Double deal was dropped only at the last minute

Tosser. That doesn't even make sense. Can't believe I used to respect the man.

Did we miss out on a lot of targets... No. Was it disappointing... No.

Is he seriously okay in the head? Utter garbage. Used to be a very level-headed honest man...

Baines as back-up? Seriously...

I've said it before and I'm still waiting to be told; pipe down Prosser, you have no idea, you conspiracist weirdo. The additional £4.5M could be partial payment for Baines with the final part coming in January. Yes, Moyes says his pursuit of Baines is over – bit like the promise made when he took the Man Utd job?

Was this arrangement agreed to dilute the anger if Kenwright sold two of our best in the same window? People on here have actually been patting our board on the back for recent dealings.

How's Baines's new contract coming along? Only when the ink has dried on that will I settle down.

Baines, England's finest left-back, would indeed be " good cover for Patrice". You got that right, Moysey. Then again, he may not want to be cover for Evra or anybody....

Do one Dave you tit.

His comments are a bit desperate. The salvage operation on Evra is obvious given he tried to sign Baines and Contreo to replace, sorry, act as cover for him.

If he does come back in for Baines, at least he knows it won't be on the cheap.

Pipe down Prosser !

I didn't realise you could only bid in a joint transfer fee if you wanted to take two players from the same club.
That explains him losing £4 million for his club.

Nothing to do with Fellaini being 6/7th choice midfield target.

Only an Evertonian would think Baines was better than Evra. People cant get it in their heads that even though Baines can play consistantly well, another player at another club could be doin the same plus adding a threat from set pieces with his heading ability. Evra is a very accomplished player and has been a regular left back for a few years at one of the best teams in Europe. Baines has been a great left back for us in a similar way but on a completley different level. Until we're playing champions league and trophy winning football some fans will never understand how someone could possibly be better than a good player of ours. I love Baines an think hes a great value to us but go an ask United fans an they'll say the same of Evra only his record speaks for itself. Its the same with Cole, any England manager would choose Cole over Baines if their both on form because its the sensible option to use the man with the most knowledge. Anyone whos got negatives to say about Cole an Evra needs a good hard look at the game and how these two read an control their positions. We all love Baines but hearing hes the best left back in the world is as bad as when the kopites thought Carragher was the best centre half in the prem, could Carragher have replaced Vidic at United? No chance it was just the Kopites over impressing at another of their die hard consistant performers. Same with Baines i'm afraid. Moyes was taking him as cover and though you may not like that idea its the sensible one for United.

You been out on the ale all night Paul?

Conn

You are a wacko conspiracist, but given whats gone on between Kenwright and Man U in the past, you have more to worry about if you wasn't.
It had'nt occured to me, but now you mention it, I wouldnt bet a penny against you being proved right come January

I dream that when we play the Mancs, we get a stoppage time free kick, about 25 yards out . . . and the guy ( who Moyes clearly rates now, as only the THIRD best left back in the country) brings the house down with the sort of free kick Cashley and Evra only score when THEY are dreaming

Moyes knew that if he bought Fellaini and then tried to get Baines we wouldn't be so desperate for the money, hence the attempt to buy both at once. Like Peter Laverty says, I can't believe I once respected that twat.
Whoever was really responsible for holding out until the last minute against Utd, be it Tiny Tears or Martinez, and by all accounts it was Utd who were desperate, certainly did a good job.

Paul Smith - of course, you're 100% spot on. We all think Jags is better than Vidic, Osman better than Carrick and Jelavic better than RVP.

What a strange comment. I think Evra is a very good player but Baines is world
class and an absolutely superb left back. I used to think Cole was the best in his heyday but I think Baines is better than Cole ever was. Oh and I'm not saying he's the best in the world either and Shaw from Southampton has massive potential.

No credibility

Why say anything at all, trying to be the big man at the big club.

Baines as cover for Evra is a daft use of funds, even if you are not one of the many Toffees who think Baines is better by miles and miles. Many MUFC fans rate Evra very highly and were perplexed as to why spank so much money on a cover player.

He is losing it or lost it years ago and cannot recover.

The whole sorry saga of Moyes leaving the Club showed him to be no better than any other mercenary manager or player.
People were still saying how honourable he was after he left and it slowly emerged it wasn't a done deal in one day as we were told at the time.
Moyes is no better or no worse than any other outsider that comes or goes to any club.
He's United manager now and a total prick !

Come on guys - can we think please about the Baines as back up comment.

So what did you want him to say? I wanted to bring in Baines as he is a better player than Evra but I didn't get him so I am having to keep playing Evra - but I have total confidence in you Patrice, Really I do. Honest. Patrice you are the best and are doing a great job.

Of course he was never going to say that the player he has was not good enough and would have been in the reserves if he had got Baines.

We all know that Baines is better and David Moyes knows that, but he has to sell it to Evra and massage his ego.

Calm Down!

Weird comment from OFM. Think he has lost it.

Why buy the 2nd best left back (his words last season) in the league as cover?

Incidentally, I cant understand this Baines/Cole debate, there is no comparison in my eyes.

What does Cole do better than Baines? I cant think of anything.

Baines scores from open play.
Baines scores from free kicks
Baines score penalties.
Baines creates chances from open play.
Baines creates from free kicks/corners
Baines is comfortable on the ball, doesn't give it away often.

Cole does none of the above.

Cole is perhaps a more aggressive(nasty) tackler but that doesn't necessarily mean that he's a better tackler.

I have real difficulty in understanding Moyes logic here.. this is nothing other than arse covering.

Let's face it, all these top 4-5 managers are tossers in one way or another. Moyes has just welcomed himself into their school of self-importance, arrogance and pomp with their many millions to spend and sedan-chaired hand-waving attitude.

One of the capital-based bugles has just announced with its usual fanfare AT the common (footballing) man that the Russian owned Chelski are sending scouts to watch Barkley, presumably while Mourhino watches the game. Ironically one of them was our chief scout 'acquired' a few seasons ago.
Expect this same shit from the same people at every transfer window from now on in...

l can't stop laughing at Moyes and his transparent desperate comments.

Clearly buttering up to Evra. That's good news for us as Baines can get on with signing a new contract seeing that Moyes had such a low opinion of him.

As for the 'who is best argument', I think Evra and Cole are better defenders but Baines is far better going forward. Give me Baines any day. Jorge Alba is the World's best left back though.

I seriously think Moyes needs bringing up on an FA charge. He's obviously responding to a question. Fair enough, but the correct response would have been "That's history, the window is closed, I am not prepared to discuss another Club' players." But instead he does what he did all summer which is mouth off about another Club's players. Rednapp tactics for which the latter was rightly vilified.

Baines handled it all very well but this constant stirring up of Moyes' interest will only serve as a further attempt to unsettle the player ahead of January. I'm sick enough already of seeing his mug in the paper everyday without him feeling the need to drag us into his circus.

Kindof puts to bed the argument that Moyes just picks the targets and let Woodword and the board negotiate the fees.

The tosser was involved all along and tried to use his knowledge of the clubs finances to get the 2 players on the cheap.

Still, he'll find someone to applaud him and massage his ego when he returns with them lot next year. Or should I say if. Come on Palace.

Has any ex-Everton manager ever been as disrespectful to us after leaving? His opinion onus seems to be mirroring Rafa Benitez's opinion. When he flops at Utd he'd do well to consider that his media work will probably revolve around Everton.

And, Mr Moyes, I wouldn't be too quick to act like Charlie big bollocks if I were you. Someone might just point out that you can only bully little old Everton because because you failed to reach that next step even though you were given 11 years.

Kenwright needs to draw a line in the sand with this prick.

Surely again this is against FA rules about approaches. Baines is under contract to Everton and although I believe Kenwright to be contemptible he is not silly. He knows that to sell in January would completely undermine him and show the fans his true face. As for Moyes? have you nothing better to do than undermine our club.

Conn 673:

"Was this arrangement agreed to dilute the anger if Kenwright sold two of our best in the same window? People on here have actually been patting our board on the back for recent dealings."

That is exactly how I read it. I don't buy this idea that Kenwright has suddenly changed his spots. It's not just ToffeeWebbers, though, who have been congratulating the Board; the press reaction was that Kenwright played a blinder. But I wouldn't believe him if he told me today was Saturday.

Baines to go in January, sad to say.

dm's bewildered ravings just don't add up

£28M for Fellaini & Baines = "Derisory & Insulting"

£27.5M was "Part of joint bid"

Erm, OK so Baines " good cover for Patrice," worth £500K now ?

I just can not understand why we didn't bite your hand off, that would have been the "deal of the millennium"

FFS Moyes you moron not even suarez would have a nibble at that valuation

This is a case of Moyes* massaging the egos of both Evra and Fellaini.

Baines was a first choice transfer target to replace Evra.

Fellaini was a 5th or 6th choice transfer target after Fabregas, Herrera, Thiago etc

Moyes has formulated this cock and bull story to keep his players happy and make them feel wanted.

*read as OFM if you are a small child

David 700:

I think Cole is a vastly superior defender but Baines is in a different league from an attacking point of view.

And Leighton is a far more pleasant man, albeit with dodgy sideys.

Phil #699 says it for me.

I was a huge fan of Moyes when he was our manager.
Now, he isn't, and I have lost respect for him for his bullying and sneakiness towards us.
I would have thought that after spending such a long time at our club he would have wanted to retain his good stature with us, but it seems his desperation to succeed with his new club has clouded his judgment towards us.
Whatever good memories he created at Everton are quickly being replaced by feelings of disdain. Such a shame.

Carl is right. I love Leighton and I think he's the bees knees, but Cole is clearly the better defender. People's inability to see that makes me wonder about their football judgement.

OFM, continuing to struggle, out of his depth, I still envisage a more than possible rescue scenario in five months when Ferguson is called out of retirement as a replacement to try and salvage the manure season.

Kev

Cole may be better defensively, few dispute that, but Baines is considerably more productive going forward.

So don't you worry about other people's 'football judgement', we are all allowed an opinion.

I couldn't allow Cole ahead of Leighton on account of his haircut. In fact I couldn't put him ahead of Oviedo, and he's sporting a young Hitler.

This is actually almost like playground type of bigging up your players. I read this as Moyes trying to bond with his players as I think he is already under pressure. Add another 4 months to his 11 years with us and he still hasn't won at old Trafford or anfield and one of them is now his home ground. The pressure must be really on as this for a united director must be a really cringeworthy interview to listen to compared to what they are used to. Personally I doubt he will ever come to Goodison as united manager as he will be unemployed come next year.

Nick - have you not noticed that the "Young Hitler" is now the default haircut for young men? (I prefer to think of it as a WW1 trench cut, but you can call it a Young Hitler if you want.) It replaces the previous default, which was a swept forward mop exemplified by the One Direction boys. I hope you don't mind me asking, Nick, but have you actually got any hair?

According to the mirror SAF has got an autobiography coming out which should act as a reminder to OFM at MU down the E.L. Road who is really responsible for the success of that team.

BTW Phil, you'll learn to love acronyms. AKA "A's".

Kev, I've a full head of fine lustrous hair! At 35 I've zero knowledge on pop culture but I do know Hitler was in the trenches. And though I couldn't tell a one direction song from a Five or a McFly I'd send them all back in time to northern France to participate in the big push.

Good to hear you have an impressive mane, Nick.

I think your notion of pressganging young pop kids into the army to eat rats, get gangrene and have their limbs blown off for no discernible military reason is a sound one.

Talking of which, one of the One Direction lads is actually surprisingly good at football. He played the Petrov testimonial recently and got absolutely clattered by Agbonlahor. Harsh!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L0lUoJ2BCY

What Roy Hodgson was to Liverpool, he will be to United. So happy we got the best out of that tussle with them.

Just before one of his disciples posts, I'll save them the trouble ;

Moyes gave his all for this club in his 11 years, and saved us from oblivion. Do you know we would have been playing in the Bostick Conference by now if it wasn't for David?

He is only doing his job, and in his own way, he is trying to give us lots of money, and he will give us one of his reserves if we are good, and don't try too hard when we play them.

I wish him well in his new position, and really hope he wins the League, FA Cup, and champions League - that will prove I was right all along, and he WAS a brilliant manager. All those nutters on ToffeeWeb will be eating their words then.

There is always a chance our messiah may come back one day, and save us again from that Spanish tippy tappy fella. He will put Barkley back as a defensive midfielder - his bestest position.

Ohhhhhh Davey Moyes......

Why would Baines want to go to the Mancs in January when he's just heard that he won't be first choice?

I wonder if Oviedo will be getting involved with Mo-vember this year.

I would love to watch that clip Kevin but I've got conditioner in.

I think we can take it as read that if Bainsey doesn't sign a new contract before Xmas,he will be off to join OFM.

Con Prosser has read this right and what we get for him will be less that extra bunce they paid for Fellaini.

Moyes is still pulling the strings at our club. It's that 'special relationship with BK',you know !

With every day, and every word he comes out with, Moyes leaving Everton looks better and better.

Jesus, can some of you not just let it go?
I know you didn't like his methods and if Martinez can actually get us to score a few goals you might even be proved right, but FFS the man's gone now, he's not our manager anymore. It's over!

If this was ANY other manager in the world talking about our players or any other clubs' players it would be the biggest non-story ever (e.g. just think about the stuff that Madrid and Mourinho have been doing/saying over the summer to unsettle Bale/Rooney).

I really don't understand what the issue is at all here.
The man's simply answering loaded questions about transfer policy from hacks desperate for an angle. He's explaining why he ended up paying over the odds for Fellaini late in the window using the logic that he wanted to do a joint deal (which to be fair is consistent with the bids Utd made previously). Clearly we held firm on Baines so his only remaining option was to go for Fellaini alone at an inflated price and try to get another left back in from Madrid that then didn't come off because they couldn't get their preferred replacement (oddly enough the same guy we'd apparently lined up if Baines was tempted away). And, err that's it.

Sure, there's a positive spin being put on it by Moyes/Utd but what exactly would you expect? If Baines had gone, do you think Martinez would now be saying 'it as vital we kept Leighton, it's a catastrophe he's gone'? You also have to factor in the media is clearly trying to tell a very neat story here and stir up some trouble for OFM. 'Two clubs broadly happy with transfer deal in the end' doesn't sell papers does it.

Ultimately, we've clearly got the better end of the deal (unless our midfield totally implodes in the next few games which I'd say is unlikely) in terms of the price we got and the fact we kept Baines, but equally I don't think the accountants at Utd will be crying over the £4M. And that's if they even had to pay it, there's some discrepency in reporting of the deal over the actual amount paid vs 'value' - in one paper I read that with Fellaini's transfer request handed in, the bulk of the difference between the reported price and the previous rate as per escape clause was being absorbed by the player himself to facilitate the move.

He was always after Fellaini and Baines but had decided his plan was to come in at the last minute with a realistic bid. I've said before the reasons for this which I believe were part of an agreement between Kenwright and Moyes but I have to wait until January to find out if that has any legs. I don't expect to be surprised though, if we're told that the money is there in January then I would expect an imminent bid to be coming in for Baines so the money moves to the next window, and so on.

I think it is inevitable that Moyes will be back for Baines; when he was with us he always stuck people in the team who he believed he could trust (his favourites), people that wouldn't dare say a bad word against him or his tactics whereas over there he's probably getting the odd "WTF?" look from a few players.

It would've suited Moyes to've brought in a more ambitious signing before raiding his old club as it would get the pressure off but that, as we all know, went tits up so now he's backtracking and trying to reassure a probably slightly pissed off Evra.

What a tit! I'm just so happy that we're rid of the crusty headmaster, and to think there's probably still a large amount of people that still respect him and dare I say would still have him back. I hope he gets slaughtered when he comes back to Goodison but somehow, something tells me half the stadium will be applauding.

Chris you have to admit that these so-called big clubs use their media mates to push stories to unsettle other clubs and players. Today we read that Chelsea are bringing a scout to check out Barkley ( as though Jose won't be at the game and he doesn't already have a massive fucking dossier on Barkley already), that OFM is still interested in Bainsey etc... It's all part of the game. The media need the status quo to remain and the 'top' teams need their media lackeys.

Chris James, if it was 'over' between Moyes and OGC (our great club) I would agree with you... but there's a few on here that don't believe it is over. If Leighton goes to Old Trafford in January, we can assume that Moyes's influence is effective with Kenwright. This is categorically wrong and must be curtailed immediately, regardless of, but particularly so in light of Moyes's comments regarding Everton since leaving.

Buying Baines as cover is like buying Ronaldo as cover to Valencia.

That was a long post Chris. Take some of your own advice, let it go.

Qute right Ross. Like all Ross's in the world, we are of infinite intelligence and brain power.

Moysey you 2 faced prick, what about never talking about players under contract at other clubs. Seems this is an Everton FC policy and anything goes at united.

Since 1945, my number 2 big club has always been Man United and my feelings for them strengthened when they became massive rivals of the mob across the park.

Unfortunately, I'm not too confident of success with Moyes at the helm. They certainly won't lose many but the win ratio will probably drop. We'll see.

Harold 776:

Never had a "second club", pet Scottish team, or anything except Everton, really. But seeing the main focus of the RS's hatred shift from United to Chelsea to City, and back again, continues to amuse. Essentially I like to see Liverpool's opponents win, regardless of who they are. My current favourite are Spurs, actually; they're my bet to keep the RS out of the Champions League again.

Carl. I've backed Spurs each way at 33-1 for the Premier League but they still look a bit dodgy at the back.

Chris James, the issue remains because only a couple of months ago Moyes stated that he would not come in to try and buy our players. Then he not only tried to buy our players, but he used his intimate knowledge of the club to low-ball us. As has been said a million times since May, 11 years at a club would usually find a fairly respectable relationship between the outgoing staff member and the club.

Surely the lying deceitful disrespectful Dour Jock and the contemptible Man Utd board are guilty of 'tapping up' Leighton Baines by publicly declaring they will be 'Back in for him in January' and should be reported to the FA. Apart from the continued underhand nature of such compliant Media 'Leaks', surely this is unsettling for our current Manager and his squad –not to mention the player Leighton himself.

One thing David Moyes has clearly not learned is when to simply say nothing. He obviously (and understandably) wants to avoid upsetting Evra but all he had to say was something like they were interested but a deal could not be done. End of. It's a bit sad to see him making himself look ridiculous.

Paul Smith, are you serious?

Baines is pure class, I have never seen Evra or Cole have impacts on matches as Bainesy or score goals like him, they are fine player's but not as good as Baines. The only difference is they have great players around them whereas Leighton has had good ones.

I am sorry but I really don't get your statement.

Baines is class.

He'd stroll into the first choice team anywhere in Europe

Moyes, however, was taken just about as far as Everton could take him
We were wise to release ourselves of this one dimensional bore

In the early 1/3rd of his tenure he was solid and precisely what Everton needed
The central 1/3rd of his time, he did exhibit some creativitity but all too often settled for consolidation
Final 1/3rd prior to departure, the real opportunities presented themselves, sadly it seems that his moribund mindset would befuddle him at critical moments/steps

This cycle also reflects the performance of his strikers
And
The weakly performance of his teams

The lower the expectation the more reliable the outcome
The greater the prize the greater the bottling out

Moyes the middling muddler
SAF hired EXACTLY the right "Fall Guy", certainly he's no Colt Seevers

MUFC have hired a man to fail, deliberately

"The Chosen One" ? ? ? ?
nah
"The Wicker One" ! ! ! ! !
(Summer is a comin' in !)

As far as I am aware the extra 4.5m was actually paid to Fellaini as he lost his loyalty bonus when he handed in a transfer request late on the last day of the window.

We got 23m but weren't prepared to pay the bonus out of that hence the transfer request and the extra 4.5m.

Why are these players paid so little?

There's something unsavoury about the way Moyes left the club and the vulgar and disrespectful way in which, with alarming speed, he sought to loot the club of it's two main assets. Moyes has inside information about Baines' and Fellaini's contracts as well as Everton's financial predicaments and while it is a much practised, though dishonourable procedure that should be legislated against, he chose to stick two fingers up to our club when he really didnt need to. I don't think that the top club in England paying £27m for a proven Premier league midfielder and quality international inhis prime from the 6th best team in the country is anywhere near over the odds, indeed, there is an argument to say that he got Fellaini cheaply, had City or Chelski or Madrid entered the bidding, who knows what the price would have been.
Mouthing off about Baines at this stage is utterly disrespectful imho. I've avoided slagging Moyes off but I now think he should be booed to the rafters when he returns to Goodison.....the man's a tosser.

During his Evertontv interview today Roberto Martinez, when pressed, said that there were no ongoing contract negotiations with Leighton Baines.

I very much appreciate his openness. The previous regime would have just said "No comment".

When asked about targets for this season Martinez did not just say "40 points and then we will see"......... so refreshing.

Didn't he used to harp on about how he wouldn't talk about players at other clubs. Do one Moyes you clown.

Moyes!!! Such a loser