The Rumour Mill, Season 2011-12

The litany of false Baines rumours

10/05/2012 |

Comments (32)

This article analyses the recent history of total bullshit written about Leighton Baines as an indication of how ridiculous the Rumour Mill is. The current 'link' with Man Utd is characterized as the ninth in a serious of completely rubbish pieces of conjecture that have been bandied about over the last two years... meanwhile Leighton Baines remains an Everton player.

Original Source: Sport Witness

Comments

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Steve Mink
127 Posted 10/05/2012 at 17:05:13

Baines will end up at Old Trafford this summer. I can feel it in my bones.

Jem Traynor
133 Posted 10/05/2012 at 17:20:40

True, the rumours have been bandied about for a few years now as the lad has been consistently good for years. It makes me wonder though because Evra isn't past it yet and we all know Baines loves playing as many games as he possibly can. I really can't see it happening unless it's a really high bid for him and he suddenly decides/or is advised that Everton aren't that high up in the rankings and he is now England's number one left back and as a result needs to move on to Old Trafford to show as much. There's that like, but we'll see and see how much he is valued at by Everton and Man Utd and see how much goes to Our Manager???

I do know this for sure: He will be sorely missed and also would this scupper Penaar's move back here? Because they do have a good partnership down the left... There's going to be some backlash if he does go; the club had better make it worth the fans' while and do the right things to sweeten the deal.

John Malone
137 Posted 10/05/2012 at 17:45:46

Just to throw this in the mixer: I heard off a good source Fergie has got close tabs on Ross Barkley.

Mark Roberts
158 Posted 10/05/2012 at 18:56:32

Straight swop for Valencia and the Mexican striker would do for me!!

Peter Davies
168 Posted 10/05/2012 at 19:44:46

I don't want Bainsey to go, but Distin has done a decent job at left back, so the money from any potential sale could go to keeping Pienaar and buying a.n. other (or two!), wide man possibly? For me it's more important to keep Pienaar than Baines.Just trying to be realistic, we all know there's going to be no new money available from uncle Bill and the board, so Bainsey going will do the least damage, but bring in the most money.

Stephen Kenny
169 Posted 10/05/2012 at 20:00:40

There's another defender or two in this squad who we could sell if need be. Either Jag or Heitinga would be preferable to Leighton who also plays a big part in how we attack.

I'd say theres no way he's walking out of goodison unless it's for Lescott money.

Jay Harris
177 Posted 10/05/2012 at 20:32:40

Peter
I have to take issue with you.

Distin has played a handfull of games at LB while the team has been playing well and is 34 years of age.

Baines has been our top performer and ever present (until last week) over the last 4 or 5 seasons.

We sell Baines at our peril.

As Stephen said Jags is a better sale prospect given his serious career threatening injury last year and his inability to be at his best alongside Heitinga.

He has not been outstanding since Lescott left and given Duffy is progressing and CB's are generally easier to find and fund than strikers or MF players he would be my choice for the door if we have to.

Anthony Jaras
181 Posted 10/05/2012 at 20:51:45

For me, selling Baines would be worse than any other sale we've ever done.

He's integral to our system, our spirit and our ethos of hard working players.

If he goes, it'll be the start of something really bad.

Ian Bennett
183 Posted 10/05/2012 at 20:54:17

Ste totally agree. £10m for Baines, and £5m for Straq?

One the best left backs in the Premier League and English (premium), the other whole hearted, cheap Argie import, and the papers are talking £5m different. This stuff isn't good enough to wrap up chips with and is a bit of a theme from The Mirror.

Drew O'Neall
198 Posted 10/05/2012 at 21:48:47

Got that same feeling he's off.. Fellaini would hurt me the most as I don't think we are capable of replacing him but I would back Moyes to find another decent left back.. Conspicuously Moyes' state of the nation speech highlighted Jelavic, the centre backs and Baines but didn't mention Fellaini so not sure if that's ominous or reverse psychology.. Would be v sad to see Baines go though.

Jem Traynor
222 Posted 11/05/2012 at 02:17:46

I too would prefer to see Jags go before Bainesy but I think there's more chance of Fellaini going with a big-money move to Chelsea. They're reported to have interest in him for a couple of seasons now so we might just be losing him instead...

Yeah, he will be hard to replace... very hard. I reckon there should be £35 million reasons placed on exactly how hard it WILL be to replace him.

Eric Myles
282 Posted 11/05/2012 at 10:39:18

Anyone know what's wrong with Baines?

Seems odd that a player that has not had an injury in over 2 seasons suddenly takes to his bed at the mere mention of a possible transfer to United?

Cotton wool for the Euros or for the sale?

Peter#168, Fellaini going would be the least damage.

Ray Roche
292 Posted 11/05/2012 at 11:59:43

If Glen Johnson cost an estimated £17.5m how come Baines is £10m ?
Who's having a laff at our expense?

Joe Clitherow
294 Posted 11/05/2012 at 12:06:08

Ray it's pretty easy to work out who is making noises.

If you check out the agents' website it lists their clients in order of supposed value. Top of the list is Jack Wilshere and guess who is second? On the basis that Arsenal do not need to sell their best players where do you think they have a chance of turnover?

Even a sale well below Baines' value would generate money for them in terms of capital and almost certainly increased revenue whereas they are probably not getting revenue that they feel is related to Baines' value right now. Not maximising their asset's value is effectively a loss to their business plan.

Scum of the Earth.

Joe Clitherow
298 Posted 11/05/2012 at 12:18:17

Eric did you not see the semi-final? Even where I was sat (I haven't watched it since) I could see he got walloped in the second half and clearly had a damaged hamstring.

Tony J Williams
300 Posted 11/05/2012 at 12:28:02

Damn you Joe! don't you know conjecture makes for better reading?

Joe Clitherow
303 Posted 11/05/2012 at 12:30:49

Sorry Tony.

I found it quite funny in a post solely about bemoaning false rumours that many posters can't see the irony in the same sort of propagation....

Drew O'Neall
308 Posted 11/05/2012 at 12:41:50

Eric @ 282

Fellaini is our best player by a country mile.

There's no way his leaving would do 'least damage' IMHO.

Stephen Kenny
311 Posted 11/05/2012 at 12:57:30

I don't think anybody would give Jags a thought by early September. Johnny, Distin and Duffy is enough to be going forward with if we really do need to generate funds.

Ray Roche
318 Posted 11/05/2012 at 13:22:46

Joe, I was being ironic. Agents are one of the lowest forms of life, sharing a ditch with Estate Agents, a Border Collie called "Desmond" who tried to take a chunk out of my leg in 1989... and anyone or anything remotely associated with the RS.

Oh, and BT's Broadband Helpdesk.

Alan Maher
341 Posted 11/05/2012 at 15:23:56

In all fairness, I don't see Baines going ? especially if we sign Pienaar. They are best of mates off and on the pitch and I think Baines knows that he plays best when he plays behind him.

If we were to get rid of anyone, I think it should be Rodwell. He would be the least missed considering he is like Jimmy Vaughan and constantly injured. He has been living off his 'potential' tag now for too long without producing anything significant. £15 million would get us a couple of creative players that we need.

Jem Traynor
346 Posted 11/05/2012 at 15:37:15

Ray #318, you should try Postoffice broadband they use the exact same lines so you're getting the same UL and DL and it's cheaper.

And Eric #282, you'll find that Fellaini would be missed by the team and the dynamic he gives it. Even if there are some who don't see it, the guy is a great player and never stops grafting.

Gareth Fieldstead
361 Posted 11/05/2012 at 16:48:17

Sadly I think a player or even two will be sold, fact of life at Everton. As stated above its who will make the least dent but could generate enough funds to reinvest elsewhere. Personally I would also allow either Heitinga or Jagielka and Cahill. I think we could cope at the back with the loss of one of them and apart from a couple of cameos Cahill has done zilch since the Asian cup. All three are on big money and could raise sales of around 12 million being my guess. Depending who else shows interest that could secure the services of Moses, Peinnar and Dempsey. Baines would be a huge loss and frankly Rodwell would be lucky to raise 8 million considering his injury problems, I dont think the lad has completed a season since he broke through four years ago without a major lay off.

Ray Roche
366 Posted 11/05/2012 at 17:28:49

Thanks, Jem, I'll certainly look into that.

John Nugent
393 Posted 11/05/2012 at 21:00:54

Did anyone else here a whisper 2 weeks ago that Man City had put a bid in for Baines? And it wasn't accepted or rejected.

Paul David
398 Posted 11/05/2012 at 21:17:43

John I've not heard anything about Baines and City but sure I read that Kolarov might be leaving. If that's true then I wouldn't be surprised if they turned their attention to Baines. If Baines had to leave, then, at least if City were after him, we know we would get top dollar.

John Nugent
400 Posted 11/05/2012 at 21:21:16

Hope it's not true Paul, the last couple of rumours I heard from this source turned out to be true.

Paul David
401 Posted 11/05/2012 at 21:30:50

John

Untill a few weeks a go I thought we would have fell apart without Baines. I've always said he would be the last player I would have sold. I would hate to see him leave but it would be hard to justify keeping him if we were offered over £25m.

John Nugent
402 Posted 11/05/2012 at 21:36:50

On the flipside Paul, what's the point of building a good team if we're going to sell our best players.

I say we keep him!

Paul David
403 Posted 11/05/2012 at 21:48:49

John

This team isnt good enough to get in the top 4 never mind winning something.I would rather the club be stable in the long run than keeping a decent side together in the short term.

In the future if we get the debts paid off then hopefully we wont have to make these decisions.

John Nugent
420 Posted 11/05/2012 at 22:34:41

Paul

I don't think we're that far off top 4 or winning something considering the points we've threw away this season.

Now we've got Jely, hopefully Peinaar,,,,

I'd rather we kept our best players, possibly add a couple, a winger with pace (cue Jimmy) and any creative forward/midfield player, then move up the table and earn more money to pay off debt.

Just saying like :)

Paul David
423 Posted 11/05/2012 at 22:52:14

John

The only way it would be worth holding onto everyone is if we managed to get into the top 4. I agree we have thrown away a lot of points this season but it would take a huge effort to get into the CL when we can't add to the team without selling first. You could be right and I hope you are that Jelavic can fire us into the CL.

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