Lukaku: Decision has been made over my future

Next thing... McCarthy will be playing for Ireland.

"The decision has already been made so I can't say anything about that" again not too sure what to make of that. But what is apparent to me is that someone at Everton has had a word with him about talking to the press, otherwise he would be running off at the mouth as he has done in the past.

Could it mean he has backtracked and is too embarrassed to admit it on live TV. We wait with eager anticipation.

I only hope we have an agreement that he does not sign for another Premier League club, now that would rub up the faithful! Also, I am sure we have several transfer options being discussed for the summer as a replacement.

Relax; we take the money, he moves on... so do we.

Hang on a minute!!! Hang on a fucking minute. He agreed to stay for one more season when at the time he had three seasons left on his contract?

Personally I think the time has come to politely tell him to shut the fuck up and honour the contract that he signed (as far as I know) without a gun being held to his head. At the end of this season he's got two more left on his contract.

The club is quite within it's rights to basically say, "You can go when your contract is finished unless we get an offer that we THE CLUB want to accept. WE'll tell YOU if we decide to allow you to leave before you're contract's finished."

He says the decision is already made so he can't talk about that? Well the only decisions HE, personally, can make is not to sign a new contract or to go ahead and sign the new one on offer.

He, personally, CAN'T make the decision to leave at the end of this season and if there was a gentlemen's agreement saying he could then the gentleman/men in question that made that agreement want throwing out on their ear/s.

Leave the offer of the £140,000 a week on the table for if he wants to sign, but up the buy out to £100m.

Barring a shock injury or something, we are going to get the same price for him now as we would in 12 months, somake the most of the situation.

We should tailor things to try to keep him from going to a premier league rival, 10% discount for Munich, Madrid and Barca, build some financial interests in the performance and sell on clause…..etc.

Keep up the good work Rom, we hope you will be lining up for Barca or Madrid against us in the Champions League the season after the next.

Although what you say is correct, in today's world the players and their agents have all the power. We can keep him for two more seasons, he can dick about and leave for nothing. Best to let him go and get the 㿞 million plus and invest in new players.

Beginning to think this is what James McCarthy is doing. Seems to be fit only when Ireland want him. If players don't want to be here, let them leave. Our priority must be keeping Barkley.

Which he hasn't done yet.

New stadium and breakthrough in Europe would be the clincher with him.

Let's hope he practices his ball control!

We'll be equipped to lose him this time next year, not now.

Could mean he's been told he's here for the next two years and to make the most of it while he is.

Some on here have said his comments suggest he is staying? He said he will not sign his contract, he's offered his shirt up moments after saying that, and now he's grinning at the media. He's going, make no mistake.

Do I care? No. If he doesn't want to to stay that's fine and dandy. I'll cheer him until he leaves and I'll get excited at the prospect of who will replace him.

He wants what we all want but he wants to do it at another club where he will become an also ran because his ego won't wear being second fiddle and that is what will happen to Rom.

I too am tired of all this Lukaku chat and so I shan't bother commenting on him or Rooney again. That's me done on the 2 walking egos. I don't like players who tout themselves to other clubs or who actually leave and so if the big galoot wants off, let him go.

One week he's 99.999% certain to sign an extended contract; the next, he's definitely not signing citing lack of ambition over buying players.

What happened in that week? Only one of three things:

1. He thought that the transfer window closed mid-March.

2. He knew it closed end of January but had spent the last 6 weeks opening every cupboard and looking under every table at Finch Farm searching for new signings, only to find nothing.

3. He was tapped up by another club and told not to sign a contract that had a release clause any greater than his current value with 2 years to run.

Only an idiot would conclude anything other than 3. Absolutely nothing to do with ambition, just that he doesn't want to be here any longer. He's taking fans for mugs – not me as I'm not gullible, but too many on here!

Best all round if we play hard ball, drum up a market for him and flog him to the highest bidder. Then we can move on without the constant distractions of him mouthing off every few months.

I'm sure that we can replace the 6 points that his goals have secured this season – only 6 points!!!

If no-one is prepared to pay the asking price, fuck him!! We hold all the cards here.

Ultimately it's the media who are to blame for most of this, they're trying to create news to sell when there isn't any (at the moment). Lukaku is an Everton player right now and that won't change until the end of the season at the earliest. Why keep asking him? Because it pays!

I'm angry with myself for commenting twice on this no-news thread! p

It is possible that the board and Moshiri could consider that his value to Everton in keeping him until July 2019 is greater than the loss of any potential transfer fee (for example, of the order 㿲M). That may be why the board and Moshiri wish to price him over 䀆M or thereabouts, to either keep him or decide to sell him for at least that amount.

The ball is 100% in Everton's court, it is not the decision of Lukaku's agent, or of Lukaku, or anyone else. It is really that simple.

You signed a contract. The decision is not yours alone. Our owner has come from a club that stuck their heels in with players and contracts. I expect the same.

If a Champions League club takes you, it will be because you have improved at Everton. Show my club some respect​.

Lukaku to PSG
Barkley to Spurs
Coleman to Man Utd

& Koeman to PSG

The new Everton manager, Jap Staam, offered a £150M transfer fund to source suitable replacements

That's strong stuff you're on, mate.

Sorry, that's not the case. Watch the video and hear it from the horse's mouth.

He has spouted his mouth off again. Just go! So that we can start building a team of real footballers, who can play for a whole 90 minutes, not just when they can be arsed!!!

Why can't he just keep his mouth shut and play football? It's like he's got Tourettes!

The only way Lukaku will stay next season is if other clubs do not pay the asking price.

Fail in those 3 games to show you can do it against strong sides & what perennial Champions League qualifier will be interested?

Make your dreams come true, lad. On the pitch.

As when Lineker was with us his goals were at the expense of others in the team not scoring as many and our style suffered. Lineker left, five or six players got into double figures and we were Champions again.

Shame if he goes but a big fat fee will help to reshape the team and hopefully provide goals. No-one is irreplaceable and the club is bigger than any player.

The way Lukaku treats our club is like "Jinnnnie" treats poor Forrest – one minute pleased to be with him and next thing running off on him the saddest thing is that many of our fans are as gullible as poor old Forrest.

Wake up!!! He has no intention of being here. Never has. He will stick around if no other better offers come in but, till then, just remember where his loyalty lies — nowhere.

Didn't Clement Attlee have a phrase: "A period of silence from you now would be welcome"?

As he has also recently said Koeman and the coaches are helping him improve, the statement seems to be saying he has decided to stay.

Then for the derby, and hopefully there will be no ironies and EFC, can face the RS, and don't get stage fright... Rom's and Ross's contract sagas are full of twists and turns and who knows what's fact or fiction?

Lukaku wouldn't even stay if we got top four this season, he's got his eyes on the big big money teams!

All this "wanting to play in the Champions League" is a load of bollox! What he means is he wants to play for a team who are already winning trophies or are competing for them, year-in & year-out!!

Which is fine as long as it's all agreed between the player and the club, but just stop going on about it in the press! Like anyone gives a shit about what Lukaku wants for HIS career. We want Everton to win trophies so WE can cheer them on, not him on his own!!

His ego is that big he should've been a golfer or an F1 driver. I think he forgets football's a team game and it takes eleven men to win a football match!!

You can tell he has been told by the club to keep it to himself but he still can't help it! I can't ever remember a player with a bigger mouth playing for us than him!!

We need to focus on getting the best strikers we can possibly get to replace his goals and forget about him because, regardless of him having two years left, if he wants to go, he will go!!

The fact is everyone blew up saying his previous statement meant he was leaving. And now he is saying "Sometimes people will mistake things that I say but it's just ambition that I have".

That would appear to back up what Peter (#65) said. Also, he has two years left on his contract. Also Moneybags Moshiri publicly stated that he is our player. Also a player saying "No" to a contract doesn't just mean he wants to leave. It could mean the contract isn't good enough. There's a lot of ifs to explore before you make concrete statements and insult those that disagree with you.

However, I think he'd still talk shite to the press even if he played for Lukaku FC.

Like someone said, who actually gives a shite about his endless drivel about HIM being ambitious??

Now, an ambitious team is a different matter Rom.

As someone has already pointed out, he's responding to a question that he gets asked 5 times a day and he either refuses to answer, and then we get 'his silence told us everything' or he tries to be as diplomatic as possible.

If it happens, it happens.

BTW, John (#26), I'd still rather hang the kopites one by one!!

If the club do decide he honours his contract – which, contrary to John Malone's statement of "if he wants to, go he'll go" – is a very real possibility, then his ambition will have to show through on the pitch, playing for Everton.

As I said on another thread, let the powers that be do what's best for Everton FC – not Romelu Lukaku.

Planet earth dwellers though, not down-beaten by repeated failure and let downs for over 20 plus years, may reasonably take his statement to mean he is staying.

Surely his self-belief is strong enough that he must mean he is 'helping Everton as much as I can' by staying rather than leaving.

He may be foreign but his English is good and is an intelligent fella, so I read it as he is intending to stay.

He also talked about signing top players to help him, which he feels we haven't. This probably explains why Moshiri was so angry that we didn't get the big signings last summer window.

McCarthy and now Seamus. Cursed.

If Lukaku gets lockjaw, we're fucked!

"There is nothing wrong with ambition. You have to embrace it and where you are as a footballer.

"I've [come] a long way until now but the road is still long and I know I have to improve and get better. I want to help Everton as much as I can, as well as the national team. I think a lot of stuff can be achieved.

"Sometimes people will mistake things that I say but it's just ambition that I have; I want to win titles and trophies and I don't think people should take that as arrogance - people should embrace it.

"This is what footballers need to achieve if they want to become the best, and I think young kids need to learn that too."

So nothing new, except whatever decision must be taken has been taken by now. As Moshiri sees it, top dollar, or one more year. I doubt he'll keep him until his contract runs down. So, he goes at a premium rate this summer, or he stays for another year...

I was just watching a clip showing all his Season 16-17 goals so far. Left foot, right foot, headers, solo efforts, 'poachers' finishes, free kicks... when did we last have a better, more consistent striker?

I hope Seamus makes a full recovery but this is really sad news.

I'm sick and tired of reading about Lukaku. I appreciate the argument regarding the club's ambition but I think it's time to cash in and get rid of this prima donna.

Very upset for Seamus.

If you watch the interview not read it he get's asked about Everton and replies "I can't talk about that, that decision has already been made!".

Then the journos ask him about Martinez' statement about can he be the best striker in the world to which he replies "yes" then goes on to state he is not being arrogant he is ambitious and wants to win things! The people making mistakes about what he says was in reference to him being arrogant and not that he doesn't want to leave us!! The being ambitious reply was totally separate from the Everton question!

He's made his mind up he's going, so get used to the idea and except it as much as you and me don't like it it's happening!

I'm sorry I'm not trying to insult anyone I just can't believe how people can't see/hear what is going on in front of them!

Absolutely devastated for Seamus and us with derby and a lot of big games coming up! Just our luck!!

Apparently the guy who broke his leg was red carded for the 'tackle', I just hope he gets a multi game ban and should be charged with criminal assault on one of the games true gentlemen. No doubt he will express 'real regret for crippling a fellow professional. Get well asap, Seamus, lad.

He's not stupid; the more goals he scores for us, the better his deal elsewhere will be.

That said, this is football...

The last total twat mercenary I can remember was Carlos Tevez. The big difference between him and Lukaku was that in this country Tevez delivered goals against top teams even when he was playing for relegation candidates WHU.

Lukaku's attitude stinks. If he for once rips a new one to the cost of one of his fabled top teams, two of which are imminent, he can serve me a large plate of humble pie which I'll consume in his presence.

We kept Bob Latchford and he put in several transfer requests (albeit for the transfer fee bonus) and he couldn't be arsed after that.

Lineker left and we won the title. Nobody is bigger than Everton – certainly not Lukaku.

If you deliberately want to take offense at everything he says, fine... but can you tell me any other Everton player, now that Captain America is gone, that gets interviewed and the rest of the world actually cares about his answer?

Reason this shit appears whenever he's on international duty is they can ambush him. He gives an interview, this is all they want to talk about. Must get tiresome for the player, so – as he probably doesn't want to come off as an arse – he plays along to some extent.

That's basically it. I got sick last year reading about Chelsea putting bids in and am pretty sure no such bids actually happened.

It's nothing to get worked up about. He's under contract, 15 months away from a decision on his future being a problem. There's been no bids, no transfer request and he's playing well. Nothing to see here, move along...

"Well, actually the burden is bigger at my club. They expect a lot from me. When I am with Belgium, I am surrounded by good players and I can benefit from that."

Sell the big fat lazy bastard and move on!!!

"Asked if he felt pressure, Lukaku said: Well, actually the burden is bigger at my club. They expect a lot from me. When I am with the national team, I am surrounded by good players and I can benefit for that."

Idiot.

Can we finish in 7th place without this gobshite blert.

If the answer is No, then it looks like we have to carry on groveling to his ballcontrolness.

If the answer is Yes, then bench him for the rest of the season to show him and the fucking media our displeasure.

No-one player is bigger than our club. It's about time we invited him to STFU.

You're probably one of those armchair fans who has never seen Lukaku play in the flesh. There were 39k plus fans at Goodison last Saturday who cheered Lukaku. There will be 3k fans at Anfield and Old Trafford cheering for Lukaku. Are they all thick as well?

The only gobshite is you.

When he plays for Belgium, he has Courtois, Hazard, De Bruyne, Kompany, Dres Martens alongside him. (Just gone Premier League for ease.) He knows there is more quality around him when he takes the field. More players are there to take up the slack and they have strength in depth. So, apart from Kompany, who wouldn't you have at EFC in a Royal Blue shirt?

Yet Lukaku is the idiot... are you sure about that?

This would no doubt have been assessed very carefully by Moshiri and his advisors, and would likely have the added advantage of sending out a strong message (a real 'statement of intent') that Everton do not need to sell players.

You don't become a billionaire by being silly. There is no way Moshiri would let Lukaku run his contract down. Look at what Koeman is saying regards Barkley.

No, if he doesn't want to be here, for whatever reasons, he will be sold to the highest bidder.

Also, he will leave this summer.

Every time he says something, it gets printed everywhere, so journos are going to keep asking him, hoping for something else to print – like they got here.

Every time he says something, hundreds of thousands of Evertonians click on the story in multiple places. Why would you turn that down? Can't see them saying "We've heard a lot from Lukaku, let's ask Arouna Kone about his future and balance the coverage out a bit".

Can't blame Lukaku for the fact that he keeps getting asked.

The club may well decide that the better course of action is to sell him, like other clubs have done in similar situations, and that's probably Lukaku's thinking.

But, if Moshiri decides "you know what, I can afford to let him go on a free in two seasons time, after we've strengthened the team and broken into the top four" then Mr Lukaku might realize that, as much as he thinks he holds all the aces, the old adage that "money talks" might just ring true.

None of us really know what's going on behind the scenes. I wish we did because its us supporters that will suffer, and are suffering, from not knowing what the fuck is going on.

Once we know what's happening we can deal with it. Personally I wish he would shut the fuck up and sign a new contract and do what he does best which is put the ball in the net.

I'll never love Lukaku, but I love his goals.

All I would say is just don't over compensate by cheering him loudly when his name is called. Koeman is embarrassed by his comments, so are many other fans who have a less high opinion of his talent, as well as those of us who are totally pissed off with his arrogance. TBH, I think even he was a bit embarrassed by the reception last week.

I say all this whilst respecting your love of the club. I also realise because some of you have blue blood in your veins, that it is hard to believe anyone associated with Everton and loved by a majority of fans, could be so treacherous.

Just remember,however, 40,000 blues also cheered and cried when that other ephemeral hero, Moyes left. I have no doubt they now feel a tad foolish when they reflect. Polite applause should be the order of the day.

People saying "what else is he supposed to say" in response to press questions need to get real. He could and should be saying "I have ambitions to play in the Champions League. I have a contract with my club and I am intent on Champions League qualification with Everton." End of.

Football would be dead without fans. So-called professionals like Lukaku, in stark contrast to the likes of Seamus, Leighton, Gaz and Jags, and many others in our squad, need to respect that and thank the fans and only the fans for sustaining them in the fabulous life-style the game currently provides them with.

I would find that hard to swallow as Ross is meant to be a passionate Evertonian. Sounds potentially like another Rooney situation.

Anyone got ideas why not?

Stand off all summer and we either lose him with no time to replace him (losing other possible targets in the meantime) or we start the season with one very stroppy Belgian.

They are the options and my opinion is that no contract will be signed and we will have a summer of the press making our life a misery. Just sayin...

All I care about now is when? For how much? And who replaces him?

Given that Man Utd and Chelsea are two suitors might Batshuayi or Rooney appeal? Think I'd prefer the former. Plus £50m.

No way will we find such an effective goal scorer but as others have said we might yet become a stronger team overall. I'd like to really push the boat out for a top class name...Lacazette, Icardi, Mbappe, Bellotti etc as opposed to Bony, Shane Long, Defoe etc. Need to make a statement of ambition with the players we get in this Summer.

If Moshiri says Lukaku is staying, then I guess Lukaku is staying.

I'm talking about Pogba. What did he cost? 䀅m? And overall, what sort of effect has he had on Man Utd?

Looking at it logically, if the Premier League's top goalscorer comes from a team that finishes 7th in the league, how much more effective will he be in a top 3 team?

With that in mind Lukaku's price HAS to be at least equal to Pogba's. I hope, if he is to go, Moshiri makes these points and sets a fee of 䀆m. Talk of 㿭-70m is only because it's us, Everton, and we got him for 㿈m.

Moshiri needs to flex his financial muscle and tell potential buyers "If you can buy better for that price, go do it." He also needs to tell Lukaku "You'll go on my (the club's) terms or you'll honour your contract."

It's time to stop being friendly, accommodating Everton. If we want to be one of the big boys, then let's start behaving like one of them.

As for Ross, a 㿏m price tag is ridiculous. Media quote Sigurdsson's value as 㿏m. Well that's what they're saying we'd have to pay to get him, so if that's the case, then if you're not going to cough up 㿞m for Barkley, then off you pop!

We HAVE to stop being bullied into letting our players go on the cheap! It's an essential part of our progress to become hard-arsed, tough, businesslike and downright nasty when it's called for.

Quite clearly you have a very odious view of Romelu Lukaku.

It also appears you consider you have superior judgement on the fellah than the overwhelming majority of match-going Blues who, as you continue to indignantly berate them for, enthusiastically cheered his name and contribution last week against Hull.

Before the game, here on TW there, was the usual furor about his interview speaking of his personal ambitions and what he wants the club to achieve (throughout, he spoke in the first plural 'we' – meaning the team and the club – rather than first person singular 'I').

Comments ranged from sticking him in the stiffs and never allowing him to wear the Blue shirt again, to booing him, to giving him the silent treatment.

Such views, thankfully, were made to look very crass (and dare I say, foolish, to borrow your own turn of phrase) by the overwhelmingly majority of match-going Blues. Yet you continue to castigate that majority view as being 'foolish', 'in denial' and further, trying to be prescriptive how others should react to him. That is, not cheering him, but rather, offering polite applause only.

The one in denial here is yourself. Yours is a very minority view, clearly. It also appears a petty, pinched and small-minded one.

I will repeat what I have constantly said about Romelu Lukaku (and Ross Barkley, and – yes! – John Stones):

He is exactly the type of player – age-wise, ability-wise, development-wise, ambition-wise – we should be looking to recruit and retain.

I'm pretty sure Fintan would agree with you too, but in his defence, and the defence of others with a similar take on things to Fintan, they're basically gutted, upset, angry and more with what looks to them like a players who just can't wait to get away. A player who, in their eyes, is being disrespectful to the club they all support and love.

People say, think, and feel differently when they're facing something which to them is devastating. If Lukaku goes, I'll be gutted for all the reasons many have said on here already.

I can "understand" people voicing their anger on here and sometimes what they say and suggest might not be the most sensible thing in the world BUT they're hurting, they're worried, and they're frightened.... but – much more importantly – they're Evertonians.

We should cut each other some slack maybe and try to understand that not everyone reacts in the same way to a particular thing.

Players who've forced a move (Rooney, Lescott, Stones) – best fees we could have expected. Andy Johnson and Rodwell? Good deals. Even the likes of Arteta we still got 㾶m for a 29-year-old who forced our hand on deadline day. Just 'cause the papers and TV pundits are bandying about valuations doesn't mean jack, basically.

'Cut differing opinions some slack?' No problem! Me? I'm all in for total anarchy-democracy, whatever. All opinions welcome.

But does that mean differing opinions – and I mean some really barking, extreme opinions – should not be challenged at all? Ain't gonna happen, is it?

I acknowledge many – evidently, including the likes of Fintan – take personal offence at what they interpret as Lukaku 'disrespecting' the club. From that, they denigrate his ability as a footballer and him as a man.

I don't. I consider him the best playing asset at the club, for both his ability and – should we sell him – financially. I also regard him as a polite, studious, intelligent and eloquent young man (in several languages!), confident in his own ability who wants to be captain of his own destiny.

Power to his arm, I say. I personally saw nothing amiss in his interview of last week, talking as he did (as I mentioned previously) in the first person plural 'we' rather than in the singular, 'I'. He actually echoed many of the frustrations and opinions expressed by many a poster on these very pages over many a year.

He'll do for me and will ALWAYS get my support as long as he wears the Blue of Everton.

Fintan @ 184 "It is my curse to be just a bit ahead of the curve."

Cough! Once more displaying the arrogance of your bigoted minority view. Anyone with a contrary view is a happy-clapping 'Dodo' and only yours is a legitimate view.

However, you actually haven't expressed an opinion beyond a blanket condemnation of Blues less 'enlightened' than yourself. Stroke your own ego, Fintan. I won't.

I, tongue-in-cheek as I recall, suggested I, and I alone would try to remain silent if he scored. How did that work out for me? I half-heartedly celebrated the first goal, and didn't really bother with the second. Doesn't make me right... just as your "rants" (for that's how I see them) don't make you right either.
You're coming across exactly as you accuse Fintan of being in your last paragraph, it's you (in my opinion) that considers yours the only legitimate view. You've picked out some of my post that you didn't like, rather than seeing the obvious parts where I fully agree with you and then dragged up a prior post I made.

Whether you agree with Fintan's view, or anyone else's for that matter, doesn't really mater because it's their own view and they're entitled to it, as is everyone else on here. By all means people can challenge each other's opinion. I was, in my post which has resulted in you opening your last post in what I would call an aggressive and antagonistic way towards me, trying to be conciliatory. It seems you chose to ignore me trying to be conciliatory and decided to bring up the Hull thing.

Kevin Dyer, in the post preceding yours (#185) totally disagrees with me on part of my post but does it in a reasonable non-offensive way and, after reading the counter-point he makes, I have to now agree with him on that.

The point I'm trying (badly) to make here is that he managed to put forward HIS point, to correct ME on some of mine, and make for interesting reading while he did so... and all this without coming across as a know-all arsehole.
:-)

I wonder if you have ever seen a live game of football.

"The overwhelming majority" ... what are you talking about? Were you there? Did you count them?

I don't think I have ever been to a game where everyone sang, or chanted. The reason you hear Gwladys Street chant louder than everyone else is because a bigger percentage of them actually do chant. If say 5,000 people chanted Romelu Lukaku's name, it would make a tremendous noise... but it would still only represent 1/8th of the crowd that day.

I don't know if the majority chant at a football match, guess it depends on the match, but there is an awful lot of people who simply don't sing or chant. The majority would cheer a goal (hence the roar) just as they did Lukaku's two last week.

TW for me has always mirrored the way Evertonia as a whole feels about something. If we are all gutted (Coleman's injury), it will be reflected on these pages. If we are all delighted (Calvert-Lewin's goal) then agai,n that universal delight will be very evident on this site.

Lukaku divides opinion, in the ale houses, in homes, at the match, and yes, on TW.

I remember coming out of Wembley a little less than a year ago when seemingly every single person I passed was giving Lukaku down the banks, but inside the ground his name had been chanted to deafening levels. Maybe there was 12,000 people cheering him and the other 12,000 were fed up with him... who knows, I doubt anybody counted.

So give the "overwhelming majority of matchgoers" nonsense a miss. You have no clue what the overwhelming majority think... always assuming there is an overwhelming majority, of course.

ps: I am also sure he is polite, studious etc, and am guessing he also bought his mum a nice big card this morning! I expect you did too, I mean of course for your own mum, not Lukaku's! Then again, your support for the guy, no matter what, is so intense that perhaps his mum did get an extra card.

No kidding!

So he's going to go, unless our management convince him of their plans. Given that many committed souls on here express severe doubt about these plans, it's a bit tricky to expect Lukaku to swallow them. Of course, the other reason is that no-one pays what we ask, until the possible stand off in 2018.

We're permanent; managers and players are transitory, so the only 'respect' I'm interested in is what he does on the pitch, which currently looks good to me.

He was bought for good business reasons. Now that we appear to be run business first, emotion second, I think he'll either be sold then replaced adequately, or we will buy quality players that persuade him to stay.

I remember crying as an 8-year-old when Bally was sold 'for business reasons'. That stuck with me ever since. Lukaku will want to stay or leave for business reasons and we'll keep or sell him for the same reasons. All the venom and spite on here won't change that.

That's it in a nutshell. Enjoy and support him while he is here.

When he's gone he's gone.

When England are turning to 35-year-old strikers to help them qualify, it shows what the poor state of English strikers is once you look past Harry Kane.

Obviously I hope he stays but, on a cautious note, sometimes once a player signs a huge contract, the performances start to drop... although I wish he had saved that excellent effort yesterday for a winner late on against the RedShite.

'No one much cares'!?

The spokesperson of a generation; the voice of Everton! He speaks for us all in costly pearls of wisdom!

Just about everybody 'cares' including posters who go to great lengths to insult the best striker we have had since Graeme Sharp.

Oh, and, erm... punish him by benching him for the rest of the season! Evertonians are the people being punished there.

Yes, we are left in the dark, but at least everyone inside the club are clear on what the situation is.

Whether Rom stays or goes, us as fans don't have any effect on his decision or the situation so Rom is better off saying fuck all else until the season is finished.

If, between now and then, Rom signs a deal, then it's a bonus. But, as it stands, he's a gonner and we have to start looking on quality replacements.

So his goals alone secured 2 wins, Bournemouth and Sunderland, and 2 draws, which we may otherwise not have got.

Are you a bit of a 'twitcher', my little ray of sunshine? What with all the ornithology references? Dodos... cage rattling... Jay (geddit? geddit?)

No, Fintan, you haven't even ruffled my feathers, let alone rattled my cage.

I took issue with your self-promoting posts that elevated your opinion above many fellow Evertonians, dismissing them as you did as foolish Dodos.

A tad ironic, you do so because you take personal offence at your (perceived) disrespect by Lukaku towards the club. And where is your respect for fellow Blues who simply hold a contrary view on the player to your own, which they can justify?

By contrast, you have made no attempt to justify your own blanket condemnation of other Blues, other than to boldly claim you are right, you know better, so there!

Is that the level of intellectual debate you and your fellow intellectuals (copyright, Darren Hind 2017) in the Offside Forum are familiar with?

But then, I suppose we intellectual dwarfs here in the open forum should be grateful that you bless us with your presence from the Offside Forum where, I recall, you once wrote to your fellow clique:

"We should carry out a raid on the Open Forum and enlighten them."

Righttttttt!

No wonder you are bedazzled and disorientated by the bright lights of more critical thinking to your posts here in the open forum in contrast to the closed clique that exists in the subterranean Offside Forum.

ps: I lost me mam 6 years ago, which rather renders your own ps rather crass. And I never needed a contrived date in the calendar to send her a token card to make her feel loved, appreciated and remembered. But thanks for your further 'enlightenment.' Truly humbled and awed by your rationale and wit (cough!).

"I wonder if you have ever seen a live game of football."
(Rolls eyes, shakes head, sighs deeply).

I know you have a predilection to make twattish comments to demean and provoke the particular poster you take issue with, but that is a particular moronic one, even by your standards Darren. So infantile it doesn't even belong in the school yard, but the creche.

Moving on.

I'll accept your challenge to my statement "the overwhelming majority of match goers (cheered Lukaku)." You are absolutely right. Not everyone sings along, or all together at a football match.

So allow me to rephrase it. A very vocal and considerable number at the match against Hull clearly demonstrated their support for Lukaku, even before a ball was kicked.

This was in spite of a shifting news story leading up to the game that he has not yet signed a contract extension, followed by his frank interview in which he expressed his ambitions for the club and himself. An expected furor followed here on TW. There were pitch forks and flaming torches out that he should never play for the club again, etc, etc, and talk that he should be booed and/or given the silent treatment.

At the Hull game, unless my own and many other attendees, observers and listeners auditory powers are failing me (and them) badly, when the pre-ritual reading of the teams was made, Romelu got by far the loudest cheer of all.

The Romelu chant was loudly repeated throughout the game and very vociferously when he scored his two goals and again at the final whistle.

That rather made a nonsense of some of the more extreme calls before the game calling for a banning or coordinated booing of the player. If there were any booers or hecklers in the crowd, I certainly didn't hear them and I've not heard anyone, anyone at all, reporting their actions or presence at the Hull game.

Possibly, just possibly, those who went with the intent to do so were taken aback by the intensity and level of support for Lukaku, rather than the condemnation they had planned, and were subdued into silence. Who knows?

What is undeniable is that there was a greater showing of support for Lukaku that day than of condemnation.

Finally, you won't find me disputing your statement that Lukaku divides opinion. You will find me in his corner supporting him, as long as he wears the Blue of Everton.

Unlike some (including yourself), I don't strive to discount his goals because they are 'scuffed, lucky, based on the quality of the opposition.'

I will never tire of repeating: Romelu Lukaku – age-wise, ability-wise, development-wise, ambition-wise – is very much the sort of player Everton should be looking to recruit and retain.

Where to begin..?

In the moving news story of Romelu Lukaku before the Hull game, I made no comment – none whatsoever – on the story. Nor did I post on the match day thread. You, by contrast, made many a contribution.

On this thread, I posted a SINGLE COMMENT, addressed specifically to Fintan – nobody else – which you chose to comment on.

Having addressed me directly, I availed myself of the right to reply. I referenced (and you confirmed) that you had indeed advocated giving Lukaku the silent treatment at the Hull game. You admitted you half-heartedly cheered the first of his 2 goals and didn't celebrate his second. Each to their own.

An irony I find in your attitude is that like a good number here on TW you suggest Lukaku only plays for himself, but not the team, added to such views as "I support the team, not an individual player."

I am of a like mind on that last sentence. The team is forever. Players and managers are transient.

It nevertheless bewilders me why you admit you were not over-enthused by one of Everton's goals against Hull and didn't celebrate the fourth at all, because of who scored them.

How do you – and others – square that with the claim that you support Everton, not individual players? The scoreline will show for all time Everton 4 Hull 0. How can an Evertonian not celebrate a goal scored in service for the club, regardless of who scores it?

In my reply to you, I acknowledged and accepted some hold a very prejudiced view against Romelu Lukaku. I also clearly stated I welcome all and any opinions. What I will not deny myself is the right to reply with my opinion. I have never – never, EVER! – made claims that I am the sole possessor of truth on all things Everton, as you try to imply.

Fintan, in his extremely dismissive posts of fellow Blues, clearly does regard his opinion on this subject as superior to those who hold a counter view to his own.

Clearly, if you regard how I replied to you as some how denigrating towards you personally, then I'm sorry Barry, but I can only conclude you are overly-sensitive and looking to be offended.

Calling what I wrote a 'rant' rather confirms it. I am first to admit, I am dogged and, if necessary, robust in expressing my views on here.

I know I am resented by some because I am capable of presenting and maintaining a convincing argument in support of any opinion I hold on differing topics. Quite frankly, that's their problem. Petty insults and labelling (as attempted by you, Fintan and Darren in this very thread) are like water off a duck's back to me. Sure, I give it back where necessary, but my main focus ALWAYS remains on the topic in hand.

Never, EVER (I repeat) have I tried to repress anybody's viewpoint. Never EVER have I reported another poster to the moderators for what they have posted. My preference is to engage directly with posters I disagree with, rather than running to teacher and trying to get them banned and suspended.

As I say, Brian, each to their own. If my posts offend you so and you regard them as nothing more than rants, you have an easy solution: when you see my name, bypass it. Don't read my posts and cause yourself unnecessary angst if I some how 'get to you' in some way.

Me? I would never place such an embargo on myself. TW is too rich a source of knowledge and humour to 'black out' posters and their posts, particularly those that hold contrary views to my own as they force me to think more deeply about my own position. And for that, I am grateful.

This website has a world wide following, there will be lots of people who haven't been to a live match, but still love the blues.

Given your inability to understand a crowd and your misguided idea of what represents the "overwhelming majority" – which you yourself now accept as conjecture at best – asking you had you been to a game was a perfectly legitimate question..

I'm happy to accept your answer, but a yes or a no would have saved you a lot of time and effort.

BTW you are still wrong. Lukaku did not get the loudest cheer, although he did receive a loud one like everyone else – unless of course you have knowledge of someone measuring the decibels

You still don't seem to get it. Lukaku has upset a lot of people. there will have been thousands inside Goodison who would have hammered him if he had missed a sitter, or he wasted a pass that cost us the points. Trust me when I tell you, the knives were out and there were many of them, just as there will be next time.
Thankfully Lukaku did the business and his supporters were the one who could cheer and shout his name... .think they would have done if he hadn't ?

Lukaku has a stupid habit of winning people over with his goals (even the scuffed ones) then alienating them with his gob... but then I'm guessing the overwhelming majority of Evertonians know that.

Oh and when you repeatedly try to shut people down by telling them they are "foolish" and in a "tiny minority" especially one that only exists in your own head, you forfeit the right to complain someone else is making a "twattish comment to demean".

Difficult to say what the percentage of support was in other areas of the ground but, if my area was indicative, I would say it was a big majority supporting him.

Good word marquee big, over priced, and despite looking robust a stiff wind can blow them over .

Sick and tired of this lad. Once in a while he makes you think he's finally learned. When in actual fact all he has learned is how to dress up being a disruptive prima dona in a different wrapper.

Very Good finisher. But his football ability is nowhere near the level he thinks he's at or needs to be at to play for the teams he wants to play for.

His big gob has bought nothing but unwanted media coverage.

I sit on the Lower Gwladys Street right behind the goal, Lukaku was cheered at the start and his name was chanted and cheered tremendously when he scored his two goals and cheered at the end.

If he did not get the loudest cheer, I would like Darren (#204) to tell me who did. And I cheered every Everton player.

Yes, of course it was Darren. I'm sure you can convince yourself that was your intention in posting that at the head of your post (repeat: rolls eyes, shakes head, sighs deeply).

As for the rest of your post, do try and keep up Darren. It is not me repeatedly calling fellow Blues 'foolish.' Fintan Spode is the author of that label.

He first berated Blues in the Hull match day thread http://ToffeeWeb.com/season/16-17/news/34641.html

Fintan posted @ 198:

"Why on earth did fans cheer the treacherous Lukaku? Are these the same fans who cheered the treacherous Moyes? Lukaku is to football what Moyes is to management, so get off your knees and recognise the club is much bigger than these inflated egos."

And (given the flow of this particular thread) there is delicious irony in the very first response to that post @ 199:

"#198.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn!!!!"

The author of a clearly dismissive response to Fintan?

None other than a certain Brian Williams. Go figure.

Fintan Spode in this thread @ 7:

"I wonder if he will get an extra big cheer from the wishful thinkers amongst us at the derby match, for not stating explicitly in this latest interview that he wants to leave. Perhaps if they all cheer loud enough he will stay or perhaps they will just look foolish... again!"

@167, he again calls out Evertonians as 'foolish' and wishes to be prescriptive as to how Blues should react:

"Just remember, however, 40,000 blues also cheered and cried when that other ephemeral hero, Moyes left. I have no doubt they now feel a tad foolish when they reflect. Polite applause should be the order of the day."

@ 184, he elevates his opinion above all other Blues who hold a contrary view to his own, dismissing them as (extinct) Dodos:

"It is my curse to be just a bit ahead of the curve... Unfortunately the same applies to the rest of what you say... by all the Dodos yours are thoughts of weight, well rounded well argued, but out of date!"

And as for you Brian, of course you didn't read my post. No. Honestly! I believe you!

Care to explain your shift in reaction to Fintan's post in the match day thread to his posts in this one...?

Best not try, eh?

Big hugs to bruised egos!

Jay (Pedantic) Wood.

Scores goals when he feels in the mood, can be pretty good when he is in the mood; quite often it's difficult to get him motivated to play for us. Fluffed his lines on the biggest stages in his career so far.

I've seen far better players at Everton, but not seen many better finishers – seen many many more loyal players leave who I was sad to see the back of.

I will not be sad to see the back of this lad. He has alerted me to the awful fact that some fans will allow some players to disrespect our club – if they score goals its okay? No, it's not. Never has been and never should be.

I enjoy supporting a team – not 10 players set up to provide for someone with their eyes elsewhere.

Peter, what is it that he's done that you consider disrespecting the club?

It looks like you are warming to him then.

When he was here on loan, he was making sounds for bigger clubs; no-one came in with the 㿈m but us. He wanted to play and not compete at Chelsea. That's fair enough when on loan but, every single year after signing a 5-year deal, he has made comments about moving on – every single year without fail. Sometimes at numerous stages of each year.

Is that not disrespectful to you? It is to me. Constantly touting himself out whilst under contract is disrespectful – no matter which way you look at it.

Then we can get some players in who are focused on doing well for Everton and not just for themselves.

My question (which you rather tellingly haven't answered ) was a legitimate one. There are lots of passionate Evertonians on here who freely admit to never managing to get to a game – not sure why you consider it an "insult".

The fact that you didn't seem to understand a crowd reaction was only one of the reasons I asked. I have never seen a post from you talking about a game you were at, not ever. I'm not saying you haven't, I'm just saying I haven't seen one. Therefore a legitimate question.

My initial point was about your "overwhelming majority" nonsense. In an attempt to try force minority status on other posters because they disagreed with you, you were exposing yourself to be challenged. You, who wasn't even at the game, were trying to tell people how the crowd reacted.

You have since realised the daftness of such claims and retracted the statement. Not sure we have any other issues on this subject.

I don't know if Jay does have knowledge of someone measuring the decibels but I certainly don't.

However Lukaku absolutely definitely 100% fucking definitely did get the loudest cheer.

(Method used: my ears)

It was not louder because it was 'we love you more than the others', it was undoubtedly a cheer to make a 'point' (ie: point = despite what we've read, you have our support) and to say it was no different is simply untrue.

I know in the past you have claimed to not read my posts, when you evidently have. It's another of the various traits you employ in your slight of hand way to denigrate and demean a poster you disagree with.

So, on that basis you can be forgiven (I'm feeling quite benevolent and generous today) for claiming "I have never seen a post from you talking about a game you were at, not ever."

If you are talking in the present, that is true, because, like others you reference ("There are lots of passionate Evertonians on here who freely admit to never managing to get to a game"), I have also 'freely admitted' more than once on TW that it is (sadly...) many a long year I have not been able to attend a live Everton game.

Not hiding it. Not ashamed to admit it. And – trust me on this one Darren – I am not 'insulted' (you flatter yourself if you think otherwise) as you attribute to me by your (still moronic...) opening line of a couple of posts ago, namely:

"I wonder if you have ever seen a live game of football."

In my time on TW, I have also referenced historic games – Everton and otherwise, in the UK and overseas – that I attended as a spectator. Is that clear enough for you? (You knew this already. You were just trying to be a maverick and antagonist – and not a particularly smart one – in pretending otherwise.)

It matters not a toss to me whether a poster on here is a fully-fledged match-goer who never misses a game or, due to circumstances, is only able to watch Everton via grainy streaming on their PCs.

Without a doubt, as I have previously acknowledged, their perspectives may differ simply because of the all-round view and live match day experience a supporter watching in the stadium can enjoy.

But also without a doubt in my mind, the mere dint of the fact someone is a live match attendee doesn't make their insight, analysis and opinions superior to someone who possibly has never seen Everton play.

Indeed, you, Darren, are living proof of that.

Do I take it from the closing line of your last post – "Not sure we have any other issues on this subject" – that you are in agreement with me then about the main thrust of WHY I commented on this thread? That Fintan Spode is out of order to denigrate and blanket label fellow Blues as he does as 'foolish' (amongst other things) for their public demonstration of support for Lukaku?

The lad two rows in front of me turned to his mate in the row behind him, "Fuckinell... I didn't expect that!"

I'm guessing you sit in Gwladys Street.

The reason I say that is because when Lukaku's name was chanted after his goals, that's where the chants were coming from. That, as you know is always where most of the cheering and chanting comes from.

I spent many years watching from that part of the ground and the noise when you are in Gwladys Street seems an awful lot louder than it does when you are listening from another stand.

I was in the top balcony with my Grandson and when Lukaku's name was called out, it barely caused a ripple, He was the only one near me who cheered. If the cheers for Lukaku were louder than anybody else's where you were sitting, they certainly weren't loud enough to create an impression where I was. The late arrivals caused more of a stir.

I was listening carefully for the reaction when the teams were read out using the same method as you (my ears) and all I noticed was apathy around most of the ground and a few not very loud cheers from Gwladys Street – for every player.

The cheer for Lukaku may have sounded louder to your ears but I'd be amazed if the Hull supporters were even aware of it.

When I hear this "majority" claim, I'm reminded of when Kenwright's was being slaughtered from all and Sundry. His face was put up on the big screen and a few thousand of his supporters made a very big point of applauding as loudly as they could . .it was widely reported that "Goodison" had given him a massive vote of confidence. Those reports could not have been wider of the mark.

In post #203, you complained about petty insults "as attempted by You, Fintan and Darren", right?

Then, when I ask why you consider it an insult, you tell me you are "not insulted" and that I "flatter myself" if I "think otherwise".

So which is it? Are you insulted or aren't you?

If you are, why? And if you're not, why are you spending so much time banging out endless guff?

What you quoted alone is enough to swat away your latest attempt to highlight my implied discrepancies, but let me spell it out more clearly, so there is no confusion in your flustered little head.

The full quote is the following:

"Petty insults and labelling (as attempted by you [ie Brian Williams], Fintan and Darren in this very thread) are like water off a duck's back to me."

That awl fellah is not the refrain of someone 'complaining' about the (note well) 'petty insults'.

That is the riposte of someone totally indifferent to the extremely feeble attempts to get a rise out of me.

Ergo: I'm not insulted. Right? Right!

Are we done yet Darren? Or have you finally exhausted your own endless 'guff' which keeps posing questions of me?

Seriously if you haven't been there yet have a look.

Pearls of wisdom. You won't believe some of the shite that's posted against fellow blues. Unbelievable.

Why Michael and Lyndon have a backdoor for unmoderated shite like that I really don't understand.

Spooky, I DO sit in the (upper) Gwladys,

Unfortunately for your Holmes-like theory (Sherlock not 'Big' John), for the last two home games, I spawnily tapped for Alex Young suite tickets, so watched the game from the main stand.

My eyes and teeth certainly aren't what they were but my hearing is fine and I know the difference between the obligatory half-arsed "aaaaaay!" and a we're-making-a-point 'AAAAAAAYY!!;

You continue – 'I was listening carefully for the reaction when the teams were read out using the same method as you (my ears) and all I noticed was apathy around most of the ground and a few not very loud cheers from Gwladys Street – for every player.'

Well in. 'I was listening carefully', there (for me) is probably the answer.

I have no agenda re Lukaku.

He's a great goal scorer, hope he stays, but if he leaves I hope we'll get good money for him, buy a decent striker (or strikers) and then... hope for the best.

I don't get worked up or angry about what players earn or their 'loyalty' etc, so I'm not blinded or deafened to what is actually happening.

Can you honestly say the same?

'Lukaku has a stupid habit of winning people over with his goals.'

Seems not – and it's comments like that that indicate your hearing is like Wenger's vision.

Given some of the anger and invective on TW aimed at the player in the lead up to the game, it seems obvious there was an unhinged minority who didn't get their way.

Their anger/bile demanded he be booed but instead the opposite happened.

Are they willing to admit this?

Obviously not.

Oh, I do like like a bout of verbal jousting
Oh, I do like to read on ToffeeWeb
Oh, I do like to troll among the posts posts posts
Where the brass necks feud
Tiddley – "I'm right" – "You're wrong"...

My two lads and my other grandson were in the main stand, just Gwladys street side of half-way line. I sat there for years (oldest grand son inherited my seat) When this debate started, I asked how loud that cheer was, My eldest said he didn't notice any massive cheer. "Not a really loud one like when the lino slips on his arse or something" Like me, he doesn't require a hearing aid

Just shows you eh... You hear what you want hear.

You seem to have formed the opinion that I'm angry with Lukaku. I'm not, I've been hugely impressed with his improvement this year and have said so on these pages many times – even called his game against Bournemouth a 10/10. But I shared the indifference shown by thousands when his name was read out on Saturday. I support Everton, not one player. I didn't miss a massive cheer ringing around Goodison, because there wasn't one.

Not sure what you hoped to achieve by editing my sentence and left out the relevant bit: "then alienating himself with his gob". Perhaps you felt the entire sentence was incontestable. I know I do....

So all those lengthy responses where to make absolutely sure that everyone knew you were totally indifferent to perceived insults and that nobody was getting a rise out of you?

Okay, that clears that one up.

Of course not, you've just come back to the thread three times to say exactly same thing. I think some people actually believe if you say something often enough it becomes true.

I think Jays "overwhelming majority" claim has been laid bare. Those trying to support it, must have cringed when he actually admitted as much.

If you heard a massive roar – the sort that's swirls around Goodison when we have scored and actually warrants the term "massive roar" – then you are in cuckoo land.

Darren # 220 - 'Eugene I'm guessing you sit in Gwladys Street. The reason I say that is because when Lukaku's name was chanted after his goals, that's where the chants were coming from. That, as you know is allwayswhere most of the cheering and chanting comes from.'

Me # 227 - 'I was in the main stand.'

Darren # 229 - 'My two lads and my other grandson were in the main stand, just Gwladys street side of half-way line. I sat there for years (oldest grand son inherited my seat) When this debate started, I asked how loud that cheer was, My eldest said he didn't notice any massive cheer.'

I'm tempted to say 'Sorry, I got mixed up, I meant the Park End' just to provoke..

'Funny you should mention the Park End, my uncle Ronnie, 2016 winner of the Britain's sharpest hearing trophy, was in the Park End and he said..'

Pictured, Darren's dog in the upper Bullens assessing Lukaku's cheer Link

And there you go again, employing another of your slight of hand tricks. My card is rapidly filling (once more) in yet another round of Darren 'Hindsight' Bingo.

This is the one where you introduce an invented scenario in your head and convince yourself by tedious repetition that it it true: attributing to posters a stance or attitudes they have not taken or demonstrated in the thread.

It is a move to take the focus away from the primary point a poster raises. In this case, way back to my first contribution in this thread, I took issue with Fintan Spode who considers supporters who cheered Lukaku are foolish submissive Dodos, easily deceived.

In doing so you invest your energies in trying to undermine the poster, rather than genuinely engage in his opinion.

Having claimed for so long that you never read my posts (when evidently based on your own posts, you clearly did and do), suddenly you appear to be reading my posts with forensic intensity. Sadly, Dick Tracy you ain't!

Read my posts again, as you now appear to take such intense interest in them.

All my "lengthy responses" were made in reply to specific questions put to me by other posters, but primarily yourself. I availed myself of my right to reply.

Quite clearly, as already demonstrated to you Darren, your repeated claim that my avalanche of words only expresses my indignation at the insults I've received in this thread, is false.

It really is dumb of you to try and contrive that me continuing to respond to posts directly addressed to me is proof positive that I am 'insulted' and annoyed at people 'getting a rise' out of me. It isn't the case, at all.

Why? Because the primary focus in my posts has been on Fintan Spode's extreme views about the conduct of fellow Blues.

You've also tried to shift that focus on to the decibel level of support Lukaku received at the Hull game. I already acknowledged I overstated my original claim by stating "the overwhelming majority of match-going Blues" cheered the fellah and adjusted that to "A very vocal and considerable number at the match against Hull clearly demonstrated their support for Lukaku, even before a ball was kicked."

The adjusted opinion seems to have attracted support from other match day attendees other than yourself, who continues to deny this was the case.

To return to the issue that drew me to this thread in the first place, I'll put it to you again Darren (as I asked @ 218. Still awaiting an answer):

"Do I take it from the closing line of your last post – "Not sure we have any other issues on this subject" – that you are in agreement with me then about the main thrust of WHY I commented on this thread? That Fintan Spode is out of order to denigrate and blanket label fellow Blues as he does as 'foolish' (amongst other things) for their public demonstration of support for Lukaku?"

If you can't engage in the topic and offer a clear response to that, I'll leave you chasing your own tail.

Woof! Woof!

"If you heard a massive roar then you are in cuckoo land"

I didn't say I heard a massive roar. As far as I can see ,the only one who used that phrase was you?

Ahhh! The Offside Forum! Indeed I do know about it Dan . when it was created, how it was created, why it was created, and why it is tolerated by the editors (although I note previous links to in the menu tabs at the top of the page have long since been removed).

I visited the Offside Forum in its early formative days. Not being the misogynistic type, nor interested in trans fat midnight meals, fantasizing about celebs I would 'do', bragging about my alcohol consumption or posting whilst heavily inebriated, nor - of particular relevance to this site - inclined to post cowardly clandestine denigration in their unseen forum of TW posters here in the Open Forum, whilst rarely or never posting anywhere other than the Offside Forum, I quickly decided it wasn't for me.

That clique clearly has an extremely elevated opinion of themselves as superior Evertonians to we lesser Blues. I can't take seriously a group who describes the bulk of TW members (those who post in the Open Forum) as "Philistines, in need of enlightenment" and in the same breath state "Let's keep the Offside Forum our little secret, like a Gentlemen's Clubs, by invitation only."

I suggest that anyone they do denigrate should wear it as a badge of pride.

The reception for Romelu Lukaku was overwhelmingly positive. Me and my three mates (we've all been to the match together for nearly 40 years) plus three of their kids remarked on it, with dignified pride.

The man does have a loose cannon for a mouth. He's not the only Premier League footballer these days that does. He finds the onion bag with a pig's bladder, though, does he not?

Simple equation: In the forthcoming derby match, would you want him in Royal Blue, or the other jersey?

Most clubs want to sign (or bring up through the academy) a young player on the cheap and then he progresses into a top quality player who either plays for you long term or we make a huge mark up on them.

We've done this quite a lot in the last 10 years or so with players like Rooney (㿅.6M), Lescott (㿂M) and last year Stones (㿛.5M) even though we all sang Money Can't Buy You Stones.

Berahino is one of the few players who was made an example of by his club by deciding not to cash in on him despite his transfer requests. Newcastle offered 㿁M for him back in January 2016 with him eventually moving to Stoke for 㾸M.

West Ham and Bilic were very angry and adamant they wouldn't let Payet go and play him in the reserves but they soon changed their minds. There is no way.

It's easy for a lot of us passionate fans to throw our arms in the air and say "Fuck him, let him go, as he doesn't want to play for OUR club and he doesn't have any loyalty..." But thankfully it's our manager (and chairman) who have to use their managing skills to persuade the player to stay for as long as they can.

When they realise the player no longer can be persuaded you have to make a sensible business decision to sell him for as much as possible and use the money wisely.

When Koeman came in last summer he (and maybe Moshiri) managed to coax Rom to stay for another season at least which I think a lot of us were surprised at. No doubt they will try to persuade him to stay yet another year but it sounds to me that Rom believes that he has improved sufficiently now to make it at a really big club that is winning titles and doing well in Europe, not just scraping into Europe.

I'm not even sure if he would want to play for Man Utd or Arsenal now. I think he wants to move to either Chelsea or a club outside England. So he knows, if he signs a new contract, he will be limiting the options he will have as a lot of the Italian and German clubs won't want to be paying 㿼-𧴜M.

I don't see the point in holding on to him for one more season as Cottee suggests. His value will drop and it is only delaying the inevitable.

Unfortunately any replacement is going to take time to settle in so we will have to wait to win the title until 2019. I'm more bothered about getting Ross to sign and seeing Seamus back playing.

Lukaku's current contract expires in July 2019, and thus if Everton decide he's staying at least until that date, then he's staying. No persuasion or asking by Everton is needed at all, simply their decision (and it is THEIR decision) that he is staying.

With respect to the above, I for one was not at all surprised that Lukaku remained with us this season, and similarly I won't be surprised if he stays at least until July 2019. Further, I would not be surprised if he decided (with of course the agreement of Everton) to stay beyond 2019, depending on how we do between now and that date.

With regard to the likelihood of Everton deciding that Lukaku is staying for the duration of his current contract, of course none of us know what that is. That said, it is possible that the board and Moshiri assess that the value to Everton of Lukaku staying until July 2019 is greater than the loss of any potential transfer fee (perhaps of the order of 㿨-70M) resulting from a free transfer at the end of that period.

I know he's never stated "I want to leave" but not signing a new contract is a bit of a hint.

When Martinez was manager people were talking about protest. I posted that the main stand needed to turn on Kenwright before he would sack him. I told a lot of people that I had seen first hand what happens when those closest to the Directors Box put pressure on him as I'd sat there for years.

Fast forward a to this season. I was asked did I have a derby ticket (on these pages) and I said no, because I had let my season ticket go (in protest ) and as a consequence had fallen down the pecking order, I said that I had renewed the same seat and my Grandson was going to be using it. A regular match goer on here kindly asked me (on these pages again) if I wanted him to try and get me a derby ticket.

Now I would have thought people in their sixties giving up season tickets and making way for a younger member of the family would be fairly commonplace... but you find it "fucking hilarious"

I took a stab at where you sit and you seemed astonished that I guessed right "Spooky" you called it, even though there was a 25% chance of me being right.

All I can gather from your posts is you are very easily amused and even more easily surprised. Those old Paul Daniels recordings must serve as a great comfort to you.

BTW : As you are partial to a bit of "spooky" and "hilarious" get on this...

A guy had been sitting in Gwladys street for Years. Nobody had ever asked him where he sat - not ever, but one day somebody finally asked him about where he sat because it may have a bearing on his opinion and - get this... It was at THAT precise moment, that he revealed that he wasn't in Gwladys street that day (although he did admit he normally does sit there). Turns out he had touched lucky for seats in another part of the ground. They were not just other better seats, they were Alex Young suite tickets.

What were the chances, eh?

Right up your street – Spooky and Hilarious

Christ is he beaked up?

I genuinely don't know what any of that babble means.

Can guess what he'd sound like if he was talking about the budget though Link

My youngest grand son wouldn't use that term for fear of being laughed out of school.

Still if it makes you see yourself as being "cool".

Knowing (as you obviously do) what is and isn't considered cool by school kids.

You're also very lucky to have so many relatives to come to your aid in TW threads.

So far, to help 'strengthen' your arguments, you've used two sons, a 'youngest grandson' and 'the other grandson.'

Something tells me that, whatever was being discussed, you'd have a relative or friend to come to your aid.

"I disagree because my son / grandchild / postman / proctologist reckons..."

Stanley was one of my favourites when I was a nipper.

Very clever how he controlled his mixed-up talking.

Go 'ed – what is it?

Wikipedia

Specifically, it states that any player who signed a contract before the age of 28 can buy himself out of the contract three years after the deal was signed. If he is 28 or older the time limit is shortened to two years.

He has told us, in at least 14 separate posts, that Lukaku must stay with Everton until the end of his contract, unless Moshiri and the Board decide he can go. This would suggest otherwise...

The Webster Ruling is named after Andy Webster who bought his contract out from Hearts and joined Wigan Athletic. You have to join a club not from your own Country; it didn't work out for Andy, but he still enjoyed a decent career and is currently playing for St Mirren.

If it's three years exactly, that would mean the Webster ruling could not kick in for Lukaku until 30 July 2017. But you mention 15 days? That had me Googling...

The Webster Ruling: Article 17 explained

So turns out this detail is crucially missing from the Wikipedia article:

Also in the detail is that the player must contact their existing club outlining their intentions within 15 days of the final match of the season.

If he wants to leave, he would have to inform the club by 6 May 2017. Unless Stan feels he is ours for the duration of his contract...

For reference, two years at 㿲k/wk is about ٥.3M. Can't see Lukaku coming up with that money... but presumably his destination club would find a way to give him the money to get him on the cheap (tax rules notwithstanding).

This would probably only be invoked if the player is not being used and not released by the club. Which is not the case here, Brian has led us down a blind alley, but provided a new contract angle.

That is what makes TW as much as the long drawn-out spats that added nothing from post number 5!

And how can you say "player not being used etc... which is not the case here?

We don't know what the case is yet as all that's been said is that Lukaku has refused to sign a new contract. That's all we KNOW – anything else is conjecture and opinion.

It does seem strange, however, that there don't appear to have been many other instances in the past 10 years... If it is such a favourable ruling for the players, as claimed, I'm not sure I buy this presumption that it hasn't been used by prominent players because it would open Pandora's Box.

I just can't see that stopping a snake like Mino Raiola!

When I mentioned, I think to Stan, about the Webster ruling he must have looked up what I myself initially looked up and he quoted verbatim about it being very unlikely any player would invoke the ruling due to it being likened to "opening Pandora's box."

That being said it doesn't mean that no player ever WILL invoke it. It would depend on a few factors. Would Lukaku have the money to do it, it could be a very costly undertaking even for a millionaire footballer. Would Everton go so far to keep a player that the player HAD to invoke the ruling?

I'd like to think it wouldn't come to it but simply believing it'll never happen is no guarantee that it won't. That's not aimed at you btw, Michael. Things'll only become clearer when the season finishes and the transfer window actually opens, I reckon.

James Hughes; player not being used, and the club not releasing him, that's the situation at the moment. Things could change in a big way once the transfer window opens and Lukaku's agent and Mr Moshiri lock horns. Interesting times ahead!

ps: Michael, I "think" there's more to factor in as well as salary, compensation to the club etc... could be wrong mind, it has been known. :-)

As you say Brian, there's no guarantee that Lukaku wouldn't invoke Webster, but it looks very unlikely. If Everton told him he had to see out his existing contract, then he has to see it out unless he takes the (on the face of it highly unlikely) route of using Webster. Even assuming Lukaku wanted to leave Everton, he might consider it easier to see out his contract than to go down a possibly messy legal route of getting out of it.

Going back to read it again, in its entirety. Comedy gold. Well done to all concerned...

I hadn't read all the posts but did so today. Well worth taking the time mate, it's hilarious.

If any lurkers/intrigued readers have any concerns about the tenor of posts on there, let me know please.

2-0 to us Saturday by the way.

Is that what they are doing? Coming to my aid? I guess I must have been logged off when they were called to the ToffeeWeb witness box.

Nope, just checked back and there isn't a peep out of either of my grand sons... not even a throwaway quote... and although I won't repeat what one of my lads said, the other one hasn't said a word.

So what you really mean when you speak about all these relatives is... my lad? One person... and he`s probably unaware that this thread exists.

Maybe Maths isn't your strong point. That would explain why you were so astonished that I was able to guess which of the four sides you sit in. You didn't quite grasp how short the odds where so you thought it was "Spooky".

As our Denis (the proctologist who sits in Upper Bullens) was saying only yesterday: "Never question the credibility of a guy who can move around the ground to suit the questions."

"Yeah I know I always sit in the Gwladys Street... and yeah I know it might seem like I only said I moved to the Alex Young Suite when it was suggested my opinion was possibly influenced by sitting Gwladys Street... and yeah, I will be back in the Gwladys Street for all the other games... but honest, that's eggacckllee the way it happened... swear down, lad."

The good news is, Eugene; My cousin Sarah (a postie who sits in the Park End) has come to your aid... How spooky is that? She's almost certain she saw somebody who could have easily been you coming out of the Main Stand after the game.

You posted a couple of weeks ago about the poor quality of the tannoy "where I sit in the Upper Gwladys".

Fair play. Despite being behind on all the judges cards, your desire to have the final word is very impressive.

I've got it 118-110 on my card.

I wrote You're also very lucky to have so many relatives to come to your aid in TW threads.

When you 'repeated' it, it read "Your so lucky having so many relatives coming to you aid on TW threadS"

'You're' was misspelt (natch) and there's a cap S on the end of threads.

Weird.

(a) aren't these two sentences mutually exclusive?
(b) isn't the 1st made invalid, by the 2nd?

Didn't have the IT skills.

I wanted to leave the capital S in to let you know that your attempt to change it to plural hadn't gone unnoticed. I had three attempts, but every time I tried to Copy and Paste, it went back to a small s and it would not let me edit.

I thought it would be easier to just retype what you had written – clearly it wasn't.

Aren't there more important things to think about, like if that lad who scores all the goals decided to leave? Now that would be a cause for concern.

Link

She has no idea what goes on on these hallowed threads.

Thanks, Eugene, Jay, Darren et al!