The Mail Bag
The Rivals Game
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After hearing the worrying rumour for all blues that Pienaar will be leaving this summer, it got me thinking... why would he move?
I’m sick of Everton being labelled a small club compared to clubs like Aston Villa and Spurs. I’m sick of continually each season Everton’s chances of breaking into the top 4 being mocked by pundits. I think if you look at the facts realistically Everton are far better than our nearest rivals.
Only a week ago, Everton were minutes away from beating Aston Villa who are meant to be top 4 contenders. Manchester City, another pundit’s favourite, were well beaten in their own back yard by a superb Everton team. Yet, after all this, why do pundits never mark Everton down as top four challengers? If you look at it, Everton could easily be 4th or 5th if luck had gone our way.
What annoys me is the fact that the media continue to make out that teams like Aston Villa and Manchester City are far more superior to us despite the fact Everton are the only team that have broken into the top 4 recently.
What has annoyed me also is the recent speculation about Pienaar's future: I wouldn’t have a problem if he wanted to move to Chelsea or Manchester United but to move to clubs that really aren’t that much better than us it begs the question: Is money the only thing that matters to modern footballers?
Personally I wouldn’t shed any tears if he left but selling our players to our rivals would be a big mistake.
Chris Butler, Posted 22/04/2010 at 12:35:29
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We haven't actually seen our strongest team perform due to injuries as would be excited to have a season where our stars play more than 75% of the season.
Look forward to seeing
Howard
Neville/Coleman
Heitiger
Jagielka
Baines
Billy/Osman
Arteta
Fallaini
Cahill
Pienaar
Saha/Yakubu
Could be spectacular!
I'm afraid nowadays for 99.9% of footballers it seems money is the only thing that matters to them
We all state how good he is, so he must also think it, that means he thinks he's good enough for the Champions League.
He isnt going to play the in the Champions League with Everton for at least another year, and then it ain't guarenteed that he ever will.
I feel he will go, but only to a team in the Champions League.
£15-20 million would be a good deal, anything less and we'll struggle to replace him.
Whatever happens, lets hope it happens before August.
And please don't let him go to the shite. Scoring against us in their jersey would erase all the good he ever did for this club.
Great player on his day thought...
N'zogbia and Dalmat. Balance restored and Pienaar forgotten as he sits on the bench somewhere counting his cash.
God is great.
Pienaar has the potential to be world class but his end product is simply not good enough. Arteta's is and that's the difference in class between them.
The situation would be the same for other players in the future (eg if we can get a really good price for Fellaini and bring in those 2 guys from Standard Liege to replace him). Even selling Rodwell (if and only if we can get a good price for him and bring in better players) could be an option.
I know that a lot of people will find this very unpalatable (esp. selling on our young talent) and becoming a "selling club" etc. However, at the end of the day given very limited money, we have to do what is best for the club long term. Not sure about others but looking back I think we have benefited overall from the 'controversial' sales of Rooney and Lescott.
Nzogbia is a perfect example, providing he doesn't as the Yak to do his driving test!
Donovan would also be a big target if we have some cash lying around. Bily could also play left side.
Man City have a bottomless pit of money. Spurs have quite a bit to spend, and in Levy have a great chairman who recoups staggering amounts for average players plus an English manager. and Villa also have plenty of money, but importantly a few young England squad members.
Where unfortunately we have none of the above, so the media aren't going to take a risky punt on bigging us up.
Also, we were abysmal for such a long time in the recent past that I think alot of football people haven't quite forgiven us yet, but they're getting there...
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1 Posted 22/04/2010 at 13:35:51
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It comes down to the financial situation at each club. Everton have a good competitive first team, but as our injuries showed this year, don't have great strenght in dept and no money to plug the gaps.
Tottenham, Villa & City all have owners who have the funds to invest in the playing staff and are perceived by the media to be stronger challengers that Everton.