Who Can Make Roberto's 28? Part 3

I think this is the question that Martinez and his backroom team are asking themselves as well. Does Martinez spend all his cash on one player, or does he sign a couple on permanent contracts and then two or three quality loan signings? Remember, loan signings and even free agents will come with loan fees and signing fees, so that is a chunk of our transfer budget gone.

For me, for all the enjoyment I get out of seeing us bring young players through, I think this season will be a little early for the ones we need to come through, eg, Ledson, Green, McAleny and Grant. They will get game time, and they will progress, but it will be a year before they can be considered fully fledged senior players.

We have more than enough cover in defence so, while nice if it happens, we do not need Duffy and Garbutt to be ready as senior players. It is in midfield and upfront where we need to strengthen.

For me, on the balance of it, I do not think we can afford to spend big on just one player. We showed last season that there are goals in this team. The addition of two or three players in midfield and upfront may contribute goals as much as a £20m striker, but will also contribute a lot more. This means that I would vote for signing two or three players over just one.

a) His injury was so severe that RM has referred to it as potentially career-threatening. Let's hope that his recovery is as good as it can be.

b) Ramadan is earlier this year than it was last year, but will still likely affect Arouna's buildup to the forthcoming season.

I'll be delighted to see him return and effectively make his debut season, surely as good as a new signing?

Naismith, well done Stevie for listening to RM and focussing solely upon your own natural game in your proper position. I'd foresee more time on the pitch overall next season throughout all four competitions.

Lukaku, I just don't get the nitpicking criticism. He's a quality young striker with bags more potential; money spent on him will be wisely invested and, as he continues to flourish, his value will only multiply. I'd be certain that, if Everton are able to slap the dosh on the table, he'd happily become a permanent Blue. He is also a "big game" player and loves those vital ties. For me, he really is a "must have".

Traore, his sheer size inevitably tricks the mind into "Long-Ball Hitman", and yet RM's style clearly speaks to the contrary, so why would RM want a beanpole target man?

Roberto has already gone on record saying that he would like for Traore to return on loan for next season. I can only agree, 'cos I really want to see what this guy has to offer.

The Youngsters:

McAleny, 2 years older than Lukaku. Odd that Lukaku attracts criticism and yet McAleny does not... Injuries notwithstanding, it would be just great for him to make the breakthrough and this season would be just superb timing.

As for the rest, I can see RM blooding them here and there. The real giveaway will be the preseason, after all RM utilised Stones preseason last year and when circumstances dictated JS (for the main part) came through with top grades.

Additions up front? Sign Lukaku. Loan Traore. Plus another.

If the plan is to bed the youngsters in over the next season, why not bring in Lampard, Ferdinand, and Joe Cole on 1- or 2-year deals? That's 4 in on freebies which will leave our £20 million war chest for a couple of players. Add a couple of loans – there's your 8 players.

Wayne Rooney: 2002–2004 Everton 67 – 15

Joe Royle: (1966-1974) 232 – 102

Personally, the only geriatric player I want to see back here is G Barry. Ferdinand would be a very strange choice as we already have three centre-backs the wrong side of 30.

And as for Bentner I feel he could do a job for us. No he’s not going to rip up the Premier League, hence why he is on a free. He can play up top on his own, offer a psychical presence and would scoresome goals.

In an ideal world, I wouldn’t mention any of them names, but realistically I think our kitty won’t be more than £20 million. How is that going to spread to 8 players?

Lukaku showed us the difference a matchwinner would make and I would put the majority of our transfer fund on a top goalscorer.

I would be happy with Bony or Lukaku and am surprised we didn't have a sniff at Lambert. I don't really want Welbeck but would consider Soldado if he was available.

I don't know enough about the foreign markets to talk about other possibilities but did watch Bacca recently and he was woefully worse than Big Vic at his best.

As regards defensive mid, Barry showed what a good fit he would be for us and he is worth a punt for a couple of years. Other than that, I do not see Gibbo filling that role so I would go for Diame or even Manny Fernandes if available.

Barry was excellent playing alongside McCarthy last season and I would make an exception for him.

We should be looking to sign players like Colback if we're talking free transfers. Colback is 23 years old, with all his best years in front of him... and one of Sunderland's few consistent performers.

We can't solely depend on talent coming out of our academy; realistically, we might get the odd player now and again that is good enough... and if the player is good enough I'm confident that Martinez will give that player every opportunity to develop into a first-team player, a la Barkley and Stones.

As for Bendtner, he was dreadful on loan at Sunderland and has failed to make any kind of impact at Arsenal.

My guess is Martinez will sign 3-4 players which come with a transfer fee, a couple of free transfers and a couple of loans... there's your 8 players.

One player for £20m or two to three decent players who could make more of a difference than one. That is what I meant.

We need players who are going to help us break into the top 4. The likes of Bendtner do not cut the mustard, I'm afraid. He would only offer back up, and we have plenty of back up next year in the form of Koné, Naismith & Traoré. We need a big hitter.

If we could sign 2 players, I'd hope for Lukaku (£20M) & Welbeck (£10M). Martinez would turn Welbeck into a star. He'd let him play in his true position and give him a bit of belief. He's always being shunted onto the left wing, yet he scored 6 goals in the 6 games he played up front last year for Man Utd.

Lukaku's a no-brainer. He knows the club, he's 21, he's already scored 65 top flight goals, and he has the potential to be a world beater. If he can find some consistency, he'll score 30 goals in the Prem in the next few years...

One from left field would be a certain Mario Balotelli. He seems determined to leave Milan and the Italians are asking £30m for him which I'm sure we could whittle down to £20m. Lukaku would still be my first choice though.

Go on Bill, be a devil and splash the cash!! You never know, it might lead to greater things!! I would personally like Lukaku back and I also heard that Bony is high up on RM's shopping list

I would be pleased not to lose any more of last year's first-team squad and perhaps add a midfielder good enough to replace Osman plus a 20 goal striker.

Where have you seen this?

There are plenty of options available up top, some even better than Lukaku; we don't need to stoop that low.

Belgium is a dark horse and if they did stun the world and win it with him as their leading goal scorer it would probably add an extra £10 million to his fee and take us out of the running.

I also hope we pull out the stops for Lukaku and that he's only deployed on the wing very occasionally (master stroke against Arsenal... came across like a Steve McLaren trick after that).

My betting is that after being out for so long he will have lost a yard of pace and will just be a big lump up front. Six million quid down the pan.

Lukaku is almost certainly a no go so we need another striker.

It is the man's religion we are talking about here. Fasting is bound to affect any sportsman bearing in mind the amount of calories burnt during training etc. Hardly an excuse.

Second, the acceptance that Kone's religious fasting provides an excuse for him being crap. Plenty of Muslim athletes cope with this ritual without impact on their performance .

Can you explain how Kone is unprofessional please?

As I said before, there's been hundreds of other muslim players in the leagues but the first time I heard fasting used as an excure was with Kone.

A tad condescending there.
I know how fasting works for Muslims at Ramadan.

It will affect different people in different ways.
As for "eating the same amount at a different time" – that is incorrect. Food is not eaten until sunset, which is after 9pm in July. Highly unlikely that the usual 3 meals would be eaten in a couple of hours.

In your opinion how has he not maximised his fitness?

And as to the man’s religious beliefs, well frankly that’s his right to choose and observe as devoutly or relaxedly as his conscience and following befits.

We are discussing Kone, Eric, not residents of Finland.

You accuse Kone of using fasting as an excuse, then say he had dispensation to eat during Ramadan. It doesn't work both ways if I may point out.

It's sunrise to sunset.

No, Paul, we are discussing how Ramadan works for muslim footballers, of which Kone is one, as are muslim footballers in Finland. How do muslims (even non-footballers) in Finland cope if they can only eat after sunset? Surely there is something in the rules that allows for odd timings of sunset? Or in the case of the "land of the midnight sun," no sunset?

It's not me that wants it both ways, Paul. Kone has dispensation according to his religion to eat during Ramadan in circumstances where there are extended daylight hours, that he (possibly) doesn't use it and then uses fasting as an excuse for lack of performance is not because of me.

And to throw the thread really off topic, has anyone ever seen one of these muslim footballers stop for prayers during a match?

You re-posted my point "as for eating the same amount at a different time" .....and didn't give your answer?

Our chat started with my response to you saying Kone used fasting as an excuse in post 40. So we were debating Kone specifically.

I can't find a link to Kone using fasting as an excuse. I am not doubting your word that one exists, I am sure it does. I would be grateful you could post it please so I can get Kone's thoughts on the matter.

What baffles me is how any Muslim can justify any 'mitigating circumstances' when it comes to observing Ramadan. Either you are a Muslim and truly believe the fasting is vital, or you're not. Allah doesn't come across as the most forgiving fella and I don't recall him stressing his leniency towards Premier League footballers.

I hope Kone comes good anyway. Martinez seems to rate him very highly which gives me confidence.

IMO Lukaku proved what the top teams (except Arsenal) have practiced for years in identifying the difference a top goalscorer brings to winning a game as opposed to playing well and not winning.

City - Aguerro, Dzeko, Negredo, Silva

RS - Suarez, Sturridge

Chelsea - Ba, Torres, Eto.

EFC - Kone, Naismith !!!

If he's fasting then good luck to him, but it can't affect your job performance or expect to be criticised.

Religion is fine if that's your bag but don't expect others to psy for it.

Yes we're discussing Kone and how his muslim beliefs 'interfere' with his performances, and as my posts again explain, they shouldn't as he has dispensations.

What next, Christians refusing to play on Sundays? Jews refusing to play on Saturday?

Surely, these days, the game is awash with Muslims who seem to overcome this dietary inconvenience. After a year of inactivity, it is time for the Ivorian to deliver and, as yet, it looks like he will have little competition for a place in the side.

Hope Martinez has lined up some good alternative targets.

Lukaku has scored in both of Belgium's friendlies this week. I think if he does anything at all in the World Cup he will be snapped up. I think that Martinez is clever enough to recognise this and may well already have other options lined up.

We seem to have gone back into the let's leave it late mode of a couple of seasons ago.

We have lost 3 key players and do not seem to be closing in on anyone while the RS have already signed Lambert and are close to signing Lallana and Moreno.

I do not see the problem in signing a player now with the contract to start in July if wage savings are an issue.

He would be ideal at Goodison Park for a couple of years, he would bring more than he would cost, contribute more in many ways.

He could be an ace mentor for Barks for a couple of years.

Tap him up in Miami Ross !

I know that giving up on Lukaku is the wrong thing to do, but with the chances of a successful World Cup he is likely to be out of our reach soon. Our other main option is Wilfried Bony, but we aren't the only club to be looking at signing him, Arsenal are only one of the others.

Anyway, whatever happens, it's going to be a very interesting summer!!