Season 2011-12
The Mail Bag
If it came to it.....
51 Comments: ......and we simply had to sell one or two of our top players, which would you he most keen to keep hold of?
My choice, and I feel the most popular answer, would be Leighton Baines.
The reasons? Well, I believe that he is the best left back in the country and one of the best in Europe.
His attacking ability is second to none and he is surely one of the best crossers in the modern game.
Add to this the fact that his defending has improved no end over the last couple of seasons and we are very, very blessed to have him.
So, out of Jagielka, Baines, Arteta, Fellaini, Rodwell, Coleman (and anyone else you consider to be a saleable asset) who would you fight tooth and nail to keep?
Anthony Jaras, Posted 18/07/2011 at 14:57:22
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The team plays miles better without them, ie playing 4-4-2 and not negative 4-5-1.
I would let Jags go and move Rodwell to centre half.
In a ideal world, and considering our squad size, none of them, but we all know it's going to come down to this sort of thing if we are to get anyone.
So Rodwell and Bily are my choice if it's a case of sell to buy.
Fellaini either signs or gets sold now, not when he's worth bugger all.
For all Arteta's poor performances, I struggle to see where we might get a spark from without him. He's got the talent to create from nothing, which we don't have any more. Such a shame we lost Pienaar, because with the 2 of them in the side we had creativity. I can't see us replacing Mikel, so keep.
Rodwell would make the least immediate impact on the side if sold, but the long-term implications are much greater.
If I could sell anyone at all, it would be Bily, Anichebe, Yobo and Cahill (TC purely because he's getting on). I guess we'd get about £12M for the lot, which won't buy a lot of player these days.
If Fellaini won't sign, then he can fuck off right now, he could fund 3 decent new players alone.
If Yak isn't going to play, then get shot now too but I'd guess we won't get more than 3 or 4 mil now.
To be honest, I'm not sure that there is anybody at Man U that they would be likely to let go that I would be happy to see come in
If I thought there was much chance that Fellaini would renew his contract before next summer, I could live with us selling Rodwell this year. But as we'll likely have to sell Fellaini next summer to avoid another Pienaar situation the following year, we need to keep Rodwell as Fellaini's successor.
We can easily enough part with the likes of Bily, Heitinga, Yakubu, Yobo - the fringe guys from last year. I would add Coleman to that - I think he's a bit over-rated, and we would turn a good profit on him.
But other than them, I don't think we're in a position to do a lot of selling this year without seriously compromising our team. And sadly, given our financial situation, that also means we're not in any position to do a lot of buying either. Plus ca change.
At the prices quoted in the press i would sell Rodwell. He is far to overated. Is not going to be a centre back for us anytime soon. Only passes side ways in midfield.
Also think that if a decent bid were to come in for Arteta, that he could be replaced based on his performances last season.
I would fight to keep all the players you mentioned and get rid of the likes of Bily, Yobo and Anichebe.
...well, ONE of the reasons anyway.
I would sell Anichebe just to get his wages off our books, and yeah, Yak and Yobo. I would run Bily behind the striker for a length of time before I would consider selling him, but the manager isn't likely to do that, so maybe that's another player that would "make sense" to sell. A wasted opportunity though.
What about the glass man Saha? I don't know what kind of fee he would command, but does it make sense to keep a player that breaks down more often than an Alpha Romeo?
Dont get me wrong, I feel there is a great player in there somewhere, But if the lad is going to develop then he has to move on. We should sell him while he is hot.
I remember him carrying our midfield under the injury crisis as a 19 year old a couple of seasons ago, but since then he just hasnt cut it, He still thinks sidewards and backwards first.
Just look how the other Jack at Arsenal has grown as a player, then maybe you can see what I mean.
What amazes me is how anyone thinks he could be a great centre half....where did that come from?
Can you imagine if Moyes suddenly decided to drop his beloved 4-5-1, and adopt a 4-4-2 formation, only to have it headed by the formidable strikeforce of Bendtner and Anichebe?? ...bloody hell
I tell ya, if Elstone is right and the groups of unsettled fans calling for BKs head are a minority, then they will soon be a very loud majority if this happens.
Those of you wanting to keep him i ask you why? What does he actually do?
Those of you wanting to move him to centre half I ask double why?....can he tackle? If so why doesnt he? Can he head the ball? If so why doesnt he?
Over rated, over rated, over rated!!....ship him out and buy some real talent.
The Arse have been sniffing around for a while and we play better when he is out of the team. Even though I like him he is part of the England set up and that always spells trouble.
We will also have Yobo as cover for CB. And Rodwell, I just don't know what all the hype was about, future England Captain? Isn't that the other Jack.
Debate about why we've got no money to spend coming up on Radio 5 after 8.00. Interested to see what they'll say..
More like Redshite fabrication. It's NOT been on their website. Maybe a Redshite forum but not their website.
I'll drive Fellaini to Stamford Bridge me-fuckin-self to make sure he gets there......
There has to be a line for supporters not to cross and I think the club and its players are getting even more demoralised by all this negative money talk. My advice: you do the best with what you have got and get on with things.
I don't want our club to be over-focused about money. I feel confident that Moyes will deal with this by selling expensive and buying cheap, after all that is his job.
This is more of a reminder then a reprimand: we need to back our players fully, only then will we get back into Europe. Support is crucial, it is what keeps them motivated when all else fails!
I think Felli should be sold if he does not renew his contract soon. Simple as that; he is not bigger than our club ? far from it... our club will spur on. Think positive and keep the strong faith!!! Summer greetings to all Evertonians. :-)
Fellaini, because of his enormous potential, both cult and ability!
Rodwell, product of Everton and still the chance to turn into something great.
Sadly, I see both leaving soon.
Look at Liverpool ? finished 6th last year and how much have they splashed out since? If they do finish in the top 4 next season (which despite their excuberant spending, I don't forsee happening) it will be at the expense of another huge spending club. Basically, the only way to 'crack it' is by spending HUGE. Everton can't afford to do that Taking a risk isn't 'taking a risk' anymore ? that ship has sailed for everyone. It's suicide now. Unless you have a bottomless pit, you're are stuck between 7th & 20th.
This might sound unambitious ? it's not. I want Everton to have success as much as the next person. However, I also want to see Everton competing at the top level for the foreseeable future and with our current squad we are 'the best of the rest'. I believe that, in the absence of investment, the best way to achieve this is for Everton to keep on doing what they are doing.
How these new Fifa or Uefa rules will affect clubs, I have no idea. Man City are spending 110% of their turnover on wages, apparently, and Spurs and Chelsea have consistently spent more than they have coming in for the last 7 or 8 years. That obviously can't continue when these new rules are in place.
This summer, nobody seems to be building. Anyone who has bought anyone is just replacing, so far (excluding Liverpool and Man City). I actually think everyone is skint.
He is a 28-year-old centre-half! Jesus wept.
I wrote on here months ago a comment that if we have to sell in order to buy then there is plenty of scope. I also commented that if that is the case then it should be made public so that we all know where we stand and reality sets in.
My belief is that the midfield is the key, and in the Premier League, right or wrong, power is what it is all about. We could have the biggest strongest and maybe even youngest centre-mid combination in the Prem, so my vote is keep Jack and Fella at all costs.
Some sales that I believe will happen, are Yobo (sadly) and Yak, but at the levels of prices being seen then, with sadness, I would see Jags go (£15m plus), Mikky who will not get quicker or fitter at his age, Bily as it sadly has just not worked, and the obvious one, Anichebe, keeping Johnny if Jags does go. And, now Citteh have a left back, keep Baines as, unless stupid money is offered, he is a player we can build around.
We appear to have no money, but I am of the opinion that a bit of reshaping could make our squad better and who knows where we can end up?
The "Sell to Buy" ship has set sail. Under current ownership, that's done in terms of improving the team. Who could we afford to bring in at current wages?
We have good players and they're as well-aware of EFC's situation as us on the outside looking in. We have one of the top managers.
Sell no one. What's the point? We come out of the gate fast, we know our team keeps improving as the season go alongs. Getting out the gate fast is the key.
Stand fast, I say.
Well said... and we are screwed if EFC sells off our best players; the money from which will go towards debt or pocket; not Moyes improving the team. We have what we have and they're pretty good. As is Moyes.
Let's keep them all and see what happens this season.
Felliani has been unlucky with injuries and was putting in some good shifts but has he even justified the ?15M paid for him never mind the £25M now talked about? Arteta on the other hand has paid back the £2.5M paid about 20 times over and if he never has another decent game has been a genuine Everton great that I for one have been privileged to watch and there hasn't been many of them in Moyes time.
Regarding who would I like us to keep, in all honesty, I feel Baines and Jagielka would be the most missed but after them two, I don't really see anyone who couldn't be replaced. The good thing is we have a core of good solid players who with some pace added could become a good quality team that could challenge.
Fellaini ? Potentially our best player. And young. But if he doesn't sign then sell.
Baines ? Our best player. Unreplaceable.
Arteta ? A dwindling force? Hopefully not. Sellable at the right price.
Jags ? For me the lynchpin of our defense. Don't sell.
Rodwell ? Possibly the biggest money we could get for someone whose departure wouldn't massively upset the first team. Therefore the most sellable.
Yak/Yobo ? Waiting for the bus out.
Heitinga, Anichebe, Bily ? last chance saloon.
One of them is bound to be a star.
http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football-sport/nil-money-nil-optimism-everton-are-squatters-in-the-premier-league/
Either or: Cahill, Arteta, Bily, Saha, Neville;
Definate bin them: Rodwell, Heitinga, Yobo, Yak, Anichebe.
Hopefully the outgoing players may raise a few bob.
Fellaini ? quickly before he becomes another Pienaar.
Jags ? because somebody wants him
Rodwell ? hes young and we could con somebody out of a few quid
Bily, Yak, Heitinga are all good candidates for sale but wouldn't raise much
Wouldn't go on players though... just keep servicing our debt so that Blue Bill will carry on for another year.
The cost of servicing Everton's debt was £4.5M in 2009-10 (the last season we mere mortals are privy to). That is "only" 5% of turnover. No-one here knows how much of that is covered by normal business activity and how much must be covered by player sales but, in the worst case, I would imagine that income player sales exceeding the that sum annually would in all likelihood be made available to David Moyes. I think the past record appears to support that.
Jags is there to clean up whenever we fuck up in front of him.
I would not sell any of our best players unless Moyes already has a younger and better replacement earmarked. So don't sell Moyes!
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1 Posted 18/07/2011 at 15:13:22
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Personally I would not let any of the "kids" go and I would try build the Rodders Fellaini partnership.