Man Utd to make derisory £18M bid for Fellaini

Snore. Unimaginative tabloid speculation. I do think the transfer window should shut when the season starts.

Absolutely agree, Sam.

I hate this malarkey... rod for my own back really, as I thought, way back in the day it would 'fun' to track the nonsense rumours put about in the media regarding transfers.

Now, having to update this shite is the worst chore on my list.

Just hope we have the bollocks to tell the dour bastard to stick his 18 mill up his crusty arse.

It looks like only loan signings for us where is the Fer money
Southampton have spent 35m on 3 players we have spent about 6.
If blue Bill spends 24/7 looking for a buyer then why did he miss out on their buyer

Isn't it that BK wants an investor not a buyer...and who would want to put millions in without owning the club. Sky sports had us below crystal palace in the money spent so far.

Reckon he'll go myself, probably 20 million.

While it's probably the usual tabloid speculation,I would not be too surprised if this one had some legs,whether the figures mentioned are accurate,again it would not surprise me either! Having been at the club,for the length of time he was,and his relationship with BK taken into account, he knows the in's and out's of the club too.
I think he is expected by his new employers and fan base to buy someone of note before the window shuts.Although I think the timing of this one is unsettling for all at Everton.What's new?

And if we get 20m we will get McCarthy for 15 and the rest financing Gareth Barry's loan deal

James, what Fer money?. There wasn't any, that was the issue. I think we scraped a £1m together for Stones.
Maybe we'll see a different Fellaini now. He's beginning to realise the bids we are receiving for him are all made up by the media. Not one CL qualified club anywhere as bid for him.

I read in the mirror that we have £5m left to spend after having spent £9m this summer. I don't know where they get this from as we bought Kone for six and less then a million, downpayment, on Robles. Even if true, surely Martinez could find at least one decent little spaniard for £5m.

It's not just that we are being outspent in this current window that is alarming it is the cumulative lack of spending for the entire period of BK's tenure that is the problem. We will never be able to build a team worthy of the club and its traditions while this scenario continues. The longer it goes the harder it will become for Everton to keep 'punching above their weight' until the inevitable happens and we are relegated from the top flight.

Michael(#478) I hate people who say I told you so-but I told you so. The rumour mill is shite, and wind up shite of the highest order. You might as well replace it with B52 found on the moon, or the baby Jesus image is found on a potato.

If the figure is right we have added 3 million to Fellanis value.? Let's tell Utd to shove it, let them add another 8 to 10 million perhaps, I am sure others might get involved if a bidding war starts. Thats a total of 30 million offered by Moyes for both big hair and Baines, Moyes can do one, we have to break this link with Man U it is embarrassing.

Can't Moyes and the media just fuck off regarding Fellaini and Baines? It's not our fault it seems every top player seems to be knocking them back.

The Mancs can take their pathetic bids elsewhere.

That said knowing the way this shit board operate, one,or both, of them will be sold late on transfer deadline day and we'll get the usual bollocks about 'not having time to spend the money'.

To be fair to Moyes, has he actually put in any bids for Fellaini so far? I'm not aware of any. Yes he took the piss with his £12m offer for Baines, but has left him alone since too. This certainly looks like more lazy journalism to me. As if Moyes phones them up with gossip to fill their rags with. We paid a premium rate for Fellaini when he came in ffom Standard, but surely his performances in the premier league have added more than £3m to his value!

Is there any legal reason why the window shuts two weeks into the season? Surely if the majority of fans and managers would prefer it to close before the first game the FA could bring the date back. Apart from agents and some greedy players, who exactly benefits from the window overlapping into the season?

It isn't the Rumour Mill that is the problem, it is the fact that we don't trust our board not to screw RM over and leave us with yet another disappointing transfer window.

If this is true then it really lowers my opinion of OFM. A man of integrity wouldn't complain about other teams exploiting our financial weakness by unsettling players and then do exactly the same thing when given the first opportunity.

This has been whispered for quite some time. Probably true.

Before leaving Wigan did RM assure McCarthy of a move to Everton? This, to me, is a concern because the proposed fee is ridiculous.

I believe the window stays open because of UEFA to accommodate CL qualifiers. For instance if we had beaten Villareal we would still have had time to bolster the squad before starting the CL proper, safe in the knowledge that the Prize money from the group games was going to be banked, whereas if we had spent money and then lost; it would have had a bad effect on our finances. Of course the easy solution is to make sure all the qualifiers are played prior to the season starting instead of having a host of meaningless internationals, simples.

Harold the fact that nobody else has even considered putting a bid in for the lad - at least publicly - would lead you to believe that McCarthy has been earmarked as a replacement - I think he's a good player but I doubt he is worth that price tag.

Harold (#505)
I am totally with you on the valuation of James McCarthy, I think that has come from Dave the Peg Whelan! Whether RM has promised him a transfer I am dubious on that one, there is no dispute the lad would be a great acquisition for us, although he is not the finished article, yet! I fail to see, even if we did have the funds to justify that sort of expenditure. As I have mentioned on a previous thread it was RM who unearthed him from Partick, for @ £1M so that would be one hell of a profit!

If it's true (doubtful) we should tell Moyes to get ter fuck!

Man U looked pretty damned good on Saturday. Doubt that DM is too stressed about complementing further his squad.

Really, if Felli is only worth £18/20 mill, how in hell is McCarthy worth £15 mill? Wigan are not on fire in the Championship, I'd think £8 mill for McCarthy leaving some for another Striker. If Felli stays get a replacement for Osman.

£18 million? This was always going to happen.

Logic told us that if nobody put a bid in at the £23 million in the clause,they most definitely would not put a bid in at a higher figure.

Can any of the posters who were exasperated trying to explain the opposite to this situation get back on and explain again please.

I think its fair to say that the figures in the press are the least accurate part of their very inaccurate transfer gossip reporting. I would be astonished if we sold Fellaini for less than £20m and bought McCarthy for more than £12m.

Personally I don't think the big Fella is going anywhere. Man U are after a Modric/Fabregas type playmaker and that is not what we have. Unless they are eyeing up Ross....

This stuff is utterly weird. Baines was one of the best players in Europe last year and is at the top of his career with several good years at least (also he isn't an alcoholic car crashing moron); Fellaini also outclasses most similar players in the Premiership.

Given the ludicrous amounts being put about regarding the cannibal and Gareth Bale, I am amazed that Arsenal (great start there Arsene), Spurs or City (Or even some of the Spanish outfits- though given the economy over there I have no idea how the teams stay in business) have not had a bidding war.

He won't go for less than £23 million.

The Echo are reporting Utd made a joint £28 million bid for Fellaini and Baines last Thursday. This did not go down well at all apparently. If this is the case it is just total hypocrisy and a lack of respect from Moyes and Utd. Especially after the Lescott saga.

Sky Sports News reporting as I type 'Everton reject £28 million joint bid for Fellaini and Baines'.

28 million for the pair is laughable beyond belief. I'd love to keep them both not just because they are top players but to piss all over the shithouse media!

The thing is too this will have an effect on the two players like it did with Lescott, remember our managers feelings when that was all happening?

Does this man have no sense of shame or honour? He supposedly managed us for 11 years and yet shows his 'respect' by sanctioning this? Fuck off Moyes (there, I've named the ginger rat) you treacherous scumbag, I hope you get sacked.

What a joke of a bid!!
Makes my blood boil. They are trying to make them hand in transfer requests to get them on the cheap and screw us over again.

It's a massive piss take. So that means they either still rate Baines at £10m, or they value Fellaini at less than £18m. Bunch of twats. However, if our club was run better, clubs would know we wouldn't even consider such low bids for our players. Trouble is, it's well documented we haven't got a pot to piss in and that has been shown by Bill backing his new manager to the poultry sum of £5m this summer. Once again we have been outspent by the likes of Swansea, Southampton, Hull, Stoke, Crystal Palace and Cardiff, despite the massive rise in the Sky TV deal, our League placing last year, the 'missing' Fer money and the wages saved on Hitz, Pip and Mucha.
I can't wait until we get a new board. Maybe then other 'so called' bigger clubs wouldn't feel the need to take the piss out of us.

Calm down, Colin. Surely you realise that at a club as big as Man U Moyes wil have little, if anything to do with the amounts bid during transfer negotiations. Be angry at Ed Woodward if you must.

It's on SSN now, which always pretty much means it's official and true. This is a real test of how secure Everton are these days, and I am not particularly confident we can hold them off. Maybe we can, maybe I should give Kenwright more credit. We'll see...

Al, looks like they offered £16m for Fellaini, and the same £12m for Bainsey which was already rejected. If true, this shows exactly what the mancs, and ginger, think of us. This is not only insulting, it's humiliating. Bk, this is your last chance to be a man. Don't lose it.

Sky Sports' website is saying that we've just rejected a £28m bid for Baines and Fellaini. That's £28m in total!

As if watching his new team win on Saturday wasn't enough (a bit like watching the ex-missus getting boned by George Clooney) now Moyes shows us zero respect with a derisory offer for our two best players.

Link below. I hope all the idiots who wished him well in his new job now realise we mean nothing to this twat. I walked out of our last game while everyone was giving him his send off, and I walked out of our player of the year awards when he giving his best impression of a blues legend - who had won the square root of fuck all, not even a derby at Anfield.

He ran rings around that fool of a Chairman, and most of the fans. I won't look for any old posts that ask "I hope you are happy for him when he comes back for our best players."

An Honorable man? Don't make me laugh.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-fc-exclusive-blues-angrily-5749316

Sam Hoare, do you honestly believe the he's not involved in any of this? That as OFM he hasn't been consulted about how much he values them at? How much does he believe EFC will sell for etc....? If you think that this has been done behind his back, without his knowledge/ involvement etc...then you are very naive. The man has no shame.

I simply cannot believe this. This is where the Club (and that tit of a Chairman we have) better show their metal.

I am sick of being called the poorers of the Prem whilst every team around us spends into the tens of millions.

I can see it now.

Rooney stays

Sueraz stays.

Bale stays.

Ours go and we throw Ross Barkley in next January.

Thank fuck Kenwright is looking 24/7 for an investor!

It's absolutely fucking typical that he leaves it this late. I cannot blame the man at all for wanting to bring in the players he wants for Man Utd, it's his job to do that and upsetting Everton by doing it should not put him off - but for fucks sake do it properly Moyes. He always irritated us when at the club by dicking about over transfers and he's been similarly pathetic so far at Utd.

No, Colin thats not what I said. I'm sure he is asked which players he wants and how much he needs them but Man u have a team of negotiators and football directors to actually do the financials. I know people are desperate to attack him for anything possible but it simply will not be him saying 'oh, those two...yeah...28m should do it'.

Apparently, we have just knocked back a bid of £28 million for Baines and Fellaini.

A touch better than the £18 million, suggested but still a long way short of their real value.

Makes me wonder, though, just what is the figure that will make our board bend over.

Sam - seriously, don't try and defend this one. The man knows INTIMATE financial information about the club. He had more power than anyone involved with the club, and selling prices will have been a major topic of discussion.

He used us for the last 12 months of his contract, maybe longer. He knows this late bid will fuck us over as well.

He is a sly fucker. No-one will ever convince me otherwise.

Moyes the Tosser is coming back to humiliate and take the piss out of Everton fans who back-slapped him for 11 years and wished him all the best when he left Everton.

There's no doubt Fellaini will go but we need to play hardball; if Moyes and the Mancs really want him then they will pay. Moyes paid £15M for Fellaini when he was an unknown so, now he is established, it's time to stump up. Let's hope Arsenal enter into a bidding war for him.

Bill Kenwright should be ashamed of himself for the way he is conducting himself at this club. Every time Sky Sports News or a newspaper talks up another transfer deal, the slimey twat should squirm with embarrassment. We are being out spent by Fleetwood — never mind Crystal Palace.

As for the Leroy Fer money, there never was any — it was another classic Kenwright false flag. To be honest, Twente were trying to have our kecks off as Norwich only paid £4M for him and we were quoted £8.5M and not a penny less. Maybe we were right to turn the deal down. Hold out for big money for our top guys like Twente did with us over Fer. The trouble is, Kenwright's paymasters will see the £ signs and want to cash in. Fucking joke the way this club is run... Blue Union — time to step up???

McCarthy is as good a player as Felliani is. He's also more consistent and his attitude is better.McCarthy is barely twenty three. We could get eight or nine very good seasons out of him.

I think that if people take Moyes out of the equation and look at this again, it would be a deal that would greatly work in our favour. I say that we let Utd know that Baines is not for sale but that if they offer us 20m out of the 28m for Felliani, we will do the deal this week. We then look to sign McCarthy ASAP. A week of the transfer window would be left and we have been proactive and decisive.

We would still be up a couple of million and probably save on wages too. We would have a ready made PL player in a position we need strengthening.

Double it and we can talk.....until then, don't call us, we'll call you.

Sam, please pull your head out of that ginger twats arse and look at the daylight.
Woodard "how much for the 2 of them Davey boy" "och start them off at 28 million Ed and then the big puddin Kenwright will fold at 32, the club are bankrupt Ed take it from me, it will be like takin candy from a wee nipper"

Obviously, Moyes won't be doing the negotiating. However, he will be the one advising Man ure of the player values.

The only way I would consider this deal is if they promise to take Osman as part of the package. (And maybe throw in Hernandez!)

Sam (575) - My opinions often mirror your own but in this instance I don't think Moyes can be exonerated.

As has been pointed out earlier, he knows better than anyone at United just how the inner-workings of Everton function and it is highly unlikely that he hasn't been asked for his opinion on the players themselves, the likely consequences of such a low offer etc etc.

This will probably see an end to the "special" relationship between the two clubs which we now know was just a pre-cursor to them taking our Manager at the least appropriate point for us financially i.e. with his contract about to expire.

Sorry Kevin but you speak as though there is some magic figure for these players that Moyes knows. There isn't. Selling figures will change day to day dependent on various things but mostly demand for the players. Everyone knows Everton are skint and so the team in charge of Man U negotiations have started bidding ( if this story is true) with a cheeky low offer probably designed to unsettle the player. This is pretty standard in football, not some Machiavellian master plot by Moyes.

Sam are you by any chance ginger.

Pity I have to go to work otherwise I'd have a day long rant against OFM. I just hope we stat strong, get the highest amount possible for Fellaini and move on. Baines has to stay.

Sam - stop it. Tiny tears & Moyes will have had many discussions on the price they will let Fellaini go for, if you don't think that conversation has ever taken place, I feel a little sorry for you.

Also, you can bet he has had a private conversation with these two before any bid has been lodged.

Or maybe he wouldn't do that either Sam?

If Martinez decided to buy McCarty from Wigan, what would you like him to do? Meet their valuation of 15m straight away because he owes them something, or go in with an opening offer of 12m to test the water? Of course we would expect him to haggle and get the best value for his new club.

Why should we expect different of Moyes? What do you think Utd fans are expecting Moyes to do, offer 60m just because he used to be our manager?

Maybe we should have made the length of the release clause a couple of years longer.

Kevin, I don't disagree with either those two points but feel you have ignored mine. There is no magic figure as I suspect you know.

Kieran - Whelan was on every T.V. channel in the country stating any of his players were for sale, at the right price.

If Moyes wants our two best players, bidding for them now is disrespectful to us, after we let him conduct his new contract negotiations whilst still employed by us. He was treated with the utmost respect by the Club and it's fans.

By way of returning that respect, he shouldn't be after any of our players in my opinion. He may derail our season before it starts. He has the pick of any player he wants, he's a dirty scheming bastard.

He should have been shown the door as soon as he was announced as the next Utd manager.

its about time this club of ours came out with a big statement telling them to fuck off basically, how about an official bid for Rooney for £10M, the man is doing this as a show to Man Utd fans and in the process shitting all over a club that he owes some form of respect to.

So who was right in the end? Those who said lower after his clause, or those who said higher? I guess we'll know by September 2nd.

Paul, that's the trouble with our useless board. United have publicly said Rooney is not for sale, same at Liverpool with Sewer. The silence from Bill tells you all you need to know.

Keiran, what I would have expected from Moyes is to come in a lot earlier for any players he wanted and at least come in somewhere in the vicinity of the market value. These cheeky cunts have come in a full £20 million below their combined market value. That is a disgrace from Moyes's perspective because he is acting without any of the class that he ridiculed Mark Hughes for.

I don't apologise for being one of the people who backed Moyes; he improved us as a club and all of our best players are his signings. However, I have to admit he had shown a ruthless nature here that clearly shows he hasn't got the integrity credited him with. He knows coming in this late with pathetic offers after the season has started will destabilise our squad and unsettle the players.

Fellaini in particular now is likely to throw a transfer request in to force through a move. Everton's position has to be clear, we won't stand in their way but the combined bidding has to start at £48M to even be considered.

This will be an interesting test of Martinez. He has come out publicly and said Baines is quite simply not for sale.

"Everton boss David Moyes says Manchester City's continued pursuit of Joleon Lescott is `disgusting'"
"They way it has been handled is disgusting and all it has done is disrupted our club."

14 Aug 2009

Grow a pair Kenwright; show us you're not always a useless twat

Al, I think that you are being a little unfair. Kenwright made clear at the Roberto Martinez unveiling that there was one player with a release clause, and that no other player was for sale. Both he and the manager stated that there was no pressure to sell. It is up to the individual whether it is believed, but the TV money surely dictates that there is not the pressure to sell.

I think that these cries of Manchester United bidding so low because Everton are skint are a little naïve. It is nothing to do with Everton's financial situation- they are attempting to conduct business through the media. Everyone knows that Felliani will fancy the move, and if we are being perfectly honest, so will Baines. United are attempting to exert authority on a smaller club, knowing that if these players clearly state that they want to go, we are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I for one don't want to hear anything from the club, manager or chairman about this bid. It's been rejected- and give them no indication that it is causing such indignation.

Moyes obviously didn't make the offer. He'd be embarrassed by it. All summer, when asked about transfers and Fabregas in particular, he repeatedly said he wasn't involved in negotiations.

Everton has come out and released this information because BK wants a bidding war for Felli.

Paul, that was the first thing that came to mind. put in an official bid of about £5.50 for Rooney, then when thats' rejected another one of £10.25 for him and Van Persie.

The offers that have been put in so far are disrespectful of the club and of the quality of the players. We don't need to sell. The club is not in administration and therefore having to accept silly bids for players. Personally I think one or both players will end up going, but I think that £40M is closer to the mark of their actual value.

It's on the BBC and SSN, £28m bids for Baines and Fellaini !

What a horrible twat Moyes has turned out to be. Rubbish bids at the last minute. I knew he'd panic buy and go for these two. It will be Barkley next.

I bet it rises to £35m by the end of the transfer window.

Everton must make a stand considering the timing of the bids, we must not sell at any price.

That's pissed me right off.

Forget the price and all the bollocks about disrespect or similar. This is business .....and to sell these two, our best two players, without having ready made replacements of similar quality would be fundamentally stupid, irrespective of price.

I think there is a possibility that this may induce Fellaini to put in a transfer request as he has often stated he wants to play Champions league, and this would greatly reduce our bargaining position. I don't think Baines would ask for a transfer but you can never be sure of anything these days.

What Moyes will also know is what wages and bonuses these players are on, and apart from the board nobody will know more about the state of the club financially than Moyes. I wondered why RM was saying last week that speculation would continue till the window closes regarding Baines and Fellaini so he obviously was aware that another bid had come in for both.

Time for our chairman to come out and say exactly what Henry did over Suarez stating neither will be sold at any price as we have no time to replace them. Finally whatever happens please RM don't bring in another Wigan player, we already have 3 ex Wigan players surely if they had 3/4 players good enough to play for a top 6 team then they shouldn't have got relegated.

Robert, there may be some truth in that but on the flip side, no-one bid £12m for Bale because they know Spurs would tell them to do one as they are run a lot better than our club. They know, to secure players from other 'financially secure clubs', they have to bid well for them. Everyone knows that Fellaini cost £15m and has improved 10 fold as a player in the years we have had him. They also know that Baines is one of the best left backs in the world so is worth a lot more than £12m, especially when you see the likes of McCarthy, Luke Shaw and other untested players quoted as being worth more than £15m by their parent clubs.

Seems this one has legs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23753129

It's a insult to our club, the fans and his own intelliegence.

Al Reddish #600 you pipe down sir. How dare you describe our board as useless?

You mention Rooney, well, our Chairman promised the fans nearly 10 years ago that "he wouldn't sell Rooney for £50m".

And to his credit, he didn't.

I despair with Everton fans sometimes. You don't know when you're born.

Eugene - was that enough sarcasm or do I need to keep working on it?

£28m for Baines and Fellaini is a joke!

Given that Moyes knows that the release clause (ie minimum that we would take) for Fellaini was £24m, that means he values the best left back in the country at £4m. It is an insult!

Fellaini has to go for no less than £25m. Baines for no less than £20m. We don't do buy one get one half price, either! We are not a supermarket!

And we should put a time-scale on it, as well. We need time to replace them and re-invest the money, so a cut off of the end of this week and no less than the prices quoted or fuck off!

This should be straight forward (hopefully).

A definite no on Baines (I'm hoping the player is ok with this) and a fixed deadline and price of £ 25m for Fellaini. Cheeky bastards going below his clause price if what's reported is true.

Get him out by the weekend which gives us over a week to get McCarthy and whoever else in and give the change to the bank for another year.

Matt, you are quite right. I should know my place!!!

In regards to the widely ran story this morning over the £28 million bid, How can you blame anyone involved? First and foremost it will disrupt the team if bids are coming in for the two. It may even force their hands to say whether they would like to go or not. It is in our eyes under hand tactics and I would love us to be in a position to say no thanks, it's too late in the day and they aren't for sale.

However, look at the other side of the coin. Moyes has waited this long because at least a public chasing of 'top targets' has come to nothing so buying from his former club can be seen as acceptable now. Moyes knows how Kenwright and Co work so therefore he knows what will sign the two up. I am amazed Baines was not unveiled on 02nd July as a united player considering how big of a player he is now. I think if there is anyhting to it over them leaving then they will know if they are going or not already. I don't think they are both sat there unsure of who they will play for this season, especially as the money used for Cesc would sign at least 20 extra goals a season to the team. Not including a 25 goal a season striker in Van Persie.

The way I see it, Fellaini is irreplacable in the team and I think is almost a world class player. He can sit deep and win the ball, attack and win the ball, turn a long ball attack into a on the deck attack with great control, scores goals, good in the air and a presence all arounf the pitch. If you think Mcarthy is a decent replacment, think again. As good as the irishman may be, we will lose A LOT of our team when Afro leaves.

One other point, I had a bittersweet feeling on saturday watching the game. On one side I was made up Barkely shone for us, the other was a realisation is that within 2 years he won't be here.

£28 million for the 2 of them.

Sounds like that telly ad, you know the one,
You buy one, you get one free. I said you buy one you get one free!

Understand what you are saying there, I am sure that nobody would bid low for a Bale type of player- he is the best in the world and it would make Levy even more determined to keep him. Indeed, I honestly think that this will make Kenwright/Martinez/Elstone dig their heels in too.

These players are well in contract- the ball is totally in Everton's court as long as they do not request a transfer. In honesty, I think that Martinez is pro selling Felliani. It is clear that he wants James Mccarthy and that he will need to raise some of the funds. I think that the release clause valuation would still see him gone. I also believe that they will fight hard to keep Baines, and rightly so.

Kevin #596 - couldn't agree more. He should've been told to clear his desk the moment he agreed to take the United Post.

Its dog eat dog fair enough, but he should show some respect and if he wanted the players he should've bid accordingly and before the season had begun.

The last day of this window has doom and gloom written all over it, especially with Arsenal misfiring too. I'd be very surprised if they don't take a look at one or two of our players; Mirrallas maybe and I'd also anticipate an offer for Barkley from City or Chelsea who could buy his potential and loan him out whilst he gains experience.

Hopefully I'm just been paranoid.

Suspect this is Act 2 in a three or four act play jointly scripted by OFM and Kenwright.

It will run for another fortnight and its final dramatic scene will see our heroes waving goodbye to their loving family on the stroke of midnight after about £32M has changed hands.

`Not a Penny more and not a Penny less`...oh,of course, that title has been used before!

Paul Johnson, 590. No. Are you by any chance 16?

A good test for BK and Martinez here.

A) Selling either or both and you can forget this season. If they'd sold Fella earlier perhaps we could have sorted something out but now..
B) Utd can play hardball but that doesn't stop us, don't sell for anything less than OUR valuation, theirs is irrelevant.
C) Prefer to sell to Arsenal or abroad, like they would do.
D) Ask for something silly back, like Rooney, just to irritate them.

I have to say, Brent across the way has done a decent job with Suarez, over to you BM, BK.

I could live with getting a decent price for Fellaini, though ideally he would stay. Baines is another matter though. The annoying thing apart from the price, is we won't have enough time to replace them. We should have seen this coming though when Bill stated Martinez will have the money Moyes was going to get, plus every penny made from player sales. As stated before though, I would prefer we look away from Wigan for replacements if there is to be any.

Phil walking, agreed. Though the third act may depend on how much the players agitate for the move. If neither do then surely 20m for fella and 16m for Baines is about minimum.

Al, I agree with the look away from Wigan comment. Although I do rate McCarthy and out of all of their players, he is the one that I would want, it is making Martinez's comment about the market being bigger than your former club sound like a lie!

Phil - agree with that scenario. Wouldn't be surprised at all to learn OFM & tiny tears are conspiring to move Fellaini out of the door. Posted ages ago lovely Bill was being made to look a bit of a twat, because we will end up being outspent by every team in the League - again.

He knows a marquee signing keeps the natives happy for another few months, some of our support forget we've sold to buy, but that's modern football.

I think both will go. Baines would have signed a new contract by now if staying, surprised though, he will have to play second fiddle to Evra for 12 months or so.

It's a right fuck up as usual, if they are both here on 3rd Sept. I will be truly amazed.

We can only hope Martinez has his targets identified already, you would guess all parties knew this was a possibility.

Only Elstone & teary bollocks are supposed to know what price will be successful - my guess is Moyes knows as well, after a call to blubbing Bill.

I suppose we just have to trust Roberto's judgement on this.

It says much about the limited vision of these two managers that neither can see further than players they know and love.

Moyes has the funds to bid for ANYBODY in the world and his only dealings look like being with his previous club.

Martinez is so dedicated to the relegated family he abandoned that he seems determined to re-establish them here.

Little men,both of them!

i) make ridulously low offer
ii) fuck off
iii) up it to 35
iv) ...fuck off
v) final offer - 38
vI) kerrrchinnnggg!

One thing in our favor is that Moyes really needs to buy to add some credibility to his reign, else just like Saturday, he's winning with Fergies team.

That shadow will remain until he adds his own players and with Fabregas likely to stay at Barca he's running out of options.

BK should aimhigh and stick to his guns, however unlikely that may sound.

23M bid rejected confirmation

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/transfer-centre/article/168/8878084/everton-reject-28m-united-offer

Phil Bellis, I suspect your £38M is about the right price.Bet you BK won`t have the balls to hold out for it,though!

28 Million that should read

Coming so early in his employ with us, RM faces probably his most pivotal couple of weeks. I am resigned to them both going now. Their body language on Saturday, Fellaini in particular, spoke volumes.
As ever, it depends how much Bullshit lets the manage have to spend. One thing is for certain it wont be all of what proceeds we get for the sale(s).
Like Al has said, show us what you are made of Roberto.

Yes Tom probably cost us 3 points when Fellaini never made a tackle on the first goal.

I'd like to know how Fellaini's value has actually falllen since Moyes signed his big fluffy swede years ago.

OFM is trying to get them to hand in transfer requests.

Don't agree with most of you that Fellani can go for the right price but Baines must stay. We have a ready made replacement for Baines who would develop very quickly in that role ala Coleman.

Fellani is virtually irreplaceable - RM needs McCarthy to play in Gibsons role with Fella doing the box to box and Barkley ahead of them.

In two or three years Barkley may be able to do what Fella is currently doing but not yet.

I feel a bit torn here though. Forget Fellaini for a bit. Baines is a good lad, never gives less than 100% and is by far our best player. However, he does deserve Champions League footy and a good chance at having a few medals under his belt. Maybe we should ask for one more season from him and see where we all stand after the world cup with a promise he can go to a Champions League club for a set price if we don't make it ourselves.

Need to hold out, they are more desperate than us, start looking for a replacement. Baines nor Fellaini are not going to not play at there best, its a World cup year.

This is all still speculation isn't it until one of the clubs confirms it? BBC obviously adds credibility but I seem to remember that they reported with most others that Arsenal had bid for Fellaini a month or so back which was clearly rubbish.

I would be excited to see who came in if the big Fella did leave. Not sure who is left out there but we need someone who has a similar presence in midfield and is able to win the ball and distribute it quickly and effectively. Someone tall would be useful too as Fella does so much good work for us winning arial balls all over the pitch.

I was referring to Oviedo at left back. Seems like they will both go.

Don't agree about the lack of a tackle from Fella re the first goal - he was caught flat footed by the lucky bounce for their player.

Could well be that we sign both the lad from Juventus and McCarthy - RM will already have them identified.

SSN have it that Everton have rejected a £28m bid for Fellaini and Baines.

This is going to get messy yet again. The club should tell them that you have until the end of this week to offer reasonable bids which they are happy to accept, giving RM time to get adequate replacements in. I still feel the focus for Everton fans, now that Moyes has gone is still to push this group of muppets that we have running this club, out. There has got to be more pressure put on for them to sell up, if expected both Baines and Fellaini do leave, then this is nothing short of a shambles and it should be nothing but the final straw where this inept board are concerned.

Can someone name a better left back in World football than Baines? I've asked this question to Manure fans and im still waiting for an answer.

After this I can see Fellaini putting in a transfer request. Within 48 hours really wouldn't surprise me.

I think £35 million would be a fair price £20 mill + £15

If it is going to be done then so be it, but do it now!

BTW Fellaini would be such a fail at Utd that I hope he goes. Just so that we can laugh at him when he can't get a game.

How about asking for a straight swap, Fellaini + Baines for Rooney. Maybe even Buttner on loan for 12 months?

That would mean that Baines is covered and we get a top striker. Just a MF needs to be brought in then!

Public statement asking for 70m + Rooney + Anderson for both at least and then saying how it is still cheaper than buying Gareth bale on his own is on the order. If they want to play a low anchor then we can play a high anchor. Its negotiations 101.

I can just see Bill's text to his best mate now:

"Well in, Davey, I've been reading the forums and they're up in arms! Now the next part of the plan is I will get Robert to call your offer 'embarrassing'; you then come back with £30 million at the weekend, Robert will then give that the treatment and we will create the impression that we are standing firm! Then, on 1st September, you come back with £32 million at 10pm (not a second earlier as I don't want them to think I we can spend the proceeds). We pretend to say no again and you throw that shit left back Buttner in as a sweetener. I will then ask Leighton and Fellini to put in their transfer requests and I will get Robert on SSN saying we couldn't stand in their way and jobs a good'n! Don't forget though we get 1st choice on that Fletcher when he's got over having the shits! See you at mine this weekend we are having a barby to celebrate, love you. X"

That should be the reply, Everton offer £28m for Rooney.. It's the next thing I want to see on the yellow strap on SSN. Hilarious!

Kunal,you are straying away from the topic here but it will take more than this transfer saga to militate a fans` move against the Kenwright regime. Only a disasterous playing season will do that and who amongst us wants that to happen?

Not me,for sure!

Cheeky git that Moyes. We already reject 12m for Baines and he offers........12m again. Only this time including a derisory 16m for Fellaini - when he knows his clause was for 23.5m!

I know that he needs to keep the price as low as possible but this is now taking the piss.

Everton should either say there is no deal full stop, or tell manu (in private) that the price for Fellaini is Xm - take it or leave it.

Baines is not for sale.

12 more days of this bollocks.

Cheeky bastards.

Chris Ashton@#523. Excellent post. Fellaini is all you say he is.
McCarthy is not in the same class and is actually more like Gibson.

Players like Fellaini are not two a penny. There are very few out there and they are expensive. They also want Champions League.

"I would be excited to see who came in if the big Fella did leave"
Don't get too excited, Sam, about Reduced Overdraft

If ever the FSF needed a reason to campaign for the "window" closing on the eve of the kick-off, this would be it

Oh Davey Moyes, Davey Davey Moyes...... Fuck off

Peter — Jordi Alba is by far the best.

Seeing as the Scum are happy enough to try and disrupt our ream maybe a comment from RM that maybe Moyes doesn't much fancy his current left back and that's why he wants ours. Should go down well with Monsieur Evra...

Chris Ashton @623 -not 523.

What has happened to David Moyes the man of integrity ? - seduced by the bright lights and ego of Manchester United and he has had the gall to call other player's and manager's over the years for acting in such a way.

What people who compare Felli to McCarthy are missing is the fact that Felli is unique. He is a problem for defences because he is very strong and tall, he can hold the ball up as well as anyone I have seen. Because of his unique attributes, he caused Man Utd all sorts of trouble, he was unplayable in that game. When he is on song he can win games almost single handedly.

McCarthy is a run-of-the-mill decent midfield player who would be an asset to the club as a replacement for Gibson or Osman but he is no Fellaini. That's why big clubs want Fellaini because he is so difficult to contain. There is no one at the club who can adequately replace Fellaini and the type of player who could is the likes of Toure of Man City... but certainly not McCarthy.

We need to hang on to Felli and Baines and get rid of players who are surplus, eg, Heitinga. We are quoted as having no money problems so the only way that players like Felli and Baines should be allowed to leave is if they put in transfer requests.

FFS we need to show ambition and improve the squad — not weaken it.

Davey Moyes is like the bitch ex you can't get rid off. Leg it you stinky red head, we're in love with a classy Latino now!

I criticised some of us on here for believing United would bid as low for 30mil for the pair...I hold my hands up. I can't believe they would stoop so low.

This is clearly tactical...they want to show their fans they are bidding, and lure our players into asking publicly for a move. It's a disgraceful way to behave. Baines is an 18mil kind of player...he is not just a left back, he statistically created the most chances in the league by some way. Fellaini should not be leaving for less than an amount in the early 20's. That we have already rejected a 12mil bid for Baines makes this so much worse. We should publicly attack this bid...not just passively reject it. And criticise Moyes too.

I really don't want Baines to go. I don't want Fellaini to either, but the reasons ive discussed on here (His release clause, his reduced capacity in a highly passing concentrated strategy, the potential for re-investment) also make his loss more understandable. But if we are to lose him, we should not lose him for less than his release clause. And maybe get someone off them on loan to benefit us. Personally I'd like Ashley Young, or Anderson. Plus, we know they are desperate. They are coming in for Fellaini, because others have turned them down.

Some asking what's happened to Davey boy?

Absolutely nothing - he's always been a self serving git - the removal of blue tints is bringing some long overdue perspective on this fella.

Robbie @ 673; There`s far too much` love` wasted on these hirelings in these columns. Managers come here to do a job-and they get bloody well paid for it,don`t they?

Don`t waste your emotional energy on them because absolutely none of them are worth it!

I'm with Sam Hoare on most of this.

Although I'm a regular reader and occasional poster on TW, I have missed something: what does OFM mean, please?

I'm assuming it means "Our Former Manager" but I stand to be corrected.

It's reported this bid was made 48 hrs before the season started as well.

Talk about trying to unsettle the club, he certainly is a piece of work alright.

Danny. It's a childish way of not naming Moyes.

Will all the people cursing Moyes feel similarly about Martinez then if we make a low offer for McCarthy some time next week or later even? Will that be a mark against his integrity?

Of course it won't. That's football.

Couldn't care less what Moyes does now, he is not the Everton manager and can do what the fuck he likes. What I care about is how our club acts now. Baines cost 6 million and has more than paid for himself, we don't need to worry about sell on value, keep him and play him as he makes a huge difference to our team and will be impossible to replace even at 20 million. Felleni on the other hand cost 15 million, and has only really been doing it for 18 months. As a team we would obviously be worse off without him, but Gibson and Barkley would be a strong first choice pairing and a decent replacement would be possible with the cash.......That is as long as the cash is right!!! I think 24 million is about right, 9 million profit wouldn't be too shabby.

Thing is.......from a purely basic financial point of view, the club would be better off selling him and finishing 2 places worse off as the difference in prize money would be 2million less and new signing would be on lower wages

What do people expect? He's the manager of Manchester United and wants the best players for his team. You're all in a dream world if you didn't think he'd want any of our players.

I would say, yes £28M plus Rooney and Van Persie. When Moyes says "Are you taking the piss?" Billy Liar can say "You started it first, now piss off!"

We'll see how big an Evertonian our chairman is in the next couple of weeks. Can't see any buiness being done before the 'Martinez March' otherwise it will turn into the 'Fuck Off Kenwright March' and he knows it.
That leaves us a week to find replacements. How big an opportunity will Kenwright need to show his TRUE colour.

Sam

This isn't about trying to get a player as cheap as possible, Utd are taking the piss.

Paul, it is taking the piss but it is also about trying to get the players as cheaply as possibly. It's been done before and will be done again.

Sam

Lets say a player is worth £10m then offering £7m is a starting point, offering £2m when you know it will take £10m plus is taking the piss. There is a difference.

Jamie, that's all very well but Moyes went on record and lambasted Mark Hughes in public for the way he disrespected Everton in his pursuit of Joleon Lescott. Sam it's called fair market value, every player as we know has his price, if Moyes / man Utd want Baines and Fellaini we should be talking circa £40million plus for starters.

But what is a player "worth" Paul? Wigan want £15m for McCarthy. I think he's worth about £5m, so that's what I'd bid. Is that taking the piss?

I'd sell Fellaini for anything over £20m, and I expect the club will do that. I wouldn't sell Baines for anything - he has simply GOT to stay. People talk about the DNA of a team. Well, Baines is part of ours. Even BK knows that.

Tell him where to go, he has already had a bid for Baines rejected so either the bid is the same or he has seriously undervalued Fellaini.

It is quite funny seeing some of the outrage on here of our former manager coming back in for our players, especially when we have done the exact same to Wigan and may still go back for more.

It's business, they will always try to buy low, and us to sell high....then meet somewhere in the middle.

We need to keep them both to progress in this league. Someone unplug the phone and fax at Goodison

Harold @ 683. I think Doddy coined the OFM abbrieviation as he couldn`t bear to speak his hero`s name once he`d walked out on him.In similar vein,I introduced OPM or ONM to save keep typing Martinez.

Childish,I agree but expedient !

Sam - The Wigan Chairman has publicly stated all his players were for sale after they were relegated.

This isn't even remotely connected to our situation, so if we do go in for any Wigan players, we had the green light from the owner weeks ago.

How ridiculous that two of OFM's biggest supporters, Tony J & Sam are now excusing his actions, when clearly he is bang out of order.

Really lads?

Does your loyalty to him know no bounds?

The sad truth is that a player is worth the amount that other clubs are willing to pay. I don't think that Gareth Bale is worth £80m, but Real Madrid think that it is good business at that money. Michu clearly was not 'worth' £2.5m but his team had to sell.

If Everton don't have to sell, and neither agitate for a move, I would say that you would be looking at the £40m mark. If they do, then the price will start to decrease. In some ways, I would like to see a bidding war (most likely would be Arsenal) for Fellaini. They are desperate too.

Kev- wishful thinking but McCarthy is worth far more than £5m!

Kev

Your right. I'm sure what I think the pair are worth differs from what other fans, Kenwright and even Moyes think their worth but I am confident that no one thinks for a second that their worth is as low as £28m.

Tony J @ 696 - Sorry Tony but you're wrong. Alcaraz was a free agent and Robles was bought from Atletico Madrid. Kone is the only player we bought from Wigan.

Kevin, how on earth is it not connected to our situation?! It's about two managers returning to their old clubs to buy players. Who cares what whelan or BK have said, they are both bullshit merchants. This is totally normal transfer stuff. Shelve the outrage.

Man u are assuming we need the money, I think we don't. The added TV revenue has allowed us to service the debt without selling.
Neither player have handed in transfer requests as 1/ they don't want to leave or 2/ they don't want to lose their loyalty bonus.
I don't think the board is a worry, they screwed Man City for £24m for a player whose career has nosedived.
If the bid for the two hits £45-£50m, which I think is realistic, we should consider it. That kind of money would make a real difference..

Just heard on SSN that we actually have paid £17m for Fellaini with add ons.

This is meant purely to disrupt the players concerned.Playground bullying. It should be nipped in the bud right now.
The board should immediately lodge a complaint against utd for tapping up Moyes and compromising our season.(last).
I doubt theres anyone on
our board with the necessary balls

Tony #396 - the difference between Everton and Man United is whilst Moyes is talking about/has made a move for some his former players he has offered well below the " market value" - Roberto Martinez offered the figure that Wigan wanted for Kone. Also it might be time that DM adopted the principle " treat others in the way that you would like to be treated".

David Moyes made no secret of his feelings re Mark Hughes and the " Lescott Saga". I think what has annoyed many Evertonians is the way in which DM has behaved in the same way. If he was the Everton manager would he accept £12M for Leighton Baines ? Would he accept £18M for Fellaini ? I think we alll know that he would have regarded such offers as being derisory.

I read that Man United had actually apologised to Everton for the manner of their approach for DM. Indeed they could have waited until the season was over, the title was safely won and the last 2 games of no consequence for them. That wasn't the case for Everton. United could have waited until the League saeson was over to make their move for DM - they didn't and I do not think it was exactly helpful in our preparations for those last 2 matches.

Man United are a global brand so we are told - but there is a way of going about business. We shouldn't be pushed around and if they want any of our players they and David Moyes should expect to pay the "market value".

Martinez has obviously got all the bases sorted on this one. It's why after the early transfer dealings we have gone quiet. He knows this situation was going to drag out and his replacements are well lined up for when Fellaini starts to rock the boat. Baines, on the other hand I am sure he will fight to kee hold of. The extra TV revenue this season has put us in a position where we do not need to sell to balance the books.

I would begrudgingly sell Fellaini if he kicks up a fuss, but sting United for top dollar. They NEED a signing more than we need the money. McCarthy would be a solid replacement, I would not like to see Barry come near us though. He's old news.

Sam 684 not really a comparable analogy is it? Firstly Whelan said his players are for sale if the price is right. Secondly the reason we haven't bid for McCarthy is because we ain't got the money not because we are making derisory bids in an attempt to unsettle both players! Thirdly Fellaini's situation was crystal clear to Moyes, you can buy him for £23.5 million by the end of July, instead he's offering £6 million less and its 15 days late. Moyes is not only taking the piss he's shown himself to be a complete hypocrite.

Eh Kev? How am I excusing him? I have clearly said to tell him where to go.

Your faux outrage is what is ridiculous, here is a excerpt from the Echo, "But United’s offer, which was made by chief executive Ed Woodward only 48 hours before the start of the new Premier League season, is understood to have left considerable bad feeling on Merseyside" Offer made by someone else.

He is now a dirty manc manager and all this Moyes Lovers, follow him to Man U shite is getting tiresome.

My manager is Martinez but I'm not going to alter my views of the last 11 years or become irrational just because he has gone to the dark side.

Robert - you're contradicting yourself. You agree with me that there isn't any such thing as "worth" and that it's just what a club is prepared to pay (Bale) or can get away with paying (Michu). Then you say that McCarthy is "worth" far more than £5m.

Paul - I agree, it's laughable. But I think people are getting confused between the value players have to us and their value on the open market. To me, Baines is priceless. I'd turn down the crown jewels!

My belief is that both players will be gone, from a financial and personal perspective for more money and the chance to win medals. What we don't need is the fannying around, fare market value being met and man Utd can have their business done and dusted and we can move on and find suitable replacements. What we don't need is the clock running down, player's wanting away and becoming unsettled, dynamics of team disturbed and a situation developing al la Arteta when there is no time for Everton to do their own business.

Come on lads, calm down, Moyes is history, we can tell him what we think when utd
visit us!
As far as the bid goes, we are in the driving seat, that is unless the players are determined to leave which can muddy the waters.
Tell them Baines is not for sale at any price, if he has to go, I would sell for £20m minimum.
Fellaini we want £20, again if he has to be sold I would accept £17m-£18m minimum.

Moyes will have had an imput into the size of the bids no doubt, but its business, alls fair in love & war!

Michael 707 - spot on! Sam if you want a proper analogy it would have been Martinez bidding £3 million for Kone when his release clause was £5 million.

Love the club statement, just put on official site.. good to hear some confirmation of rejection.

We don't have to sell. BK was banging on about a new contract for Baines so give him one ! Felli will be like a square peg at Manure but if he wants to go then fine but not for less than his value as we see it not Moyes'. If we don't get that value Felli gets told he's going nowhere and if he doesn't like it then do what Liverpool did with The Buck tooth cannibal and lay down the law. Unsettling players and our whole squad like this is something Moyes used to rail against so tell the hypocrite to royally do one !

Does anyone need any more proof that Manure conduct there transfer buiness through the media first. There was not a jot from them that they wanted Fellani yet it's been in the Manchester rags for more than a month. The FA ought to look into this but I suspect they won't 'cos they've got the same number of balls that Kenwright has......zero.

I was just about to post that Andy - http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2013/08/19/club-statement

That's the right reaction.

The irony of this approach is that Manchester United have always 'self marketed' themselves as paragons of respect and old fashioned values in the face of the enormous spending of City and the hiring and firing short term approach of Chelsea.

Similarly, in Moyes' first press conference, he kept repeating the ideas of a long term approach and respect. This seems to have been forgotten as desperation kicks in and the clock ticks.

I would also be concerned if I was a United fan- they shout from the rooftops that they are the biggest club in the world, on a par with Real Madrid, Barca et al..but are offering derisory bids for players who have never played in the Champions League, who seemingly are not coveted by any other of the big guns.

On the OS the bids have been described as 'derisory and insulting'

I think Fellaini will end up going but don't think Baines will go or I hope he doesn't. Kenwright should tell Utd what he wants for them and for every day that passes the price goes up by 250k.

I like the use of the words "derisory" and "insulting"

Alan, I don't think media speculation was from a leak. I'd write the same story tbh. United needed a cm...and Fellaini, who has a buy clause, was one of Moyes' best players last season, and wants to go to a champ league club. The story wrote itself.

Fellainis price should have read £20m not £20 obviously, although £20 would probably be nearer the mark in some matches.

As an aside, I wonder if Moyes reads what is said on here!!

Michael Brien 707, excellent post and my sentiments exactly.
I think we as Evertonians have every right to feel angry and insulted by this latest "bid".

Actually the way it is phrased on the OS it seems that the bids were received prior to the Norwich game, so why are they announcing them at all if they didn't announce them before? Presumably they are trying to start a bidding war.

Sorry that should be Tony~696 need to clean these glasses!!!

I used to Support Moyes as being a man of principle and dignity.

Well it seems like the arrogance that has always emanated from Old Trafford has affected him too.

This year has revealed his true DNA as a sly, Deceitful cheapskate.

I also seem to remember Black Bill making a statement that there was a gentleman's agreement in place For Moyes not to poach any of our players and to think he was allowed to work at OT while still on our payroll.

What a joke of a club we have become under Kenwright.

£45-£50M would be minimum to accept. Baines at £20m; Fellaini £25m plus. £28m is taking the biscuit and nearly half the price.

Unless we have to sell and I hope not - why sell for a penny less than the market value. The market is inflated - only have to look at other teams spending - i.e. Southampton. These two players are up there among the best in the world in their positions.

I think the Man Utd fans are a bit embarrassed about this. Here's a post from Red Cafe, one of their forums

"I'd probably be quite angry if I were an Everton fan that United, on this occasion, seem to be trying to unsettle the players as opposed to be presenting Everton with a genuine offer."

EFC website have said the bids were "derisory and insulting". Glad to see we are not being diplomatic. From another angle, this could go the other way. Would you want to play for a team who think your worth peanuts?. Baines knows he's the best left back in Europe, he knows his own value. Likewise Fellaini knows his worth too.

Pete#712, I think Arteta was sold to service the debt, I don't think the manager was getting the money anyway. I agree though, get it sorted.

Nice to hear the club label the bids insulting, but this is what happens when you have years of financial mis-management. You're open for having the piss taken out of you, which Manchester United are doing. Only our club is to blame for this situation, it's how they play it now that has the greatest significance.

There have been a number of comments from Moyes iver recent weeks that have been disrespectful of Everton FC, chatting last week prior to the start of the season he was spouting comments that he could now go out and try to win games, errrr....?? WTF?

Gentlemens agreement? Bollocks. He has made the choice of who he wants..
BK must be beside himself.. taken in and sold down the river.. trust?? If it wasn't so bad it would be funny.

I don't really know what Utd have done wrong. They've put in a little bid, probably knowing it'll get knocked back. Then they put in another, then another, then another. What's the big deal. It's a business. All we do is knock the bids back until we think its enough. It happens every year to most probably every club. The reason some are getting really stressed about this is because its Moyes. I don't know why you think it should be different because its our former manager.

We should report Man U to the FA over this, it's a bloody joke and is a deliberate ploy to unsettle our players. Enough is enough firstly we have a guy basically managing two clubs at once towards the end of the season and basically tapping up Everton staff members and then this.

I agree Robbie. Time for the club to step up.

Baines £16,000,000 and Fellaini €26,000,000, take it but only after recruiting a left back, a central defender, a central and wide right midfielder and a 20 goal a season centre forward.

Thats 5 in and 2 out!

Jamie, I am sure Moyes Knows what they did was wrong ,as he spent the first few weeks of one season crying about a similar issue and infact used the issue whenever we played Man City.

Jamie yes it's a business, but even in business there is a way to conduct yourself, can you remember how Moyes reacted over the Lescott affair? How is this really any different, it's not, yet Moyes is doing the exact same thing.

Nice to see the club using the exact words Moyes used when Arsenal made a bid for Jags.

With the extra TV money coming in and with very good assets coming through the ranks, Stones and Barkley for example, we don't have so much of a need to sell in order to service the debt we have.

So the bid was made before Saturday but we kept it quiet.
Yet it was the Echo that broke the story. So surely that information must have come from within the club. Why not keep the whole thing quiet?

Letting it come out only increases the chances of one or both of them leaving.

Unless that is what the club want?

And now we go into our first home game which we need to win with this cloud over us and those two players, would love this to be put to bed one way or the other by our club.

What makes me curious about this, relates back to Arteta a couple of years ago. This is my opinion but I think it may ring true to what happened.

Arsenal bought Arteta before the deadline day, there is proof of that. He was signed without a proper medical, yet Wenger only buys when he is sure on a player. This means the medical was done earlier and the deal was pushed through so we could make the money disapear. However to all of this, Arteta asked for a transfer because he knew it wouldn't look like that to the typical match going fan. I think he did this nto help the club. Bollocks to all the 'ambition' thoughts, he left to help the club financially, and for that I do hold him in great respect.

Looking at the current situation, the reason why noone has asked for a transfer is for the opposite, to make us look like we arent prepared to sell. Therefore when a big bid comes in and one or both leave we can say the money has too good to turn down. For a club as skint as us that would be normal procedure. The club statement is only out because the news went public, same as SAF retiring. as soon a sit broke they had to acnologe it and act accordingly.

I think it is a given that Mccarthy will be signing for us, and worryingly Mcmannaman as well. All of the money will not be spent and we wont see much else over what is spent by January.

But you know what takes the piss in all this? Maybe a bit off topic, we have not supported Martinez one bit. I remeber someone official earlier in the summer talking about making a marquee signing to help Moyes along, and Chelsea and Man City have done the same. We have given our new manager 6 million and told do the same as before, which will lead to our decline. We have 4 central midfielders currently in our squad, Gibson, Barkley, Fellaini and Osman. Our formation involves playing 3 of them at any one time so surely there is more players to arrive?! I can see us really struggling by Christmas at this rate because when injury/suspensions kick in, we wont have anybody to fill the team template. We should have at least spent a little buit of money and brought more faces in. Then if we were to sell the two and pocket the cash, at least we would have a fuller squad than we have now. Swapping Fellaini for Mcarthy is like for like, but noone will replace the creativity of Baines, which will leave us 2 players short in that regard.

I for one am starting to really worry what is happening at the club now, and I think Mr relegation may be living up to his name, but with his hands tied behind his back this time;.

But couldn't Man U make it known the bid was made and don't the payers get to know? If they want to leave they themselves could make it known and we don't want our club dragged through the media. For once I think the club has handled this correctly. Probably not what was said by those in the club though, but that probably can't be printed.

From F365 ;

Indeed, Everton have form for being poked, prodded and annoyed by clubs from Manchester making low initial bids to unsettle and disrupt their star players. Manchester City did the same with Joleon Lescott, and boy were the Toffees whipped up into a lather.

A club official said at the time: "There has not been one call. It's disappointing. We have got a player who we really value and we want to keep. We think the world of him and he can play two positions. We don't want to lose him. Yet he is being continually put in a position like he is at this moment in time.

"The way it has been handled is disgusting and all it has done is disrupted our club."

That Everton official, by the way, was David Moyes.

So Bale is worth 3 Fellaini's and 3 Baines'...........give me strength

OK Phil. Hope Doddy's alright. Haven't heard much from him lately.

I have to say I am pretty disgusted at how OFM is treating our club.To me,he is taking maximum advantage of his knowledge of our financial situation and BK`s weakness as a negotiator.

Sure,he is now charged with getting the best deal possible for his new employers but given the affection he supposedly had for Everton,most of us assumed he would treat us with respect and deal fairly.

Given that all the rumours in Wigan were setting out the managerial merry-go-round as far back as last Christmas,`our hero` as many considered him to be, is turning out to be nothing more than an opportunist shyster !

I just wish that we had a chairman in office who would be strong enough to put him in his place.Even Ken Bates would do !

Jackie 750 - Yes United could have definitely made it known that the bid was made, but the fact that this story was broken by the Echo suggests that is came from within our club. You have to ask yourself why that is?

On another point this release clause in Felli's contract could make us look very silly. I understand the date was in their to protect us from a last minute bid, but that does not appear to be working too well. if he leave for less than 23.5 we are going to look very silly.

Yes we are not now obliged to accept the offer but if the player pushes for the move he could still end up going for less. Hindsight is wonderful but perhaps its worth making these contracts so that the release price doubles on the 31st July, that way its clear to everyone.

All the love and affection I and many others bestowed on this man and he does this to us, the man is a scoundrel of the highest order.

Alan Myers; breath of fresh air with that stated response. What an improvement to the communication lapdogs previously in post.

On Friday BK announces £50m deal done for the pair, cash up front. Wishes them both well and hopes to meet up with them when we next play at the Emirates.

Just to throw this idea out there. What if it isn't Baines?

The club have already stated that the £12m bid was a final one.If this is true then why would they bid £12m again?

Only the media have speculated that it is Baines and Fellaini. The club statement only said 2 players. They didn't name anyone.

What if it is Fellaini and Barkley. £20m for Fellaini and £8m for Barkley

Fellaini and Jagielka. £18m and £10m

Maybe even Mirallas or Coleman?

What if it doesn't involve Fellaini? Could it be a higher bid for Baines and 1 from the above.

Money also wasn't mentioned in the statement. Could the figure be wrong?

What does everyone think?

You are right,Daniel Lawrence but I bet Mr Myers wont last long this time round either!

John 709. I disagree. Every player is available for the right price. Martinez said the same about fellaini as whelan did about his players.

As for Man U waiting for the release clause to expire, why would they pay more if they thought they could pay less.

All that they care about is getting the players they want for the least money possible. Of course it's insulting but that's the nature of business. The bids are clearly designed to unsettle the players and as the press suggests is all being handled by Ed Woodward rather than Moyes anyway.

It's all a game, just as Moyes' outrage at the lescott bud was part of a game to drive up his price. If we were to go in for McCarthy I would not be surprised if we started bidding around 7m even though they reportedly want £15m. Don't know why people are taking it so personally.

Dean, the club will have briefed the media last night, which is why the BBC and everyone else reported the same story - a bid for Baines and Fellaini. They got that info from the club. The official statement doesn't have to name names.

You might have something there,Dean.With Raphael ruled out long term,right-back is a bigger problem area for the Mancs than left where Evra has found a new lease of life. Coleman may well be `the second man`!

Kevin@751, there is a difference. It says in that piece that there hasn't been one call made. It was all being done in the press. Man Utd have made 2 official bids that we know of. Don't get me wrong, I think the offers are a piss take but I just don't expect anything else.

Jim K - if you really want Young (who'd set us back at least £10m) I suggest you lay off the peyote for your mid-morning snack.

Kev 769

I don't doubt that seems the case. I was just throwing it out there.

What doesn't make sense is why did they take till Midday to put out the statement. Why not release it first thing?

I think it may have been leaked, and the club statement could be a reactionary one.

Well said Mr Dodd #755.

I know football is a business, and of course Manyoo's first duty is to itself and its shareholders; however, to effectively offer the same amount as they did in an earlier rejected bid for Baines, and to offer us no more than what we paid for Felli when he was something of a gamble (i.e. as all players new to the Prem are, to some extent or other) amounts to both an insult AND bad business.

Besides, I should have thought that, coming literally on the eve of the new season, a premium would be added to any bid! While it's not quite 'window shutting time', signing anyone at the 11th hour is hardly conducive to sound planning and management. Its propensity to unsettle the selling club ought to carry an added element of 'compensation' in the bid tendered by the prospective buyer.

EFC were right not to say anything about the bid before today. I suspect, contractually, what with the amounts involved being "derisory", they were not obliged to tell the players or their agents. We'd only have been risking our own preparation by bleating about it on Friday.

Anyway, for once, I'm wholeheartedly behind the Goodison board on how they've handled this one.

Why is it good that Martinez simply offered Wigan what they wanted for Kone?

Surely as Everton manager he should have put in a lower bid and tried to screw the price down, after all that would have been better for Everton. Paying full price was better for Wigan and bad for Everton. Some people on here really need to think before typing, or is slagging of Moyes and anyone who defends him more important.

Dean 764 - £20m for Alan Biley, £8m for up and coming starlet Bernie Wright

When do we have Moyes at our place.

That's the time to make it perfectly clear what we now think of him.
Banners should be allowed into the ground telling him in simple terms that he has misplaced the trust that we had in him and what we now think of him.

This is not a conspiracy - it's a rallying call to make him understand where he stands.

Traitor.

From the BBC website:

Who said the following? "Everton sell very expensively. That's what we do.

"We don't sell cheap because that is why he is on a five-year deal and the chairman looks after the players and gives them what he can. So he is not for sale."

Well, it was a certain Manchester United manager David Moyes in 2011 while he was in charge at Everton and in response to Leighton Baines being linked with a move to Liverpool.

I have to say I am totally against managers going back to their former club and taking what they believe were the best players.

Totally, totally against it and the manager should be ashamed of himself.

Agree?

So when do we send Kone, Robles and Alcatraz (yeah OK he was out of contract) back? Or is it a case of people in glass houses throwing stones.

And taking the situation that has so outraged us Blues. What is it we are unhappy about? That they have bid or that they have bid £28m?

So if they had bid £70m for the two of them, we would be happy? Probably yes because we think we can go out and buy better players in a number of positions. And the conversation at United - what we paid how much? Are you still working for Everton Mr Moyes? Here are your cards, goodbye. Of course they will offer the least amount possible, would you? I like my car and it is worth £15,000 - I do as well, I'll offer you £11,000. Or would you go, no please let me pay your £23,000 for it.

Can we please get real and understand this is a competitive league on and off the field and it is also business

A few on here have mentioned the disadvantage to us if either player asks for a transfer. Firstly I think Baines wouldn't go down that route, though Fellaini probably would. Secondly, bollox to the players IF they do. It hasn't worked for Rooney and Sewer. I am impressed with the clubs stance, in fact a few recent quotes makes it look like Bill has fallen out with Moyes already so I can see him standing firm on this. I am not a Bill fan/apologist but I am trusting him to back his new manager here by only selling if RM is happy too, and at the price RM sees fit to put on them.

Sam

Your forgetting we've already bought a player from Wigan. I don't remember us putting in previous offers of £1m, £2m in before finally reaching Wigan's value of £5m.

Offering stupidly low prices for players isn't the standard practice some are making it out to be.

Adam #603 "This will be an interesting test of Martinez. He has come out publicly and said Baines is quite simply not for sale."

It's got chuff all to do with RM sadly. On the not-too-unreasonable assumption that he would prefer to keep the players, it comes down to BK.

Baines won't agitate for a move, even if he would want to be re-united with the manager who called him the 2nd best left back in England.

The silence from the Fellaini camp is deafening though.

I think both will stay. If one or both are sold for a low fee however, I will personally phone up the Blue Union and get them moving!

"...just as Moyes' outrage at the lescott bud (sic) was part of a game to drive up his price"
Your opinion Sam, disguised as fact?

Paul, who do you think the idiots are in that case?

I have today heard ex-pro's and commentators who believe this whole episode is an insult to the club, and it's fans who supported Moyes through thick and thin.

And we have some on here......wow.

Even Talksport said it's a crazy offer and that "United can't seriously think they would get anywhere near the 2 players for that price, maybe 1 but not 2" They also added "I know Moysey, why not round it up to £30m and see if they will throw in Jagielka and Barkley too" His heads gone!!!!

Jamie

I think we've paid over the odds for Kone but Martinez doesn't. I suspect Whelan told Kenwright he wanted £5m and not a penny less so rather than dicking about and upsetting the people involved we paid the fee.

I don't think that makes the club idiots but if the club did decide to haggle then I think £4m would have been a fair place to start, not at £1m which is effectively what Utd did to us.

It seems that the Sam Hoares of this blog just can't let go of their lost love and wake up to what a shitbag he really is and that he was just as the MOB said he was.

I have to wholeheartedly agree with Doddy (755) on this. It smacks of Moyes knowing our true financial situation and exploiting it.

What a shit he is now revealing himself to be...

Mancs with ethics HaHaHaHaHa

Compare and Contrast

Martinez leaves Wigan ensures that his former club are compensated leaves with goodwill knows the ins and outs of the players contracts he signs Kone by meeting his release clause

Moyes leads Kenwright up the garden path with contract talks leaves on a free to his new club with best wishes from the chairman and a promise not to return for his ex players then waits for the release clause to expire and offers a price way below the valuation just before the season starts.

Haha a paragon of virtue no mistake

Phil (779), Alcaraz was a free agent and we bought Robles from Atletico Madrid. Also Wigan know they can't hang on to their best players if they are in the Championship, and so won't stand in their way — a situation very unlike ours.

Equally Wigan have made no complaints about the way the deal for Kone was conducted. All- in-all your attempt to draw comparisons between this news today and our acquisition of the players you named is as wide of the mark as you can get, and I don't see why you'd contrive to make such a weak comparison other than to defend Moyes?

It seems highly improbable that Moyes has not sanctioned this bid today, or was not involved in assessing the amount of the bid. He might be trying to impress the powers that be at OT, but it looks like another transfer cockup to follow Fabregas, Thiago, Ozil, and Modric.

Man Utd fans won't like the way it's all being conducted in public. I do think however that they'll pick up a big name before the window shuts, but will have to pay a high price, like they ended up doing with Berbatov. Whether that's one of ours we'll have to see.

It's Ok guys, it's all a simple missunderstanding. David Moyes has just announced on the Man United website that he offered £28 million for Fellaini OR Baines.

It's just that he feels he needs to sign somebody in order to placate the Old Trafford faithful and either one would do.

"Sorry for the misunderstanding and all that...."

Sam 766 another incorrect analogy, you're certainly racking them up today trying to defend Moyes's behaviour! Martinez was talking about Fellaini's price in the context of his release clause. Once that clause expires his price isn't going to go down, it's going to go up. We don't have to sell Fellaini because he's got three years left on his contract AND we've already agreed a more than favourable deal which gives him the option to move to a champions league team.

My take on this is that Kenwright is already incensed by Moyes's behaviour over the way he moved to man united and that he is going to dig his heels in over this - derisory and insulting indeed!

Paul David, 781. Different though as we had to meet Kone's release clause as it had no expiry. And yes, offering low prices is standard practice I'm afraid.

Phil Bellis 783, yes, guilty as charged but it seems fairly self-evident to me especially as it happens so frequently. You disagree?

Just a couple of thoughts (nb: most of my figures below come from The Institute of I Think I Heard Somewhere).

Well apart from the evaluation being ridiculous/insulting and Moyes having shown himself to be a twat, the timing of this is a fucking distraction we don't need.

In short, Utd/Moyes offer and it's timing, shows Everton FC no respect or courtesy (imo)

(this bastard transfer window really should be done by kick-off first game).

That said, I understand 'it's all about money' and and know the game is full of shit-houses at every level, so not staggered.

And thinking about it gave me a thought/suggestion.

It is now common for certain transfers to have add-ons (I think we had 76 of them for Rooney including '38 grand in the event of him kissing his badge').

These add-ons tend to be in the area of "If a player or club he's moved to do really well and win stuff, the club who sold him get a few bob".

Given the selling club have often nurtured or discovered the player, I see nothing wrong with this, especially as 'success' for the other club usually means more money for them (plus 99% of the time, most of the clubs who win things are fucking minted)

However (thinking of the possibility of Baines and Fellaini being sold) there's a couple of add-ons that I haven't heard of, which to me, would make a lot (or just as much) sense as the 'traditional' type.

Ok, I think we can generally agree the two players (combined) make a BIG difference to Everton over the course of a season.

In a team that doesn't score many, they score goals and make goals so It's more than possible that without them, we could drop places.

How many?

Erm.... I don't know... for the sake of (my flimsy?) argument, let's say from 6th/7th to 10/11th.

(keep in mind 6th place last season meant prize money of £11.3m, 11th place was £7.5m).

Now, accepted there's a lot of 'iffing' in this next bit, but certainly within the realms of possibility.

If we sold the two players for (let's say) £30m, but finished 11th, in effect we'd have sold them for £26m because of the loss of 4 places worth of revenue.

Another if?

Ok, each team is guaranteed 10 televised games per season (or the revenue from 10) and last season we were on (I think) 14 times.

At about half a mill a pop, that gave us an extra couple of million.

But what if the telly people decided "Well without the big funny afro who might get sent off and England's attacking left back with the free-kicks, they're not as much of a draw so 10 games is fine"

Another 2 mill gone and now (in effect) we've sold them for £24m.

My suggestion is that whatever fee our good/best players are sold for, we should insist on financial add-ons based not on what THEY achieve with our (former) players, but compensation for what we might not achieve.

We finished 6th WITH these players, so - for what would have been the remainder of their contract/s with us - for each place we finish below 6th, they give is a million (eg: we finish 12th, they give us £6m)

If we finish 6th or above, we get nothing.

And they also pay for any TV games revenue lost (under 14).

As I said, just a thought - but as an arse-covering exercise, it makes more sense to me to say "If you take our players and we don't achieve X, you pay" than it does to say "If you take our players and you achieve X, you pay"

By the way, if it was up to me, I would keep both of them (unless the offer was insane) and I'd put in an official £30m joint-bid for Rooney and Van Persie - see how they fucking like it.

No John 766, I'm afraid it is you who is incorrect in your desire to eviscerate Moyes! Might want to check your facts next time.

Martinez said after Fellaini's clause expired:

"If there is an offer on the table then we will have to look into it,"

Which is effectively the same as Whelan saying we will sell our players for the right amount. Standard practice.

Sam...if the gob on him during Lescottgate and the subsequent "let's twat `em" attitude whenever we played City (the knifefight at the Etihad notwithstanding) was anything to go by, Moyes WAS well pissed off (or deserving of an Oscar)

Phil, I'm sure he was. But anytime a manager goes on record for press chances are there is more than just emotion at play (unless they are Kevin Keegan!). I think there was a certain amount of 'No fucking way!' in order to drive the price up...much as we have seen from Evertonfc today

I agree with those who say that the departure of Fellaini, provided it's completed by the end of this week, would not be the end of the world. Baines, though, is indispensable and must not be sold.

This new development and inevitable transfer saga will, however, mask a much more pressing issue that some have alluded to on here. WHERE IS THE NEW TV MONEY?

I have raised this point before, but it is scandalous that, whilst the likes of Norwich, Southampton, Swansea and Sunderland appear to have been put in a position of previously unheard of financial strength by the extra tv income, we seem to be as poor as ever.

Our summer outlay cannot amount to more than £8 - 10m max, including wages / signing on fees etc. Southampton have just spent £15m on Pablo Osvaldo for goodness' sake!

Another EGM should be called and the board challenged over the whereabouts of this tv income. Being in a position where we do not have to sell players is all well and good, but it must surely amount to more than that!

Chris Ashton’s comment earlier is typical of much of the hysterical make believe we get on threads here.

I have met the lawyer who did the legal work on Arteta’s transfer. He has an EFC season ticket. He did all the work on the changing versions of the contract as he was instructed by Arsenal. That was all done on the evening of the close of the window whilst Atrteta had a medical at Finch Farm. He had to do that because he was told that EFC was playing hardball over the price and the final contract reflected that approach. A different Arsenal source was told by Wenger that he had asked Bill Kenwright for a price for Arteta and Fellaini and was quoted £30m at that time.

As for us being soft touches, the money we got for Arteta, Lescott and Rodwell says otherwise.

Eugene #816, can't agree with you about add ons. We've been screwed over by them on more than one occasion. Michael Ball ring any bells?

If we're actually not under any pressure to sell, then do to them what the Barcodes did to the RS over Carroll. Big fee, cash on the nail. 100%.

If either player wants to go, then they should be ordered to put it in writing. The "loyalty" bonus they lose can be picked up by Man U. Along with the agents fee.

Time to be a hero Bill.

Sam

All I've read today shows it not only EFC who think "'No fucking way!'

Neutrals, editorials, Man U websites and even professional Irish Manc Eamonn Holmes (?) are saying the same it seems

Matt (838) - "If we're actually not under any pressure to sell, then do to them what the Barcodes did to the RS over Carroll. Big fee, cash on the nail. 100%"

Well the key is the word pressure

If we're NOT under any pressure to sell, I say keep them.

However if we ARE (nb: which is possible as this is Everton and there could be 'influence' from some swivel-eyed twat at Barclays), I favour a big fee, cash on the nail......PLUS arse-covering add-ons.

Could be completely wrong, but my guess is we're not in the position (ie: it's not our decision) to say they're not for sale at any price.

I see the second insultingly low bid of the day has already been made with Arsenal offering 11m for Cabaye. Like I said...standard practice.

788, Or Peter.... the Peter Barrys of this world just can't let go of their hate and bitterness...yawn.

Eugene #840, I don't think we are under pressure from Barclays anymore. Yes, there's an overdraft which is a horribly expensive way of borrowing - even Vibrac is probably better.

The only pressure we can come under is from the players and their agents.

So Bill can, and should, puff his chest out and claim he's the better actor than Edward Woodward (I know it's not the "Equalizer" but I wanted a cheap joke).

And then tell them to fuck themselves.

I suspect that Eugene is correct. I also suspect that both players will move. Everything once again comes back to the useless Board. The RS were able to tell Arsenal to buzz off over Suarez. We should do the same over Bainsey and Fellaini.

But we can't because our board have invested no money in the club, will not do so, and whose only financial strategy is to sell assets, with the aim of remaining in charge. We have no cash so we have to sell our top players.

I hope I am wrong, I really do, I hope they are still with us post deadline day. But this is becoming a pattern now isn't it? Instead of wondering which players we might be bringing in, we spend each window and the lead up to the deadline apparently fighting off bids then caving in to better-run clubs than our own.

Get used to it. Until we have a new chairman and board, this is the way it is going to be.

Mark#836. It serviced the debt, hence the reason we don't have to sell Baines or Fellaini. This is the first preseason we haven't sold a player we want to keep.
The clubs you have mentioned either have little debt, new deep pocketed owners or haven't invested that much in a few years.
Two seasons ago Stoke spent about £25m close season. where has it got them?.
Let Soton spent £15m on a guy who looks like Jack Sparrow they may now finish 9th or 10th. Norwich?, they've probably borrowed heavily, they certainly don't generate that kind of income..
Our board do not invest, never have done. why are you surprised?

Chris #851, normally I'd be crying into my pint alongside you. But, on this occasion, I think we'll say no unless it gets to silly money, and both players want out.

If we're not under pressure to sell, then Bill is feeling the heat to keep them. If they were both to be sold (and I expect we'll lose Fellaini) then forget your "March for Martinez", the fans should rally with torches and pitchforks and hunt those fuckers down. (Or is that Kopite behaviour??)

Sadly there has been no integrity in the game for a long time now. Moyes was loyal to Everton until the point when Manure came knockin. I don't reckon anyone would've been arsed if he had done the same to Preston that he's doing to us now.
However, we are all understandably protective of our great club and wish for the respect we deserve. The media don't give a toss about us, never have done and never will.
Manure will do what they like but if our hand is forced-by the players then BK should give Wenger a bell and tell the dour one to go to fuck.
The silence from Baines is worrying me as we can't afford to lose him. the big fella can go at the correct market rate which (if Bale is worth £100m) has to be in the £25m region.
All we can do as supporters is make sure that Moyes is roundly booed when he returns to Goodison. He had his round of applause which was fair enough given 11 years service but he is stabbing us in the back now regardless of whether someone else is on the end of the phone. He's not welcome here any more in my book.

I wish the club had said nothing and if Man Utd wanted to release details then that's up to them. So we have said the offers are derisory and insulting, yet never said that they wont be sold, so I take it that both will be sold provided the money is increased.

The season has started and we may be involved in another Lescott affair only this time involving 2 players not 1. So if another bid comes in for both before Saturdays game with West Brom then we are likely to have a similar atmosphere that we had against Arsenal when the Lescott saga was going on. So make it perfectly clear to Man Utd or anyone else that these players will NOT be sold before the window closes and mean it!!

Sam 825 I don't have to try and eviscerate Moyes he's doing a great job of doing that himself. First we had the written apology by Man United because of Moyes' admission that he knew about Ferguson leaving and was approached by Man United months ago, then the first derisory bid for Baines and know he's waited until Fellaini's release clause has expired and put a laughable bid in to unsettle the player a few days before the season starts. Even the Daily Mail are calling him a hypocrite, which is strong words for a national newspaper.

Meanwhile we have you taking quotes out of context by Martinez and months of an embarrassing defence by you of any actions that Moyes has taken. Even Doddy is slagging him off now and he was his biggest supporter!

Here is what Martinez said with regard to selling Fellaini a few days ago “This is not a situation where we are actively putting up players for sale because we need the money, it is definitely not the case at all.
“And when you are in a strong position financially, you will never sell a player for less than the buy-out clause. Yes, you are sweating on July 30 and 31, but after that we don't have to sell players. It's as simple as that."

Wow, John. The Daily Mail huh? They always get it right...don't they?

How on earth is my quote out of context? It fits along with the rest of what you included to say that basically the player is available if the price is right, we don't need to sell so the price must be good...just like Whelan said. Show me where he says that the player is not for sale and I will be incorrect but for now that honour belongs to you.

What is embarassing is the size of the axe you are grinding.

Isn't this the same man who complained about City not offering enough money for Lescott all those seasons ago Sam, and valued Baines at £20million, now offering £12m, and the same man who said this?

I've always said it’s expensive to buy off Everton. If you’re going to come and try to take our better players we don’t sell cheap, that’s for sure"

Moyes is a hypocrite, and yet you seem to be defending his actions.

By the way Sam, Newcastle signed Cabaye for £4million so £10m is not that insulting.

Chris Ashton. Did you go for a few pints between post 623 and post 749 ?

In the earlier post, which I commended, your description and praise of Fellaini matched my own view of this unique player.
You stated that anyone thinking that McCarthy would be a decent replacement for the big fella should think again

In the second post, just over 3 hours later you state "Swapping Fellaini for McCarthy is like for like".!!??
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Stick with the first post Chris. McCarthy for Gibson would be like for like. The big Belgium is a one-off.

Sam, I think I read you saying that offering very low prices was typical.

Can you give some examples please?

From what I can recall this season, significant offers tend to be made for players that are likely to get the selling club at least interested. I don't recall any clubs up in arms about another clubs valuation of their player. The closest we had was the suarez saga, and that offer was twice what the RS paid for him and met his "release clause".

Moyes offer for Fellaini is basically less than Moyes paid for him as an untried teenager with potential. He's now an established international who ripped Man U a new arsehole single-handedly last season at Goodison.

That kind of offer is not serious. It is insulting. Its like Real Madrid offering £9M for Bale.

Just a matter of time before billy bollocks cracks and accepts a low offer. What's more worrying is Martinez's obsession with Wigan players. Players which took Wigan down. McCarthy is nowhere near a £15 mil player. I'm so fed up of us being linked with average plays. If we cash in we need young hungry flair players. It's so disheartening watching the likes of Southampton spend more this season than we've ever spent.

Wayne Smith, how about today arsenal offering 11m for Cabaye or a few weeks ago Chelsea offering 20m for Rooney. Don't have to look far.

Sam, yes even the Daily Mail can get something right every now and then! The point is that Moyes is bidding way under the price he knows that we will accept (& after the buyout clause has ended!) and you have a clear statement from the manager that he doesn't need to sell him and that he wouldn't be sold for less than the buyout clause. The fact that he has done this a couple of days before the start of the season after floating the story in the media for weeks on end, stinks of hypocrisy. In short all of the things that he accused Manchester City doing with Lescott.

John, I do agree that it stinks of hypocrisy but what I am saying is that that is what often happens in football. Big clubs put in low bids to de-stabilise players and try and get them for cheap. I really don't see it as being in any way a personal reflection of the managers at the given clubs in the same way that if we bid £5m for McCarthy as a cheeky opening gambit I would not see that as making Martinez a villain. In the words of one of my friends who really annoys me, 'hate the game don't hate the player'.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Moyes comes in with another bid including Barkley for £29M, slimey ginger cunt.

I read someone say we should fax them back a picture of Joleon Lescott.

If they want our best player or best players they need to offer us a price we can't refuse like they got for Ronaldo. Ginger twat, the loyalty he got from us for 11 years and he takes the piss like that.

I reckon we should do as per the shite, 45m by Friday or go fuck yourselves.