Everton interested in Ajax defender

Lets get him before Norwich do.. Chris Hughton is getting a decent team together this season.

Know nothing about him, but Belgian players stock are rising all the time.

Seen him once or twice and looks a very solid player in the Vertonghen mode. Crucially for RM perhaps he looks very composed on the ball with strong distribution.

After yesterday's showing in defence,albeit a friendly, another defender wouldn't go amiss! Again though it's probably just paper talk!

Halve the fee and throw Johnny H in ... This one might have legs.

Another player I bought on Football Manager. This is getting weird. If I could just buy Cavani...

Good shout, Spragg.

I saw the squad numbers yesterday and I noticed Johnny's name and thought - really? He's still here!? We need his wages off the bill.

Alasdair / Spragg There could be some merit in that one, Heitinga wants to go back to Holland as far as I know,and the lad has only one year left on his contract! Bring it on,at least it would be one sure way of getting shut of him!

He's an Ajax boy, we know that much. What a way for him to end his career. Chanpionseague football with your home club. Come on Johnny, you know it makes sense.

Sprang, this was my exclusive. Behave.

Spragg.

A nice little swap with Heitinga would be lovely.

We can't compete with Norwich financially

Daniel, Delia writes books which millions of people buy. BK produces shows nobody watches. Capisce?

Let's face it - it's too hot to buy anyone at the moment.

"We can't compete with Norwich financially"

We can compete with them in every other area, Location, things to do in the city, quality of the squad, history, tradition, attacking playing style.

Norwich have only got their players because they were the first PL club to make a firm offer for them. If three or 4 clubs bid for Fer, Redmond and Wolfywinkel or whatever ihs name at the same time as Norwich did, I guarentee they would not have got those players.

They have very nice sunsets in East Anglia, what with it being so flat. That might have swung it.

I feel sorry for the likes of Fer and Redmond. They are obviously so desperate to move that they accept the first club that comes in for them, like N'zogbia who tired of waiting for us and went to Villa.
Norwich is nice. Lots of tractors and sheep to entertain the yokels, erm locals.

Kev - in my experience you get better sunsets in hilly areas as the elevated position grants you a better vista. The fens can have wonderful skies, but the sunsets can be somewhat of a disappointment. As a result, the more inland you are, the higher the likelihood of hills, and therefore wonderful sunsets and big signings.

Mike - I am going to have use a phrase that I never like to use except as a last resort... "You are right and I am wrong".

I lived in that neck of the woods for a while and, yes - now that I come to think of it - it was "wonderful skies" rather than "nice sunsets" that I recall. I knew it was something like that, anyway!

Mike Green 1 v 0 Kev Johnson. An early goal for the man with the superior grasp of geography. Still, there's a long way to go in this match, and Kev Johnson is very much "in it". It's shaping up to be a cracking match.

Ajax aren't interested in Heitinga at all.

Mike - I would consider Norwich to be beyond the Fens, if he had signed for Histon or even Peterborough you might have had a point about the sunsets and signings.

Regarding Heitinga, I think he has publicly stated he wants another move somewhere else before he goes back to Ajax, so there needs to be some money in it for him I would have thought.

Stationed in East Anglia in the '50's. The women were gorgeous.

Sorry, Kev hadn't reposted when I started my post, I migh have stayed out of it if I had realised it was on a knife edge.

Kev - I grew up in the Fens but now live in the Chilterns so had a bit of 'inside' on the sunset side of things. My 1-0 has subsequently been overturned following a stewards enquiry, which put us back to 0-0 with me getting a five day sunset ban for taking unfair advantage. Sigh.....back to football.

Drew - you're absolutely right, it's also why Wisbech Town struggle to attract any real quality.

This is like national geographic. I picked strawberries in Cambridgeshire as a young 'un. Very hot, very flat, beautiful sky. I hate strawberries.

Where were you stationed Harold? Nearest bases to me growing up was Upwood, then Wyton, then Alconbury.

Ross - having seen the comments from Moyes and Zaha today/over the weekend, can I have my tenner now, please?

Hold on, I've had an "on-topic" idea. (Now there's a novelty.) The Fens - and most of East Anglia (which is what I was talking about, really) - are kind of similar to parts of the Netherlands in a way, aren't they? Low lying, flat. Maybe that's why the Duthman Fer preferred to go to Norwich? Home from home, innit.

This might be an underlying reason why players choose to go to one club rather than another. Relating this back to us, is there another city in the world like Liverpool? I can't think of anywhere, off the top of my head....

Kev, millions of years ago east anglia was joined to holland and Belgium before putting in a transfer request and moving westwards. Maybe that's why we've been so successful with Dutch and Belgian players.
Btw, the Toby deal is on talk sports just now so it must be true.

Kev - East Anglia and Holland are much the same, yep.

Don't know about Liverpool, would have to be a port somewhere. I've often thought Amsterdam and New York (formerly called New Amsterdam as Im sure people know) have the same feel as each other though.

I used to pick lettuces at a farm in Lathom near Skelmersdale and Ormskirk when I was 18....

It was shite.

I think the SQL server has gone to Norwich.

Andy#818

Great post :-)

James#821

Nice one, I thought Colin had developed a stutter :)

James, what remarks are you referring to from Moyes and Zaha..?

Ross and I have a £10 bet that Zaha does/doesn't go out on loan this coming season.

Ross reckons he'll come to us on loan, I said he won't and remarks this weekend from manager & player stated he's staying at Utd. He also played in their defeat on Saturday. I think that's a win.

Come on you lot...................back to the ward!

James, yep I reckon Ross owes you that tenner mate.

Still harping on the same string (812), aren't the Basques/Catalonians a little bit like Scousers? Extremely proud of their cultural identity, don't really see themselves as Spanish at all, etc, etc. Martinez is Catalonian - and so is our new loanee, Gerardo (that's what I'm calling him from now on). Result!

Harold (801) If they were wearing sheepskin coats! They were probably , eh....... sheep!

Just looked on Talkbollocks and Diame has distanced himself from us.....

But on the same talk sports Toby is almost a blue.

Colin,

To be fair they did break the news that Moyes had gone to Man Utd before it was announced....

Is this Toby fella any good then....?

Do we have a new policy of only signing lads with unpronounceable names?

Kev (#838) I would expect "Alderweireld" is easy to pronounce in English actually. "All their w-herald" almost nails it. Or "All their way rald" and you just need to cut off the y in "way".

Andy, I've seen him a few times and he is VERY good. Does this mean Seamus will play RW and Mirallas more central?

Kev, we can call him either Toby or Weirdo.

Weirdo it is, Colin.

Erik (796) If we were to throw in a sack of potatoes,as part of the deal, don't you think that might clinch it? Mind you we would want the sack back!

Is this almost done or is it still rumour...?

It's all just rumours, isn't it?

It's all still rumours.

Rumours........ good album that

Looks to be strong,decent pace,good control,good passing from deep,not afraid to step into the midfield with the ball.
I hope this one comes off.

I'm still waiting for Everton to make a serious attempt to sign the type of player that supporters are aware that we need. We need a strong skilled midfielder who can open up a defence, can tackle, and will not fall over in a strong gust of wind.

With all the accolades that the new manager is receiving, to me, apart from the boy from Barca, the players coming in are just backups for existing players.

With the financial state of the club, I think that any funds available should be used to buy players who are better than we have and to improve the team.

Can play RB and CB. Is quick, strong and comfy on the ball. He'd be great for us.

"I hope this one comes off"

Said Phil Jagielka as he sprayed another long ball Hoddle-esque down field...

I feel we need another CH, from what I seen of Duffy yesterday the lad needs a season long loan in the championship, definitely not up to prem league standard yet, hope this one comes off.

Would be a great signing but I fear once again he will be too expensive for us (but not Norwich/WBA/Swansea!!)

A swap deal for Heitinga would make a lot of sense to me. JH wants to play for Ajax again and we would get a footballing centre back with less miles on the clock. I guess the biggest stumbling block may be JH's wages.

I only really know Alderweireld from Football manager, but as they research players thoroughly it does give a decent overview of the type of player they are, and he is meant to be a decent passer, something Jagielka lacks. I'm not suggesting we ditch our captain, but if RM goes for a back three at times it would be good to have a couple who can play the ball out (Alcaraz and Distin are both good in this regard!).

I think quite a few players will struggle with the new style initially but most of them will adapt and be fine. Those who don't/can't will have to leave.

With all the talk about Heitinga leaving, the funny thing is that he's the defender that would probably suit the new style the most. As an Ajax product, he would of been taught from day one about playing from the back.

Personally I disagree Kristian. I think Heitinga is poor when exposed, so especially when the team plays a high line, but very good in a deeper defence. I think our more offensive strategy this season left the defence more exposed, and contributed to his poor form (similar to his performance in the Euros during the summer). I think he is ultimately suited to a more defensive approach.

Heitinga is too slow to play in a back 3 Kristian. I agree in that he can play a bit but he's slow and a bit of a short arse. How many times have jags and Distin had to rush back to cover up his mistakes?

Not a JH fan but he was outstanding at Spurs away in front of the defence. ...

"Ross - having seen the comments from Moyes and Zaha today/over the weekend, can I have my tenner now, please?"

He's in the squad James, not exactly first on the teamsheet is he?

I think he'll get a chance to shine at OT in the last 2 minutes, when Utd are clinging for dear life with 10 men behind the ball.

Why don't you wait until deadline day James before asking, rather than 2 weeks into the window,

Harold Matthews 801

I was stationed in East Anglia in the '50s. The women were gorgeous.

I love Norwich. Spent countless days there working in the archives on my books and essays. Some of the best boozers I know.

Harold's right. The girls were scrumptious and tasted like Canary Wine. I think Fer would prefer the zippier nights in Liverpool, but Norwich has a hell of a lot going for it.

Two things.... Firstly, can someone please explain to me why, if we play three at the back, it's particularly important for the players to be swift. I've read it a few times and I don't get it.

Secondly, what the heck is canary wine? (Paul@052). Is it wine made out of canaries? If so, I don't know if I fancy it.

I'm getting a bit cheesed off about our lack of transfer activity this week. Come on Roberto, get your finger out and sign a few players today.

Kevin - with respect to the speed of defenders in a 3-5-2 formation (or 343) -
I think the two widest cbs generally need to be a bit more pacey...because they will have to cover for wing backs on occasions, and therefore are likely to come up against wingers. With respect to Heitinga, I don't see why he couldn't play centrally in a 3 man defense, and as I've said before, I prefer him over Alcatraz. However, I suppose it also comes down to 1) our defensive depth 2) how protected our defense will be. I think Heitinga, when isolated, looks weak...his movement isn't always the best, and he is quite slow, and I think that's why he was more out of sought last season in a generally more attacking system (although I don't think last season was representative of his ability).

Thanks for that, Jim. Appreciated. So, in a nutshell, if we defend high up the park and the full backs push on, then the three centre backs have more ground to cover and are vulnerable to being attacked by the opposition's speedy wide men?

That does make sense, although it depends on two ifs. I mean, if we don't defend high and the wing backs are responsible then it's not such a problem is it? I seem to recall that in the cup final Wigan's back three played very deep. Their left wing back, Espinoza I think his name was, bombed on while they attacked on the right with McManamanamanan, who I think was set up as one of their front three. Intriguing, and it worked a treat in that particular game.