Heitinga to join West Ham

Let him go he wont be missed and does not need replacing. If we can get shut of Jelavic as well and get a striker in, that will be good. Lets face it getting them off the books and Big Vic in the last window is a great piece of work.

It would be good to get Johnny off the wage bill and, if we can get the Hammers to buy Jelavic for £6M, I would be very happy. Then we need to buy a striker; Rodriugez of Southampton will do for me... with Shane Long as next choice.

Sky Sports are reporting he will sign for West Ham "In the next two or three days"

I believe ESPN is reporting the deal is done and would take over our contract with a new 3 year deal. Suits both parties imo.

As long as we don't just keep shipping players out then I'm happy enough. We could do with a few replacements already and if we ship out Jelavic and Heitinga then we will need two more to the two Martinez already said we needed.

Don't agree with you Ian on him not needing to be replaced. We currently have Jags out for 4 weeks, Distin has been threatening to miss some time with the odd niggle over the last couple of weeks which would leave only John Stones, who this time last year was playing right back for Barnsley.

Reports are suggesting that Everton's only gain is the fact we won't be paying him anymore.

Alcaraz, Stones just to name 2, and Baines is back. We need to buy for sure but I would not say we're desperate.

Nothing against either lad but the sooner they go the better. Martinez has a plan and they're not part of it. If he's not worried then neither am I.

Alcaraz, Distin and Stones will be our only centre backs for the next few weeks. Have we really seen enough of Stones yet? Or Alcaraz for that matter? Duffy is out on loan and im not sure I can even name any that might come through from U21s.

We were recently linked with Curtis Davies, and a young Dundee lad, but I do think we need to bring in another experienced CB in.

Agreed Dan, though I am of the view its not that urgent. The current formation takes the load away from the defence. We might be better off trying to buy a Barry replacement. Unless you're warding against the doomsday event that both Jags, Dustin AND one wingback out, we should have enough cover till the end of Jan at least.

Paul Ellam (#556) - is that something you have really thought about? When would we be able to use that £50 million? You really think the cream of the crop will be available for us to scoop up in January?

Do me a favour; scuppering a promising season just to cash in quickly on a player who will probably be worth even more after the World Cup (or we could build a genuinely title-challenging team around) doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

We really do need backup for Barry. I like McCarthy, but you can tell that isn't his game, and that he needs an older head next to him telling him what to do.

It's strange that with the way Martinez plays, that Heitinga never got a look in. Maybe his head had totally gone. He struck me as the type to think that it was job done for him with all the mentions of being one of the top four defenders in the world.

Martinez seems keen to get rid of the dead wood though, so lets hope Bill backs him asap.

I think we have enough to cover at centre back Dan, Jags wont be out to long. We are a bit light in other areas, we do need a striker, defensive midfielder to cover for Barry or Macca. And I would like an attacking midfielder to take some of the workload of Ross..

JH is gone before RM got in really. OFM messed him up and his confidence never came back. His few performances are pretty bad. He cost us no less than 1 goal every game I watched. And I attribute that to OFM because of tactics. RM might have gelled him in sooner or later but why bother? JH needs time for WC right now, we have good youngsters in the wing waiting to play.

I think you need to credit Southampton though. They are good! McCarthy is a work in progress and hopefully Barry signs with us after the season, but no doubt we need another midfielder, hopefully aged between McCarthy and Barry or just slightly younger than Barry. They range of the field the cover is immense and that reduces the workload of our defence and our offence. I love defensive midfielders in general because they are sssoooo underrated. I trust Martinez to have his shopping list ready. Heck, I hope come Jan 1, he'll just unveil his signings right away!

We have have crying out for signings the past few years, yet we had a £50k a week international sitting on the bench for the past 18 months.

Anichebe, Neville, Heitinga, and probably Jelavic. That's some wage Bill between that lot. Probably around £8m a season by my reckoning.

I fully expect Roberto to bring in two new faces this January, instead of hanging on to players for years who are clearly not good enough - especially on the salary these were on.

The playing staff were all too happy to sit there on millions, hopefully this has been addressed by giving youth a chance, and clearing out deadwood like Heitinga.

Don't forget Hibbo can play centre-back?

Good point Dan With Jags out we are a bit thin at the back but Hibbo wouldn't let us down. The same height as Cannavaro and Franco Baresi, he's played well there before.

Don't remember a game Hibbo at CB but that is def good news.

We would all like things done early Dennis but you know Everton, probably
last day of the window. Bill does'nt like parting with the cash until he has to.

Ha, right on Ian but I feel the tide is shifting. RM is getting so much more face time I forgot we're still the good old BK Everton. A few early loan signings with a few last minute buys would be equally satisfying!

Good get him of the wage bill and bring a midfielder and striker in.

No one has mentioned Duffy. Maybe recall him as cover?

I agree Dennis and trust Roberto to get it right, I think we can only have 1 more loan from the uk but x amount from abroard but don't quote me on that.

I think we have to trust Roberto, and dare I say it... Bill, to get this window right. Kenwright (gritted teeth) really pulled it off to be fair - I don't think it was by chance or luck, I think he'd taken the Fellaini stuff to the wire in order to get the best price he could, and Moyes and Woodward blinked first.

Lukaku cannot have been a last minute accident either, there must have been some earlier chat, possibly involving Ba too, otherwise Anichebe wouldn't have been let out the of the door.

You have to now wonder what the hell was going on with Fer. A few very wide old souls (not me) contemplated at the time that it was Kenwright pulling the plug because Moyes was not sticking around and the club was not comfortable outlaying most of the kitty on an out-going manager's player.

Si Cooper #575
Stop getting your knickers in a twist!
I didn't say we "should" cash in on him, I was wondering what other people thought about the idea of if we did that's all.
In an ideal world we should keep all our best players - but sometimes when a huge amount of cash is being talked about decisions have to be made. We are not so rich we can turn down such sums but it would be nice to.
Anyway, happy new year!

Given his Barca connections, keep your fingers crossed! I'm pretty sure we'll be able to get some traction on the loans. Not sure on the timing though since deals take time in general. Now I can't wait for the window to close so that we know all the players we'll be signing.

To be fair, I've included the scenario where we don't get anybody. It happens, and sure it will affect our performance, but I feel we'll still do well without reinforcements.

Ian. We moved so fast early on in the last window TW lad, Kevin Day, had a nose bleed.

Paul, all things point to us saying no right now. No doubt what Si said is what RM understood as well. Plus RM carried that extra smug that makes me feel tingly inside. Does he have signings ready already?

RM has consistently said that we will be stronger after each window, and when you think about it, if we have aspirations for a top 4 finish, then it's absolutely necessary that we hang on to our top players and get rid of the dead wood. He has delivered everything he said he would so far and he has done it with a glass half full mentality, it's so refreshing to see. I have total faith that we will be stronger come the 1st February, with even more optimism going into the Easter games. I can't wait

Dennis. Signed, sealed and almost delivered.

Harold, you know I'm rubbing my hands now and can't wait for the announcements! If only it isn't so cold out here!

Just read that the dark side are in for Tello from Barca on loan for the rest of the season - it would make my year if we nipped in before them because of our new relationship Roberto seems to be forging with them.

I believe and this is just my personal opinion the imminent exits of Heitinga and Jelavic means RM has already identified (sometime back) a striker and a midfielder to bring in Jan and these deals are done.

Send RB on loan to Barca for 6 months, with iniesta as an exchange. Give them both experience!!

JH out for a bit of cash along with NJ, with the cash already available, ahem, should be able to get another decent forward in

Kunal, I hope you're right. I'm very excited right now!

I have a feeling McGeady will be the first player in in January; I don't really know if this is good or not. I have yet to see a player with so much potential fail to do anything with it. Watching him play for the Republic makes me want to pull out whatever little bit of hair I have left.

RM did say the work was done in the previous months identifying his targets so maybe we are seeing a shift away from leaving things too late to get anyone in......though I still expect the odd surprise on the last minute on deadline day!

I certainly don't miss the days when old Sour Puss wheeled himself out in early Feburary, stared at reporters and growled at them about "not quite getting the business done". Hopefully we'll get two or three players who will come in and improve the side quickly.

I fully expect to see a Barca loanee arriving. You can rest assured Del-Boy will be telling all his playing colleagues what a great time he is having and what a great challenge and experience the Premier League is.

Could you get a better mentor and motivator than Robbie? I doubt it... Watch this space.

Harold- I only just managed to stem the flow the day before the Old Trafford game, then we go and beat them Mancs and my nose well and truly let the flood gates open, I had to lay down for 5 days, if we do our business in the first week I will surely need a blood transfusion.

Happy new year blues.

I am just starting the car, will give him a lift if he wants. Good riddance to the captain of my worst ever 11

Good bye and good riddance one of my least favourite players ever to play for us.
Inside info from Finch Farn is that Aidan McGeady has been there and will sign for 2m

This is already nailed on. Has been for a while and their injuries have ensured it will happen quickly. Irons fans not overwhelmed because of his huge wages and suspect temperament. A red card waiting to happen is what one said to me on Thursday.

From player of the season in 2011 to reserves in a year and benchwarmers ever since. What happened?

James, that would be awesome, though I thought McGeady would have been free given his debacle. Hopefully not a huge earner and eager to start.

So he finally gets his move and it isn't Barcelona. Still I'm sure he will be playing football in the right way under big sam! Strange move for him I thought Italy would suit him better

Most of us blamed BK for the leaving of transfers to the last minute but OFM did the same at MU in the summer and missed out!

RM seems to know his own mind and I expect him to move very quickly,especially given the need to maintain our current position.

Getting rid of JH is good sense- strange how he was so bad after winning Player of the Season - losing his wages of £65 k pw will free up some cash for wages of new signings/ loans.I have no qualms about cover at CB- Roberto has shown that he knows what he is doing and he sees Stones every week.Barry and Hibbert can fill in if required but in all likelihood he will bring someone in,hopefully one of the young lads mentioned recently from Dundee Utd or Wycombe.Prime target has to be a striker as if Rom gets injured we are left with Mirallas or Velios assuming Jelly goes.Cover elsewhere is not too bad though a wide player and centre mid would be welcome too!

Heitinga was non-productive and as yet Jelavic is still an asset. We really need to move out Gueye, Vellios and Junior and hang on to Jelavic until we have another striker in to fill the gap.

Jelavic can still do a job in the interim and I reckon Roberto is aware of his options and will cover any gap made with someone to excite the fans.

I am sure that all the South Americans who came through Wigan were influenced by Martinez.

Chimbonda cost zilch and was sold for lots and the same can be said of Valencia and Palacious. He worked on a very tight shoe string throughout his time at Wigan so he is well versed in handling transfers etc.

I'm just watching and waiting!

Don't know how true it is a guy at the match who works security at Finch Farm said so. I think the Russians want a few roubles for him as he has 6 mths to run like Heitinga on his contract

Bah! Sounds like a few millions too much! Have to see him play to decide. Will have to wait for the announcement if its true and see him play though. His stats aren't pretty so that's a concern.

Martinez is a very shrewd man with more contacts than the misery could ever dream of, add that to his taste in attacking football and existing defensive cover I think he has his targets named and ready, I think McGeady is one of them the other I think will be a striker on loan thus covering his earlier voiced concerns over the loss of Gibson and Kone to the end of the season.

I would like to wish Johnny all the best. Fantastic on his day... and I remember how we all shook our heads a couple of seasons ago when he was taken out for the derby and replaced by Jags with OFM resting players for the cup. He was always better with Distin along side him. I expect him to do well wherever he goes. Jelavic too... if he moves I can see him going on a scoring run again. Can't think why he hasn't played more minutes this after a promising pre-season.
Captain of my worst 11? good riddance? f'kin muppets!

Ray Atteveld...

AvdM

Royston Drenthe...

Jonny Heitinga...

Dave Pearl.
Fantastic on his day ?
Which day was that ?
Getting voted fans player of the year for brushing shoulders with Ashley Cole as he walked for a penalty wont wash with me.
Need to be able to pass a ball to a team mate and defend to get in my team.
Walks into my worst Everton 11 as captain by a country mile.
The only Everton player ever to make Brett Angell look like Maradona.
By the way RM seems to have the same view, as he has not given him a single minute on the pitch.

Heitinga fantastic on his day!!! the only muppet is the person who said that

Just checked my FB and felt that it was funny JH is an option on the "Player of the Season so far", among other names like Jela, Stones and Robles. Surely we should restrict it to those with more than 10 appearances, right?

well you have been watching a different game to me Peter. How can he be player of the season and not play well? to be captain of your worst team? makes a lot of sense that. short memories from a lot of so called fans that just cant wait to but the boot in...

I'm not against Heitinga leaving but i'd like to think we have someone in that position coming in. If Alcaraz gets injured or Distin we'll be in trouble with Jagielka out for a month. Hopefully we'll be lucky in that respect but realistically we don't want Distin playing every single week.

Bye Bye Johnny , Goodbye Johnny be good. Chuck Berry.

Sounds like we can buy the young Dundee United centre half with money saved from Heitinga's wages. I'm sure Bobby has his targets lined up for January and hopefully we'll see some early business.

Had a purple patch of fantastic form, should do well for somebody lower down the table.

Re-invest the money saved into a younger prospect in the same position for the squad.

Let him go, he's been a good servant.

One bad season does not cancel the many years when he was a very good player. In addition to being our player of the year, he is also a former Dutch player of the year and has won 87 caps for Holland. You can't be cr*ap if you have done this.

He will feel he has a lot to prove at his new club and obviously has the WC to play for so this might turn out to be an astute acquisition for West Ham.

Dennis / Kevin D. Easy does it lads.

Trev 729. Let me know what job Jelavic can do... because it's sure as hell not scoring goals. He's been a massive disappointment, as has Heitinga; the sooner the pair of them are shipped out, the better it will be. And I trust Martinez to get more than adequate replacements.

Long overdue, we can certainly put £60k a week to much better use (Barry — permanent contract, for starters).

All the best to JH at West Ham, I just hope that the club stops wasting so much on wages for players who don't play or contribute significantly.

Including transfer fee, I reckon Heitinga has cost the club around £20M since he joined in 2009! £20M for basically one season from a centre back — that is just awful whichever way you look at it.

Even more so when you think how many defenders and defensive players we had at the club over that time.

"Hello Yeovil Town FC, yeah its Bobby Martinez down Merseyside way.......yeah we're gonna need our Duffy back a bit earlier. Lad went from 6th choice CB to 3rd choice in a week."

McGeady looks a cert to join.

On a free too.

I heard we need to pay some money but it would be great if McGeady is on a free.

£65k / week for a bench warming centre half? Moyes must've been mad.

Played well in short spells, but looked way out of his depth the last time he pulled on a blue shirt... a vastly overrated player.

I've been hugely impressed with Alcaraz and today with Stones. I think they are both good cover with Jags and Distin for the centre-half position. Hibbert can also do a job if required. If Heitinga goes, we need to use that huge salary to pay for someone at the other end of the pitch. A creator, someone with pace, or a goalscorer.

Split his wages between Bainesy and young Ross.

Don't forget Coleman and Oviedo

Apparently Lescott is a free agent in 6 months and is 31. Might be a shrewd signing to provide experienced cover for left side of defence at left back if Baines moves on?

I'd certainly not have a problem with him coming back.

Frees up cash to pay Ross more under a new contract.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the Premier League rules specify that teams can only have four loan signings per year? That would leave us with only one spot remaining this month...

You're right John, four loans per season that's why we won't go for Donovan as he will only play 10 games max.

Just read that we can only loan a maximum of two players from English teams (Barry and Lukaku) but there are no limits on foreign based players apparently.

Dennis #583. Do you honestly believe JH made all those school-boy errors last season because of OFM's tactics? You know fuck all about football.

Hello? Hello? Are you still there Dave?

We are back to being second to last on motd with two former rs pundits on show.

Chris 093, the point about tactics was about gelling JH in, not that his bad performances were directly a result of tactics. JH was a versatile option in many positions but being one with a bad rap sheet, OFM might have played him in more defensible positions. Given the expectations that he was POTY one year and pretty much out the door since, one would wonder if it was purely a form thing or that include how OFM operates. You don't have to be so mean and name calling when stating your points.

Johnny was poorly scouted when we first got him (in a deadline day scramble if memory serves). He was bought as a right back to replace Hibbert, but did not have the pace to handle that position in the Premier League. As a result he has always been a bit of square peg in a round hole – not strong enough as a central defender, not skillful enough or mobile enough to play as a central midfielder, too slow to play on the flanks.

He did have one good season, but overall was a huge disappointment. I thought he might fit the Martinez way as he is a good passer of the ball for a CB, but perhaps even that ability had deserted him. He also had the attitude that many Dutch players seem to have – that they know better than the boss – and that is always something that an incoming young manager is going to want to expunge.

So pleased that he is moving on – with Distin and Jags both injured we are a bit light in that area, but long term 4 solid CBs should be good enough (with Hibbert and Barry able to play there in an emergency). In any case a loanee experienced and cheap CB should be easy to find if we feel we need a bit more cover for the rest of the season. January is rarely the time to make long term commitments so I don't expect a long term CB signing this window. Stones and Alcaraz have both been with us less than a year so think this position is solved for now until Distin loses his legs.

Pleased he is going.
I am very worried that if the transfers in does not come early then our results on the pitch will worsen.

We do have to replace Jelavic if he goes, along with Gibson and Kone.

Two loan players is not enough and I hope Martinez knows that.

Should really have sold him a year or two back for 4m upwards but perhaps there were no takers.

Hopefully if McGeady comes in he will be on less than Heitinga was (65k rumoured?) in which case we will be swapping a player who should be able to contribute to the first team for someone who has not and with extra wages freed up. A few assumptions admittedly but sounds like good business!

ps: Ross Edwards, didn't we have a bet that Heitinga would be sold for.... I think you said at least £3M? Perhaps you never took it as you realised you were talking rubbish!

Yes, Sam, I agree that we should have sold him a couple of years back when we would have got a fee. But easy to say in retrospect.

Isn't it typical of football that when we finally get the chance to move Tommy on BOTH our 1st choice centre halves get injured. I for one never rated Tommy, even though he did well last year. I was excited when he came in at first as he was a world cup runner up regular centre half but he never really delivered for us. Even all the talk of his great ball skills never seem to materialise. Roberto kept saying he was a great Pro but sounds like he just wasn't good enough. I think maybe he is a bit like Mirallas and thinks he's better than he really shows us out on the pitch.

How long will Distin be out for? Any more striker speculation?

Tommy?

I don't know where this Heitinga hate is coming from? He's served the club well. I remember watching him against West Ham in 2012 Christmas season. On the ground after the game he was one of the few players that went up and thanked the away supporters, gave his tee-shirt to one of the fans and was generally very gracious.

Good professional who unfortunately lost form. I wish him well and hope he finds his old self (but not against us).

The very latest is he isn't going anywhere. Perhaps because of our defensive injuries, or perhaps he's just the new Fer?!

Nigel #210. I do not think anyone hates JH but he proved to be a liability at centre back when faced with tall, strong, pacey strikers. If he could have adapted his game into a role similar to Barry then he may have been worth keeping. Unfortunately he did NOT!

He lacks height, pace and tackling ability so he lost confidence after poor games against Kone and Cole where he was shown up. Distin, Jags, Alcaraz and Stones are ahead of him in the pecking order and he is on high wages.

He may well do a job at West Ham and, for the sake of his career, I hope he does.

I don't think it's hate at all Nigel.

Just a relief that we can free-up millions in wages for regular first team players. Apparently the average wage for a first team player at Swansea is around £20k per week. That's three players for a bench warmer.

Now consider we have a board who won't spend one penny - that's poor business on our behalf to be in that position in the first place.

He would have moved 18 months ago - but you can bet no-one even came close to matching the wages he getting here.

"He's served the club well"

Slight exaggeration there. He was anchoring for a move a mere six months after signing and has spread his legs every summer since in the hopes someone would have a sniff.

True, he had one great half a season playing alongside Distin where they helped us to look rock solid for about six months....but that was the sum total of his 'service'. Unless you count sad faux hard man shit like fist pumping and Cole bumping. The rest of his time at the club was spent either sitting on the bench, shitting out of tackles, or speculating which super power of the world game was desperate to sign him this week. Bayern Munich? Barcelona? Roma? They all wanted him, according to Johnny, and he ends up going to West Ham.

Never has a footballer of such limited ability had such delusions of grandeur. He's basically the fucking Dutch Kenny Powers.

It has fallen trough apparently, £60k wages will be hard to shift. It comes down to the player at the end of the day. Does he want to collect his wages or go the World Cup? Somebody will buy him eventually, I just hope it doesn't slow down any incomings.

Sky reporting the move is off, he's apparently pursuing other options. The guy is like a bloody limpit.

I hope there actually are other options.

John #216, nice evocative writing style there!

The guy's cost us wrong side of £20m in transfer fee and wages. There's no way anyone can reconcile that with "served the club well", "decent servant" or any of the other platitudes they care to throw at him.

Yes, it's not his fault he lives in a mercenary bubble, but value for money is not a tag that will sit alongside Johnny's name in the memories of Evertonians.

Or those who call him Tommy.

Apparently Newcastle are now first in the queue to sign him. Can't blame him for saying no to Sam, to be honest.

Newcastle favourites to sign him now...

News is coming through Heitinga has said "No" to West Ham.

He's turned West Ham down!

He's turned down the move. Can only hope another club like Fenebahce come in for him to get him off the wage bill.