The Mail Bag
The Scavenger Hunt
Comments (37)
Now Hull's flirtation with top-flight football has come to an end, the three relegation places have been confirmed for the season. Based on this, and with silly season just around the corner, are there any players at these clubs worth a pinch?
Without venturing too far into the realms of FM speculating, I'd say that there's not a lot to pick from. There is clearly a massive gulf between some of these newly promoted sides and some of the more "established" ones lurking around. Only Stoke and Birmingham (for now) have managed to mix it up a bit... and, judging by the teams on the way up, the trend will continue.
Still, unless Peanuts does go (and even then it's not guaranteed) then we won't be spending big. It's going to be young players like the kid from Portugal, frees and loans, or the cheap players from the likes of Hull and Burnley.
For the record, I'd probably take that young lad from Hull we were linked with, and Chris Eagles if we are getting really angsty over the summer (though Dan Gosling will be like "a new signing" when he comes back).
Adam McCulloch, Posted 03/05/2010 at 16:12:21
Comments
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
Howard
Coleman/Nev/Hibbo, Jags, Heitinga, Baines
Donovan, Arteta, Cahill, Fellaini, Pienaar
Saha/Yak
Mucha, Osman, Coleman/Nev/Hibbo, Saha/Yak, Bily, Rodwell, Distin
We could use a striker in that squad but what else do we really need?
The point I'm trying to make is this: Why would we get a new squad player when we could use that money to keep Pienaar?
Besides, I like him and all, but is he really a "Bank-breaker"? Why? Didn't DM get him for a song back when? I know he developed under DM and, again, I like him. I just don't see why his asking price could possibly be so high as to eliminate EFC from keeping him. Most especially resulting from his playing out his contract. If he actually does that, I say give him a big send-off, but let him go. Because he's stupid.
With regard to Pat's comment, would love to have that team out most weeks. Bench would be looking pretty strong too. Though as we've learnt before (or hope we've learnt) that it only takes a few injuries and we've got kids on the bench again, but if their good enough then we could be close to something special next season.
I'd spend what we have on Landon and this kid Romelu Lukaku of Anderlecht. Just think his cost will always rise and he's scoring loads at sixteen! They probably wouldn't sell but would be more than happy if we could prise him to Goodison.
I think our best option is Donovan, we know he fits in and improves the team. After that unless we sold it's going to be loans or freebies. Citeh will spend big and have a shit load of players on there books who they might send out, Onuoha, Petrov, Johnson, Bellamy, Santa-Cruz to name a few . If we did sell and need to buy ie Pienaar out N'Zogbia in.
Jermaine Beckford, firstly, didn't we sign him on a contract in the January window, which then made his manager come out with the 'he might have signed for Everton but if he does well better clubs will come" — can someone clarify this please... But he has not done well at all — yes he can finish, but his attitude is worse than Adebeyour and Bellamy, and he does no running about the pitch which has seen him on the bench for Leeds!!! — 100% not what DM expects!!!
Good call for Jamie O'Hara - he will be expensive, probably out of Moyes's budget (if he has one).
N'Zogbia — he has got to be looking for a team playing Europe his recent form has been very impressive. But would made a very tidy replacement for Pienaar. (I believe Arsenal are looking at both players!!)
From our point of view, while we want new players (and I hope we get them) we MUST see more from:-
Bily
Gosling
Coleman
Big Vic on the right (Did well at Stoke)
The Yak
Duffy
Mustafi — who is 18
and... Starting place for Rodders over Neville in CM
In terms of Pienaar, I guess the club has to weigh up both his wages demands and possible transfer bids. If he wants to double his wages, this is not only a burden on our already bad finances but can have a knock-on effect for other players' demands as well.
Also, if someone was prepared to pay big money and Moyes felt he could use that money for two good new (young) players, then he might be tempted to go for that.
At the end of the day, Moyes and EFC have to try to get the best bang for buck that they can, no matter who the player is.
Any team looking to finish in the top 6 should never NEVER buy from a relegated team. Even those just above the relegation zone are risky business. Who knows what the mental state is of those players. There are some players who make a career out of perenially being part of a relegation team.
The players must have a positive attitude when most of the players in a relegated team have taken on a defeatest attitude.
STEER CLEAR!!!
Eagles would be a good signing, schooled at Man United and bags of talent. Assuming Portsmouth's players are going to be cheap I'd take a punt on Kevin Prince Boateng, again a lot of talent and needs somewhere he can find a niche, with a strong manager. Herman Hreidarsson would be a handy 6'4" back up left back as well, not sure when he's expected to be fit.
This would be some good budget business, but even setting sights as low as this, I still think we'll struggle to find the money.
To illustrate - didn't Newcastle get relegated and then get rid of Owen, Viduka and Martins then comprehensively win the Championship??
They might have had more money than other teams in the league, but it was the same nucleous of players that got relegated minus their over paid strike force...
Jagielka?
From the relegated teams, perhaps the young lad at Hull who scored against us (Tom Cairney) and looked handy as one for the future and I liked the look of Steven Fletcher, the Burnley forward who used to play for Hibs. In a better team I think he'd be a revelation. As for Pompey, well David James as cover for Howard maybe?
Of course the likes of old perennials, Stephen Hunt and David Nugent may get a mention, but I don't think so on either personally.
What Evertonians should be thinking this Summer is if we don't want to lose anybody, it will be low budget acquisitions we can expect so don't get too negative if somebody you have barely heard of washes up at Goodison. Moyes is the master of finding these people... who got excited when they first heard about Arteta, Pienaar, Cahill, Lescott, Coleman etc? But look at what has happened since.
Mind you, if you want to cream your kecks there's far cheaper ways than spending £100k... or so I have heard! :)
I do agree with you, we need to see more of the promising players we have than blowing it on others.
I'd be wary of expecting too much though of some of the younger players. That BATE game before Christmas was frankly embarrassing to watch.
At Premier League level you have to bring them in gradually. Even Rodwell has not started even half our games this season. I happen to think that is the correct approach. Coleman has been over fom Ireland for less than 9 months so it makes sense for him to go on loan and play at a high standard just below the Premier League.
If he's good enough he'll get his chance next season. And next season is gonna be a very good one. I just know it! :)
If he does go, I hope we can get a good fee for him but I can't see that happening. Perhaps we will just have him see out his contract; that wouldn't be the worst option as he didn't cost too much at today's prices. If he does go, I really wonder if he would get a start all the time with the Sky 4 clubs (perhaps getting paid more to sit on your backside is actually what some footballers want!).
As for buying from the relegated teams, I work in Hull and have seen them on several occasions this season. In my opinion, they have nobody who would improve Everton's 1st team. The goalie, Myhill, is excellent on his day and would be a good No 2.
Mouyokolo and Gardener have been the best defenders and Zayette isn't bad either but they're not better than who we have already. Hunt and Bullard are the most interesting midfielders but the stories coming from Hull fans about Bullard are not good. Injuries, personal ill-discipline, huge wages are all rumoured. They have no strikers of any note.
I like the look of Dindane at Portsmouth. James would want too much money to be No 2 and anyway, Mucha is coming. As for Burnley I don't think they have anyone so I can't see us trading with them either.
I pity all of us Evertonians though this Summer; Summer is traditionally an Evertonians worst season. The sun can shine and shine but we have learnt over the years that nobody will be coming in without first someone going out. Usually somebody we'd rather keep. Best not to get our hopes up eh?
But everytime Coleman came on in the Premier League alongside more accomplished players, he never looked out of place and demonstrated why Neville shouldn't be at right back.
I think you are right — assuming we don't sell Arteta, Fellaini, Rodwell or Pienaar and they are all fit, next season looks very promising.
There are obvious exceptions; however, the rule is, by and large, pretty accurate. The good players will be in the extreme minority.
Disagree with you, Mike; people were making similar noises about Gareth Bale and whilst he still needs to learn a lot about defending, potential is huge. We can only afford potential, not finished article.
I don't recall seeing him after that till the game in Athens where he did ok in appalling conditions, although again it was evident his positional sense needed working on even though he was at right back that time
Later the same week he came on against Spurs when Yobo went off very early. He did great going forward making the 2 goals, although again defensively we looked very vulnerable.
From that brief 'career' it is obvious that he has a lot of potential going forward, but his defending is not quite there yet, which is understandable given the level he has ben playing at.
Therefore, to me, if not some others I know, it makes perfect sense to let him carry on learning (and making some mistakes) elsewhere on loan, just like the lad Wilshire of Arsenal at Bolton.
I'm sure that come pre-season Moyes will be re-assessing Coleman, Neville and Hibbert and if Seamus is up to it he'll get a chance.
So, Carlton Cole, anyone?
All opinion, of course but the one player who did impress me for skill and character was Pompey's Kevin Prince Boateng. And O'Hara is a good shout too. As a number 2 to Howard, I think we missed out on Begovic, the new goalie at Stoke.
Pompey, Dindane from what I've seen either bangs in a hattrick or misses a bunch of sitters; Piquionne, not seen much but similar. Belhadj is an awful defender, though decent going forward. O'Hara is a Spurs player, maybe Boateng is ok but I'm not convinced.
Hull, would rather bring back Shandy than ANY of thier players.
Burnley, Eagles and Fletcher look ok but wouldn't improve the squad for me.
As for West Ham, Carlton Cole could be a good buy, Green is decent but no better than Howard. Upson may be better than Distin but not a lot in it, hes left footed but must be a similar age to Sylvain too. A lad I know is a 'Ammers fan and rates Diamante but also says he is like "a crap Paulo Di Canio".
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment to the MailBag, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
1 Posted 04/05/2010 at 01:18:04
Report abuse