Banega — it's been widely reported in the Spanish press that Valencia would have been very happy to have got rid of him before pre-season, which is when we should have moved for him. Instead, we waited and then moved for him in August when Valencia had a few injuries in midfield, he had started playing well pre-season and the situation had changed.

Similarly with Krancjar, this guy has been saying for ages now that he won’t be signing a new contract at Portsmouth and he only has 12 months left. He can play right, left or centre midfield and would have strengthened our squad because he is better than Osman. We should have been in for him weeks ago.

Alan Clarke
53 Posted 01/09/2009 at 11:06:03

Is there no way round our paltry wage structure by offering a bigger signing on fee or add-ons with bonuses? I hate footballer’s salaries as much as any other football fan but, if we want quality players, we have to pay somewhere near the going rate for them.

Lewis Austin
54 Posted 01/09/2009 at 11:17:01

Ciaran, I don't always agree with the things you say but you’ve hit the nail on the head with that comment about Osman, "Its no longer form, it's now his level". Spot on!

Jamie Tulacz
55 Posted 01/09/2009 at 11:25:20

Suspect Krancjar is going so cheap as Pompey seem to be selling up half of their squad and going down the pan (sounds familiar...). Suspect we couldn’t have competed with Spurs on wages anyway. Come on, Moyesy — DO SOMETHING...

Alan Clarke
56 Posted 01/09/2009 at 11:56:58

As Krancjar is going so cheap could we not ’do a Spurs’ and offer more money than Spurs for him? So if they’ve offered £2.5 million we say to Portsmouth, we’ll give you £3.5 million if you pull out of negotiatins with Spurs and only deal with us.

Mark Dawson
57 Posted 01/09/2009 at 12:00:04

Why dont we go to Man Utd and ask them to loan us Anderson for the season? I still think we’ll get two players before 5, even then it's been the second summer of being let down by the board.

Gerry Western
58 Posted 01/09/2009 at 12:16:14

Mark,

I’d have thought the very first line of my post "If the Mirror is to be believed" would have been a dead give away for most readers and there was me thinking the Mirror was a "News" paper.

Gerry Western
59 Posted 01/09/2009 at 12:23:37

Have to agree with others, I was thinking weeks ago that given Portsmouth’s predicament Kranjcar would have been worth a punt. However, we appear to have been obsessed with chasing Banega and then Bentley. Why? Well I suppose because they were both loan deals.

Dave Roberts
60 Posted 01/09/2009 at 12:58:08

Heitinga's just arrived at Finch Farm.

Alan Clarke
61 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:01:00

Dave, let us know when he’s leaving shaking his head.

Mike Green
62 Posted 01/09/2009 at 12:56:14

Let's face it, if David Bentley was made of chocolate he’d eat himself.

Hopefully he’ll sign for City so I don't have to stop calling him a tosser every time his mug shows up on the box.

Getting very nervous now though — only four hours to go and I’m getting some horrible feelings of deja vu....

Jamie Tulacz
63 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:09:09

Incoming on Sky Sports news about Heitinga
http://www.skysports.com/football/transfer_clockwatch

Still not getting my hopes up though!

Rob Heib
64 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:08:53

Ciarán: [[All I can say is ’wow’...
Top ten will be a struggle this season. ]]

Do you honestly believe we’ll struggle to make the top ten?

Bit of deja vu for me.

Gary Green
65 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:10:05

Jamie I think that this is a goer. It's reported on Sky he’s at Goodison and it's just been reported on Five Live.

Dave Reynier
66 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:12:38

Anyone know what happened to Rasmus Elm.....

Jason Broome
67 Posted 01/09/2009 at 12:55:43

Can’t be arsed!

Inept, unprofessional, pathetic and limp! We had since May children, and now we pin our hopes to the last 4 hours of a 3 month window!?

We wasted 4 weeks chasing after Naughton only to be defeated by our dithering. We haven’t solved any of our weaknesses from last season and like every fucking year we’re linked to defenders and goalkeepers.

The football will stay exactly where it is... long. Our creativity will be just as predictable and boring as before, but we wait like lemmings for Moyes to pull a Moose out of his Calotte.

Spurs are pissing all over our progress and Redknapp is fast becoming a rival/nemesis/equal to Moyes.

Why would Osman’s name come up on deadline day if Moyes wasn’t expecting big things from him this season. He’s given up on this board and frankly so have I.

Ciarán McGlone
68 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:12:55

Looking at the way we’re playing Rob..and the way other teams around us are performing - I honestly think it could be a struggle....Obviously with Arteta back we should recover some semblance of a football team...but I think his return may be too later to get anywhere near 5th.

Yet another pre-season/season of problems on and off the pitch...and we still have Kirkby to come and haunt us..

Dave Roberts
69 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:12:57

My little nephew is down there and he reports on hiis mobile that Heitinger was walking under his own steam, no sign of crutches (makes a change) and was smiling!

Bit worrying though....even Youtube videos can’t make him look good. Looks a tough lad though and a bit of a dirty b....... Well, at least according to Youtube!

Alec Laurie
70 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:16:58

I agree with Jason apart from on one point.

Redknapp is way, way beyond Moyes - head and shoulders above (as opsed to fast becoming rival/nemesis/equal...)

Alan Bond
71 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:19:32

Dave R - Elm signed for AZ Alkmaar last week.

I’ve got a funny feeling we will sign Bentley. Surely Moyes’ business can’t be finished at Heitinga. I know the Banega deal fell through but he must of had other options.

John Parker
72 Posted 01/09/2009 at 12:46:52

DFC(Dithering Football Club) Cannot believe we are left in this position yet again as if we didn’t learn from the Naughton affair we dithered about with Banega(what a gem) and missed out again. Needed another CB before you know who deserted and have stood back while Turner, Collins and Huth have all moved to ’lesser clubs’. We now have been ’out bought’ by the likes of Stoke, Sunderland and possibly Hull as well as the ’bigger’(yes I said bigger) clubs Spurs, Villa. Then to cap it all we sit back and let Spurs ’steal’ Kranjar for less than 3m. We are now worse off than last year, more players left than replaced but last year at least we had a fit Arteta, Jags and Yak. I fear we are going to be the next Portsmouth, selling all our best players and replacing them with players in preparation for our drop into the championship. Hoping for RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT JOB again before 5pm but cannot see it all efforts seem to be making sure Hett!! signs.

Mike Green
73 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:21:25

Jason - I have to agree with you re: getting people in at the 11th hour. Its shocking. I’m usually a backer of BK / DM but think they should let us know why it gets to this every time. No other business would let it get to this it’s unreal.

As for Redknapp - IMO he’s a crook. A very clever one, but a crook none the less. You have to take your hat off to him when it comes to the transfer window though - he’s in his element. Plus I bet he earns a wedge whilst he’s at it. IMO. No law suits please.

Jamie Tulacz
74 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:27:05

Alec- I’d have to disagree with that one. Have a look at what they’ve achieved comparatively and Moyes with a lot less resources. Spurs always have this false hope every season- don’t worry it’ll soon fall apart.

Ciarán McGlone
75 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:31:45

Yes, we must Make sure Heitinga signs...

We desperately need a boot boy.

Another underwhelming signing I’m afraid - he’s average at best.

Alec Laurie
76 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:35:21

Jamie - I’m talking managers mate, not clubs. I agree with you re clubs.

I’ll stand by the manager statement though.
He did a better job at Pompey than Moyes has done at Everton and now Spurs are 2nd in the league. How can anyone argue?
One of the key attributes of a top manager is being good in the transfer market. Moyes isn’t. Fact. He may have started off ok, but you can’t keep living on past “successes”. Just because he bought in Cahill, Arteta (oh… and Lescott !!) previously, does this make him exempt from any criticism for life??

I am working off the logic “you’re only as good as your last game”…
Or, as Ciaran put it re Osman, “It’s no longer ’form’ - it’s now his level.”

Mike Green
77 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:38:45

On the upside - at least we’re not all sat up till midnight this time.

Small mercies.

Mike Green
78 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:45:18

Lets face it - Heitinga’s in the bag.

AVM will have told him how much he got paid v appearances - which makes Heitinga’s current deal look like peanuts.

"I’ll have some of that" says Johnny "and a lager with those peanuts please....."

John Parker
79 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:47:47

Confused? watching Sky reporter at Finch Farm and he is saying Banega deal fell through because of work permit problems thought that was ok and it fell through because Valencia pulled lug on deal. Incidently there saying Bentley/City deal not done and dusted COULD HE BE THE RABBIT?

Mike Allison
80 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:56:05

Redknapp ’head and shoulders above Moyes’ is a scandalous thing to say! He signs way more players, sure, but there seem to be (*ahem*) other reasons for that.

Has he ever finished above Moyes in the Premier League? How much has he had to spend in comparison? I wouldn’t want Redknapp anywhere near Everton but I’m proud to have Moyes as our manager despite the frustrations.

Redknapp spent a combined £11M on his 3rd and 4th choice right0backs this summer. If Moyes had that kind of money to burn we wouldn’t all be moaning about the lack of signings.

Chad Schofield
81 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:58:56

Mike wouldn’t be so sure that all business will be sewn up by 5pm... remember the "faxing FA" trick!

Can’t believe people being so negative about Heitinger... I hope it happens, though how we’re going to sort other deals while "negotiating" I don’t know.

Jonathan Bradley
82 Posted 01/09/2009 at 13:56:01

Alec,

You are joking right? Redknapp’s dealings almost put Pompey out of business and could easily end up with them being relegated, despite almost all of them being sold on now. At Spurs he has inherited several good players and bought all of his old good players from Pompey (which isnt dodgy at all is it?), but then they have always had more money than sense.

As for his achievements, yes they did win the FA Cup but then that was against Cardiff - one imagines that if we had been lucky enough to play a similar standard of opponent we would have won it as well.

Jonathan Bradley
83 Posted 01/09/2009 at 14:06:51

also SSN are saying Bentley is NOT going to them, either permanently or on loan....

John Parker
84 Posted 01/09/2009 at 14:05:47

Sky just announced Bentley definetly not going to City??

Jason Broome
85 Posted 01/09/2009 at 14:14:06

Quotes to look out for after 5p.m.

“We tried to sign two more!”

“Arsenal & Man U haven’t been that active either.”

“I’ve always wanted Gary Neville!”

“Getting Anichebe back is like a whole new signing.”

“The Chairman has been working really hard all summer.”

“It has been a difficult market for everyone.”

“The players I wanted weren’t out there.”

“We’re looking to give youth a chance.”

“We’re still waiting on Arteta and Jagielka.”

Watch this space...

Mike Green
86 Posted 01/09/2009 at 14:20:33

Jason Broome - priceless, very comprehensive too - well done. I can feel that sick feeling in my stomach already.

If we end up without a quality right winger by 5pm I’m going to spit.

Has anyone not rung Becks?

Steve Pugh
87 Posted 01/09/2009 at 14:34:11

Interesting comments on SSN, for all you dithering Dave fans: Everton agreed a deal with Valencia for Banega, but they changed their minds whist we were sorting out the Work Permit.

Hardly our fault, we couldn’t speed up the work permit.

Ciarán McGlone
88 Posted 01/09/2009 at 14:41:49

"Interesting comments on SSN. For all you dithering Dave fans. Everton agreed a deal with Valencia for Banega, but they changed their minds whist we were sorting out the Work Permit."
--------------------

If they broke a contract then why aren’t we suing them?

Sounds like bollocks to me.

Kevin Hudson
89 Posted 01/09/2009 at 14:48:14

Went the shop a few minutes ago,and this Porsche stopped by. The window wound down, and a strangely familiar face said: "Excuse me sir, I’m looking for Finch Farm..."

Could have sworn it was Riquelme...

Steve Pugh
90 Posted 01/09/2009 at 14:55:38

Ciaran

The contract wouldn’t have been signed until after the work permit was given. Therefore they reneged on a verbal contract, which is not legally binding.

I thought everybody understood that.

Mike Green
91 Posted 01/09/2009 at 15:18:39

SSN says Banega deal off - unless we stump up the cash to buy him outright....

Lionel Luthor
92 Posted 01/09/2009 at 15:22:26

I can’t see Bentley coming here. Hope I’m wrong as he would be an improvement on playing Osman out of position, but you would think even SSN would have uncovered if he was coming to us once City made it clear he wasn’t going there.

Any updates?

Steve Jones
93 Posted 01/09/2009 at 15:23:20

Valencia have teed things up very nicely, agree a loan, get agreement from Banega, get his work permit approved, then renage on the deal.

At the last minute on deadline day, reiterate publicly that he wont be going out on "loan" — but let it slip that he is available to buy if you have the dosh ! Puts pressure on Everton to pay over the odds to satisy the fans for a player who is a gamble.

I personally feel we should do it! They have done me up like a kipper as well.

We could learn a thing or two about deals from Valencia — remember Fernandes’ last minute turn around — watch this space on this one!

Mike Green
94 Posted 01/09/2009 at 15:46:20

I’m not into conspiracy theories but does anyone think theres any mileage in Man City leaking interest for Bentley to make us concentrate on other targets seeing it as a lost cause?

Ciarán McGlone
95 Posted 01/09/2009 at 15:58:38

"The contract wouldn’t have been signed until after the work permit was given. Therefore they reneged on a verbal contract, which is not legally binding."
-----------------------

Nonsense. An accepted offer to buy is a collateral contract subject to the player agreeing terms — whether it’s verbal or not.

Steve Pugh
96 Posted 01/09/2009 at 16:12:57

Ciaran,

1. We weren’t trying to buy him, we wanted to borrow him.

2. A Collateral contract is a secondary contract where one party agrees to fulfill a contract on the condition that the other party fulfills an action. An example of this would be agreeing to buy a house if the seller renews the damproofing. This only comes into play if their is a dispute regarding the main, written contract.

We never had a written contract regarding Banega.

Ciarán McGlone
97 Posted 01/09/2009 at 16:22:58

Steve, A loan deal is still a contractual agreement — whether it’s written or not is irrelevant.

The loan contract is subject the player agreeing personal terms, which is the secondary contract.

Steve Pugh
98 Posted 01/09/2009 at 16:37:44

Only after a contract has been signed between the clubs. Which hadn’t taken place.

Ciarán McGlone
99 Posted 01/09/2009 at 16:40:18

What's a signature got to do with it?

A contract doesn’t require a signature mate. Trust me.

Steve Pugh
100 Posted 01/09/2009 at 16:42:11

Sadly I don’t trust you. Since I started my business I have got out of several ’unsigned’ verbal contracts, with the full force of the law on my side. The only way to make sure a contract is binding is to have a signature, either hard copy or digital.

Trust me

Ciarán McGlone
101 Posted 01/09/2009 at 16:47:29

Absolute rubbish.

A signature gives a contract veracity - it’s absence (or the fact that a contract may be verbal) does not necessarily mean it’s not a binding contract - or that it’s been vitiated for simply being verbal or unsigned.

Intention to create legal relations and movement of consideration are the tests... unless a constract is specifically subject to written signature. TRUST ME!

Steve Pugh
102 Posted 01/09/2009 at 16:57:24

Again, I will keep trusting my lawyers. It also looks as though the Valencia and Everton lawyers agree with me, otherwise we would be suing them.

Ciarán McGlone
103 Posted 01/09/2009 at 17:00:53

As much as I’d love to get back into contract law 101...It seems that your solictors have explained it to in a way which you for some reason feel happy to produce as general facts of contract law.

They aren’t.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing as they say.

Gerry Western
104 Posted 01/09/2009 at 21:43:48

Mark Stone,

It would appear the news broken by the Mirror late yesterday evening was highly accurate with the arrival Heitinga today and the subsequent confirmation by Kranjcar that Everton had in fact made an effort to sign him. Hopefully that puts an end to the speculation!!!!