The Mail Bag
Ageing team
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I was bored of my head, so started going through the player profiles on here for something to do. I obviously knew that we had some players who were getting on, but when put side-by-side, I couldn't believe how many we had, especially with these being players considered first team regulars.
Arteta 29, Osman 30, Hibbert 30, Howard 32, Cahill 32, Saha 33, Neville 34 Distin 34.
I couldn't believe that Jags will be 29 at the start of the season also.
It make you realise how important it is that the young lads coming through make the grade.
Brian Waring, Posted 30/05/2011 at 12:33:12
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However, speed is a big plus. Just look at how slow Manure were made to look against Barca. They were chasing shadows.
We need to give our younger players like Coleman, Vellios, Rodwell, Gueye and the speedy Beckford more game time together. Anichebe and Osman have no speed. Fellaini and Arteta are one-paced but have redeeming qualities. Hibbert has speed but is woeful in other areas.
Overall, however, our squad is not too old yet.
Cahill is 31 not 32, best be accurate.
Surprised to see Osman turned 30 last month.
But we have young midfielders, too: Fellaini (hopefully still), Rodwell, Coleman.
And we also have youth, some of whom we don't really know: Garbutt, Barkley, Mustafi; others we do: Gueye, Vellios.
Then a few quality mid-20s: Baines, Heitinga.
Of the "golden generation", Neville has maybe one or two years left; Cahill three or four; Arteta 4 or 5. No sell-on fees for those. But I'm not too concerned about that, it's football.
As long as there's a mix...
We at everton aren't in such a luxurious position, with not a spare penny to be found. I don't know how we could ever "build" a proper squad, because it seems we would have to sell players while they are still near their prime, in order to replace the same players because we know that if they get past it, there will be no money to get a decent replacement.
This is not another "moyes can't do any better when we don't have money" speech, but it still isn't the nicest position to be in.
DM is supposedly dedicated to lowering the squad age and signing older players is just a short-term fix. We should be keeping our best players and also the youngsters with Premier League experience. e should be selling the Yak, Vaughan (already gone), Yobo, Anichebe (if anyone wants him), Bily and any younger players who will not make the grade.
I reckon we only have another season or two out of the likes of Saha, Arteta, Cahill, Hibbert, Neville, Distin and very probably Osman. All these first team players have to be replaced sooner rather than later.
It is NOT you who decides if he plays well or not but the manager. We as fans could at least get behind the players and show them the support needed. We are Evertonians and we get behind our players and team through thick and thin.
The Mancs, Spurs, the Shite etc can spend, even the mid-table teams can splash the cash.
I actually think it's quite worrying, and hopefully now we'll start seeing more of the young lads coming through, to see if they can make the grade.
Maybe time to let a couple of the bigger earners go while we can still get some money for them and save on wages.
Problem is, we'll need quality to replace them and it won't come cheap.
KENWRIGHT OUT!!!
Also of all those players the only ones who have ever had any pace to rely on are Distin (who's in unbelievably good shape) and perhaps Saha and Arteta.
I would imagine that Beckford gets more starts than Saha this season, that Cahill is best used from the bench anyway, that Neville may be getting replaced by Coleman at RB in the next year or two and that Ossie and Arteta have another 3 or 4 seasons in them both.
The only one who worries me is Distin. He can't continue for ever and is part of our first choice CB pairing without an obvious replacement except for Heitinga, whose form was patchy at best last season.
Maybe Duffy, Mustafi or Dier can step up. Or maybe we'll sign this lad Sol Bamba, he's 6'3 and a man mountain.
If we're going to cash in on Arteta or Jags, it's now. I don't want either to leave, but the reality is that if Moyes tries to keep this squad together any longer, it will be virtually worthless. With no money to buy replacements, there is no other option than to sell on our most valuable assets to replace with up-and-coming youngsters who will hopefully make the grade and be sold on in a similar way, to fund the next generation.
I'd rather Moyes went for it, sold a couple of our best players to fund several new signings, no matter the outcome, than he let this squad age and gradually dwindle into relegation fodder.
If we could get good wedge for Arteta (upwards of £15m) i could live with that.
Jags i think we have less replacement for but again more than £15m i think would represent good business.
I'd let timmy go for upwards of £7m and i reckon the £8m we supposedly turned down for King Louis was probably a missed opportunity if true.
Keep Jags and sell Heitinga as it seems Moyes will never play him as CB and he's another earner and may still have some cred from the WC.
Then maybe Rodewell / Fellaini.
I guess that if I had to choose I'd keep Fellaini and Rodwell above all, due to their age they could be Everton's central pairing for the next 10 years. Arteta (when on form), Baines and Jags are too important to sell IMHO.
So that leaves Heitinga, Bily and Yak - add the sales of Yobo and Vaughan into the mix and I think, realistically, we'd be looking at 20M or so. That should get us 3 or 4 decent young players and hopefully a couple of frees and we'd be a player or 2 better off. Obviously if we receive daft offers for anyone, then that would change things. If anyone offered £20M for any of our lads, I'd drive them there myself.
On a side note, I was wondering whether we'd look at taking Elmander on a free. Thought he could work quite well in behind Beckford.... Maybe not quite the right character for Moyesey.
Sam #15 very optimistic prices for Arteta and Cahill, I think they would be closer to £6m or £7m for Arteta and maybe £3m or £4m for Cahill the trouble being everyone knows we are potless and unless it's a really big side wanting one of our younger players they will take the piss price wise.
Anyone heard if Yakubu is coming back or not after his wage demands?
Think Boothroyd is the freebie whose wages we can afford. Not ecstatic about it but he's 6'3 and pacy and scored a bucket load last season even if he is 29.
COYB!
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1 Posted 30/05/2011 at 15:40:55
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30s:
Saha, Cahill, Distin, Neville
Late 20s:
Jagielka, Osman, Hibbert, Arteta
Middle 20s:
Baines, Beckford, Heitinga
Early 20s:
Fellaini, Rodwell, Anichebe, Coleman
Kids:
Baxter, Vellios, Gueye, Wallace