Deal for Pienaar's return not the best

The Gosling 'deal' still rankles though. Whoever was involved in that was asleep at the wheel.

That was a bad decision in a number of ways, not least being that pienaar was far more important to us than arteta, and also its cost us in the long run.

It was crucial to bring him back, and unlike other managers who have put personal pride before going back for a player, we've made the right decision.

Yes you are correct of course, money certainly seemed to be one of the issues at the time. But it was also part of a smokescreen: he wanted CL football as well, and thought he could hold down a place in Tottingham's starting eleven. In the event he was often lucky to get his arse onto the bench. He didn't cut it with them, and has had the sense to run back to the place where his skills seem to fit the system.

When a player decides he is off in the modern era then it is hard to hold onto them. We've seen that with Rooney; Whisky Nose saw it with Ronaldo; the Professor has just seen it with Van Persie.

What I don't know is whether SP is now on the same money that we refused to give him just before he left. Does anyone who tracks these sort of things better than me have the answer?

'when the season finished we had to bring Steven back to Everton — really at any cost.'

No spin, hold my hands up, open truth.

I don't always agree with Davey's selections and tactics, but I can take honesty til the cows come home.