Mick McCarthy should be manager of the month. Wolves are utter shite but he is going to save them.

Good for him. Now become MotYear as soon as the season ends and work the loan of Rodwell to LA Galaxy. We seem to be in general agreement that Roddy's potential is enormous. On the other hand, Moyes has to bring him along carefully because he must keep winning every game first and foremost. Fair enough.

So, Mr Moyes, congrats on the MotM and let's advance Roddy's training and experience level right now. LA can afford his wages and Arena is fantastic in developing young talent. One of the very best in the world. With as little as he's played combined with his youth, no way is Rodwell too tired to keep playing.

Galaxy is very-well run, play in a beautiful facility in a beautiful part of the US and, most importantly, have title aspirations in MLS. The atmosphere for Rodwell couldn't be better. And you get him back around the start of the season fit and ready to go.

It's a good and smart move. Make it. You'll be the first EPL manager to do so, which would be pretty cool to this American EFC fan, anyway.

Up the Blues!

Ahhh crap.

9th anyone?

Dave,

Agree with 'Ahhh crap' re: MotM, however, don't give up just yet. 9th is crap as is 8th. If Villa get disappointed enough losing today that it affects O'Neill's (Keegan style) psyche, we may, JUST MAY pinch 7th, which is good — not crap. Moysey can have MotM then and I might buy the seasons DVD (from bottom to Europe).

That's all that's left to look forward to, along with my prayers for Atletico Madrid.
As Churchill (the dog) would say, Oh yes!

What the Moyes are you talking about James?
Is this something you've read or just something you think is a good idea?

Ok. So maybe not 9th, but if we slip up against Villa, not 7th either.

We really needed the 4 points we have just dropped.

Wednesday is crunch time.

What is all this bollocks cropping up now & again on this site about sending our players out on loan to the bloody MLS? I know having Donovan at Goodison brought us a few new American 'fans' but they are seriously deluded if they think any Everton player or youth prospect would "advance... his training and experience level" by fannying about in a piss-pot league that was dominated by fucking Preki.

Nick - Thanks for responding. I thought maybe I was typing in invisible ink regarding loans to MLS, because you're maybe the 2nd person to answer any of my posts about it.

What I'm getting at is another way of dealing with the disparity in available funds in EPL, which many here to worry make EFC a lesser "attractive" club than the so-called Sky 4 or AV or ManCity.

Plus the concern here of Rodwell/Gosling/whoever going the way of Rooney...

How can we best develop our young talent given:

a. Leaving them in the lower English leagues does not develop them.

b. Spending most of the time sitting on EFC's bench, watching others play, does not develop them.

c. EFC's budget constraints don't allow Moyes to play them in the English minor leagues at their salary.

I say use MLS. It's not equal to top-flight EPL. I'm an American EPL/MLS fan saying that. Galaxy, though, would do a lot better in EPL than many English football fans might think. Regardless, in MLS Galaxy are top-flight, well-managed, with title aspirations. EPL is about to end.

Really, why have Rodwell/Gosling/whoever just be off-season for a few months when they can go on loan to a top MLS side? I say Galaxy mainly because Bruce Arena is the Manager, but also due to the Donovan connection (I want him back with the Blues next season), and (importantly) the LA area is extremely beautiful year-round and is a great sports town, soccer included.

Rodwell, etc would love playing there, especially under Arena (and with Donovan) and Moyes could use the connection to attract young talent. I tell you this would work so well, other EPL teams would try to follow suit. But Moyes can get there first.

Not to mention the income from selling EFC merchandise. It's my belief that in 2020, MLS will be the #1 professional league on earth. People might scoff but Americans who love and follow the game will agree with me. We're really that close.

Point being, there remain a few (5 maybe) years before MLS goes onto the European pro league schedule. Then, the loan thing as I'm proposing it will have a year or two left.

Loaning our top young talent for the next few years to top MLS sides will:

a. Move the development process along faster.

b. Turn America into New Everton ($$$$$$$$$$$$).

James

A very intresting point. Espeacially as the MLS season is still running when ours is not. A good place to send a fit again Anichebe so he's ready for next season?

It's not uncommon for clubs to develop relationships that see players moving both ways. If Everton where to do the same, I think you would be right.

It wasn't long ago that Evertonians where calling for Everton to widen it's profile in America, this could be an excellent way to do this.

Worth debating anyway.

Hey John Daley - That's me saying it, an EPL fan in America. Of course MLS is not top-side EPL or La Liga. But it's growing in popularity in America very fast. VERY FAST. On the other hand, we have the ceaseless whining about financial disparity in EPL. The disparity is very real. The ceaseless whining helps nothing EFC.

Rodwell/Gosling/whoever can't be sent down to the lower leagues to play because it weakens EFC's roster and salary structure. So they play once in a while for EFC and we all clearly see they're talented. OK, the season ends here soon. Now what? The same thing next season, right? Maybe a few more minutes playing time? Because Moyes's first mandate is to win.

Should these players (again, I haven't seen any dispute that they're talented) be hanging around waiting for next season's training when they could be playing in LA, NYC, or Chicago? Put something here explaining the sense that makes. Especially with my suggestion of Rodwell going immediately to Galaxy.

The kid's not just talented. He has the charisma. Is there a city on earth that recognizes that particular quality faster than LA? And remember, this is a loan I'm proposing. You don't have a problem with Everton Football Club being mentioned across the Pond continuously? In the city where Donovan, who wants to come back to EFC next season, plays?

I'm not sure why the Preki crack. He played in America because he loved living in America and made a very good buck playing soccer. No other reason. Ohhhhhhh! Is that the reason for "all this bollocks cropping up now & again on this site about sending our players out on loan to the bloody MLS"? You're worried about losing the talent to America? That's about 10 years away JD.

Right now, I'm an American EFC fan thinking of ways to make the Club better, faster. EFC is on the cusp. EPL Silverware 2011 is there for who grabs it. Sure, lots of teams will be in the hunt, have a legit chance.

The Blues are one of those teams. Screw these practice games off-season. Send the youngsters to MLS on loan as soon as the season ends. There is simply no reason for them to stop playing the next few months. None. I say Mr Moyes should take full advantage. No-one else is.

Dave - Thanks for replying. Really, exactly what good will it do here in a couple weeks to just send our youngsters home or into an off-season work-out program?

They're youngsters! Talented ones!! They need to be playing right now. Before anyone here says it, agreed not for a weak MLS side. But there are well-run and managed sides in America. Importantly, in attractive American cities. Guys like Rodwell (born to play in LA) would love it.

Plus, with all the talk of finance being the end-all, America is a sports-mad country. The first EPL side (and remember, EFC got in with America's only Star soccer player) will make extra money. No team in Europe is taking advantage of the MLS schedule for loan-outs of young talent. What a pity. I'm hoping Mr Moyes will be the first.

It would be insane for the club AND for Rodwell to loan him out to MLS!!! Sorry. You might as well send him to the first division in terms of developing him as a player.

Not only a lower standard of game... a different type of game. Rodwell would not be learning any skills that would help him as a Premier League player. Even to raise the possibility would have Rodwell justifiably signing for a Sky 4 team. That kind of silliness and we would deserve to lose him.

If we want to cultivate a closer relationship with the Galaxy, let's lend them other young prospects, not a player that is being courted by Man Utd. and Arsenal.

In the likely absence of any cash to develop our squad:

Best case scenario: We offload some players (Cahill; Yobo) and get to keep Rodwell.

Worst case scenario: We sell him now for bucket loads. Sorry, but we are in such desperate need of a decent right-back and a classic striker that we can't afford the luxury of the best prospect in English soccer who cannot plug those holes at the moment. My opinion. As much as I love Rodwell. Who can forget that goal against Manure?

I live in LA; I would love to see LD return to Everton on loan; I would love to see football grow in the US and I would like to figure out ways Everton can exploit that growing fanbase, but let's keep things in perspective... Rodwell to MLS = fucking crazy.

James, I've said in the past about the intrigue of loaning players into not out of the MLS but my question on your latest idea is surely this would lead to similar excuses to those heard about Bily where he had played a season before coming to Everton and had no break?

Look , do you really think it is even a remote possibility that David Moyes would consider sending our most promising prospect since Rooney out on loan ANYWHERE — never mind to a team plying it's trade in such a substandard league as the MLS?

You are living in a fantasy land, lad. You consider it beneficial to Everton for Rodwell to forgo a summer break and pre-season training with his club and team mates, to play right through the summer and return fatigued before our first game has even kicked off? We want the lad fresh and raring to go next season, along with the rest of the squad.

The reason no-one else is taking full advantage, as you say, is because it's a fucking idiotic idea!

Oh, and the point about Preki was that he was total shite when he was here, yet he is revered as having been a great player in the MLS because the league is of no more than amateur standard.

Dermot. Crazy? Maybe. But it would keep him match fit and give him an edge over the opposition.

For me, it all boils down to what Moysie has in mind for Rodwell next season. First team regular — Doesn't go on loan; Fringe player — Does go out on loan.

On the subject of Preki, I remember his wonder goal against City when we beat them 5-2 at Maine Road. It sticks out particularly in my mind because the commentator didn't know his name (it was just numbers on the back of shirts then). He kept saying his number every time Preki got the ball. It wasn't untill he scored and the announcer said his name, that the (relieved sounding) commentator used his name.

Still makes me laugh now!

If Arteta is back, I think we will beat Villa; if not, I think it will be another draw.

Well Dermot, what you posted above is pretty timid. Fuck the Sky 4 types. For one, by the time Roddy is in his prime, what the hell will "Sky 4" even mean?

Next, tell me Roddy's schedule for the next 2 months. Hanging out? This and that? LD came over from Galaxy on loan. Send Roddy in return. It's just a loan.

That Rodwell is better serving EFC by just waiting for next season instead of playing for Galaxy under Arena the next couple of months is nonsense.

JD!!! My man!!!!!

You just made up that Preki nonsense. He is in no way, shape, or form, "revered as having been a great player in the MLS". Where did you get that from?

I'm interested in Moyes taking every advantage available (given EFC's financial considerations) to position the team best for our run at Silverware next season. Roddy and whoever else going to a top MLS side being the obvious, immediate advantage.

If finance is a dis-advantage to EFC, we need to look for advantages available. EPL season is over as MLS is kicking into high gear. Let our MofM prove it off the pitch as well as on.

Do you think Rodwell is better off doing nothing for the next few months instead of playing with Donovan, on loan, with Galaxy?

Apparently, James, Preki is the only player ever to have been voted MLS MVP & the MLS Scoring Champion twice (what retard names these awards?). Oh, and he was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame this year. Do you think he would have achieved a modicum of that success playing in a half-decent league?

You are seriously deluded if you think Rodwell going on loan to an MLS team is going to give Everton an "obvious, immediate advantage" in achieving success next season. Furthermore, what the fuck is Bruce Arena going to teach any young Everton player that he won't have already had drummed into him by the vastly more qualified staff at Everton's academy?

In response to your final question: damn right I believe Rodwell is better off doing nothing for the next few months than going on loan to LA Galaxy. I think he'd be better off working in a bloody butchers in fact. I don't know why I'm even bothering to respond here because your suggestion is ludicrously laughable.

JD. OK. In America, you'd be a Boston Red Sox fan. I say that because of your semi-hysterical response to my proposing a way forward for Mr Moyes, given the fact EFC is right there to grab EPL Silverware this time next year. And we clearly don't have the money of the Sky 4 types.

Forget MLS. What's YOUR suggestion for Rodwell/other EFC youngsters' development? Well??

I'm saying, send him to America to play as soon as this season ends. Send him to LA and the Galaxy. What is your problem with this?

JD - Respond here that you know nothing about Arena. It's fair and normal you don't. Just don't say Roddy is better doing nothing than playing for Arena in LA. That "By Jingo" attitude is the main reason MLS will be the top pro league 10 years from now.

What I'm saying as a Toffee fan is that Rodwell should not be spending the off-season doing whatever. That you're even pretending to be an EFC fan and preferring he do nothing rather than going to MLS under Arena to play, makes me question your loyalty to the Blue Shirt. It's not about EPL/MLS. Only EFC being best ready to chase 2011 EPL Silverware. Fuck Europe. Everything flows from winning the Premier League.

I can better talk to you if you acknowledge the obvious: You have no clue what's what in American soccer. Especially your not wanting Roddy to play under Arena. If he could cut the deal, Mr Moyes would have Rodwell on a fight for LA tomorrow.

Why not send him to the Russian League?

It's vastly superior to the MLS and also runs in our closed season.

I can see the reasons for Anichebe, though this reason for a loan has never been done before and I think managers would have gone for it if not for there being negatives.

As for Rodwell, he's a first team player, and a teenager. Do we really want to see him burnt out come February for the notion that improvement will come from LA Galaxy? Mind you, if I was 19, I'd bte your hand off for a summer in LA... actually, at 32, I'd do that now!

Nick, I think it's never been done before because managers would want their 1st team with them for pre-season preperation. I wonder if managers would consider it a disadvantage to have them missing for a large chunk of pre-season?

However, when you consider Baxter, Agard and Duffy; it is certainly worth looking into.

Right James you tit. Don't you dare question my fucking support for Everton FC. I come from a family of life-long Evertonians and I've supported the club for 30 years, through thick and thin, watched some of the best and worst football ever played , witnessed us win the league and almost suffer relegation, and will carry on going to Goodison long after you've given up on your newfound hobby. I'm presuming you are a new 'fan' who's jumped on board because a fellow compatriot, Landon Donavon, played here a few months back. How fickle can you get.

You are living in a fantasy land if you think any Premier League player is going to go on loan to MLS. Why was Fabio Cappello so adamant that he would not even consider David Beckham for a place in the England squad whilst at LA Galaxy? The league is of a poor, poor standard, that's why. If the league isn't shite then why are you here claiming to support an English team that you've probably never even been to watch and have no obvious affiliation with?

Forgive me but isn't this about Mr Moyes getting MotM?

John Daley — I had no business questioning your loyalty to the team. I was wrong and apologize.

If the quality of the MLSis so poor why are you all so keen to see one of their players come to Goodison?

As far as I can see, all James is saying is loan Rodwell out for a month now so that he can get some first team action, I would also like to see Coleman and Vaughan get some time out there. Or, as Eric says, in Russia. Why not develop relationships in both leagues and give our fringe/developing players some first team action.

As to it being a totally different game, good. It will widen their knowledge, teach them some new tricks and give their game more depth.

And it won't affect their fitness anymore than the World Cup will affect Peanut, Cahill, Baines etc.

James, thanks for the apology dude. Our opinion's obviously differ but that's what keeps this site interesting. I too meant no offence.

JD — Thanks for accepting it. That's much appreciated.

Let me go at this another way: strictly financial. I think, beyond his apparent talent, Roddy has the charisma. He has that glow about him. There is nothing Mr Moyes, Arena, or anyone else can do with that. You have it or you don't. Roddy does. OK.

Donovan has that same quality. Talent apparent, but also that Other Thing called the "It" factor in America. To that, add all the pictures of Roddy lifting Donovan up to the crowd in his last game at Goodison this season.

You wouldn't see it over there, of course, but Donovan's reception by you EFC faithful, made an enormous impression on us here. I'm sure you read the Englanders in America commenting on it here in ToffeeWeb.

We're simply not used to seeing that tumultuous crowd response (with respects to Brian McBride) to an American playing soccer; most particularly our best player. And Landon clearly stated he wants to go back to EFC. Not the highest bidder in EPL (Keep in mind Landon makes much more in endorsements than his salary), Everton. OK again.

So we add these things up relative to EFC's financial situation within the overall affect finance has on EPL. EFC needs to generate funds, yes? Here's what happens in America. ManU, Real Madrid, Barca come thru during their pre-season and pack stadiums. EFC did it themselves (60,000) against the MLS All-Stars.

Yet no one European team has planted the flag in America. Real Madrid were right there for an MLS franchise in Miami, Florida but tried to act tough and were rejected (Pretty pathetic, by the way on RM's part).

So America is there, for between 5-10 years, to the team that comes and gets it. I'm telling you as an American that EFC is 1st in line because of Donovans reception at the Club and need to act immediately. For me, that's thru Roddy.

He young, talented, charismatic (He is single, right?), and he's the kid who ripped his shirt off after scoring on ManU, knew, KNEW to run into the fans to be mobbed, Card or no Card. Let's just go ahead and check off all the requirements to fit into Big-Time LA.

Shouldn't EFC take advantage of this? EFC merchandise, EFC TV viewers, Nike-type deals. You know how easy it is for a determined franchise to generate millions of dollars in a sports-mad country of 300+ million? Pretty easy. Especially easy when EFC has sent their teen-age hearth-throb to LA! Not that hard at all. Certainly easy enough to generate the funds required to prevent having to sell off talent to have the money to purchase talent, etc.

Now all this, naturally, is predicated on Roddy being loaned first and then producing. I don't really want to go into the MLS is less argument. I know it is. Everyone in America knows it. The guys who run MLS know it.

JD, you don't think Arena has anything to offer? Fine again. In this, though, I know more than you. Arena is one of the best and Roddy (again assuming Roddy busts his ass in practice and in games) will flourish. I tell you the fans will go nuts for this kid. And they'll ask, "What team in England does he play for again"? "Why Everton of course". $$$$$$$$$$. Remember the on-line site of EFC fans to keep Landon? Picture it the other way, except add a 19-year old kid with an English accent in LA. Let me say again $$$$$$$$$$. Everton ones. Let's add Donovan and Roddy playing together for a couple of months, then returning to EFC. Not bad, eh.

Plus, comments about Roddy being tired by X-mas. C'mon. No way that's happening. Donovan jumped across the Pond after all the National and International games the last 18 months and a 19-year old can't hack a lesser schedule? I have to think more of Roddy than that.

Steve Pugh - Thanks for the response. The big difference is the obvious one, the talent level. MLS intentionally will keep wages down for the next few years, and so talent, until every team has its own stadium. Then to the European schedule, then to the wage purse-strings opening, then to... we'll see. Certainly the altering of international professional soccer.

All that in the future, why wouldn't Moyes hand Roddy (and whoever else by the way) his work visa and plane ticket to LA. Plenty of work, the main thing, and understanding MLS is less an opportunity to get considerable playing time on a well-run side with title desires. 3 months or so and back with the squad.