Paddock

I fhik he tried it a couple of times at Goodison last year, and it backfired or we looked really unorganised. I prefer 2 centre halves. Jags and Distin for me for this coming seAson but Stones to step in and give Distin a rest and get plenty of game time.

That wont make a difference. If he signs on a five year contract we'll pay him for that amount of time whether he signs now or next year. It wont save the club any money waiting until deadline day they'll have to pay him the lenggh of his contract regardless.

To be honest with you Mike, it's more for my 7 year old than me. I'm at the stage in life where I can understand why things are the way they are. He can't. My 5 year old isn't that arsed and I'm starting to think he's gonna have the better life of the two. My oldest is exactly like me, he eats sleeps and breaths Everton. Every morning he wakes up and the first words out of his mouth are "Dad have we signed Lukaku yet?" He constantly asks why Man City, Chelsea etc are boss and I try and explain to him but he can't understand why no one will buy us (at 7 I don't xpect or want him to) and I see the disappointment in his face, but it's over ridden by his passion and drive and love of Everton. He wills them to win, to buy the best players but no matter how much he wants it it doesn't happen. Maybe it's because I lived through the 80s that I have set the bar so high but I want him to see what I saw, to see us the best team in the world again and if that means selling to someone like a sheik or oil baron then so be it because doing an Athletico is not gonna happen mate. If we get even close they'll blow us out the water buying anything and everything to stop us.

Every time I watched us switch to this last season I thought we looked awful. Out of shape, disjointed and none of the centre halves knew what the other was doing. Maybe with a lot more practice but not on last years showings . For me anyway.

Totally agree with this !! We need a new striker in way before we kick off against Leicester. Experience and the way things are panning out tells me we wont though!

Fair play to you mate, I would see it as payback for all the years of heartache and disappointment coupled with unconditional love from me. I want to see us rule the world. We were robbed of the opportunity once due to a ridiculous knee jerk ban from UEFA we deserve another go!

Problem we have in Stones and Jagielka are both right sided centre halves where as Distin is left sided so neither could really replace him naturally. Both could have course stand in but I think this year will be Distins last, he's 37 this year and still defying the laws of biology, he's been immense. I remember Blue Kippers servers almost melting when he signed with everyone fuming

i'm perfectly calm my friend <wipes slobber from the keyboard :b

I was going to bang on about him saying we were coming off one of the best seasons in our history? I'm hoping he'll go back and look at our honours and rethink that sentence. He wants to try spending the last of his money on a coach and match ticket to go to the old Dell and get snowed, rained, hailed and howling wind on and watch us get beat 4-0 then travel home soaked because there was no roof on the away end at The Dell. Now that's something to bitch about

Really? You wouldn't be interested in supporting us if we were bought out like City and started to become a football superpower? I thought that's what every fan dreamed of, seeing their club at the pinnacle of success. Sure it would be nice to be able to do it like we did in 85 on hard work and merit but in the modern game, we wont achieve regular continued success until we are bought out by a sugar daddy. Each to their own like but I know where I would rather us be.

The TV money gets paid in dribs and drabs I think. It's not a one off limp sum.

My mate is absolutely adamant this is a done deal, hhe's not usually one to comment to be fair but he is insistent someone he knows and trusts has told him it's done . I've typed this 4 times now cos I don't want people to think I'm one of those itk people so for the record I'm not, I have no connections at all but this lad is absolutely adamant. As I say he's not usually like this so make of it what you will. I'm still not having ot myself. Mate or not.

Ok Newty, point taken maybe I was a tad overzealous with the comment but the point I was making was breaking records is all well and good but pointless if it doesn't get you anywhere. Bit like the commentator on grandstand announcing the results of a downhill slalom... kruger of Germany first, Wesser of Switzerland second and Bonetti of Italy third. Smith Englands top seed finished 7th but it was a new personal best!!!! So what. I'd sooner of not broken our points total and qualified for cl so we can claim all the records we want it's not moved us forward. We're in the business of results not breaking personal bests mate that's all I was saying.

And I'll tell you what I took exception to... That's twice now you have posted really aggressively after me because of my opinion, I let the first one go but I'll tell you something for fact. I checked your bio out last night and noticed you had started "supporting us properly" since 2012. Now don't get me wrong here I'm absolutely delighted you support us, we desperately need a global support network t's something I strongly believe in so I'm not knocking that but I've been watching Everton for a long time. I remember my Dad taking me to my first game, I was in the main stand we drew 1-1 with Birmingham and Eamon O Keefe scored a 20 yard equaliser, I followed Everton all through the 80s, was lucky enough to see us lift the trophy in Rotterdam, was in the old Park End (that was the away end back then) when we paraded the Cannon league at Goodison against Luton, I could go on all day about that era. I followed us he and away all through the dark ages of the 90s, went everywhere, ran on the pitch in floods of tears at the Wimbledon game. These days I'm a lot older, but I still have a season ticket and so does my 7 year old, my 5 year old and my nephew (all of which I pay for) included in that the near on £200 I've just spent on 2 kits for my sons (I'll do the same when the away and 3rd kit come out) and I'll continue to do so until my boys are old enough to go themselves, so don't you fucking dare have the brass balls to insinuate that I have no right to voice an opinion. If you don't like it hot the fucking ignore button so you don 't have to read it but whether you like it or not, I have one and I have the right to express it. Apologies for the aggression but it's only given back as you gave it out.

Away you go son, if you have something to say just say it.

We had a good season thats a given but how much of it was down to other teams players? It was a fluke and eventually if we keep on using the same trend clubs will get wise and stop loaning to us regardless of us bringing their players on. Last season was admittedly a bit different from the last 5 or so but the last however many before that were all similar , punching above our weight, surviving. , ducking and diving and riding our luck . We have been treading water whether you're prepared to accept this or not is your choice but as we continue on there is only one place to go and thats to sink there is no future to swim as we stand

I don 't need anyone to "sort me out" I'm perfectly capable of forming my own opinions and observations. But thank you for your kind offer sir <doffs cap>

Yes, treading water !! 5th 6th or 7th every year, year in year out. No trophies, no cl football, scrimping year in year out and not being able to make that push to make it properly. If you're happy with breaking shitty club records that mean fuck all when it comes to the reality of it all then good for you but I want more than that. So yes, treading water !

I think it was a bit of both. He wasn't that good but was ok yet had an attitude and work ethic like he was Ronaldo. Unfortunately, he will never get a chance again like he had with us. I'm of the opinion that even if he had an ethic of being a fantastic trainer and brilliant attitude he would still not of made it

Bad attitude, lazy and thinks he's a lot better than he is. Hope he does ok for younthough

You're spot on but the fact we never do it points to the fact Kenwright doesn't trust his manager and never has. Felliani was 5 years ago (i think) there has been nothing but bargain basement, frees and loans since. If clubs of a lower stature than us can buy players and break transfer records why can't we? It doesn 't matter what spin we put on it the fact is our net spend is virtually zero in the last 8 years yet other clubs spend but still seem healthy. They don 't get bigger gates, more tv money or revenue than us so how can it be? For years now we 've all been saying "yes but look whhere we are compared to them, so spending money isn't everything" and that's very true the evidence is there for all to see but where could we be if we just signed thise 2 world class players we're crying out for?

I'm not 100% convinced he is you know Brett. I think he's got thd clubs best interest at heart I really do and we could end up a Leeds if he sold out to anyone but it's getting to the point where something has to give as we can't keep treading water every season keeping our fingers crossed the manager will pull a rabbit out the hat again.

Mc, how many opportunities have we had where we have been on the cusp of breaking top 4. How many times have you looked at it and thought "wow, a couple of big signings here and we could be in with a serious shout"? Again this year, we finished 5th and we have a chance to push on. Teams around us and our direct competition are buying big and more importantly buying nice and early. Before anyone starts saying yer but look where it got Spurs last year or Aest Ham buy loads of players every year and it does them no good, yes they did and do but the point is they are actually buying players. If they buy too much or badly that's there look out but just for once why can't our board back the fucking manager and lets have a crack at it instead of getting loans in last minute and players missing a whole month of games so we can save a few quid? Arguably those players that we do end up getting in, if we took the plunge and got them in early could be the difference between 4th and 5th or 6/7 whatever.

Yes but they don't have an unlimited pot of money, yet they still manage to back the manager. Our tv revenue, gate money and league finishing money is far greater than theirs so to me, it doesn't add up that we never can. It's not even the odd window mate is it it 's been like that for years now

Which begs the question how are the likes of West Ham and Sunerland who flirted with relegation doing it. The increase in tv money and our higher league standings year in year out means we should at least be able to keep up with them theoretically, eclipse them. I just don't understand why we never seem to be able to have a big window and try and push on.