gethinO

Yeah I agree with you. Raymond Verheijen, even though he's an outspoken c***, was the man to take over. The players liked him and he would have taken over from Speed nicely. We'll see how it goes, might be pleasantly suprised. Our main problem is a centre back with Ashely Williams. You get Coleman defending James Collins for pulling out of the squad for the Bosnia game because of a 'hernia' problem and then he goes an plays 90 mins for west ham. Explain that one.

Haha agree to diasgree. Yeah I rate Ramsey but since his injury he hasn't really performed and lived up to his hype. Massive season for him this one. Think with Wales we have got some decent players like Bale, Ramsey, Allen, Bellamy, Williams, Taylor and before Speed died there was huge optimism about this qualifying group. Coleman's lost his 3 games in charge, but to be fair the first was a memorial match for Speed and then a very tough friendly against Mexico. But against Bosnia we were all over the place, and we hoofed it a lot, which is very worrying considering the passing game we played under Speed. Got my ticket for the Belgium game but suddenly everyone's all doom and gloom. With Hazard playing well and Fellaini's monsterous performance vs United it doesn't look good especially when they have the likes of kompany, vermaelen, vertoghen, witsel, mirallas, dembele and lukaku to add to the two I've mentioned. Hell of a young squad. Ooops I need reminding sometimes that this is an Everton forum....

Agree with the Ben Arfa comment but don't really see how you can't rate him with what he's done over the past few years. And that run of games was just bad luck in my opinion, there's another 10 on the field not just Bale. But it's open for discussion because maybe I am biased being Welsh. But he's the best player we have by a mile and if we are ever going to qualify for a major tournament then he's gonna have a huge say in it.

Haha as a welshman I may be biased but to even compare Coleman and Bale is ridicilous. Bale is a class act, he's proven it over the last few seasons. All of his managers absolutely rave about him (Redknapp, Speed, Coleman) therefore he's obviously got something. One of my favourite videos on youtube is Bale against Inter at the San Siro where he scored that hat rick. He absolutely destroyed Maicon, who at the time,(may even still be), was considered to be one of the best full backs in the world. He has everything IMO, he can cross, pacey, excellent header of the ball and he chips in with his fair share of goals. As I said I may be biased but for me personally when Bale's in full flow it's one of the best sights in football and I can tell you for a fact that Spurs or Wales without him are much, much weaker.

Am I the only one that would be slightly happy with this signing? Rumours are that it would be a pay as you play deal.... then surely it's a win win? Give him the ball in the box and 9 times out of 10 he'll put it in the back of the net. Personally I think it's worth the gamble for one year and IF (I know it's a very big if) he stays fit he could be a good impact player and chip in with a couple of goals. Just think he'd be a decent player on a free transfer.

Yeah I have a feeling that there might be one more signing. Hopeing it will be a wide man/striker with a bit of pace and skill. Someone who can excite the crowd. A good attitude as well cause Drenthe fits my description there perfectly.....

I know we are a few weeks away from the first game but just out of interest, what line up would you like to see? Now that we've signed Pienaar i'm quietly confident. Hopefully a night game against a top team will kick start our season unlike the rubbish we've got used to over the past few seasons. My line up would be: Howard Neville Jagielka Heitinga Baines Rodwell Gibson Osman Fellaini Pienaar Jelavic Subs: Mucha, Hibbert, Distin, Coleman, Naismith, Anichebe, Barkley Would anyone change anything from this line up?

Johnson would be a hell of a signing IMO. He's throwing his career away sitting on the bench at city. But we've probably no hope in getting him if QPR are sniffing. Imagine a front 6 of: Rodwell Gibson Johnson Fellaini Pienaar Jelavic Would be quality an frighten most teams that.

Cheers Mike!

Subs: Mucha, Gibson, Drenthe, Distin, Coleman, Duffy, Anichebe Drenthe back on the bench. Should get 30/20 minutes playing time hopefully. Can someone please clarify if Fellaini gets booked, does he miss the semi final?

Better not let this one slip away or there's gonna be some serious questions asked about what's going on behind the scenes. Hopefully he'll sign, along with another cheeky signing from somewhere and we'll get 3 points tonight.

Is this true? Or has he signed, and then left in a hurry? This would be typical everton if true!

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11671/7464428/Everton-in-bid-for-Jelavic

Bellamy after he left Newcastle. Apparently we were very close to signing him but he opted for Blackburn under Hughes at the last minute. I know he can be a twat but what a player. His pace would have been a major plus for us, shame. Now he's playing superbly for the shite!

Another thing i've been wandering for a while... what on earth has happened to Mcfadden? Have'nt seen him since the Newcastle game and i think at least he has something to offer as a substitute.

That is a good thing, thought they played very well vs Stoke and looked comfortbale. Lets hope they can keep Van Persie quiet today and do the business.

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Baines, Jagielka, Heitinga, Neville ©, Fellaini, Coleman, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Saha. Bench: Mucha, Stracqualursi, Vellios, Barkley, Distin, McAleny, Gueye. Bad feeling were gonna get smashed with neville midfield, no drenthe,cahill out of form and a lackluste Bily left side. Hope im wrong.

Never ever before have i been so affected by a death of someone i didn't know. Absolutely huge loss to football, i'm absolutely devastated. R.I.P Gary, you will be forever missed. Lets give him the send off he deserves on Sunday.

Think you're being very harsh on Saha here. He isn't a joke, in fact on his day i think he's one of the best players at the club ability wise. I know he's getting older but i think he's still got a lot to offer to the team. Unfortunately we haven't really got any other strikers to push him at the moment (apart from maybe vellios but he's still young) therefore saha will be first choice until we sign a new striker. As we know Cahill hasn't been firing this season but i reckon once he scores his first goal, plenty more will come. He showed glimpses yesterday with a few towering headers that would have gone in apart from good saves and vital blocks. I say keep the 2 in, we've won our last 2 games so lets keep the run going, and i'm sure with the fixtures we've got coming up Louis and Timmy will soon be in on the goals.

Haha, it's an april fool joke! Look at the date at the top, April 1, 2011! Had me for a bit though, i must admit.

Im just smiling that we've signed someone to be honest! Lets give him a chance, im not expecting him to bag 20 goals, maybe chip in with some goals and contribute to the way we play. He is 6'3 and from what ive seen on youtube( i know it's not reliable) most of his goals are headers, just hope we dont turn to route one and hoof it up to big Denis!

I agree with Marco, I think since Arteta has signed he's only missed one penalty (wigan away last season) but otherwise scored all of them. Very happy with either him or Baines to take them.

Highlights on BBC1 11.30 tonight

Arteeeeta!!!

Get in Victor you beauty!