New Year Wishes

Diame and Tom Ince would be a good additions IMO. As for a striker - I really don't have a clue, I'm sure RM and his scouts know the market much better than any of us and how often we actually sign players that are suggested by people on this site?

Lets just pray Martinez is given the funds to maintain our top 4/title challenge.

Yes we need a striker but I would hold out until July for that. Let the Lukaku period run it's course.

For me, I would like to see a highly promising youngster 16 - 19 year old signed on.... A kid that needs us to fork out £8m maybe... Those Scottish kids are an example. But I have said for ages we should invest in the next Ramsay ... Maybe Nick Powell is up for grabs ...

I hold thumbs that Lundstram, Kennedy or Green make the grade... But let's add to that talent now.... With RM at the realm I feel that time is better than ever...

Fifty years of the press being negative towards our club - Why? I have no idea.

Main issue I see is that we don't have any real cover for either Barry or McCarthy. The odd game missed through suspension or minor injury is ok, but if either was out for a month or more we would really struggle.

For the attacking midfield spots, we have 5 players (excuding Naismith) for 3 places (4 temporarily with Delboy out 'till mid Jan), so we're a little light. Still not an emergency situation as Naismith can come on as sub as well to relieve the burden a bit. Even without Delboy we still have Barkley, Mirallas and Pienaar available to start, with Ossie as back up/give someone a rest.

Up front, we basicaly don't have decent cover for Lukaku. We also don't have the cash to buy decent cover nor will be able to loan in decent cover, so we just have to hope he stays fit and can get a breather now and again if we're a couple of goals up.

To sum up, another midfielder would be nice, especially if they can play box to box and provide cover for Barry/McCarthy as well as play more foward if needed. Another striker would be great to relieve the burden on Lukaku and provide cover - really cannot see Jelavic geting back to his best, the guy looks like he needs to be moved on.

For theirs and the clubs' sake, can we please get rid of Heitinga and Gueye in Jan.

Not to much to ask for surely?

Mike's comment of how much will we have to spend?... The question should be: How much will BK allow the club to spend?

Everton Football Club is an organization with a lot of hardworking people with its showcase being the Premier League team and a manager starting to bring success with his ideas of how football should be played, that is being implemented from junior teams to the first team.

Along with other supporters, I believe the club is at a stage now that the chairman and board have to take a long hard look at themselves and decide if they want Everton Football Club move to higher levels by providing the manager the financial support to achieve this.

The difference this year is I find that a number of so-called pundits, instead of talking about Everton as a team punching above their weight, are now expressing them as genuine top 4 contenders.

Making a list of a lack of support, and major mistakes by the chairman and board is a waste of time. My wish for the new year is this board, this time, accept what their responsibilities are and get Everton Football Club to a higher level.

Outside of this, pretty much happy to keep our powder dry till the summer, sell Baines for £15mill and clear a bit of dept. I have complete faith in Oveido and don't know why we pay top money for a full back if indeed his future is on the bench.

To move forward, lets reduce our dept a bit with the Baines money and spend £15-20mill on young hungry talented youngsters from Money left over from the summer and from sale of Heitinga.... Note: Why do players need to be rested from playing football? Never understood that to be honest unless with injuries of course.

The last 5 or so years we let Lescott go for £24M, Arteta for £10M, Pienaar went and came back but we still made a profit of £4M, Yakubu left for £6M, Cahill for £1M and Fellaini left for £27.5M. Not to mention that these players are the ones with them lofty wages with around over £50k a week for each. Then the sales of other players such as Anichebe for £6M (which was quite a sale if I must say so myself), Rodwell for £12M, Saha went for free, Beckford went for around £3.5M and Neville did retire expanding our wage budget.

Did we also forget about our sponsor? We should be commanding £10M a year from our shirt sponsors to say the least! WTF IS THIS, armed robbery?

Believe only half of what you see and nothing that you hear, as Eddy said. The reason being that we also make a good chunk of money finishing in the top 7, I reckon it's about £8M. So Just hearing that we have zilch in our bank is just excruciating, preposterous! And up right BLASPHEMY!

Now coming towards who we really need!? A winger as always, a striker considering Jela leaves (or doesn't find his form), and some fresh legs in midfield. To be quite frank, we should have banked in on Sinclair in the transfer window. There were rumors we were interested in Sinclair before he went to Man City (now on loan to West Brom). On top of that, we've never really had pacy wingers this last decade or so and he would have given added competition to the likes of Mirallas and Pienaar.

Zakaria Bakkali is a class act as well so if we could nick him I would be jumping frantic and would do me happy dance in that cdm/cm position.

I feel Arturo Vidal would be one hell of a signing. he does already play in the CL for Juve so it would be implausible to get him unless we're in a good league position come January. His wages are quite low as well.

Marco Verratti is another bright prospect and is quite potent. Great for the long term plan. He plays for PSG and there were rumors linking him to Inter. If we could get either of them, even if on loan, it would be a real steal.

Strikers I would recommend we try to get Nicolas Lapez who plays for Udinese, has low wages, and has that Suarez-esque touch to him. Still young and needs experience though. Another would be Neal Maupay, plays for Nice, and only 17 years of age with a market value of £2M. Can play on either wings or upfront. Very pacey and would add that much needed depth in our squad.

With our squad being quite minuscule, I can see our players getting fatigued easily come 2/3rds of the season. It has happened to Aston Villa, Wigan, and plenty of other teams in the past. Especially since we went in so hard from the beginning of this season. It would be ideal to expand now so we can finally push above our frickin weight!

This is our closest yet farthest we've come this far come mid-season for god knows how long. This transfer window would be our break or make it window for the future, as the rich clubs are growing rapidly and the feeble ones are getting left behind. Hopefully Bill Kenwright, the frugal douche that he is, realizes this.

The key would be to hold on to Ross Barkley as long as we can. If we let him go, the future of our club will slowly despair and diminish. I personally hope he retires with us but I may be a little optimistic there.

As far as a striker goes, how much would Michu cost? £12 - 15 million?

Personally I reckon Martinez will be looking to the loan market on the continent for the tricky winger type player to cover for Pienaar and Mirallas.

Type "Merry Christmas from Everton Football Club" into YouTube to watch the latest Kenwright production.

It's pretty funny actually.

Both could be quite likely too. Ince's contract is running out soon, so he wouldnt be worth a great amount, although a lot of Prem clubs would be thinking the same thing.

Long is depends who the new manager is. May not feature in his plans, and he would be good, because he's got a decent goalscoring touch, works hard, pacy, and is one of those small (ish) strikers, who can play well with one front.

I think the crux of the article is correct though, 3 players primarily for cover we do need.

Suarez to bite off an opponent's nose and then thump the ref. Bye bye.

Rooney to decide that he wants to get back to his roots and puts all of his money into the club. He also states that he is prepared to play for the under 18's. Stones that is.

Moyes to spend a ludicrous amount of cash on three or four players whose names nobody can spell or even find their countries of origin on the map. All of whom prove to be total flops. Double result. He's sacked and Manure slip down the table.

Mourhino to get the boot at Chelsea. He will then declare that he has long had a hidden passion for Everton and wants to be an assistant to Roberto and really doesn't mind putting out the traffic cone things at Finch Farm.

Scandinavian countries impose a total flight ban to the UK whenever Liverpool are playing at home. Gates down.

We stop watering the pitch ten minutes before kick off so that people in the lower Gwadlys don't get soaked.

The top scorer in the World Cup, after a 35 yard screamer hits the back of the net, pulls off his jersey to reveal a T shirt that has "I wouldn't mind going to Everton on loan" on it.

Jeflavic wakes up on Christmas morning to find a pair of magic boots in his stocking. When he wears them he finds that it is impossible to get into the penalty area without scoring.

And a Christmas card from Alex Young wouldn't go amiss.

Robles, Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Oviedo, Lundstram, McCarthy, Mirallas, Barkley, Kennedy, Jelavic.

With cover being Taudal, Duffy, Garbutt, Browning, Gibson, Naismith and McAleny.

That assumes Baines leaves/retires, and that Gibson isn't considered a regular first team player due to his injury record. It also omits Vellios, Gueye and Junior as their development seems to have stopped but includes all the youth players who are getting toward the first team. Although hopefully others would come through too that would be a bonus rather than something to plan around.

Given that line-up, I think the key area for strengthening would be strikers. Central defence also looks in need of strengthening - two unproven players and an ageing Jagielka, Midfield looks light on players in general.

Given those longer-term considerations, and taking into account the current team my priority for January would be a defensively-minded midfielder, and if there was a second youngish versatile midfielder that would be good too. A striker would be great, but anyone we sign would be second to Lukaku so it may be hard to attractive the right player, especially in the January window. Hence that looks like a priority for early in the summer transfer window and hope Lukaku stays fit in the meantime. For now central defence is fine, but signing another promising young centre back would be helpful for the longer-term.

In terms of players leaving, Gueye and Vellios don't seem to add to the team, and Heitinga is a very expensive bench-warmer. Without others coming in, there aren't any others I'd want to see leave although Naismith would be high on the list to leave if replacements do come in, and solely because of his injury record I wonder what role Gibson will end up playing at the club.

We spend every penny on getting Lukako permanently.

Bill sells the club to a staunch Evertonian billionaire.

Moyes loses to us at home as well. We beat the RS away. We don't just qualify for the Champions league - we win the Preniership.

And Angelina Jolie begs me to satisfy her urges as Brad isn't up to it any more.

Yep, I'd be pretty pleased with those ....

I hope our Barca kid stays for next year. Same with Lukaku. And I would love us to finish top 4 and stuff it down the necks of all the media who write us off at every opportunity. And while we are at it a win at the RS!

Finally off the subject slightly but genuine justice for the 96 next year would be wonderful. Jail time for the filth who caused it and Sheff Wed, the FA and Sheffield city council hung out to dry.

To the site owners best wishes and thanks for a great site.

We find a striker who can score in every other match, rather than one who scores in fits and starts.

Referees give us a fair go and stop looking as if they're always looking to book our players or give our opponents help by constantly punishing every tackle we make.

We get to the Cup Final and beat Man U after trouncing the neighbours in the semi-final

Billy realises that he has to sell and finds a suitable, responsible buyer rich enough to give us a real chance of winning the Premier League.

Short term we don't need a defensive midfielder. If Gibbo is still on the shelf Barkley can drop back.

Short term we don't need a central midfielder. Pienaar can go inside in my opinion. Osman while not everyone's cup of tea can slot in as well without worry, again in my opinion.

We have plenty of depth in the back - no worries.

What I feel we do need for the push is one more winger. It is by far the most demanding position on the field. Sprint forward, sprint back. Repeat. I'm only comfortable with Delo (hurt...) Mirallas and Pienaar currently. Anyone else played out wide in our current squad is a fish out if water. we need 4 quality wide midfielders.

Being Everton and being skint I'll be realistic and ask for just one player. Use any other monies to balance our books and get us financially strong again.

Callum McManaman. Please Santa / Father Time / Any Omnipotent Being... please. I think he's in our "price range" and I think that kid has an unreal upside.

We sold Yakubu for £2m after paying £13m for him, a loss of £11m.

The Lescott money went on Distin £5m Heitinga £7m and Bily £9m.
The latter sold for £6m, a loss of £3m.
The Arteta money went to the bank. In sales alone it's a loss of £18m..

The Rodwell money went on Peinaar and Mirallas.

The £6m we received for Bily went on Jelavic and Gibson.

Oviedo has grabbed his chance with both hands and I think is worth persisting with him. I am not saying he's as good as Baines (I don't think anybody is) but if we get an offer of £20m for a left back then it's got to be worth considering, surely?

Then go for a striker. I know there's no guarantees but you usually get what you pay for. When Jelavic first arrived he was banging them in for fun, but I think we all allowed ourselves to forget the amount of chances he missed too. I would love it if he came back to form but I seriously doubt it.

Anyway, that's my tuppence worth!

Albert Finnbogasson
Will Hughes
Tom Ince (but I'd accept McGeady if I got the other two)

I've been really good this year and so definitely deserve it.

2. Kenwright to sell up and fuck off.

3. Wayne Rooney to move to Everton.

4. For David Moyes to fade from the collective memory of ToffeeWeb.

Then I'd line up all the fecking so called 'pundits' like Lawrenson, Shearer, and all those knob 'ead journo's from the Sunday Supplement, and make them say out loud ; "I know nothing about football, and I'm a cock."

"Angelina Jolie begs me to satisfy her urges "

You'd be disappointed with her.

I was.

1) Ratboy signs a 6 year deal with them. However in his first game after singing he breaks both legs - at the thigh.

2) Our smirking, bent, hopeless 'leader' - him with the head the size of a lodging house cat - becomes a greenpeace activist and gets a large japanese harpoon up his third eye.

3) Peace and goodwill to all men but obviously not to..them. In fact I hope they all get conjunctivitis (up the arse!)

4) Top 4.

I might have considered an Angelina wish too but I wouldn't want to go there after Ray Roche who, although I've never met him, I'm guessing is one dirty bastard and has probably left the girl in a shocking state.

1. Stuff the red filth at Anfield.
2. We win a trophy, qualify for CL and look back on this season as a landmark, pivotal one in our future dynasty as perennial champions of England and Europe.
3. Future TW mailbags bemoan the fact that we've only won the league by 6 points - it was 9 points last season etc etc.

4. An end to the spawniness of the RS. A deal with the devil? Well, here's yet more of the stomach-churning evidence. They face Cardiff tomorrow. Manager likely to be sacked / team unsettled. Last week - AvB unsettled / sacked. Last season they played Swansea days before their first cup final - the Swans simply bent over and took it up the arse. The same thing with Wigan before the cup final - Wigan played a weakened team and got slaughtered. I won't go into twat refeering decisions that have favoured them over the years or the dirty scum tackles that go unpunished or 39 dead Italians. But FFS, this surely can't go on forever?

I completely agree, mate. And she cooks a lousy breakfast.

1. Angelina Jolie to sign a 4 year pay-as-you-play deal with Everton.

2. Jelavic to satisfy my most primitive urges.

3. Kenwright to be an integral part of China's next mission to the moon.

If you scroll down to the actual write-up of the Swansea v Everton match on Lawrenson's predictions, you'll see that Cameron has predicted an Everton win. It's Lawrenson and the Troops who have predicted Swansea wins.

As for 2014, hadn't really thought about Shane Long but the idea is growing on me now. Need to find some cover for Barry and McCarthy, Osman looked out of place in that position against Fulham, what happened to the guy from PSG we were linked with over the summer?

Will Hughes would be great but probably cost a relativefortune, and Tom Ince doesn't seem to be having the same impact this year.

Eugene, Guilty, as charged.

Mike Hughes @ 612

I skipped breakfast, Mike, didn't want to be late for Katy Perry who was waiting outside.

This is someone who's scored about 1 in 4 during his career, including significant time in the championship and is about as good as he's ever going to get.

Admittedly he runs about a lot for the team and probably has a first class attitude, but if we're going to the next level, we need a 20 goal a season striker, not someone who is just hard working.

If we didn't make top 4 this season because Lukaku got injured, its not a disaster. I'm in complete agreement with David Chait (431) in that we need to be spending our money on the next Lukaku or the next Barry. We simply can't afford anyone who is already the real deal... and we certainly don't want more players like Long who won't improve the quality of what we have already and will just add bodies.

Let's get some really promising young players in who can provide cover from the bench for now, but maybe will be ready for more first team action next year. Supplement the youngsters with another loan signing or cheap transfer for someone who is at a decent level already (eg, McGeady) and we'll be in a decent position come the 2nd half of the season.

If we approach the problem with a short term and long term view and ensure both bases are covered we'll be fine. If we sign players who are 'okay', like Shane Long, and who wont get any better, then we're making our lives unnecessarily hard.

Has Garbutt got first team potential? I've seen him a couple of times and I thought so. If so, he should be Oviedo's understudy if/when Baines goes. No money spent.

Assuming Heitinga is going we need a replacement. We're ok for numbers in defence, and Barry can play centre half in a pinch, so I think we need Barry cover to replace Johnny H. I don't see Junior making the grade although I may be wrong. So who? A young lad or an old hand? I think that position needs maturity and Gareth Barry's performances bear testimony to this. So someone probably needs to be brought in. Don't know who but I would go for someone who already plays in this country as it seems to take a year for new boys to get the hang of this specialised position in this league.

Shane Long? I fear that he's one of those players that looks good twice a season. He can't hold his place at West Brom so what chance at Everton? Are we looking for back up for Lukaku or next year's number 9? I can see us loaning another hired gun next season. So, look to the kids again. Is there anyone who is going to make the grade? If so, start putting them in the squad. Bring them on if possible. What's to be lost?

We can only get one more loan and that has to be European and not domestic. So I would be happy to loan McGeady and buy Will Hughes for £8M or so. Mirallas and Jelavic seem decent striker cover for Lukaku, not sure we will get much better in January.

Fucking sick of every single one of them saying ; "Who, Carlos? Can't understand it myself, he's doing a fantastic job up/down there. Look at the win he got in 2009 against Utd. He's been working non-stop to bring someone in."

All about the money. They won't say a bad word about each other in case they need a job.

Just. Fuck. Off.

I'd like Diame too, well worth it at £4-5m..

Long is more of a known quantity and that is what worries me. I don't see him as a step up on what we have to be honest and he isn't going to get better. I'd rather see Jelly given another go.

For both of these players its fan talk rather than manager talk which is promising...but if Roberto brought them in, I'd keep an open mind and assume he knows what he's doing