Mexican winger targeted for January

Looks good on paper. Left winger who can cover at left back. Little guy, but that's not a bad thing if he has pace and flair. 99 caps for Mexico at the age of 26 is plus. Will scout him on the ever reliable You Tube ;)

Just watched his best of goals clip and he is clearly the best player there has ever been! Sign him up immediately!

Seriously though. It would be good to get in another free kick specialist, especially if Baines does leave. In his Wiki page it says Real Madrid were looking at him before he went to La Coruna. That said, Real Madrid signed Drenthe who is now at Reading, so I guess their scouts don't get it right every time.

I'm excited to see us being linked with players already. Should be an exciting January window!

Difficult to know what we will need in January but I would save any serious cash to buy a top striker for when lukaku leaves.

An issue might be Sam where we are at the start of the new year and perhaps bringing in two or more to help us push on for the top 4 or title!

I know but we have had a top-drawer start despite what a handful of unbelievable Moyes boys say on these boards.

Yep we will need a top striker in the next two windows but I'm still gonna dream about Lukaku staying and at least one more season from Barca-Del however nuts that seems!

Drew # 896/7

Just watched the You tube clips mate, definitely looks the biz but these best bits could make Bily look good, so we have to be careful on that alone! I also noticed he is 27 tomorrow, so no spring chicken, which should be reflected in his price.

I don't suppose you have any idea how much he is estimated to go for ?
Watched the Huddersfield v Blackpool game before, still fancy that Tom Ince, no, not in that way, as a future blue!

Top top player - kept an eye on him from way back when he played for Deportivo !!!

Highly regarded here from talking to the "Mexican locals". Not sure about the EPL though, but if he is as keen as Chicharito, why not. Swinging totally off-topic - Bainsey and his free-kicks. Anyone ever seen anything as extensive as this "team" effort over the kick? Brilliant

http://now.msn.com/sneaky-rwe-soccer-play-goes-viral

Ahh, that's a beaut Gerry.

Valencia are skint but most of the good shit has gone already, so this is not quite as good as signing a Valencia player once was.

Swansea won 3-0 I'm the Mestalla before getting thrashed at Birmingham.

I'm not excited about this at all. I've seen lots of Guardado, mostly slumping off the field in Mexico's colors after losing to the USA in multiple internationals. He is a huge talent, and he's appeared 99 times for Mexico, but he's not a leader and doesn't handle pressure well.

When you're the best player on a national team that has become a disaster that's not an impressive resume. Mexico might actually miss the World Cup -- and Guardado will take a lot of the blame.

A decent player who has lost half a yard in the last 3 or 4 years. Definitely a Martinez type team player with a good attitude but a bit small for the Premier League. Tried at left back recently but was pulled off twice and Valencia are looking to get rid.

Maybe if we promise to pull him off twice Harold he'll come on a free.?..

It appears a striker is required for when Romelu goes back to the Bridge.

Just a shame DM didn't have the required minerals to keep James Vaughan as I have seen him 3 times already this season and he has matured into an excellent striker who not only has power and pace but appears to have masses of intelligence which massively comes across when you watch him live.

Good one Eddie. Are you volunteering?

Actually I spotted an ESPN/Roger Bennett interview with Martinez (Sept 13) and decided to post a paragraph or two while most people are asleep. It centred around his ideas that one day Everton will be winning trophies and competing in Europe:

"I always believe that to achieve things you don't need money", Martinez began. "There are other ways to be successful, but you need time. A large chequebook enables you to accelerate the process. In football, you can compete against anyone if you are tactical, flexible, creative and have time to build."

The roots of this "flexible, creative" footballing philosophy lie in Martinez's personal influences. "I admire the style Johan Cruyff brought to Barcelona, and the way he controlled games with attacking football. I also loved what John Benjamin Toshack did with youth at Real Sociedad, where he enabled young players to fill big roles".

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the maverick Marcelo Bielsa is the third name Martinez mentions. "I learned from the way he opened games up and had players take on opponents one-on-one", he said.

Anyway, he went on to say how he is seeking to change the mentality of the players whereby they will remain confident and dominant in possession while not losing the Everton competitive edge.

Dave #923, so good he couldn't even get a game for Norwich and dropped down 2 divisions?

I think we need to get in a striker for when Lukaku goes back to Chelsea – which he definitely will. How about a bid for Defoe? He will bring experience and goals for sure although he is a bit old for a long-term solution.

My preference would be for Jelle Vossen who has, and continues to, score loads for Genk in Belgium – plus he is young and if we buy him soon (before too many others get interested), he won't cost too much. I think Middlesbro bid £4m for him in the summer but Genk wanted more like £6m. Money well spent if you consider we spent the same on Kone!

Vaughan left because his injury list was just ridiculous. You can't blame Moyes for getting shut there. He has been outstanding at Huddesfield though. He is maturing into the player we knew he could be. I think he'll be back in the Prem if he can stay fit. He has all the attributes to be a top class striker. Always, always better than Victor.

We've never had a Mexican before, have we hombres? According to forthcoming legislation from FIFA, we should aim at totally mulitnational team with no more than one player per country. Hold on, I'll work that out...

Howard (USA)
Coleman (Ireland), Heitinga (Holland), Distin (France), Oviedo (Puerto Rico)
Naismith (Scotland), Pienaar (South Africa), Barkley (England), Mirallas (Belgium)
Jelavic (Croatia), Kone (Ivory Coast)

Subs: Robles (Spain), Alcaraz (Paraguay), Junior (Portugal), Velios (Greece)

Hmm, not ideal, is it? Not ideal.

We could of done with him when that abortion of a badge came out...* in mexican accent * We are Evertonians, you know, the peoples club, we don't need no badges, we don't need no stinkin badges

Well Robles is out, Kev. Martinez is Spanish and the manager's nationality has to be taken into consideration under this new directive. One silver lining is that Belgians are 'wild' so Lukaku can remain with the club for the remainder of the season.

Hmm, that's true, Phil. Bother.

I don't suppose you play in goal, do you? Also, can you confirm that you are a Canadian Sammon?

Derek Knox 906
If you searched You Tube long enough I'm sure you could find a Hibbert's best goals and skills clip ;)

Having read some of the comments from ToffeeWebers who have seen him play this perhaps doesn't sound as appealing a signing as You Tube would have us believe. Having said that, I remember when we first got Pienaar on loan and my feeling of despair that we could only dig up some non entity Dortmund reject. Turned out alright!

Costa Rica.

Sorry. Costa Rica. Bryan Oviedo.

Drew #935

I think that, is even beyond YouTube, and is bordering on the Twilight Zone (doodee doodee doodee doodee)

Derek #932

I remember the line, I think if memory serves, it was from a film with Humphrey Bogart "The Treasures of the Sierra Madre" but also quite appropriate, as you succinctly pointed out, re. the Badge Scenario.

One of my all-time favourites Derek. A film of two halves. (1) Team building, tactics and hope for the future. (2) Greed, Treachery and the baddies eventually vanquished.

Think I'll send BK a copy.

Harold #059

I am trying to work out which half BK belongs to, being an ACTOR, it's quite difficult really, without even going to the Wardrobe or SFx departments, he is a master of disguise!

Let's hope for a win on Monday evening, as most of the results thus far, have been favourable to our cause !

Yes Derek. I'm hoping for a win but as I have just pointed out on the Martinez thread, we're not quite getting things together yet. Even so, the Goodison fortress is a mighty powerful place.

Vossen first, any Mexican players second... we still need goalscorers to find that second killer goal — just to ease the nerves like!

Eric #926

He is top scorer of the Championship. Have you actually seen him live this season?

Deerk #932, or do it in a Catterick accent.

Dave #210, Beattie was the top scorer in the Championship the season he left us, so what are you trying to say?

Why are making the comparison Eric? They are two different players. I asked have you see him live this season, your lack of clear response makes me assume you haven't.

James Vaughan is still a relatively young player with immense talent, yet unfortunately suffered early with injuries. If and it's a big if he can stay injury free. He has the ability to be a decent striker in the Premier League.

Dave, they are 2 strikers that left Everton for Championship teams.

Except that Vaughan could not get a place in the Norwich side and went a division lower (League 1) to Huddersfield where I presume he has beenpermanently transferred to and they have now been promoted.

So neither Beattie nor Vaughan were able to make it in the Premier League and have been the top goalscorers in the Championship (although Vaughan has only played 10 games and Beattie's achievement was over the whole season).

So the comparison is that maybe both found the level of their ability?

Eric,

Vaughan was injured for most of his time at Norwich, so the fact that he was let go doesn't indicate anything about his ability. It indicates that he was injury prone – which we already knew, as that's why we let him go to Norwich in the first place!

I think the lad always looked lively when he played for us. If he can stay fit and healthy I think he will do a good job for someone – either in the bottom half of the Premier Leagueor the top half of the Championship.

Kev #224 "either in the bottom half of the Premie League or the top half of the Championship"

Exactly my point Kev. Same same Anichebe at WBA.

But not what I would call 'a decent striker in the Premier League' that would be a 'one that got away' moment, or an important buy for us.

I was just correcting your assertion that he didn't make it at Norwich because he wasn't good enough, Eric. I agree he's on a similar level to Anichebe and therefore not quite good enough for us, and not "one that got away" - but that still makes him "decent" in my opinion. Not great, but certainly decent.

However, in answer to Dave's point, I haven't seem him over a 90 minute match at Huddersfield, so it's possible he's taken a great leap forward. As I said, I always liked the look of him, he was always trying to make things happen. Bags of energy.

Well Kev, Norwich didn't see any potential in him to make it in the EPL from his time with them and didn't see him as worth keeping.

Let's see if Huddersfield make the promotion and how well he does then, he may well turn out to be another Betenke or Ba, or maybe a Nugent or Carroll.

Derek #998

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QK7zvc3cHE

you were saying.

Having watched the clips I wanna know why Hibbo doesn't start every match, he has a great cross on him for attacking, a great pass, and he can tackle beautifully. Looks like the perfect right back.......

Thanks for the quote from Martinez's ESPN interview, Harold (925). I was particularly interested in this bit: "I learned from the way he [Bielsa] opened games up and had players take on opponents one-on-one". In this respect, Barkely has become absolutely key to us. Both of Baines' free kick last week came as a result of RB dribbling forward and being fouled. In Ross' absence, I'm not sure who else is able to "take on opponents one-on-one". Yes, Mirallas can do it, but not from that crucial central attacking midfield position.

We now have three players who can hold - Barry, McCarthy and Gibson. Then we have Pienaar and Osman who play further forward, but although both have quick feet, I don't think either of them take players on and go past them, do they? So, if/when Ross needs a break, what do we do?

Steve - - I guess your last quote was tongue in cheek.

I have seen almost all of Hibbert's games since his debut and I would say that he is a good honest footballer, an excellent tackler man on man, distribution and crosses very poor, marking space average , passing average at best. But a good tackler.

Sadly in todays Premier League just being a good tackler is not good enough.

A decent honest player who always gives 100% but would not be in my starting 11.

I reckon big Victor had an excellent game against Man Utd, he and Sessegnon were a problem for UTD all afternoon.

I noticed he never bitched or went to ground and he looked really powerful.
He would have been the perfect foil for any frontman as he did the donkey work all afternoon.

Vaughan has found his niche with Huddersfield as Beckford did with Leeds.

Eric, James Vaughan has only played in the Championship for Huddersfield, not League One.
You have yet to answer my question, have you seen him play live this season?
He is playing with intelligence while being ruthless infront of goal.
I am certain if he can stay injury free you will see him back in the Premier League.
Any comparison with James Beattie is both harsh and premature as surely comparisons of this nature should be made after his career not during.
Remember he is only 25.

Sorry Dave, I thought Hudderdfield only gained promotion last season, not the previous one.

So Vaughan was the leading scorer in a team that finished 19th out of 24, an excellent achievement!

As for not wanting to compare him to Beattie, who was a striker that left us and went on to become the leading scorer in the Championship, I agree it's premature as Vaughan has not yet achieved that, and still may not, but then you brought up Vaughan's record in the Championship.

So what about comparisons to other top strikers in the Championship that have not made it in the Premiership? I'd bet that there's more that have failed on the step up than have gone on to play for a team in Europe and I'd also bet that Vaughan will fall into the latter category if Huddersfield ever make it.

Eric, your posts simply give your opinion but you avoid my original question on every occasion.
I originally only posted that perhaps JV would have been a decent option had we opted to keep him, especially with Jelavic and Kone not exactly ripping up trees.

Dave, Trabaadt was the top scorer in the Championship, what has he done in the Premiership? Similarly Andy Carrol.

I’d bet that had you seen them (and Beattie) in the Championship you'd have thought they played with intelligence and ruthlesssness.

And when Jelavic joined us in the January from a side in a league equivalent to the Championship, did you think he looked like a decent Premiership striker? And does he still look like one?

What I'm saying is Vaughan has found his level of greatness. He, and you, should enjoy it while you can.

Eric, I will just assume the answer to my question is no as you swerve it every time.
Heaven forbid you ever enter a quiz.

Dave, I'll just assume that you don't understand the concept that a good goalscorer in the Championship doesn't translate into a good goalscorer in the Premiership, despite the proof provided.

Yes Kev, Ross has the rare ability to attack straight down the middle and we don't have a ready-made replacement should he not be available. Looking at various games yesterday you could see the damage inflicted by players in a similar mould eg Wilshere, Sessegnon and Eriksen.

Another notable aspect was the number of goals scored by midfielders and wingers who get themselves into the box at every opportunity. Apart from Naismith, who I don't rate, our lads are not doing that. Unlike Ya Ya Toure, Sigurdsson and Ramsey, who seem to score every week.

What also puzzles me is the constant goal threat of Seamus Coleman, yet our lad on the other side, Leighton Baines, only threatens from penalties and freekicks. Whether this is Seamus being over-exuberant or Leighton being extra careful, I don't really know, but it is interesting.

Eric, your ignorance is outstanding. How can you write people off before their prime?

Your comparisons are poor as it's one dimensional as you choose not to include players who performed well at Championship level and then succeeded at Premier League level.

Dave, experience tells me that good Championship players are.......well, good Championship players and don't make the step up.

Long, Holt, Taarabt and Sinclair were leading goalscorers in the Championship when they were promoted last season.

They hardly set the league alight did they?

What about Kevin Phillips, Tim Cahill, Ian Wright, Rickie Lambert to name a few.

You will notice there are 2 sides to everything.
Many good Championship players have forged successful PL careers and long may it continue.

I don't think it's fair to compare Vaughan to Beattie, Phillips, Lambert or anyone else. Vaughan's playing Championship football because successive Premier League sides grew increasingly frustrated with his unbelievable injury record. He has finally had a good run of games and is showing exactly why Everton persisted with him for many years. There is certainly no lack of talent there, it's a case of keeping the guy fit - as it always has been.

Eric's assertion that he 'couldn't get a game for Norwich' is a nonsense - as we've come to expect. Lambert rated Vaughan and played him when he was fit.

I hope he continues playing well and keeps enjoying his football.

Dave #294, that's a blast from the past with a couple of those names you mention but for the odd exceptionally talented duo you name there's at least another 20 that don't make it, e.g. the ones I named.

As for Cahill and Lambert having successful Premiership careers it depends how you define successful. If you meant they earned loads of dosh from a job they enjoy then I'd agree. But if you meant they have been successful goalscoring machines, which is what the discussion is about, I would disagree.

Lambert has only been in the EPL one season by the way so not really a career either way you look at it.

Phil #303, if Lambert rated Vaughan so highly why did he sell him when he had played himself back into fitness on loan?

Eric, they were simply examples like you using Adel Taarabt, who like Cahill is not a striker.
Also I have never once made reference to goal scoring machines, I simply stated in the first instance that I have witnessed first hand this season the promise which JV showed in his teens and that I believe would be a viable option bearing in mind he is only 25. Maybe I was being premature that yes he has only hit 10 goals thus far this season, but forgive me for praising a former blue who looks excellent, intelligent and thus far injury free.

Dave, I used Taarabt as an example because he was one of the leading goalscorers of the Championship the year QPR were promoted, so better than most of the other (40 odd?) strikers in the league.

The example was to show that a goalscorer in the Championship does not translate to being a goalscorer in the EPL.

Incidently the leading goalscorer that year was a striker for a team that wasn't promoted, and nobody from the EPL bought him.

Maybe Lambert recieved an offer that he deemed fair. Maybe the incoming van Wolfswinkel was forced his hand.

We'll have to wait and see if Vaughan can cut it.

Quality player

Phil, Vaughan has eleven goals this season already. I think if Huddersfield don't get promoted someone from the PL may buy him. I have been keeping an eye on him and he has played a lot of games this season already so I think his fitness must be okay.

I think Vaughan can cut it at the Premiership level. His only problem and its a big problem is his fitness. For his sake I hope he can stay fit this season and carry on his great goal scoring record.

I have recently decided to become a Toffee for the rest of my life. I used to root for Chivas growing up in Mexico and they still hold a small place somewhere in a hidden corner in my heart. I stopped watching futbol for so long because Chivas – and all of Mexican futbol – has lost its spirit and fire.

I started watching the EPL about five years ago and it was only then that I rediscovered the fire and spirit I hoped Mexican futbol could regain. My brother is a big Barcelona fan and thinks Spanish football is the best in the world; well, needless to say, we have had many an argument where I wholeheartedly disagree and I lay before him all the reasons why the EPL is the best hands down.

But I digress. Guardado seemed destined for greatness before the injuries, and I hope he can still reach respectable success in Europe, be it Spain or England. Martinez is the kind of manager that can get the best out of a player by either compulsion or suggestion, but he is also a master in making the best out of the team he's got in front of him.

But Martinez is also not afraid to challenge preconceived expectations of himself, his players, and the ultimate barrier to conquer. Guardado is old enough to know better and – if picked – Martinez might just bring out the spirit and fire needed for him to be deserving of putting on an Everton uniform.