thoward18

We better not try to win the FA Cup. Look what it did to Wigan!

I'll take it to mean that, because you got pedantic over Stones' age instead of addressing my general points, you've conceded defeat in the debate. Most defenders don't peak until around 26. It's impossible to predict what Stones will become, or if Martinez will even be here in 3 years. I'll find you a game where Messi, Zidane, Pele, Ronaldinho, and Oliver Kahn were "absolute shit" as well. A couple games does little to persuade me in any direction.

If the biggest complaint you have about an 18-year-old backup defender is "he's not good enough in the final third" then that means he's doing a hell of a lot right. Quite frankly, I'd much rather have a backup who does everything right defensively than a backup who makes 2 or 3 nice runs down the flank but then fucks up in his own penalty box. He's proved to be "absolutely terrible" in forward positions... as an 18-year-old. There's only one way for him to learn and get better, and that's by playing. It has nothing to do with "accepting mediocrity" but instead everything to do with understanding the state of this club and looking through a lens that goes beyond this season. We're not Manchester City. We can't afford (literally) to have a bunch of Micah Richards' and James Milner's fucking around in reserves and getting on the pitch once in a while. Roberto Martinez does not have endless resources and therefore he needs to budget and prioritize. An old, injured Arouna Kone is the only striker under team control starting this summer. The team has two aging CBs and Alcaraz (if he can even get out of bed for matchday without injuring something). In the midfield, you have Barry and Pienaar in the final few years of being able to play at this level and who the hell knows how much longer Gibson can go without breaking down for good. A handful of pressing needs, and you want Martinez to throw money at a guy who will sit behind Seamus Coleman for the next 4-5 years aside from the handful of games he's needed? Speaking of Coleman, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe he came to Everton immediately guns blazing. It took him some time to develop and grow as a player. Stones is even younger than Coleman was. Maybe Stones isn't the ideal fit right now, but if a few bumps in the road right now means he becomes he's a capable RB in the long run then I say it's well worth it. Certainly more worth it than paying a few million in transfer funds plus whatever the salary cost is for some guy who would play 3-4 games before sitting on the bench the rest of the way. If we get into the CL and get the resulting cash influx then, sure, we can start to bring in some luxury players. For now, Stones is doing just fine defensively at RB when he needs to fill in. It just means that Mirallas and/or McGeady need to step up and bring their A-games on the right side to make up for the missing attack.

It wasn't supposed to be a criticism of him. My point is that he's really young, raw, and has proven little at a truly high level like the EPL. There are absolutely no guarantees he'll be starter caliber for even a mid-table team, never mind a team pushing for CL. All I'm saying is that, with our starter getting up there in age, one unproven commodity behind him, and virtually nothing in the Academy, we absolutely could use another option.

Howard's not getting younger, Joel has proven absolutely nothing, and Everton couldn't find so much as a struggling League 2 team that wanted Springthorpe. So yeah, I'd say we could use another kid with upside on the cheap.

The game changed when Peanuts came on. Great assist on the Naismith goal.

Don't get it. I was all for moving his wages but it was under the assumption that we'd utilize that spot to bring in someone else. This team is currently hit by a ton of injuries. I'd rather of Heitinga for depth than nothing. I trust Martinez, but I can't kick away the thought that this was strong-armed by Kenwright.

Seems to me like the entire day was a dud, or am I wrong? Other than Zouma going to Chelsea and Berbatov leaving did anything of actual note happen?

Been super busy today so I haven't been able to keep up. Can someone give me a basic summary of what's happened today from an Everton standpoint? Even if it's just rumors that were shot down or anything like that. I know we signed that Czech goalkeeper. Anything else going on/being rumored?

I think Heitinga was more concerned with which team gives him a better chance of earning a trip to Brazil and playing time there as opposed to which stadium holds a few thousand more fans. It's not like he was choosing between Barcelona and Sheffield Wednesday. Both teams are similar enough that it doesn't really matter.

I think that's kind of the point. Two different managers, depth issues at the striker position, and he's still been used marginally. Kind of hard to believe both Moyes AND Martinez are unfairly holding him back.

No doubt that striker is a position that needs to be addressed, but that's the situation regardless of Vellios; he's a non-factor. Look, say what you want about Naismith but he has the right attitude and has potted a few goals. More than can be said about Vellios.

Thanks for accidentally bicycle kicking the ball into Jelavic's path that one time. Otherwise, he won't be missed.

Could be much worse. I'll gladly take it.

FA Cup match against the worst team in League One, Lukaku on the bench, Traore not included, Jelavic sent packing, and even still Vellios can't get into the XI. I'll be stunned if he's still here next season.

What I meant is that... yeah he has his moments but so have a number of players who aren't good enough. Let's see him build his career back up with a lesser team first. Right now Sunderland fans aren't exactly enthralled with him. I'm aware that he's produced at higher levels before. But right now his career has fallen to the point he's at Sunderland and not exactly tearing it up.

How much of that was done within the last year or so? Anelka was a hell of a player in his prime. He's not in his prime.

The pitch is awful, and I don't know if that's to blame here, but it's hard not to think so.

I understand he's young and hasn't had much first-team experience, but Joel Robles just makes me so nervous.

Just as we drew it up

Same could be said about Freddy Adu, Anelka, Chamakh, etc. You're not wrong, but let's see him prove it with a bottom-table team first. I'd like to think our aspirations are higher than a project like that unless he's coming here on a free.

By some miracle I get the game over here in the U.S. Happy times!

Adam Johnson is pretty bad. I don't see what he brings to the table that we don't already have.

A bit confused why he's being called a striker. He can play the role in the way that a Mirallas could step in and play the role but he's 100% a creative midfielder. Anyway, I'd really like to have him. He fits Martinez' tactics perfectly.

I find it hilarious because you'd think we forced the moves somehow. Here's a thought. If other EPL teams like Manchester City and Chelsea don't want us loaning good players, then maybe they shouldn't be offering us good players on loan.