GMorrison183

I don't think this will happen. I'm 99% sure you can only have 2 players in on loan? That's why Portsmouth had to sign a player before they could bring in Jerome Thomas.

Why does that mean we aren't going to get M'Bia? I actually think it's even more reason to get M'Bia since we haven't spent a dime.

For me it depends on the price tag. If its around 8 mil, I'd like to sign him. Mainly because we'd get to move Arteta back to the center when Peanuts gets healthy. Anything over 13? no thanks. As Romey said, if he's at the game today than this is most likely BS.

Well if we want to earn the "Midget Gems" nickname we could use another one before it becomes the "Midget Gem" after we sell everyone off

No to derrail the topic, but I don't understand why some people are so down on SWP. If he could be had for 8mil, why the heck not? He would definitely be in our starting 11 every game.

I actually have been thinking ever since AJ moved on that he would be an excellent fit. A striker that can perform at an international level and also is strong enough to hold his own at the top of a 4-5-1. Zigic, M'Bia, and Moutinho would put us in a pretty good position (although I still think we need an upgrade in the center of the park, Osman just doesn't offer enough defensively).

This side is still capable of getting 50 points in my opinion. I think you're forgetting just how bad a team has to be to get under 40 points for a season. If our midfield ran "Baines--Jags---Neville---Osman" I'd still say we could hit 40 points (barely), it just would be some terrible football to watch. I actually bet after the terrible start we'd go through with that midfield Neville and Jags would start learning how to put some decent passes in on the ground when they realized just how much of a problem their hoof it play would be.

He has in the past, but not recently. I think all things regarding Moutinho is a new one sentence quote and then the same old information recycled. As others have stated, if it takes this long to pull off a transfer then we needed to have done our research ahead of time. I really think we need this lad and M'Bia to maintain our 5th place spot honestly.

1-1 Draw. Yak for us, Cruz for them. This will be some ugly midfield play.

God forbid they are gone or injured! They were the key to our .... ?

He's a defensive midfielder that can make a pass or two isn't he? It's been awhile since I've seen him. He would give us the look of a 5th place club in the starting XI if we were completely healthy (which won't happen, but still). If this makes you all feel better, the way I look at our situation is Rodwell was an upgrade over Grav, Tiago should be an upgrade over Carsley, When Manny wasn't in form Gosling is just as good ( ) and Howard likes to play anyways, so Turner should cover just fine Oh, and Baxter will have us all saying Andy Johnson who? If anyone else needs a pair of blue tinted glasses, let me know!

Just for a laugh- lets just see what team we could've have and discuss In's Andrei Arshavin Diego Milito Joao Moutinho Manny Fernandes Stephen M'Bia Alan Smith Anthony Annan Guillermo Ochoa Out Andrew Johnson Lee Carsley ---------------Yakubu----------------- ----------Arshavin or Cahill-------- Pienaar-------Moutinho---------Arteta ----------------Annan------------------ Lescott----Jags-------Yobo---------Neville ----------------Howard----------------- Bench Diego Milito Manny Fernandes Stephen M'Bia Leighton Baines Guillermo Ochoa Alan Smith Leon Osman Where would we end in the table?

I'm still proud to be a Blue. Our starting lineup is still capable of a top 6 finish, we have some promising youngsters coming up from the academy, and we have another season of Europe. COYB!

I hope this is so, I think I'm one of the few people who thinks he could bag us 15-20 goals a season (although he is streaky). Love, Yak and Cahill right behind would be a 50 goal force.

If we were pushing for the top 4, I'd be all for an 8 mil bid. Our CURRENT team will be stretched to finish 5th let alone push for the top 4. Lets get some midfielders before we consider this move.

According to skysports, he has a 14mil price tag which has turned away Tottenham.

Now Johnson comes back, bags us 20 goals, and we sing our way to the UEFA Cup Finals!

The biggest thing I took out of that is Sporting wants the money all up front, I'm just not sure we can do that.

It's on the website now. http://evertonfc.com/news/archive/29972/club-statement.html

Setanta says no, sky says yes, WHICH IS IT?!?! Ahhh! http://www.skysports.com/football/transfer...0,14896,00.html

Here is the adjusted current lineup bench (in light of corrections ) ------------Yak---------------- -----------Osman------------- Baines---Arteta-------Pienaar -----------Neville--------------- Valente--Jags---Yobo---Lescott(out of position) ----------Howard-------------- Bench: Turner Anichebe Gosling? Rodwell? Baxter? JP Kissock? Irving? Injured Cahill Vaughan Hibbert Van Der Meyde I dare say, no...were we REALLY going to play Van Der Meyde this year? With the size of our squad, it sure looked as if so! Our squad is missing a couple things: A true CM who can move the ball forward (Moutinho would fit this bill) A striker who can handle being up top by himself, preferably with UEFA Cup/International Experience (I really think given our current squad McFadden would've been a great fit for this role..but it was definitely a good bit of business at the time) A midfielder not afraid to put in a challenge(No one has currently been linked to this role?) Last... Size! If we were able to bring in Moutinho, we would truly live up to the "midget gems" title. Not sure if that's a good thing when defending set pieces... Cahill: 5'10" Arteta: 5'9" Pienaar: 5'7" Osman: 5'8" Moutinho: 5'6" In short; I'm for Moutinho, but at the right price and if we still bring in 2-4 more players after him.

Is Moutinho a sure fire class player though? If Man U miss (if Nani doesn't pan out) it's not that big of a deal. If we miss, we can't just simply reload the next offseason. There are plenty of other midfielders I'd consider when factoring in the price tag as better options than Moutinho (Toulalan and Bodmer, Alou Diarra). I just don't see him alone turning us into a top 4 team.

I'm skeptical but for different reasons. If we did put in a bid over 16mil, I think we are definitely living beyond our means. The fact of the matter is we would have 0 midfielders on our bench if we played the 4-5-1. we would have 1 forward with 1st team experience on our bench if we played a 4-4-2. We are an injury away from Baines playing in the Midfield. Imagine if tomorrow was opening day. ------------Yak---------------- -----------Osman------------- Baines---Arteta-------Pienaar -----------Neville--------------- Valente--Jags---Yobo---Lescott(out of position) ----------Howard-------------- Bench: Turner Valente Anichebe Gosling? Rodwell? That type of team won't hold up for an entire season + UEFA cup football.

I really hope we can bring this guy in, if we could loan Fernandes back, bring him in and get a striker on loan, we would be in good enough shape. Especially if Baxter or Gosling can break through by the end of the season

I'm pretty sure from another article posted that Yobo is the odd man out in the middle as of this point.