Hafnia

This is happening... he was spotted walking into Tantastic sunbed shop to meet Elstone along with Moutinho, Riquleme, Alan Smith and Mikel Forsell

be an awesome partner for McCarthy, with Barkley in front of them would be ace.

I can't see a hat trick against one of the weakest sides in europe boosting his value too much. It indicates that he will be the first choice striker though.

I just wish lukaku was 24,.then we could put all this bollocks about how good he is going to be to bed.

The ego in those interviews is astounding.

Mirallas, no offence but your opinions related to anything Belgian just takes the piss. Laughable really. Your credibility was teetering low, it's gone rock bottom in your last few posts.

He sacrificed money to make the move happen too... Tit. Sooner or later players will realise that life does not get better after Everton, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if Rooney tells Barkley to stay put.

Seriously David Luiz, he's like the player who legs it up the pitch abandoning all duties on fifa when you press that button. Would be good in a 3 man defence or as a DM, never worth that money. Clearly he is though, makes you wonder how much a matured John Stones will be.

I understand what Martinez did at the start of the season, and fully endorse it. He took over a squad of players who never had a recognized striker, as jelavic was litterally suffering the yips after being turned into a zombie by moyes. Alacaraz:- Martinez knew how good he was as a defender and he is a very good defender. Stats prove how effective he was and yes his injuries allowed us to deduce that Wigan struggled when he wasn't fit. Reality is he is a low cost coverage. Robles:- at one stage it was a close call between him and De gea at his parent club. He won an fa cup winners medal, kept al habsi out of goal and cost £600k... Plenty of potential. Kone:- for me I wasn't excited about the signing, yeah he wasn't the free kick taking striker who does over head kicks and all 15 year old kids have pictures on their walls. But in all honesty for what money we had, what we needed he fitted the bill and still will. Good pace, skillful, strong right foot, holds the ball up. He's like the player we all wanted Anichebe to be but moan about because he cost the same as what we sold the other for but he can't be sold for a profit..... Toure:- Errr hasn't cost anything bar wages, let's see after he's had more than 70 minutes. I could mention McCarthy, lukaku, deulofeu, Barry but considering I'm having to argue the toss as to why lukaku isn't worth £20m I think it's safe to say a 3m loan deal was ok business.

I think this lukaku thread has been an eye opener. For me it's highlighted how much some fans perceive the need for a marquee player, arguably the last time we signed a marquee striker that other top clubs were interested in was Tony Cottee. I was there for his debut a hattrick against Newcastle, crackin sunny day. I've seen many strikers, played as a striker to a reasonable level and strangely enough been a defensive midfielder and full back at such level. So feel in running round after them know what makes a good one. The two best equipped strikers I've seen at Everton is Rooney and Saha. After that it was lineker, after that Gray, Sharpe, Cottee, then Vaughan. Without injury that lad would be playing for England Imo. Lukaku is in amongst AJ for me, pacey, knows where the net is but isn't effective with a man marking him close. Sorry Mirrallas, I know we should be really grateful to Belgium and everything, but despite paying £3m+ in fees, I conclude that your golden boy has very much to learn.

As soon as I read better footballer than Barkley I simply stopped reading, absolute bullshit. I know you like go endorse everything Belgian, but give your head a wobble. Lukaku isn't a footballer, he is a sprinter who can kick a ball.

Blimey, anything you say mate!!! I'm not arguing with ya!

Aiden, I reckon you should have put an avatar of some 6ft 4 beast with a skin head and tatts eating a raw steak, Miguel wouldn't pick on you then. You seem a nice lad, leave him alone Miguel!

Not one of those players had a second touch being a tackle - not once were they even considered technically incompetent. They improved in the way that footballers do maturity and refinement. The biggest improver on that list was Ronaldo who in all honesty is not much more technically proficient in terms of ball control - he's always had that. He worked hard on free kicks, ball striking and basically created the perfect athlete. Mandzukic has always been a solid player, he was played out of position at Wolfsurg and when Dzeko went he on to be the main goalscorer - he has always had a sold touch, his physicality and increased ability to put in more work was his biggest development. Pirlo wouldn't have been a professional footballer if it wasnt for his excellent technical ability. A midfielder who can't tackle, no physical attributes or pace. Totti was in Romas team from something like 16 wasnt he and captain at 21... What I am saying to reitterate is that none of these players had a substantial lack of control and touch that we have seen from Romelu. I know Bobby Moore used to say "I had no pace and couldn't head the ball but won the world cup" - I just dont think any footballer could say "I couldn't control a football but was world class"....

One is an understudy goalkeeper, one is a striker who has been injured who scored more goals than any of our strikers lasty year for a relegated side, Alcaraz effectively replaced Heitinga for free on less wages and who when fit and called upon has looked solid. Traore has also been injured. If we are going to use injuries as a criteria to criticise a players ability then its a little harsh IMO. 4 squad players - total expenditure £6.8m... not bad.

Improvement in technique is marginal from a young age onwards, development from the age of 15+ is physical, Tactical and mental. I 100% agree with Wengers 4 stages of development:- A-Technical years 5-12 B-Physical years 12-16 C-Tactical years 18-20 D Mental-from 20 years Wenger basically says that the technical aspect of the game does not improve a massive deal from 12 onwards. He emphasised that technique was all important because football was not a natural sport due to the usage of the foot. To your point, if we have players at the academy who at 16 can't control a football then I seriously question what they are doing there.

SKY have pulled the story now, hopefully someone from the club got in touch and ripped into them.

The thing is, we dont even think Roberto is in for him..

You watch Pulis or Fat Sam will come in for him - guarantee it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2636862/David-Moyes-hit-joiner-23-bottle-taunts-wine-bar-Sacked-Man-United-manager-faces-police-quiz-fracas.html This particular one?

Dont get me wrong, if he came at the right price then great, but he seems to be held in some ridiculously high regard. Its very strange the views that people have - some wax lyrical about Lukaku but fail to see how brilliant James McCarthy is.

haha! We are keen to open talks but United may scupper that??? Did he sign a 2 year contract or something when he signed last year? My guess is that it was at least 4 years soooo, in other words United - Jog On!

I actually thought that was great effort if i'm honest, he picked his spot and unfortunately got too snug. Watch any top stiker and they aim for the furthest point from the keeper. That was why I loved Yak so much, its also why I admired Fowler as a player. Not putting him in that bracket but you know what I mean. I really do need to emphasise - after a certain age, players do not improve things such as control by much. From a touch and co-ordination perspective the player you see at 14-16 is the player they are going to be. From my own point of view my ball control reached its peak at 15 and didnt improve much at all after that despite my brother insisting I would kill a ball that was booted 30 feet into the air before second bounce repeatedly doing this drill, I did this from 8 years of age, I would have to chest a ball down With his touch being the biggest issue, that is my concern with Lukaku - hence the price. Compare Lukaku's touch with that of Saha or Yak, there is no comparison. Big Dunc could bring it down, hold up play, lay it off the lot. This lad really does concern me in this regard. Pros:- Pace, knows where the net is, strong when running at his man, physically intimidating to some defenders Cons:- weak in the air, poor strength and balance when standing on the ball, many misplaced passes, poor touch

I've seen enough of him to know that he can hold up the ball and use his strength effectively, he doesn't shin passes that he is meant to bring down. He cost a supposed "extortionate" £6m while many are waxing lyrical about a player who scored a few more goals than our previous strikers but we would be soft not to buy him for £20m... Just don't see the valkue myself, but I guess you all know this.

We can quote a load of shite English players too, nothing to do with nationality. A few of my favourite Everton players have been or are Scottish..