Hafnia

I loved Peter Reid... Loved him. My first Everton game was meant to be against Sheffield Wednesday at home. I think Brian Marwood done Adrian Heath and basically ended his career for what it was. Reid sorted him. I missed that game, but was at next one.

Oh seriously Matt, come off it. The lad is supposed to be intelligent... Yeah, does that now mean he has to be a prick in four languages. He knows exactly what he's doing.

Does someone inject him with sodium pentothal, strap him to a chair and hold a dictaphone to his face whilst saying.... "What do you think of Nicolas anelkas anti semetic gesture in support of a attention seeking knob head in France" Or "hey lukaku, not really getting much joy at the moment in fact you are playing pretty shite, fancy telling us who is to blame?" Like it or not Matt, he's been warned before now about running his mouth off, he plays for a team not himself. It's always when things aren't going well that he looks elsewhere to apportion the focus.

I loved 84-86 amazing time to be a blue.

Trying to use the media as a means of getting tactics changed to his preference, stating who he thinks should play and where is what I consider mouthing off. Trying to defend a player who made an anti semetic gesture is being a prick of the highest order. He is far too fond of giving his opinion. The likes of Joey Barton do shite like that and get slated.

I think he's building a midfield around Barkley. Cleverly is a shrewd choice but yes pricing needs to be right. That lot have just blown £30m on a full back, we can't subsidise that.

Think that thread got a wee bit heated a little too quick. Chill pills all round. And you know what I think of betty turpins lodger...

Gonna be balanced here, cleverly would improve our squad and be a good player for us but ffs I thought £8m was pushing it especially with a year left, my pricing would be £5m with a few million in add ons.

The way I see it our 1984 team was made up of unfulfilled talent. Injury or whatever, we got Reid and gray who were written off. Great talent just needed the break. Even sheedy was a bit of a chance from Liverpool

telling press how he should be played and who should play with him, what team he feels he should play for. He's a pain in the arse. He even got involved in anelkas quenell scandal. Far too much to say.

Heavy night Brett?

http://www.soccerhighlightstoday.com/2013/12/belgium-coach-wilmots-jose-mourinho-is.html?m=1

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/worldcup/belgium-v-russia-world-cup-2014-romelu-lukaku--let-fellaini-help-me-up-front-9554387.html

Getting on my tits people mentioning Roy Keane. fuck all to do with a career ending injury, which he should have received a lifetime ban for. Disease spreading actions are vile, simple as that.

I think this world cup is a big wake up call for him. Maybe he will stop shouting his mouth off and focus on becoming the player he thinks he is. Football is an unforgiving game. Michael bridge, Alan Smith, Robbie Fowler, Stan collymore, all players who starred at first and lost their way. Injuries or whatever, you need to drain every last ounce of talent out at every game.

.Fitness aside... A rolls Royce of a PLAYER. Best young player I'd seen at the time in a mature role. Those two feet. Class.

I think Romelu has put an awful lot of pressure on himself to be honest, its not like Aguero has set the world cup alight - but he doesn't say soo much, nor does he throw tantrums. Besides, I need asguero to start banging them in - got money on him.

Cleverley is a component player, along with McCarthy and Barkley he can instill a high tempo passing game, he keeps it ticking over. Stick him in a team where the team mates aren't of the same mindset and he will be a waste.

http://www.squawka.com/news/thats-why-chelsea-loan-him-out-fans-react-as-romelu-lukaku-struggles-again/128976

Lynch pin is "something that holds the various elements of a complicated structure together" - as a player who fills in for a full back and who sits in front of back four and does that very well - I concur. Without him we would be a far less effective team, no one does his role consistently as good. Barry included.

Thats fair enough, I think fans want to see more from him. I think Tom Cleverely is a curious case. I recall once someone making the point that he is far removed from the Stevie G all action hero - he would never influence a 3-0 comeback against AC Milan because him positional indiscipline wouldn't have allowed kaka all that space. I watched him after that and he is extremely simple - sometimes annoyingly but you get him. He would work well with Jimmy Mc

I think there is a big difference between a player who struggles mentally versus technically. If someone can tell me why Tom Cleverely is not a good midfielder then I will take the debate to them. All I see is "he's rubbish" no tangible reasons, so yeah thats why I will question how people arrive at that conclusion. For me he lacks confidence, its been beaten out of him. That can be repaired. Technically I think he is a very capable passer of the ball, has a great engine, not the strongest in the tackle but gets himself there, he has great tactical awareness, and can set the tempo and play 1-2 touch football - thats where he stands out, he gets play moving quick. He needs the players around him to compliment his style of play. He is a cog of a team not a "stand out player" - very similar in ways to McCarthy. He is a footballer that goes under the radar. open to debate.

As I have said, I await the day when part time football observers start spouting "That James McCarthy at Everton is a very good player, you need to watch him closely" - holding their bottle of becks, regurgitating what Robbie Savage said 2 years after he actually was doing it. The whole "Michael Carrick is a top player" thing made me laugh, fans started that after his downturn in performances.

hmmm, not sure. Missed an awful lot of football, bit part appearances etc. At a low price worth a gamble, great athlete, needs his confidence rebuilding. We can become a halfway house for demoralised tralented footballers - plenty of opportunity to make money.

I could actually say likewise to be honest Mark. Gareth Barry cough cough :wind up: I don't get all the OTT slating of players based on reputation - because lets be honest its very common. Yes, I do not get Lukaku - but my opinions are based on watching him closely in an Everton shirt over a period of games. Surely people have learned on this forum that from seeing players like Gibson, Barry etc come in and do a very good job on little expense versus their true value that some criticism is harsh and often "reputational" based to say the least. I feel really sorry for Cleverley, he is far better than people make him out to be, some lads will have cracked on less criticism. He has been given some disgraceful treatment and I really look forward to him proving people wrong. Along with Kone... another poor sod.