Well , since we only missed out on him by an hour in August... I figure if we were still in for him, he'd already be signed. As usual, we have no money..... we won't get anyone in unless someone goes first.

There aren't any recent links suggesting we have a remaining interest in him.

Very quiet on the transfer front. Even despite our scarce resources I would have expected some loans. It leads me to suspect that they may be waiting to see what happens with incoming bids. I reckon it will all kick off on deadline day....

As is the norm with Everton, we seem to be leaving our business late – but why?

We were just minutes from signing Ofoe in the summer so either we have now lost interest or we can't afford him. But since we were so close to signing him, I can only assume we had the cash, and surely still have that cash, so it must be the other reason for not signing him. Strange though because he came with such glowing reports.

If we were so keen to sign him I think it would have been done by now.

Kenwright will be waiting till the last minute to sanction the transfer to save on wages so that he can fund his latest theatre production, a sequel to Marlon Brando's On The Waterfront, 'The Kings Dock Fuck Up.'
Fact.

Note: The above may not be fact.

I believe he has fallen out with two managers. I once knew a player who was advised to do this in order to get away and it worked. Perhaps we might get him on loan... Unlike Gibson and "Der Hammer,"he is exceptional in the air, can beat a man both ways, and has a very powerful shot in both feet.

We obviously have good scouts in the land of Hercule Poirot and their little grey cells may have detected a wish to be blue. Who knows... In the words of my favourite John Lennon song: "Nobody told me,... Strange days indeed".

There's also the fact that we already have at least three ex-Belgium league players and they might well have instigated this particular scenario.

The fact about your fact not actually being a fact......Is that a fact?

The fact is that it's factual only in the nature of it not being fact.

On good authority, we have made no moves in this transfer window for Vadis.

Is that a FACT Andy......oh never mind!

Brugge are here in Marbella training and played Wednesday, a mate of mine went and was impressed with him considering it was a friendly. have a look number 32

http://clubbrugge.be/nl/nieuws/13062/club-brugge-klopt-fc-nurnberg-met-4-3

Took his goal well.

I'm sure if we still wanted him having been so close in August a deal would have been worked out now. Need a CM as Barkley has just joined Leeds on loan for a month.

Surely we must have another midfielder lined up whilst Barkley has gone.

Well, it looks like Distin is renewing for another year. That's almost like a new signing!

He did take his goal really well... and it came from a huge punt forward from the centre back. I reckon he and Jags might really hit it off!

I was more impressed with Ivan Trickovski though. I would love to have that name on the back of my shirt too!

Has anyone heard when we can expect Mirallas back?

I think his return will give the team a huge lift, just as much as a new signing would.

I was thinking the same too Ben, what a name for a tricky midfielder.

So, today we have loaned out Ross Barkley for an initial month to Leeds, Gibson is said to be sidelined for another 3 weeks and Hitzlsperger's contract is up at the end of the month.

Where are our central midfield options coming from then? These three issues suggest that the club have possibly got something lined up for at least one central midfielder to arrive this month.

It would seem naive of Moyes to loan out a lad he recalled due to the shortage of options with out having anything lined up?

Or perhaps were going to see a revert to 4-4-2 and have Anichebe partner an out-of-sorts Jelavic?

Joel, Hitzlsberger has just signed a contract extension.

I think we do need one centre midfielder though, to impose on the team a bit

Joel, Hitz is here until the end of the season.

We'd just need to sign Dribbleov, Kickupski and Skillinov to complete the midfield. We could leave Victor Tantrumchebe on the bench then (Sorry Victor, you have played well recently!).

I initially posted this before the Hitz announcement gents as a mailbag thread and it has ended up here.

However, that still leaves one issue from three resolved? Still light in the middle & I can't envisage Moyes dropping Felli back in there any time soon?

http://clubbrugge.be/nl/nieuws/13062/club-brugge-klopt-fc-nurnberg-met-4-3

That touch down to set up the third was class, and he took his goal really well.

Seems strange that were not interested in him atm?! I'd of thought we'd of been back in for him on loan till the end of the season and seen what he can do before deciding on a permanent deal.

All very strange, this Ofoe buisness — or non-buisness, to be precise. How can we be only seconds away from signing him only weeks ago and yet now not a Dickybird?

Were we really in for him?

Was it all another smoke 'n' mirror act??
Why don't we want him now then if none of the above???

The twats who run this club do my head in so much...

Think with Hitz signing up till May, this means no Vadis.

The only thing I can assume is that we are waiting to see what happens with Fellaini and Moyes teambuilding plans will then need a rethink with Wigan's McCarthy on the radar.

Still cant understand though why we did not get this lad as we were so keen in August.

I just hope all the money has not been spent on Hitz.

Never mind Vadis, did you see the first goal in that game? Scored by some guy called Kiyotake brilliant strike

James Morgan #959; We didn't use Barkley while he was here so why would we replace him now he's back out on loan?

I think the next Leeds game is a 'Local Derby' at Barnsley that would be a good test for anybody.

Something does not make sense with this, I am sure if he was that good he would not still be there, and no-one else seems to be interested in him. Considering we just missed out in August, we don't appear to be fighting anyone for his signature

My question is probably very uneducated, but it has to do with finance. If we had the money to sign him five months ago, but missed out because of a technicality, and we haven't bought anyone since (Hitz was free and on a very low wage), why don't we have the money now? Could all these contract extensions have cost that much extra in wages?

vadis had disciplinary problems in November and the next day didn't show up for training with another player. CB announced after talks that they'd forgiven vadis and there was no further action............1+1=........

Tony Marsh,
The burning question I want to ask is: We haven't signed anyone yet, but do we really need too? According to some reports ,this kid has had a poor season up to now, with discipline problems. If David Moyes is put off by this, that's his judgement call, and I back it.

The other issue is where would this kid play and when? He would be unlikely to get into our first choice midfield at this point of the season, and the manager may view this as a waste of resources at this point.

Before you whinge about the resource thing, all clubs other than Man City or Chelsea have to consider this, as what is the point of blowing money to put someone else on the bench?

The glass is half-full!

I totally agree with Roman regarding the money supposedly ready to acquire the services of Mr Vadis.
Why is the money for the guy not still in the transfer budget we must have for DM ??
Contract extensions are a normal situation for players almost every year and must be catered for separately.
These are normal overheads for a football club in any professional division.
FGS don't give this stingy management excuses for not paying the fees that every club has to.
We need to do some business during this window to ensure that our push for the top is maintained.
Otherwise what are the fans paying good money for ??
Im watching the daily news on clubs in much lower positions in the league and having much smaller gates who are actively moving in the transfer market to improve their squads.
As Ive said before EFC drop out of any competition to sign anyone and wait to go through the dregs of whatever is left.
I have a picture in my mind of BK and his cohorts going through second hand clothing in flea markets....UGH !!

I just think Moyes is keeping his options open with regards to what he wants to bring in for the money he as left.

Maybe he's hoping someone better than Odjidja-Ofoe will come on to the market, who knows, cos if he was still very much interested in the lad then I'm sure he'd of had a deal sorted out for him already, only if like I've heard before, Club Brugge only want to sell him now and not loan him out, which we wont be able to afford to do.

Really does my head in not having the money cos I've read on different websites today that Sunderland are close to sealing a deal, of either £2.5m or £3.5m, for Moussa Sissoko of Toulouse, depending on which one you want to believe from the papers!

Now he's a quality player and would be going cheap with his deal running out this summer and it fucks me off that we cant even stump up that extra bit of cash to be in for a player of Sissoko's quality for so cheap.

No disrespect to Sunderland but it would be a shame if a player as good as Sissoko went to them cos I'm sure they'll be better teams interested in the lad, I know before the turn of the year we was linked to him and he would be a great signing for us if we could get hold of the cash.

Harold at #931.... more a case of "most peculiar mama, roll"!!

The point that seems to have been missed above is that we didn't have the money to sign him in the summer, we had the money to sign a loan deal.

It's entirely possible the home club don't want a loan deal anymore or are holding out for better terms.

With Hitzlsperger signing on till the end of the season, it makes we wonder we won't be getting him.

Well done Sean at #199. "Most perculiar" indeed. I had a little hopeful bet with myself that someone would send it through.